The Washington times., 1904-07-24

understand that you have had some eX-
periencc with Mexicans: you speak their
language"
L speak Spanish" I replied.
studied the language while at college,
and two years on a ranch owned by an
old Spaniard has given me a practlcal
knowledge Of it"
Sufficient for conversational be I'M
derstood. and to understand what you
hear?"
Il believe so"
And suppose il is necessary Tor you
| to go to the City of Mexico?
Il will go" / replied quickly.
Very good. then" he continued.
First. though, l suppose that you I'M
| derstand that to travel through the
country will expose you to considerable
| danger. Atrocities against travellers are
| of frequent occurrence. People are
| plundered and robbed, aud even muir
| dered. The government which now eX-
| ists-but, in truth. there IS no govern
ment. as affairs now are. Excuses OF
| every kind are permitted. Or. for that
| matter, the present government can 90
/ little to prevent them. The whole coun-
| try is in a state of siege. A kind OF
Guerrilla warfare is kept up, so that no
one at any time feels safe. You are
likely to be detained, though ! appre-
bend there is less to be feared on that
account than from the Greasers win
whom you will be thrown in company.
81 will depend upon my wit and
| ready answer TO their questions II de
tanned" I replied And for the Greas-
ers-I am quick with revolver.
Good" he said. apparently satisfied
with my reply. But If I ask you TO
take desperate chances. it is because
the stakes are large We win, and It
will be a handsome thing for you
"Is it to be a coup d'etat which will
change the whole political situation in
Mexico?'' I asked, my nerves tingling
with excitement at the thought Of hav-
ing a part in what l believed was TO
be "A master stroke of statecraft.
mo. nothing Of a political nature
he replied quietly 1T Is simply that
you steal d young lady-kidnap her, If
it becomes necessary for you to do 50.
I If the floor had dropped from beneath
my feet I could not have been more
surprised than I was at his answer.
I was speechless. 1 believe my heart
for the moment ceased beating. l sat
riveted to my chair. staring at Mr.
Melrose. and wondering If he could have
been in earnest IN what he said. He
must have noticed my confusion.
you think ii a strange thing for ms
10 ask you to do this" he said. Yet
such things are common enough, and
in this case perfectly warranted"
What" l exclaimed. finding my
tongue. you take me to be a common
vinain?"
Most assuredly do not he replied.
with perfect calmness. ''or I would never
I / trust you 10 serve me In this business.
- Neither is there anything dishonorable
IN doing what I have asked you to do.
j The young lady, think l understand
e her well enough 70 know-will willingly
j accompany you, provided she is made
TO understand that you are acting as
, my representative. The first difficulty
you Will meet with will be IN communi-
eating with her. You may have 10 make
; a bold move. trusting TO explanations
| afterward, to set matters right with her
But this matter is TO be considered
later"
IAN affair Of this kind would seem
, 10 belong TO the thirteenth century. and
? not TO this enlightened age" I sug-
- gested.
= True" he said. 1T would seem &c
= one who has lived in such a country
=. as our own, where every officer Of the
law and every court of justice stands as
A.. | a protector Of woman, for such things
are seldom undertaken with any good
> | end in view. Yet. in Mexico II is not
: such an unheard Of thing as one might
r. | imagine. II is common enough for per
i, sons to be taken by bandits. and held
2 for ransom. 1t IS not impossible that
a person. though she be a young lady
- can be seized and carried off, ever
=. within the heart Of the city II you en-,
n ter upon this undertaking speak Of.
shall explain to you at another time
e why It IS necessary TO act In this way
= I ask nothing of you. neither shall
e ask anything of you which ic not per
IS fectly honorable. and justihabIe Re
d member, even after you have entered m,
IS employ, you are free TO withdraw at an,
q moment I bind you only to secrecy re
GardinS what I may say to you conf
10 dentially"
10 Your proposition Is fair enough" 1T Re
d piled. If I can render any assistsnc
IS TO a lady who IS IN trouble, trust tina
IT ! shall not be wanting in gallantry."
o Il am sure you viii not. and you ar
l. willing to undertake this service?" h
II asked.
so far as you have advised me wha
Is I aa2 TO do, am" replied.
/ There IS no necessity that I inforI
e You further in regard to what I wi
II want Of you until you reach the cap
IS tai Nothing can be done here. l wi
y provide you with funds more than SUI
fcicut 20 meet all the expenses YOU VI
~ be put to IN going TO the City Of Mexic
1 Is THIS satisfactory to your