The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-11

penlnd me as l came into the build
ingl But then 1 had been an ac-
cursed fool from the beginning-fool
and knave. I deserved to be smoth-
cred like a stray cat in box. / had
undertaken to barter a woman and
was about to pay the penalty. All, il
there were a way out-never again.
never againl
Rivas was speaking. 1 knew that.
but his words were no longer inteili-
gible. / began to be faint. l felt my
self falling, and reached out 10 sun
port myself against the wall. The
wall receded. reached still further.
Then 1 saw that l was grasping
patch of light, and that in the mid
die OF the light stood President Rivas.
lie was holding revolver in his hand
its eye was staring me in the face.
Mr.. Danford," said the President,
Il hoped to find the diamond snuff
box you told the man / had sent you
for. / did not hope to find you. This
is indeed an unexpected pleasure"
For second 1 did not think that I
should be able to answer. Then rail-
lied my strength. Your excellency.
the pleasure is mine" | replied and
fell forward to my full length.
III.
I do not believe that I could have
been unconscious more than a min
ute or two, for President Rivas still
held the revolver in his hand when 1
came to my senses. The look on his
face convinced me that he would be
glad of reason to use its sufficiently
valid to satisfy the diplomatic Off
GERS of the United States
WELL" he remarked when he saw
me open my eyes, now perhaps you
will explain what you were doing in
my safer"
When you have explained what
you meant by thrusting me in there
and locking the door," l replied.
1t was thin argument, but 1 OBJ
served that both Of the officers in the
room believed it, and knew that his
excellency's opportunity for killing
me as a common thief had been lost.
Rivas realized this. too, for he did not
even take the trouble to deny the
charge.
you came here for a packet of let
ters," he said, land think you have
1t. I want it back"
ITO what letters can your excellency
refer?" asked
ITO three letters written by you to
Senior Alvarez promising to aid him
in his plans against me by obtaining
certain private correspondence of
mime
At the time I thought it merely a
good guess. and Rivas a clever man
so to avoid confirming the suspicious
his men must have felt, and which,
confirmed. would soon have been COM
municated TO the entire populace. l
felt sure that he would never venture
to have the soldiers look for that bum
die.
II have no letters of any kind" I
returned therefore. Does your ex-
cellency care to have me searched?"
Search him." was the order given
in reply. Then to me: IF the packet
is found on your person l give you
my word that will have you shot be-
fore morning"
The words had scarcely left his
mouth when one of the men drew that
accursed bundle from my pocket.
Your excellency," he reported. here
is the packet.
Those are from my sweetheart in
America" / exclaimed. IF you open
them shall appeal to my govern
ment."
open Them" ordered Rivas.
The soldier did as he was told. For
an instant which seemed an hour long
I waited. and when the man spoke I
closed my eyes as though the bullet
were already on its way. What he said
penetrated slowly to my brain.
Your excellency. these are blank
pieces of paper"
And blank they were! Mechanically
/ pocketed them, and, walking between
the soldiers, went to the outer door,
where the command of the President
was fulfilled and / was released. The
night air and the moonlight seemed
very good. Across the narrow street
1 made out figure in skirt and man.
tilla, and 1 felt my heart grow sick
again as 1 recognized her. She was
Mrs. McLemore, the woman who had
tricked me and whose trick had saved
me, who had sent me on a wild goose
chase for roll of white paper while
her letters rested God knows where,
the woman 1 loved and who doubtless
was even then on her way to the
White House to meet Rivas.
But she came TO me and stopped.
Her face was white and she looked
i'll, though she smiled when she identi-
fed me. ''Danford!" she exclaimed.
Thank God you are safel"
You thank Cod" 1 retorted. 'and
yet you send me to stick my neck In
halter for a packet Of bare sheetsl
Why did you do that?"
Because / saw that you meant to
take the letters from me. MY only
chance of gaining time to destroy them
was in making you go after the bogus
bundle"
And you wanted to destroy them?"
She hesitated.
THE truth" I cried. THE TRUTH
Why did you want to destroy them?"
She hung her head.
Because they were your letters to
Alvarez" she answered. L stole them
out of his desk last night and gave
them to the President, who returned
them to me. You heard Elvarez ask
my business. am the paid spy of the
Republic of Salvador"
"A woman who hunts down menl"
you are a man who hunts down
women. Which of us in the better?"
But +"
''Regret? So do I. From the bottom
life that has been evil One OF those
things has not been my association
with Rivas. He paid me to incriminate
You, at my request he gave me back
the evidence I had handed him. and l
got away while / burned it,"
you did that-why?"
81 did not want you to know. save
from me. that 1 had been so near to
running you"
again why.?"
'That question" she said, IT cannot
answer"
The sentinel was looking. but I
reached out and took her In my arms.
"All my life" I whispered, IT have
been a maker OF wars. Hereafter I
shall be a maker Of love II you will let
me-"
She lifted her lips and I kissed her.
There was a revolution IN Salvador
three months later, but Mrs. McLemore