The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1904-01-27
A Schoolgirl OlDlomat
lOriginal.l


the people on the wharf. when a car
riage drove up and a lady alighted and
came aboard. As she walked up the
gangway she happened to raise her
eyes. and they lighted upon the Amer
lean. 1t seemed to him as if there was
something conscious in the look, some
thing To Indicate that she had seen him
before. He hoped he was not wrong
In his inference. for the lady was
young and a perfect type of a Spanish
American beauty.
The evening after sailing was balmy.
and a half moon appeared on the merid-
ian. Most of the passengers were on
deck. including the American and the
Spanish senorita. The former was pac-
ing the deck, the latter sitting in a
steamer chair. He walked near the
girl and occasionally glanced at her.
but she did not notice him. Suddenly
the wind produced by the motion of
the steamer took off a bit of lace that
had been wrapped about her head and
throat. The American caught it and.
taking it to her. delivered it with Il pro
found bow.
.Thank you. signor." she said, then
in a low voice: Il wish TO have some
speech with you and without attract
ing attention. | let my IL headdress
20 ON purpose. Do not remain by me
long enough to attract attention, but
tonight. after all these people are in
their berths, | will he here. Come
then"
Certainly. senOrita." And. lifting
his hat. he continued his walk.
The passengers turned in early. and
by 10 o'clock the last one, except the
senorita, had left the decl-. Then the
American Joined her.
You are Mr.. Worthington Curtis"
she said,
II am" he replied, much surprised.
You are on your way TO Washington
with important dispatches from the
government of Colombia"
REALLY
Don't deny it. ] would know moth
ing about it or everything. | know ev-
erything. An effort is to be made be-
fore you reach Washington TO relieve
You of your papers. 1t is very impor-
tant to Colombia that they should 90
through. ] am going to try 10 foil those
who are on your track"
They? Who are theyE"
"They are not aboard the ship, but
their representative is"
"And that representatives.
at is better that you should remain
ignorant of his or her identity. | will
not tell you the Sex. If you knew you
would reveal the knowledge"
But could l not the better protect
myself?"
THAT is the Americans view of it.
We Spanish people are SO deeply versed
in treachery as to consider your igno-
rance of your enemy an advantage. It
will throw that enemy off his or her
guard. I will come III as n third per
son to take advantage of it"
Il see. But who sent you on this
mission"
That's a secret. 1t is enough that
the Colombian government is interested
in your getting through with your dis
patches"
did you come on the chip especially
to aid meY"
"No. am going to New York to
school,"
HIN. Rather a ~precocious .chool-
girl. Where are your credentiils?"
What credentials"
"YOu must nave a letter TO the from
those who sent me that you arc here To
aid me-"
Il have not"
"Then l must decline to trust you
You don need to trust me. When
l point out a danger. avoid it. That is
not trusting me-"
Curtis ended the interview by thank
ing her politely for her interest i'm him
and went below. The next morning a
fsteward handed him Il note, unsigned,
which read:
You will be approached by a man this
evening who will endeavor to lure you to
the stern of the ship. Do not go with him
True enough. as Curtis was smoking
on deck a man opened conversation as
to the direction of the gulf stream.
After some talk he proposed to Curtis
to walk to the stern to observe q phos-
phOreScence in the wake of the ship.
Curtis Feline to go and from that
moment placed faith in what he called
the senorita. Next came IL notc advis-
ing him to keep his dispatches on his
person for the rest Of the journey. He
hesitated for some time and then de-
cided to take the advice.
The night before reaching the port
Of New York Curtis was sitting with
1.-The schoolgirl i'm a retired place on
Heck. He dropped several hints that it
was time for all passengers TO be in
bed. but the senOrita seemed inclined
to sit late. Suddenly Curtis felt himself
embraced by an iron grip and was pow
erless to move. The senOrita whipped
out a bottle from a pocket in her dress
and. saturating a handkerchief with 1t.
held ii against his face.
When the dispatch bearer came TO
himself he was lying in his berth and
the ship was lying in the harbor wait
ing for the quarantine or the custom