Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-21

who speaks now. 1t Is a coward, a woman
who does not love her country and her
fathers people. The republic of San
Cruz Is prosperous. The president is a
father of it's people, but they do not I'M
derstand, and such men as Carlos Aqui1la
will drive them to their doom. 1t is one
life against thousand, and the man is
nothing to you!"
There was a note Of Interrogation in his
voice, and Lolita shook her head.
Nothing, father-but a man should
have the right to live and breathe"
And start a revolution in which hun
dreds of peaceful men and women will
lose their lives? For your country-for
the wives and children of our soldiers
Lolita! Remember that to you they will
owe their lives. their homes-their hap
pinessn
So when the new clock from the states
pointed to II :35 they entered the south
wing. Her father led her to the door
opening from the garden and handed her
the rusty key.
Remember, at five minutes of II you
leave by the passageway. Three knocks.
soft al a chld's, and 1 open 1t. This key
you bring to me.
out another word he left her alone.
On the table the candle f1ickered and
f1ared bravely, but the girl, huddled in a
high-backed chair, sat- like a bird fasci-
mated, misunderstanding for the footstep
she knew must come.
At sound of 1t, outside the door, soft as
womans, stealthy as thiefs, she dropped
the key with a great clatter; then with a
quick prayer, she picked it up, thrust 1t
into the lock. turned 1t with hand grown
suddenly cold and firm, and threw open
the door.
"Youi Your
She staggered back against the wall And
Dave Henley, busting dead leaves and
twigs from his immaculate duck suit step
ped lightly into the room.
II hope you don't mind much" he said,
It'll l. 49,
hand. before her
Mind much?'
She raised her hand before her face to
shut out sight of him. A gust of wind rose
sighngly and swept the door shut. The
key clattered from her fingers and Henley,
bending to pick 1t up. did not hear another
key click in the outside door, or bolt
slide; Then. too, as he looked up he
caught a womanly sorrow and pleading in
the girls eye which made him for the in
slant blind and deaf to all else. He handed
her the key, and she took 1t with half a
sob. thrusting 1t into the bosom of her
dress.
Carlos was-er-detained-and as he
didn't want you disappointed. thought-er-
| there might be something important, he
| just asked me to drop around-and here l
| am. hope you don't care"
For answer the girl burst into sobs sway
| ing uncertainty in her grief.
1t was evident that she cared-very much
and for Carlos!
Il
| lessly into his brain she drew herself up,
| wheeled on her tiny heel and stared wildly
at the clock. 1t was fifteen minutes to IL.
| Again she turned, and this time she dashed
up the stairs pulling frantically on the
| barred door,
''Oh. say" said Henley. looking up at
| her in frank anger. This is bit too
| rough. You know I'm no cad IL I DON I
belong to your people. II you'll kindly give
me that key I'll cut out at once"
60? You would go?" the girl said, in a
| low, tense voice. II would give my life If
J you could. But 1t Is locked-everything is
/, locked! If I give you this key-and you
| leave by that door, pointing to the door
! through which he had entered), you'll be
] shot like dog!"
/ She came tearing down the steps and
| stood before him. wild-eyed and painting
| Il say. what does this mean? This is no
melodrama, you know
She clutched his arm, and as she spoke
| her eyes travelled. fascinated, to the clock
| Carlos was a traitor to the cause. He
was TO die. 1t is the will of my father, and
| every door is guarded should 1 weaken.
/ Behind that door (pointing to the one lead
| ing into the new part of the house, stands
I my father. To him I must go alone-and
| not before five minutes to II. Were you to
| leave this room they would shoot you for
Carlos-the same height the same
clothes" She chung desperately to his
arm, while he looked down at her uncer-
| tainly. 1t seemed SO like baliy nonsense he
was saying to himself.
Then once more she looked at the clock.
Another minute had been licked on. She