The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-12

ALLAO8L speed
Cold with horror at the revolving
deed, I gazed into the dark eyes OF the
murderer. He smiled as he answered
my look and shrugged his shoulders as
if excusing the crime.
A blow for freedom, senhor!' he
announced. in his soft, native patois.
Dom Miguel would be grieved We're
you captured by the police"
Dom Miguel! You know him.
''Assuredly. senior You are the
new secretary. Otherwise you would
not be so foolish as to demand a ticket
to Cuyaba-the seat of the revolution.
Il begin to understand - I said, after
a moments thought. You are of the
police ?"
Sergeant Marco, senior; at your
service. And have ventured to kill
our dear lieutenant in order to insure
your safety. I am sorry" he added,
gently touching the motionless form
that lay between US; 1.-The lieutenant
was a good comrade-but a persistent
royalist."
Where are you taking me?7 II
ITO a suburban crossing, where you
may catch the Matte Crosse train
And you"
Il? I am in no danger, senior. It
is you who have done this cruel deed
and you viii escape. The driver-d
true patriot-wiH join me in accusing
YOU
nodded. my horror of the ira gedy
growing each moment. Truly this
revolutionary party must be formed
of desperate and interruptions men,
who hesitated at no crime to advance
their interests. If the royalists were
tured into a nest of adders. And it
was the thought of Valcour's confessed
purpose to murder me on ShipbOard
that now sealed my lips from a pro-
fffc Hnad n hp
laid upon my shoulders.
Presently the wagon slowed up,
stopping with a jerk that nearly threw
me from my seat The sergeant
aHghted and assisted me to follow
him.
We were at a deserted crossing. and
the buildings of the city lay scattered
quarter of mile away.
TAKE this flag, senior. The engi-
neer will stop to let you aboard. Fare
well, and kindly convey my dutiful re-
spects to Dom Miguel
AS the wagon rolled away the train
came gliding from the town. and
stepped between the tracks and waved
the flag as directed. The engine slowed
down, stopped a brief instant and I
scrambled aboard as the train recov-
cred speed and moved swiftly aways
For the present, at least, I was safe.
Quite unobtrusively seated myself
in the rear end of the passenger coach
and gazed from the window as we.
rushed along, Vainly endeaVOrfng to
still the nervous beating of my heart
and to collect and center my thoughts
upon the trying situation in which I
found myself Until the last hour I
had been charmed with my mission to
Brazil, imagining much pleasure in
acting as secretary to a great political
leader engaged in q struggle for the
freedom of his country. The sugges-
ton of danger my post involved mad
not frightened me, nor did it even now;
rE.aa ~
cold-bloOded assassination was appar-
entity of little moment to these cOnspir-
atoFs. In less than two hours after
landing at Rio I found myself fleeing
from the police, with a foul and re-
voting murder fastened upon me in
| the name of the revolution! Where
would it all end2 Did Uncle Mel
son thoroughly realize the terrible ma
I ture of the political plot into which
he had so calmly thrust me? Prob
ably not. But already I knew that
Brazil was a dangerous country and
sheltered a hot-headed and violent peo-
pie.
Tt was a long and dreary ride as we
mounted the grade leading to the
tahlelandS of the interior. Yet the
country was beautifully green and
peaceful under the steady glare of the
sun and gradually my distress passed
away and left me more composed.
Neither the passengers nor trainnen
! paid the slightest attention to me, and
although at first looked for arrest al
/ every station where we halted. there
was no indication that the police of
Rio had discovered my escape and
/ flight
Night came at last. and I dozed fit
+ fully during the long hours, although
still too nervous for sound sleep. We
/ brealxfaSted at d way-station, and a
i couple Of hours later, as I was gazing
/ thoughtfully out the window, the con-
/ ductOr aroused me by settling into the
/ seat at my side. He was a short,
pudgy Individual and Wheezed asth-
/ maticalIy with every breath.
II received a telegram at the last
/ station" he confded to me, choking
4 and coughing between the words ut
/ instructed me to arrest an American
senior travelling to Cuyaba. Have you
seen him %
I shivered, and stared back into his
dun eyes.
"Ah. I thought not" he continued
/ with a short laugh. ct is not the first
/ telegram they have sent this trip from
/ Rio, you know: but I cannot find the
/ fellow anywhere aboard. Do you Won
| der2 How can be expected to dis
/ tingufsh an American from a Brazil
/ lamp BAH I am not of the police
began to breathe again. The con-
/ ductor nudged my ribs with his elbow.
These police viii perhaps be at the
station. Cuyaba is the next stop. But
we will slow up, presently, at a curve
/ near the edge OF the forest Were I
the American, and aboard this train, I
would get out there. and wait among
/ the trees in the forest until Dom MI
/ guePs red cart comes along But, al
de MIN, the American is not here ? Eth ?
Thank God for it! But I must leave,
senior. Good day to you"
He hustled away, and at once seiz-
I ed my traveling-bag and slipped out
to the back platform. We slowed up
at the curve moment later. and I
sprang to the ground and entered the
shade of group Of trees that marked
the edge OF the little forest.
+ And there I sat upon a fallen tree
trunk for two weary hours, wondering
what would happen next, and wishing
with all my heart I had never ventured
Z into this intrigue-ridden country. But
b Al