The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-30

Jefe in your behalf and uphold the
rights granted by our sacred constitu-
uon! And they walked out.
Curious to see the result, | trailed
along quietly a few yards in the rear,
still followed by my candidate for a
deaf mute.s home. On arrival at the
barracks l found half Manizales as
sembled to witness the departure and
a line of soldiers with fixed bayonets
drawn up on the near side of the street
to keep the popuIace back
On the opposite sidewalk | spied the
Jefe silently observing the progress of
the preparations. He was a little man.
attired. like his second, in khaki, but
possessed of a rather good humored
countenance, and noting this my hopes
rose a trifie.
The prefect started to cross the
street, but a small soldier, who could
not have been over Is, carrying a
Mauser twice as big as himself, stepped
in the way.
Cant pass here!" he said briefly.
What" snorted the majestic ono
putting with Importance. DO you
know who l am? The prefect of the
province! Out of my Way!" And he
stepped forward.
But alas for the dignity of the con-
stitutioni The youthful soldier re-
VerSed arms and the butt of his riffs
came thumpi against the projects
breakfast. The assaulted one bowed,
involuntarily, and backed to the side
walk, whence he shouted TO the general
to observe the iniquitous proceeding u
his hireling
The general paid no more attention
TO him than he did to the cool morning
breeze. while the soldiers leaning out
of the barracks windows jeered upon
the citizens grinned. The outraged Off
cial made a few remarks in a loud
voice anent the 'tramping down of our
liberties by these satraps of Bogota,"
but receiving scant appreciation from
the crowd and more howls from the
soldiers, he disappeared, doubtless in
search of q trago of anisado to repair
the damage to his internal economy.
The battalion was now almost ready
to leave and. growing desperate. I re-
solved to make one last attempt to re-
cover my Sequestrated property. AS L
started across the street the same tiny
soldier tried to obstruct my passage,
but L swore at him in English, and ere
he recovered from his surprise 1 had
gained the side of the Jefe. 1 saluted
him with all the courtesy 1 had left
and. realizing the value of time, said
briefly:
General. 1 am an American. This
morning your men broke open the sta
bic in which my four mules were hous-
ed and seized them. These mules are
my personal property 1 have already
demanded their return of your second,
the colonel but was refused. l now
wish to say that. if they are not handed
over to me at once. l shall telegraph
fuh particulars to our minister in Bo-
gotta, apd somebody will pay heavily"
The general replied, quietly:
There is no need to threaten; you
may have your mulesi'
AT such a totally unexpected an
swer l could only gasp for a moment:
then the colonel, who had overheard
the conversation, rushed up and cried:
General, if those mules are returned
We cannot leave todayi"
No matter" returned his chief,
sharply. You had no right to hold
them and you know it, Sergeant,
have this gentleman point out his
mules and deliver them to himl" And
he walked off, while smiled cordially
at the colonel. who did not respond;
in fact, he scowled. l called in Ed
uardo. who had been hanging on the
outskirts of the crowd, watching with
anxious eyes the progress of negotia-
tions, and together we picked out our
animals one by one.
The soldiers seemed to think the af-
fair a good joke on the colonel. and
laughed with us as they took off the
heavy cargoes and placed the halters
in our hands. As we passed out the
crowd, which included several of my
friends. cheered us wildly, and we held
triumphant procession all the way
back to the hotel
The battalion must have scooped in
some other poor chaps mules, for they
left that afternoon
Thus peacefully closed another
threatening International episode.