Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-04-17

returned the salute OF Il sentinel stand
ing near the captain generals door and
entered. Tacon sat alone at large
table writing. He looked up at the in
truder and asked sternly who he was
that thus entered unannounced.
lone who has important information
to impart TO the government"
How did you pass the guardT'
THAT was not difficult"
"What is your business with me-"
"You have offered n reward for in
formation concerning the Smugglers."
"Ah, That is your business!"
"You have offered a pardon to him
who will guide your ships to the SNUG
glers' hiding places
Il have"
'And a special reward for the cap
ture of their leader, Marti.'
Yes
u have come to give you the infor
nation you desire"
well, 1 am ready to hear it."
First. have l your word that you
will give me n free pardon?''
81 will"
''But my crimes in the eye of the law
are great. Do you still promise?"
IF you perform your part, / will per
form mine"
Even if l am leader among the
contrabandiSts:'
Yes" said Tacon after a moments
thought; ''even if you are leader"
"Excellency, L know that you are
man of honor. Had l not felt perfect
confidence In your word | should not
have ventured to thus come here"
"You can trust me-
"Well. then, / will not further delay.
The man for whom you have offered
the double reward is kere.
You are
"Captsin Marti."
At the mention of this dreaded name
Tacon cast his eyes upon n brace of
pistols lying on his desk. Marti drew
a pair of similar weapons and, step
ping forward, laid them on the desk.
Il have no further use for these he
said.
Very WELL" said the governor. Il
will keep my word, but for the present
you must remain under guard"
Il am willing, your eXcellency."
The next day Spanish warship of
light draft steamed out of the har-
government officers to the rendezvous
of the smugglers. But the smugglers
were already warned. Not one of them
was captured. Nevertheless, the con-
trabandist organization was broken up,
which was. after all, the main object.
Aarti returned in the ship and was
summoned before the governor, who
said to him:
"Since you have performed your part
of the agreement l will perform mine.
Here is pardon for all past offenses.
And here is an order on the treasurer
for
"The reward do not claim" said the
ex-smuggier, putting up his hand depre-
eatingly.
What do you mean?' asked the as
tonished governor
II will make you proposition. The
treasury Is poor, while 1 am rich. In
place of the reward give me the ex-
elusive right to fish on the coast Of
Cuba. will at my own expense build
market which shall be credit to the
city of Havana and which at the end
of twenty-five years shall revert to the
government"
The governor took time to consider
the proposition and finally accepted it.
Mard at once entered upon the work
ing of his privilege. Sending for his
old associates, he employed them all.
and they made more money under the
law than they had made while con-
stantly taking great risks, besides be-
Ing paid for any losses they sustained
while Marti was leading the govern
ment to their haunts. Marti knew
where the best fish were to be caught
and supplied the city of Havana well
and with great profit to himself He
built the market, as he had agreed, and
ut the expiration of twenty-fiv years
1t reverted to the government
MART. VINO grew very rich. obtained
special theatrical privileges in Havana
and built the Tacon theater
MARK ANDERSON.