Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-05-29


the person OF the President and all cash
and securities on the premises: no killing
II 1t could be avoided, but ON the other
to put the President out of the way at
once, as a precautionary measure, but
strongly opposed this proposal, and, find
Ing the Signorina was absolutely infex-
ible on the same side, he yielded.
l had strong desire to be present at
this midnight surprise, but another duty
called for my presence. There was
gala supper at the barracks that even
ing, to commemorate some incident or 9th
er In the national history. and was to be
present and to reply to the toast OF THE
Commerce Of Aureataland." My task
was, at all hazards. to keep this party go
ing till the Colonel's job was done. when
he would appear at the soldiers quarters.
bride In hand, and demand their ale
glance. Our knowledge of the character
Of the troops made - regard the result
as a certainty, II once the President were
O prisoner and the dollars before their
eyes. The Colonel and the troops were
to surround the officers messroom, and
offer them life and money, or death and
destruction. Here again we anticipated
their choice with composure. The army
was then to be paraded in the Piazza, the
town overawed or converted, and, behold,
the Revolution was accomplished
The success of this design entirely de-
pended on its existence remaining dead
secret from the one man we feared, and
on that one man being found alone and
unguarded at II o'clock on Friday night.
II he discovered the plot, we were lost.
If he took 1t into his head to attend the
supper, our difficulties would be greatly
increased. At this point we turned to the
signorina, and 1 said, briefly:
"This appears to be where you come in,
Signorina. Permit me to invite You to
dine with his excellency on Friday exen-
ing at precisely"
"You mean." she said slowly, shat I
am to keep him at home on Friday"
EYES," said I. rs there any difdculty7"
II do not think there Is great Difficult.
IT," she said, 'but don't like It; II
looks so treacherous."
OF course it did. I didn't like her do
ing it myself, but how else was the Pres
ident to be secured?
Rather late to think Of that, isn't
it?" asked McGregor, with a sneer.N "A
revolution won't run on high emotional
wheels"
"Think how he jockeyed you about the
money" said I, assuming the part Of the
tempter.
by the way" said McGregor, "it's I'M
derstood the Sgnorina enters into pos.
session of the Presidents country villa,
: isn't it?"
Now my poor Signorina had longing
for that choice little retreat, and between
resentment for her lost money and de-
sire for the pretty house, she was sore
beset. Left to herself, believe she would
have yielded to her better feelings and
spoiled the plot.
"IIl do it, IL you'll swear not TOTO
hurt him." she said.
1--WE promised already" replied the
Colonel, sullenly: II won't touch him, un.
less he brings it on himself. If he tries
to kill me- suppose needn't bare my
breast to the blow?"
"No, no." l interposed; II have a re-
gard for his excellency, but we must not
let our feelings betray us into weakness.
He must be taken-alive and we'll, il
possible-but in the last resort, dead or
alive"
"Come, that's more like sense" said
the Colonel, approvingly.
The Signorina sighed, but opposed US
no longer.
Returning to ways and means we ar.
ranged for communication in case of need
during the next three days without the
necessity Of meeting. My position as the
center Of financial business in Whiting
ham made this easy; the passage of bank
messengers to and fro would excite little
remark, and the messages could easily be
so expressed as to reveal nothing to an
uninstructed eye. 1t was further agreed
that on the smallest hint Of danger reach
ing any one Of Us, the word should at
once be passed to the others, and we
should rendezvous at the Colonel's
"ranch," which lay some seven miles from
the town. Thence, in this lamentable
case, escape would be more possible.
"And now" said the Colonel, "if Mar.
tin will hand over the dollars, l think
that's about ALL"
ITO BIO continued.)