Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-20
By ROBERT AITKEN.

admirineiy., II was half afraid you would
be worried by all this hustle. It's been
such a queer journey since the start.
We've scarcely had time to think"
I'D have felt horribly frightened IL you
hadn't been with u.s." she admitted.
naively: but you're SO brave. Denny"
Me-" he protested. smitten with aston
ishment. MY hearts been In my boots
most Of the time
THE ones you left upstairs in I'D
street,. she asked, roguishly. for he had
told her the story Of that ill-starred ex-
plot.
1.-The ones at your feet now" he replied.
auda ciously. and SO fell silent.
For long time there was naught to
be heard but the dull rumble Of their up
ward progress. the fall OF the whip lash.
the straining of the horses at the traces.
After a seemingly endless struggle they
reached the crest of the high hill they
had been climbing. and. without mo-
ment's pause. plunged downward on a
slope so steep that their pace could not
but be dangerous.
Il haven't felt so intense since the last
time / was at Coney Island" ODare con-
fided to his companion. making light of
the risk to soothe her trembling. He
had possessed himself of her hand.
Shooting the chutes is child's play COM
pared with sliding sideways down the
Andes. Whew. What was that?'
spark had shot across the window.
Another followed 1t. Their speed was
slackening. More sparks and larger.
Slower still. They stopped before a blaz-
ing camp fire upon plateau on the
mountainside.
Men flew to the horses heads. There
were fresh ones waiting to take their
places.
Other men came TO the carriage door
and stood there. eXpectantly.
O'Dare let down the window. which he
had, closed on account Of the dust. and
looked out. They barred their heads and
bowed before him.
eff you think I'm his nibs. you must
guess again. he remarked. in a CONVEX
sational tone. "but if any one OF you can
speak any known language. I'll be glad
of a few words with that one"
You're an American asked a voice
from the background.
II have that honor" answered O'Dare.
Where is his excellency?"
Il can't say for sure, but I'm inclined
to think he'll run slap into US presently"
This information turned into Spanish
by his questioner set the others moving
up the road. and left the interpreter by
himself at the door.
ANY news worth telling?' inquired
that Individual
Where are We?" demanded Dennis.
Half way between La Boca and Alta
Cruz. Didn't you know
Il know next to nothing. Who are our
friends here?''
Camp of the 10th Infantry. guarding
the pass"
Against what?'
oh the revOlutiOnists. What's your
line. anyway? You're one of the presi-
dent s people. aren't your
Not by a long mile. my friend. Thanks
for the compliment. but I'm not that sort
of wild beast. Not by a long mile. I'm
private secretary to Miss Ybarra. and my
names O'Dare. What's yours
The invisible stranger came forward
and leaned over the window sill. looking
intently at Dennis by the fiicketing fire.
light. =
I'm Challoner-of the New York Wire
less he said, in a low tone ''You
don't happen to know man called
Meggs. do yOu?"
Never heard of the gentleman" an
swered O'Dare. very cheerfully.
Sorry l spoke. Look out. Here's the
other carriage"
A grievous jerk and they were off again
with four fresh horBes. but the stranger
chung to the step for a moment
Don't mention Meggs name up above"
he begged. earnestly. ere he dropped of.
Dennis O,Dare snorted wrathfully.
"Why the deuce should ] mention
Meggs name up above.'' he demanded 81
don't suppose the grocer would give me
more TO do than run round South America
mentioning names.
He turned to look out at the gray dawn
creeping down the steep mountainside
and straightway forgot all else In sharing