Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-10
THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE.
Bv ROBERT AITKEN.
Copyright, 1907. The 1.A. Mcbride Company

OF difficult position but all he said was.
viii you send word to them that I am
here, with tempting terms to offer?"
Whatever disappointment the vice presi-
dent may have experienced at his SUI
perior's acceptance of situation compli-
Gated to the last degree, he managed to
dissemble it, and took steps to comply
with the charge laid on him. sending
word to the seething camp without that
they must still postpone the execution
of their mutual plan and in its place take
part in further conference.
Whereat the revolutionary leaders
caviled to such purpose that his excel
lency had no option but to go with them
since they refused point blank to show
sufficient faith in his safe conduct as re-
garded coming to him. He went forth
fearlessly with small escort. and un-
armed. The common people cheered him
gates. and Don Quentin. left waiting In
the palace. cursed them for their pains.
He had to learn yet. what Ybarra knew
full we'll, the fickleness of popular al
legiance.
When the insurgents saw the Tiger
ride through their lines as calm and I'M
| concerned to outward seeming as if they
had been his best friends. they, too. ex-
perienced a change of feeling. single
bullet would have rid them Of the burden
| they were there to strike from off their
shoulders. but the mans cold daring
overawed them once again. as it had
often done before. They let him pass un-
scathed, and he dismounted at the spot
set by their chiefs for the conference,
and these then gathered about him with
grave courtesy. SO that the opportunity
was lost.
His excellencys cue in their case was
an easy intimacy such as, coming from
one of his high station. could not but
please them. He told them frankly If
not altogether truthfully, the plans that
NJ bni
| common country by means of an alliance
with his wealthy cousin. He multiplied
her fortune many times and turned it in
to local currency for their edifcation
They gasped with impotent establishment
at the idea that a mere woman should
have sole control Of such unbounded
wealth. He pointed out to them how they
had hampered him. by their ill-advised
maneuvers' In his attempt to bring the
matter to head: how they had inter-
fered at every turn to his discontinue
and therefore to the advantage of those
foreigners who had been bold enough to
desecrate the sacred soil Of San Benito,
bearing weapons. He played upon their
were ready to apologize for all their ac-
tions. and ended with a plausible appeal
for their assistance to undo the evils thew
themselves had wrought. of course, un-
When he had finished he drew back a
little that they might discuss the case
in all its aspects among themselves, and
made some further friends among the
rank and file grouped in the BACKGROUND
His careless bOnhomie charmed the cut
throat scoundrels who had swarmed to
swell the forces of rebellion: his hints
of a congenial opening for their talents
subject only to their leaders full concur
renee. infiamed their curiosity, tantalized
them. gave them good cause to wonder
whether they were wise to work while
there was money to be made at play such
as he vaguely outlined
A murmur of approval followed him as
he retoined the conclave he had left. and
his eyes narrowed with an inward merrf-
ment over the ease wherewith he was
shaping their rude wills toward his own
ends.
A provisional capitulation was the nres-
ent outcome Of his talent for intrigue
Where there was money to be made the
revolutionists were foster brothers of the
loyalist party. The president might rest
assured that they would aid him to the
uttermost in his attempt to snatch such
prize as the Donna Beatriz Ybarra
from the grasp of a greedy alien. Her
bounden duty was to marry him. and so
enrich her native land. Since she had
proven contumelious they would interiors
on his behalf.
And that was all he wanted with them.
THE American and the two women
with him must be in hiding somewhere
between here and the pass" he said. with
certainty. I'm any case they cannot
cross the summit. which Is guarded. II
you will scour the country till you cap
ture them I'll send fresh force to retake