The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-04-02

If you should see bronzed men or
men with soldierly bearing frequenting
certain office in a small street in
San Francisco, and If you knew who
the men were or what they represent
ed, you could predict to a nicely the
. next Central American revolution, Its
leaders, and it's outcome. That is be-
cause San Francisco is the place where
everything commences, and many have
their end in the way Of troubles in the
"sister republics
Three years ago the present govern
ment of Guatemala missed overthrow
by just hair. AS the man who had
been financing the insurrectiOn said
bitterly when the bottom fell out: eff
it weren't for women there'd be no
revolutions, and if it weren't for a
woman every revolution would be sue
cessful." He said this to the man who
knows more about troubles political
where there's money and fighting than
any other man in the world. This
man nodded his head with smile not
often seen on his spare face. The
financier didn't like the look, and he
growled some more: "They might at
least have let me hold the government
up for my expenses before calling the
whole business off. I could have got
everything back and interest on my
venture"
The other man kept on smiling.
"Thats the way you fellows look at it.
II you can't win, sell out at a good
price. But that don't win in the long
run. One woman can spoil the
scheme"
Two years before this a young wom-
an landed from the Pacific Mail steam
er City of Para, and registered at the
Palace as from Mazatlan. She had u
little maid who giggled and talked
Mexican. some luggage with Vienna
and Paris hotel labels over it, and the
manner Of deposed queen. She sign
ed herself as "Srta Maria Rivas."
| In due time Senorita Rivas left the
hotel for quiet lodgings on Vallejo
street. But before she disappeared
from the court, gentle-mannered old
man with knotty hands, called and in
trOduced companion. "This Is the
young man spoke to your excellency
about. I present Senior Thomas Vim
cent" Then the gray-haired man slip
ped away, and Thomas Vincent was
left locking down into the dark face
Of Maria Rivas. He did not know why
he was there, nor who she was, nor
even the name Of the man who had in
troduced him. But he was not sorry.
She let him stand while she glanced
him over. Vincent drew himself up at
her somewhat insolent manner, and
was rewarded by smile.
/ "Will you accept an invitation To
supper tonight If I press you very
hard?" she asked him in smooth En-
glish
Vincent turned. his eyes about the
court. Then he looked down at her
again, and nodded CURLY. Certainly.
madam" He flushed, and went on,
"But I failed to catch your name. I
am awfully embarrassed"
She got to her feet, and held ont a
slender hand. II am Miss Mary RI
vas," she said, quietly. my father
was formerly the president of Hon
duras. went to school at Bryn Mawr.
and I met your sister there. That's
why, when I found you were In San
Francisco, asked to have you brought
and introduced"
Vincent looked at her very soberly.
almost pityingly. Then he offered her
his arm, and they went into the SUD-
per-room, where everybody turned to
watch their progress, knowing neither
Of them.
When she removed to the fiat on
Vallejo street, Miss Mary Rivas told
Vincent to come and take the first din
ner with her. well christen the new
place." she. said, gayly, land, besides.
hope you'll find that I'm really Amer
lean and can COOK
That night at 8 o'clock when the
Mexican maid had departed gigpline
to the kitchen. Vincent's hostess leaned
forward over the table at which they
sat, and rested her elbows on 1t. Her
bare arms framed her face in a sudden
way that took Vincent's heart out Of
Its regular beat. He leaped to his feet