The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-01-09
CHAPTER v.-contInued.

| CHAPTER v.-Continued,
In his anxiety he was on the verg
OF rushing out and trusting to an,
convenient pretext, when a boy cam
hurrypg past him, whistling as h,
wen, and homeward bound. Here wa
the spy's opportunity, and he &C
cepted 1t. He hailed the lad, and il
pigeon English told him he wanted tt
get aboard the vessel If he could.
well, you can't do It," came thu
response. IF you wanted to git on
why didn't you run after the ship in
stead of stopping me?"
Where she go?" queried Seigo.
"Oh, you want to know where's she's
going now, do you, Mr.. Chink. Well, a
fellow on the dock said she was goine
to Guantanamo, and that means you
couldn't go on her If you wanted to-"
Then with derisive laugh he took
up the strain of his melody at exactly
the same place he had left on when
accosted, thrust his hands into his
pockets and continued his way.
Se!go was elated. That accounted
for it, then! The United States was
playing some crafty game, using its
Cuban naval station as base; was
conducting some experiment or out
fitting some strange expedition with
necessities that could not be obtained
in the big island to the south. The
only perturbing thought was that the
navy, instead of being inactive, had
some secret task on hand which had
been taken away from home stations.
He decided he must return to Wash
ington with this single strand of in
formation and there endeayor to Sc
cure others. He watched the lights
of the ship grow dim, and then as
furtfvely as he had come returned to
the home Of the laundryman.
The latter counted his pay and won
dered why his guest departed for the
north on the early train of that morn
ing. Seigo offered no explanations for
his cratic action, and as he travelled to
Washington he was in gleeful mood.
In due time he arrived, and once more
ensconced himself in his headquarters,
hoping within few days to gain more
complete knowledge He was handi-
capped in his quest, however, because
ne had no actual means OF access to
government circles where such data
as he wished might best be obtained.
But again accident favored him, and
again 1t was in the night when he
sailed forth.
The hour was late when Meredith
brought him word that several visi-
tors had called upon the president,
and, not trusting to others a mission
SO important, he took upon himself the
task OF spying upon the great white
building where the ruler of the coun-
try lived. From the darkness of his
alleyway he emerged into a broader
street, when an automobile went
chugging past him, and then, just as
It came beneath the rays of an arc
light, face leaned to the window, an |
arm was extended evidently for the
purpose of shaking the ash from a
cigar, and Seigo shrank back. in the
shfvering white rays he recognized as |
one OF the passengers In the machine |
no less parsonage than the presi-
lent, and with him was another man |
whom he believed to be the secretary
II war.
From down the road came the sound
II another motor, which in turn
rapidly along, taking the
'ame direction as the previous car.
'eigo was not certain, but conjectured
hat within it were other officials, and.
icing man of action, unhesitatingly
lashed after 1t, neared the closed tom
leau, and after breathless run sue
eeded in swinging himself to the
prings behind, maintaining his place
" clutching the overhang of the fen.
ers.
Away through the outskirts he rode.
earring nothing from within and in
onstant danger of falling of his pre-
arious perch. The car gained speed
ntil his peril was great, for to be
brown would be to receive certain in
lry His fingers were strained con.
uisiyely In their effort to hold on.
nd once he was almost cast off by a
harp declivity in the road. Now he
ouid only trust to chance that the
utomobile on which he rode was fol.
wing that of the president; but as
Tile after mile was reeled off without
sight OF the other machine on either
and, he felt assured that the party
as all one. He leaned out across
ne of the great rubber tires and
ee-ed ahead Tn WHARF NOM "a