The Washington times., 1911-12-03
CHAPTER XVIII tcontinued).
f<- HEN there are about 7bo Ameri

200 gun-ighters who Dame down here two
weeks ago. Why the don brought them
down even they don't seem to know.
They find life agreeable enough, though.
They lave no work to do. except to
shoot one another UP for practice now
and then. /.
Before they had been here three days
there wasn't bottle of whisky left In
the town: Then they began to expert
canaso-wlth the result that most of
them are of their feed, and their nerves
are in such a state that they are afraid
to shave their own faces."r
Once more Hallam stopped suddenly
and regarded Connerton dubiously.
You haven't come down here to join
that crowd?" he asked quickly.
Connerton smiled and shook his head.
1T may fall to mis- lot to handle
them, said Sparhawk refectively. He
paused, then went IN: But do you
mean to say these fellows really don't
know why they are here?'
"Oh! they have their suspicious. They
know they are down here to aght some
In the air when 1t comes to figuring on
the people they are to tackle, Some say
they are going to stack up against the
Coshans. and there are even rumors Of
'In the crowd are two pretty WE'LL
known soldiers Of fortune-Dave McRae
and Col. Luke Langram. q couple Of
stormy petrels who make South Ameri-
can revolutions their speciality. They
don't care a continental who they fight
for or against. All they are after Is a
fight. and the side that pays them best
sparhawk chuckled and turned to
Connerton. Better make the acquaint-
ance Of these two gentlemen, Tom."
he said.
Then there are several chaps who
used to be privates In the United
States army" Hallam went on. These
are artillerymen, and IL the stories are
true about some Of the cargoes landed
use for 'em pretty soon.''
What Is said about the cargoes?"
Sparhawk asked.
.Maxims and field guns"
Sparhawks lips were compressed, and
he and Connerton exchanged Significant
glances. Sparhawk thrust a hand into
an inside pocket OF his coat and drew
out two carefully folded papers. One OF
.Hallam. there Is my commission as
chief engineer OF the Calistar Railroad
Company" he said. Look 1t over"
Haliam read 1t carefully and nodded
b. It's 1.s,,aa al right as far as can see,"
NOW, run your eyes over this"
It was the letter given to him by. Don
That puts you all to the good" said
Hallam after he had read It.
Very well. then. Now. my first act
as chief engineer will be to ask you for
clean.cut Americans
Hsliam shook his head dubiously. 1T
need all the likely men I've got now,
sir; but II you must have 'em, why
give giv me me requisition for them and
mo. I don't want to give you a
requisition for them, for I don't want
anyone who Is working in Don An
missing from your crowd"
interests!" Haliam repeated, looking at
sRarhswR sImf sbsh,S Squizzically You're against
II am down here in the interest OF the
persons who are putting up the money
to build the road" said Sparhawk
These persons are American Investors
their money that will pay salaries and
will purchase the materials that we
need to put this road through"
Americans, eh?" Hallam muttered.
al All are Americans: Ann II the money
as the investors expect 1t will be. your
men and mine will be paid on the nail
and materials will come down here
faster fast. than than we na can use them IT, how,
stake revolution, our time and =
regulations we have made as men who
put through all they undertake will go
Hallam was looking keenly at the
'"If President Munez beats Don An
tonic out. IT naturally follows that Don
Antonio will clear out of Quincatan
low-countrymen's money sparhawt
every dollar he can get to ciinch his
hold on the people, for Munez probably
will come back at him.
''He has agreed to pay several mill
lions 10 the Coshans for the labcr they
rave performed. If he doesn't paw. the
road, which passes through the terri
tory occupied ry the Coshans. will have
pass before the Sierra Blancas are
opened for development"
Hallem struked his chin meditatively.
.'whst are You going to do about IT."
81 came down here to nuiid railroad
from San Felicidad to Valo. and I'm
go.ug 10 do it, .t
Where's the money coming from"
''The moneys been put ZIP, tell YOU
''Well, II ron Antonio Is going to use
It for revolution vhere do the fellows
working on tn" road cor'e in9"
''They win come in ahead OF the reyo-
luton. In the interests of American in
vcstors and American workingmen.
we've got to get or friend the Don in
such shape that he will manifest the
same good faith tow ard the people who
are paying for this road as we are pre-
pared to do"
"I'm square," said Hallam.
so am ]. and so are the friends I've
brought down here With me, and as
long as Don Antonio acts on the level
we'll have no quarrel with him. This
letter he has given me indicates that
he means to do the right thing. but
he paused.
"Aye, aye! there's always but
when a man sits in judgment on the
promises Of Don Antonio" said Hallam
with a sigh. "Bdt why do you want
these five men of n ineT'
because I have none Of my own to
assign to the work I want them to
undertake. While I intend to take
Don Antonio at his word and assume
that he means to give us all square
deal. I'm not going to let him find
me mapping II he kicks over the
traces.
I'VE must keep in touch with all
that Is going on at Don Antonio $
headquarters in the isolated town of
Valo. We must also be able to keep
in direct communication. with San
Felicidad."
Hallam shook his head gravely
.Pretty big order, that" he muttered.
"There isn't much use in running
wires through. The Coshans don't
like them. and they've even cut Don
Antonio's twice"