The Washington times., 1911-04-10


nifying them, so that they gain un-
natural size and color. In the black
mirror of the Swaters their Tenectlons
vie with the wave-shattered prlsmalc
trails from the harbor lights. The
breath of the blue-black night is bland
silky and warm and sweet az a seno-
rita's throat.
Waves slap and anchor-chains creak,
the ships bells call to one another
across the waters. If you listen sharply,
a strain of faint music floats upon the
breeze, from the band in the Plaza,
where are the listless crowds, the cafes,
and the statue of the Liberator. Barring
these, It is quiet. The ships toss rest
iessly in the open roadstead. with one
man on deck for an r-watch-the
crews, for the most part, are ashore,
carousing; and the deep, -monotonous
thunder of the surf upon the break
water is but mighty background to
the silence.
There is no harbor proper; but the
roadstead Is broad, the holding is good,
and partiar shelter is given by the
tkon, erected during the latter part of
Malone's reign. So, too. we're the mas
sive quays of stone which project into
the Swallowing waters, providing wharf,
age. The town itself, San Diego de Ana
huac, is scattered along the narrow
strip of sand which separates the sea
from the base Of the mountains. 1t Is
an unpleasant place Of many evil
smells, Of intense heat, populated only
by those who cannot find other homes,
or by those whose business interests de-
c1and their presence in the port.
Into this roadstead of San Diego, then.
at about II o'clock of such a night,
sneaked the Miranda j., showing no
lessly as might be, far out from the
shore. The twinkling lights of the city
seemed very small and far away to
those on deck; the beacon on the end OF
the breakwater was very near at hand.
There was much to be done ere dawn
many things in which the authorities,
the commandant of the little old fort,
and the customhouse officials would be
likely to take a most vigorous and an
noying interest.
II was consideration for their peace of
mind, perhaps, that accounted for the
manner of the vessels arrival 1t was
better that her arrival should not be
known to them until the dawn should
disclose her swinging idly at her cable.
BY that time she would have become a
peaceful coasting trader. Her manifest
would show that she was the Martha j.;
master, Tompkins; owner, J. Smith, OF
Norfolk, Virginia; out OF New Orleans;
destinations, San Diego, La Guayra, and
Cayenne; with a mixed cargo, including
some stationary gas engines consigned
TO Sanchez y RoJas, San Diego; one
passenger, D. Haigh, Of New York, now
III in his berth with coast fever. A
highly commonplace and most mislead-
ing document, that manifest, its inno-
cent reading the result of some hours
of hard labor on the part Of LaZard and
Mr.. Tompkins.
AS matter OF record, II may be said
that the ship had delayed several days
IN the little bayou near Biloxi. 1t was
lonely there, and none came near her
save upon the night OF her advent, a
party Of teamsters, who hastily unload
ed upon her decks four shining Gatling
guns, one thousand Mauser rifles, and
two hundred thousand rounds OF ammu
milton, the whole nicely boxed and
labeled as gas-engines, steel cables, bi-
cycle parts, and what not.
The engines, as before stated. were to
go to Messrs. Sanchez Rojas, of San
Diego, but the cables, bicycle parts, and
the rest were variously consigned to La
Guayra and Cayenne-which places, be
sure, they would never see. For there
is a little adobe village some thirty
miles north of San Diego, where the Rio
de Manoah empties into the Caribbean.
and where arms in cases, or out of them
for that matter, might be unobtrusively
landed. Thither would the Miranda ].
shape her course, once she had lefTthe
Eas-englnes in San Diego. where they
would do the most good In case OF an
uprising.
This was a very beautiful plan: 1t was
Iazard's, and he was quite proud of 1t.
That anything should occur to make II
miscarry would be a great disappoint-
ment TO MS cneer1ul SOUL
During the voyage from Biloxi, II is
doubtful il Norah mad been for two con-
eecutive hours absent from the side of
The sick man. Actuated not only by the
affection she bore him, but also by the
common humanity that gives aid and
had tended him right faithfully None
other In the ships company gave him
thought. perhaps, save the impotent pair
in the lazaret. who knew nothing Of his
misery and danger. The fever had smit-
ten him in his weakness, and he was
truly in evil case.
The girl was left to her own re-
sources. She levied with unsparfng
chest, knowing, at least, that that would
work for his good. Whisky she pur-
loined from Tompkf1s' store and gave
to Daniel in small doses, thinking thus
the duties of the Chinese cook. and in
the galley prepared dainty little dishes
for the man, to whom, more often than
not, she had to feed them with a spoon,
30 lght-headed he became. And
deliriant, through the hallucinations of
his disordered brain, fresh sorrow came
10 the girl that his high, clean soul
should be SO worthy and yet so love-
Her name was most frequent upon his
lips during this period Of his Illness
There seemed to have been a subiner-
Eence OF all his faculties in his love for
her, his devotion to her interests. And
that which tore her heart as II on a
rack vas the subllmity of his passion,
which, loving greatly, was resigned to
his love to the arms of an
other.
During these long days she came to
know quite well how much she cared
for that other, how thoroughly inter-
tangled with his fortunes her destiny
must be. For the future she dared not
hope; those men whose society she must
suffer daily were bent upon his death.
In some way they would encompass it.
n II should be in their power. And
without Curtice the world would be
empty as a broken eggshell. fat and
dreary as the sun-baked llanos of her
parent country, tasteless as stale water. |
Lacking him. the world would hold
for her naught but the mother church, |
whose wide. compassionate doors all |
ready opened for her. Il
That voyage was to her dream,
wherein she moved and walked and |
talked unknowingly. When at last it |
was ended, and they swung at anchor, !
she did not comprehend. or wonder that I
the rumble Of the engines had ceased.
Coming from Daniers side after hav |
Ing lulled him TO fitful slumber by the
magic of her palm upon his brow,
Horah stepped into the saloon to find
~ nx.1 n o~1