The Washington times., 1911-11-29
CHAPTER XIV (Continued).


CHAPTER XIV (Continued).
<<D ITHER you will relieve me of
49, the presence OF Senior Con-
merton, or you will direct
him to, put into execution
your threat to have me assassinated.
The privileges have granted to you
and your friends and the verbal agree
ment which / am about to incorporate
In this letter to you will not revoke,
80 long as you restrict your attention
to your duties as chief engineer.
We have talked much together, and
think We understand one another. I
viii deal with you fairly, but hereafter
! will be Governor Of valo in fact as
well as in name. While I am writing
the letter you will have ample time to
He turned abruptly and started of in
the direction OF the companionway that
led to his cabin. At nod from Spar
ni Left nnsion to simself, .0'sper spsrhawk paced
thoughtfully to and fro, as the gov
ernor had done. He saw that he was
confronted with a crisis. Don Antonio
was playing his last card: In plain
words, he had demanded his liberty or
his death.
Despite the governors recent geniality
and apparent sincerity Sparhawk's dis
tsust S1 the s man was in degree
aware that Don Antonio's conduct
would be dominated by self-interest
and that as soon as he was set at lib
erty the Americans might be made to
feei the power that was his in the
southern districts Of Quincatan.
Bat was 1t not possible that the Gov
ernor suspected that It was to his in
terest to cultivate their friendship, for
less was still in the United States.
placing Calistar bonds, and Don An
tonic naturally would hesitate to do
anything that would excite The suspic-
ores had completed his task. Sparhawk X
was confident that his references to his
relations with those investors and tc
the leakage of news from Valo had not
Given his liberty, Don Antonio nigh,
such a position as they had succeeded
n putting him; Taking a leaf from from
muzzles at the heads of the Americans
and attempt to compel them to send
favorable reports of Calistar conditions
to American investors.
On the other hand, not only was Don
Antonio Portilla an official of the Calls
tar Company, and as such one Of the
employers Of Sparhawk and his com.
panions, but he was governor Of one OF
MOS will was the law uf Valo, and Vale
was isolated from the outside world. II
some respects Moreno was similarly
situated. for Sparhawk had been In.
formed that 1t had neither a postal no'
q telegraph service.
But foreign vessels entered its por,
and by means of these It was possible
10 get into communication with Sar
Felicidad and the United States. Beine
here, he could not offer the same jus'
tification for his detention Of the gov
ernor that he was able to offer for hii
action in Valo.
he NJ a. al
ernor now, what would be his defense
Though he was acting In the interest
of the American bondholders. sucn ac.
ton was entirely voluntary. The Calls
a. civil eneineer. @ sis and had w furnishef FINISHED
transport alton for himself AMI party.
He was not legally entitled to any
other recognition on the part of the
ploye. 1t was plain that whatever Law
there was in Qmncatan was on the side
Of Don Antonio.
sparhawk knew that hereafter Dor
cause he feared the effect of the com
munichtion of his suspicious to In
vestors in the United States. He wa
reasonably certain, however, that wha
might have happened in Valo would no
happen here.
The gove, NOR had passed through tn,
period when his blind rage might hav'
resulted In en- order for the death of tn,
Americans. No matter how great hi
anger against them might be in tn,
future, he was scarcely likely to .ubjec
them to violence.
There was not the slightest doubt IL
Sparhawk's mind that Don Antonio in
tended to misapply the funds that hat
been collected by QueXores in tn
United states. and the engineer wa
resolved that he would use every means
in his power to thwart such pur
rose. But it was clear that, for tim
at least, the fight must be diplomatic
rather than physical
Don Antonio, by granting the conces
sions which Sparhawk had asked, wa
now in a position to assert that he ha
manifested every evidence of good faith
Naturally the governor would be dis
inclined to reveal the manner in whic
these concessions had been wrung fror
him, for such an admission would re
suit in loss Of prestige among thos
who stood In awe of him.
1t was equally clear that it would b
impolttic for sparhawk to make an
would be admitting that they were oh
tanned by duress, and the laws OF near
ly every country in the world 'provid
that contracts and all other forms G
agreement made under duress are to b
regarded as void.
Once. while he was engaged in hi
analysis of the situation, a thought q
Barbara came to him. What efret
would the release of Don Antonio HAY
on her affairs?
He reflected that Don Antonio ha
seemed not only willing but anxiou
that Barbara should be transferre
from the Gerfalcon to the vessel boun
for Allariz, which they had met onl
few hours before. Having failed I
make her his wife, he would now b
perfectly satisfied to see her return
England, for in that event whateve
influence she might have over the Gosh
ans was not likely to be exercised.
At length the sound of advanc.r
footsteps apprised him of the return
Don Antonio and Connerton. The goN
ernor advanced stolidly. and, bowih
graveiy. placed in Sparhawk's hand
the letter he had been writing.
Without speaking Sparhawk read II
lines carefully. All the concession
which Sparhawk had asked were full
set forth and granted in the langual
OF the letter.