The Washington times., 1911-04-21
CHAPTER XXIV-(Continued.) }

drag, they paused before q
building no different, to the eye un-
trained, from any of the neighboring
houses. Salvador, with stealthy IN
spection of the street to see that
none of the police were at hand
knocked in a peculiar manner.
"If the senor," he said, will with
draw a pace or two, l Will explain
matters to Miguel. Foreigners are re-
garded suspiciously in these days.
when any one might be spy ot the
presidents Not that Miguel SYM
pathizes with the insurgents, senior.
but he would not incur his nelghoors
ill-wiu by being suspected OF enter
tanning a gringo."
"Oh, all right" agreed Daniel
He began to regret having hlreu tniS
nice young man, whose speeSStHiHHs StiH Mai Mai
harm could the fellow mean! surely
Haigh was not worth the ropolns;
The door was opened a cautious
inch, and the hooked nose ol d Noi4
protruded beyond its edse. ,,tol,
''Oh, it's you, eh? you come quick
az love nv uncle" replied Salvador.
He whispered in the ear OF the man
for a moment or two they conyersed
So Then, calling to Haigh to follow
him. Salvador entered. The man, eVl-
DENLY Miguel, closed the door quickly
behind Daniel and barred II.
THE room was pitch dark and very
close. smelling vilely of garlic and the
essentials of Spanish cookery. Miguel
leading the way, Daniel followed
through a second doorway and found
might breathe with comfort. 1t was
also dark; but in room at the fur-
ther end a candle CLEANED upon a
table, casting lean rays through a
small window. A man, low-proWeo:
his face suffused with the blush OF
alcohol, and stupid with over-indul-
Kence, sat there smoking a vile cigar.
Salvador stood over him, hand upon
shoulder, speaking earnestly. Inc
1runkard nodded comprehension.
= "Oh, aye, very pretty, very neat,
nephew 1 always said you would be
q credit to the family"
BE quiet, you old fool!'
Miguel and Daniel entered.
This is the gentleman OF whom l
spoke. He wishes to rest undisturoed
until l have executed a small com,
mission for him; and he wants bread
and wine"
THE senior is welcome" said Miguel.
He formally presented Daniel with
himself, his family, his house, and all
that 1t contained, in high sounding
Spanish phrases. Wine we nave not,
senor would condescend to taste. But
a drop OF aguardiente. eh?'
ANYTHING" murmured Daniel, al
most fainting, so long as 1t will put
life into me-"
Miguel brought glasses and a flask
encased in straw, from which he POUR
ed a brimming measure OF the thin,
pale yellow liquor. Daniel took the
stuff. well-nigh pure alcohol; made
him choke and cough violently; but
It served his purpose. reviving him
somewhat
eyes, that's the nearest thing to fire
water ] ever tried-eNcept the pain
killer my mother used TO dose me
with. Whe-ew!"
"More?" suggested Salvador.
NO! I'll wait until the hereafter
for another dose of that. Give me a
place to lie down. and go for Curtice-
Senor Curtice, 10 Paseo Nuevo."
81 go in but one moment" replied
my uncle. Rest peacefully, senior; I
will attend to your. errand without
The man Miguel took Daniel to
room on the opposite side Of the
patio; the place was tiny and bare.
but boasted a cot, which Haigh was
grateful to accept. He sank upon 1t
with sigh, and Miguel left him.
and had he done so, he would not
have walked in Guayana. or. for the
matter of that, in this world. He was
worn enough. beyond. doubt, to have
fulfilled the expectations OF Salvador:
but then Salvador, being accustomed
70 his land, had reckoned without the
host of f1eas. And Daniel was a
stranger tender. juicy stranger:
they had sharpened their proboscides
upon native hides for many years. and
they had little trouble in piercing the
delicate cuticle of the American. He
perceived promptly why 1t Is that in
Anehuac the human thumb is nicely
To 1aG@ ,1,,Ir RV,r
He writhed and scratched in vain at
tempts to Withstand their attacks and
continue his repose: but in the end he
capitulated upconditionally and re-
disturb hts host. he sat himself down
upon the ground and rested his back
against the wall.
Again he might have dozed but for
Eventually, with a thought of an
other glass Of aguardiente-which
seemed not SO bad in effect-he rose
and made his way toward the lighted
room.
Now. the shoes which Daniel wore
had been given him by Admiral Hen
messy; they were deck shoes, rubber
soled, noiseless-for which he may
thank providence. AS he neared the |
window. he was surprised to see that |
Salvador had not gone; an earnest |
confabulatiOn was in progress, Miguel |
speaking. Mr.. Haigh paused; II might |
De as we'll to listen Tor a moment. |
And then he was glad that he had |
done So
"Rojas himself schemes for the
presidency" observed Miguel
AYE, and he is like to get it,.
The voice, thick-tongued, was that |
of the drunkard
t"And in that case you'll have a hold |
upon him., commented Salvador. |
The reward, though large. is nothing |
to what you can get by blackmail"
said
Better tell him the whole story, so !
advised. There's nothing like a !
young head, in matters such as this, .
for seeing clearly
Yes, go ahead. BY the time you're |
finished, the gringo will be sound .
asleep"
Thus encouraged. Nimenes told his .
tale. His patois, rendered heavy with
drink, was almost unintelligible to
Daniel; yet he managed to get at
some of it's meaning, and thereafter
interest sharpened his wits and his
II seemed that Ximenes, sober for
once, had taken his coach to the sta
tion to meet the train arriving al |
half-past one on a morning a few |
days gone. Four persons. one Of .
whom he recognized as the Senior
Rojas, merchant of San Diego. A |
second he heard called Lazard. There |
was one other man, and a woman,
veiled. Lazard clutched her arm
tightly as they madesfor the cochero's |
eQuipage. Rojas had driven a bargain
with Ximenes to drive them to the