The Washington times., 1911-03-20
CHAPTER III.
n A EANWHILE, CurtiCe was re-
/" membering.
F He sat wearily listless upon

Square. His legs were stretched straight
out before him, the feet crossed: his
hands were thrust deep into his trou-
sers pockets, counting and recounting,
without his being aware of the fact,
the few coins that remained OF the
scanty store with which he had come to
storm the citadel of success. He was a
trife shabbier a little thinner than
when he had parted with Haigh at the
station. That was a month gone. His
brow was creased with a furrow If
thought-and he was very far away
from the Island of Manhattan. He was
remembering
II was very hot-so hot that men shed
their coats and walked droopingly and
drank many cooling drinks. If they
noticed Curtice at all, they wondered 4
why In the name of common sense ne
wore his waistCoat buttoned. In truth
this was to hide a shirt which was clean
but ragged: but how should they know >
me evening papers were Issuing heat
SAIrSS' at 10 o'clock in the morning
1urther to harrass suffering humanity
with details of deaths during the night
hour
Even in this, the center OF the cItv's
n1e, the roar of traffic seemed to be
hushed to a murmurous hum Over TO
the south pneumatic hammers at work
on great new building drove home the
IlNetS with a metallic StaCCato in Stri-
dent imitation OF the locust. Toward
Fourth avenue, where work was stiII
progressing on the subway, steam drills
raped and ChuGged in Ceaseless rivalry.
10 these were added the rumble of the
cars and the sharp Clangor Of their
gongs. Otherwise the city waited. en-
during in hushed. hreathless laSsitude
2raNlng Tor promised thunder storms.
The asphalt, where the sun struck il
with full force, was soft and yielding
and dazzlingIy white, and above It heat
devils danced.
another open spaCe-a plaza whereOn
the sun beat ferCeIv. II boasted no
benches. no grass, and but a few strag-
Eling. Withering trees: its dust was
inches deep. and. being moved, rose IN
dense, sitting clouds. a few heat-de-
tying chickens scratching in the shade,
3 few NANCY, slumbering hounds. still
fewer barefooted, drowsy sentries IN
were the sole life of the plaza. On its
north side loomed the bare, white bulk
Of the presidents palace. with shutters
closed, expressionless, yet menaCing:
for it was protected by shining brass
cannon and gatlings, their brazen muz-
Zles flaming in the sun. On the three
remaining sides of the plaza were rows
OF shops, bars, restaurants, all as shah
by and dilapidated as is common in
Central and South American cities. At
present they were for the most part
,ueseTleu' lot II was Ine nOuT OF ihe
siesta.
Curtice defied the sun. He had but
just landed, and was on his way. all i'm
patience, to the palace. His instructions
were to interview the president al the
first available opportunity. and he did
not propose to waste any time You are
TO understand that an ordinary spring
revolution was in progress: Curtice be-
ing present in his capacity of CORE
spondent for Western paper
He paused for a moment on the edge
OF the square, mopping his brow, and
then the silence was broken. A man re
splendent in much gold lace and red
cloth came forth hastily from the pal
ace, his sword Clanking upon his spurs
He was raving to heaven, shaking his
clenChed fists up al the sky. He threw
himself upon g fea-bitten pony and
struck an orderly in the face. The SOL
der stepped back, wiping blood from
his mouth. The officer smote his spurs
deep into the tanks of his animal and
came tearing through the dust. making
toward Jimmy.
The fools drunk-and in this climate,
TOO" commented CurtiCe, waiting curl
ously to see what might befan. The man
-on the maddened pony was coming d.
rectly to the spot where he stood.
Must want this place, he added.
'Reckon I'll move out of harm s way.
He was not quite quick enough to
rIease. Out Of the whirl of dust ne saw
The red, angry face OF the officer and
the fash OF an unsheathed sword. The
ish; II sounded insulting. He refined IN
q little and cut at Jimmy with the
eword-with the edge; he neglected to
Seems 10 be something personal
about this" said Jimmy, evading the
blow.
1sthered In the man by the slack of his
coat. ImpulsiveIy and without fore
thought, because he was very angry, he
RScked him in the ribs: then. while he
03oveled in the dust Jimmy beat him
With his own sword-w1th the fat of II:
The officer wept with rage and called
CIrtfce many evil names. Then came
soldiers running and popping away with
rifles, and Jimmy went away hurrledI|.
That they failed TO catch him was due
70 his forethouEht in taking the Off
GERS pony. -,,-.
Iazard. mercenarY and renegade, al
.+hat time welding a tarnished but in
NuentiaI sword in the government serv-
ice For this reason Jimmy failed TO
Interview the president; he judged that
ter1nt His blood and his head were 50
tot tI1at he left the capital, went north
ward. and enlisted with the reNeolutl2I-
Iets II was tough on his paper Whl"n
aF ,ecessity GOV but little copy; but II
VI ~ oerta;nIv most excellent fun. And
80, tho man turned his hand 10 writ
ing. the experience proved or yaine.
Later, a detachment Of reHo,utlomaIn on a
enrprised and captured by government
soldiers led by this same Jose Maria
Tazsrd Bv his order, unprintabie afro
cities we're practiced upon the prisoners
Who IN the end were merclfully per
r,,tted TO die. Jimmy made a mental
nnte of this. and decided to shoot the
ma 80 again. when the revolutionists
.oo,l,e5 about TO triumph-it was a raise
So1a nv the way-LaZard deserted 10
tbeIT cause. He came into camp carry
npe morning. while Jimmy slept; and
S,.itbyy1 an hour the American narrowly
leaned assassination at the hands or
ooe IF his own men. Then. because the
name Of I,azard was a power In the
Land and because Jimmy was well pc
loved bv his general. he received an IN
timation that II would be well for him
10 resign his commission. He did so.
and Immediately challenged Lazard.
The general refused, with an insulting
message to Jimmy. somehow the
american escaped with his HE. took
shin and went to the City OF Mexico.
Here. after a lapse of year or so,
took place their third and latest meet
fngNif YOU except the incident Of the
+u1nel. Jimmy saw Lazard IN cafe
one evening Ten minutes after that,
as he was returning to his hotel a
neon miscaIculated; he aimed for Jim
1ny's heart, but the knife stuck in his
r,rtice handaRed the arm, care