Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-11-24
CHAPTER XXI.
Tho Compact.

A room, low-ceilinged. dim, gloomy.
sinister as an inquisition chamber;
single large table in the center, hold
ing kerosene lamp, writing materi-
ais and a metal spheroid a shade
larger than a one-pound shell; and
around 1t semicircle of silent,
masked and cowled figures. There
were twelve of them, eleven men and
. woman. In the shadows. which grew
leneer at the far end OF the room.
.s squat. globular object, mas
sive. smooth-sided. black. threatening
thing Of iron.
One Of the men glanced at his
watch-it was Just two o'clock-then
rose and took a position beside the
table. facing the semicircle. He placed
the timeplece on the table in front of
him.
Gentlemen" he said, and there was
the faintest trace of a foreign accent,
II shall speak English because know
that whatever your nationality all of
you are familiar with that tongue.
And now an apology for the theatric
aspect Of all this-the masks. the
time and place of meeting. and the
rest Of It" He paused moment.
"There is only one person living who
knows the meme and position of all
of you" and by a sweep OF his hand
he indicated the motionless figure OF
the woman. 1T was by her decision
that masks are worn. for. while we all
know the details of the Latin com
pact, there is a bare chance that some
one will not sign. and 1t is not de-
thok tha ne hot
son be known to all of us. The rea-
son for the selection Of this time and
place is obvious. for an inkling Of the
proposed signing has reached the Be-
cret Service. l will add the United
States was chosen as the birthplace
of this new epoch in history for sew
eral reasons. one being the proximity
to Central and South America: and
another the Inadequate police system
ich enables greater freedom Of
Mo stopped and drew from his
pocket a folded parchment. He tapped
the tips of his fingers with it from
time to time as he talked.
THE Latin compact, gentlemen, is
not the dream Of a night, nor OF a
decade. As long as fifty years ago
It was suggested. and whatever differ
ences the Latin countries of the world
have had among themselves, they
have always realized that ultimately
they must stand together against
against the other nations of the world
This idea terminated into action
three years ago, and since that time
agents have covered the world in Its
interest. This meeting is the fruition
Of all that work. and this" he held
the parchment aloft. "is the instru-
ment that will unite us. Never has
diplomatic secret been kept as this
has heen kept: never has greater
reprisal been planned. 1t means. gen.
tlenen. the domination OF the world
socially, spiritually, commercially and
artistically; 1t means that England
and the United States, whose sphere
of influence has extended around the
globe, will be beaten back, and that
the flag OF the Latin countries will
wave again over lost possessions. 1t
means all of that. and more"
His voice had risen as he talked
until 1t had grown vibrant with en-
thusiasm: and his hands pointed his
remarks with quick. sharp gestures.
"All this" he went on. was never
possible until three years ago. when
the navies Of the world were given
over into the hands Of one nation-my