The Washington times., 1911-04-18

III no DelIcT case. Ills
which was thick. should have
been snowy; 1t was not. But
the dirt showed not so plainly upon
his complexion. bronzed as 1t was
by the action of sun and wind. A
grimy rag, blood-stained. bound his
head
The younger man, unmindful of Sal
Vador's disapproving inspection, picked
up cable blank and the pen. A mo-
ment later he handed the operator q
message
Salvador looked it over with a faint
disgust evident in his manner. The
words were English, in which language
he was not proficient. He regarded the
writer curiously, returned his gaze to the
paper, read the address, turned II up
side down, and held 1t at arms length
Finally, when the young mans patience
was about exha austed, he handed it back
to him and condescended to speak,
DO you wish THAI sent?'
Now, what the devil do you suppose
] gave it to you for?"
Have you any money!
None Of your internal business. You
send that message. It's marked col
Il see it is
Salvador began operations with a slip
OF paper and some tobacco.
Are you going to send IT, sir, or are
you not?"
We are not allowed 10 send messages
collect from persons we do not know"
presume me.-very courteously-''you
have noticed that ii is newspaper mes
sage?"
rs 1T: But 1 cannot read English"
The young man turned TO his compan-
ion.
What do you think" he asked with
slow evaporation, of a country which
puts fool like this in charge of a cable
Officer
The other shook his head. smiling
The young man returned to the attack
But, he continued suavely, Il give
you my word that it is to a New York
newspaper. Charges will be collected at
the other end"
Il don't believe you." replied Salvador
with an engaging frankness You look
like tramp. You can either prepay
Or
He uttered little cry of terror, and
reached for the drawer in which he kept
his revolver. 1t was too late: things
had begun to :?appeI before he had fin
ished speaking. The younger man seized
him by the collar of his beautiful white
coat and yanked him over the counter
rudely.
Il haven't any time to waste" he ex-
plained with needless politeness as he
dropped the operator carelessly to the
floor. sit on him, will you please.
cap'n?'
The older man complied with alacrity
and weight, Chuckling. Salvador groaned
70 and wriggled helplessly upon the hard
packed earth floor-to the complete ruin
of his clothing. Realizing this, he de-
sisted and wept sc7ldlng tears of bitter
rage. Meanwhile, the young man seated
himself at the table and called New
York with the sender
This was the message received the fol-
lowing morning by the managing editor
OF the Dial:
McCabe, Dialpubco., New York:
Just landed was kidnapped by
Junto do I hold job good story wire
answer instructions funds care Ham
tlton Guayana. CURTICE.
Curtice wheeled around in his chair
and glowered at the PROSTATE and sob
6ing Salvador. Then he looked up at
the clock; 1t marked the time as a quar-
ter past one.
Let him up, cap'n," he said shortly.
The trembling operator arose, and,
smiling dismally. produced a silk hand
kerchief, with which he proceeded TO
dust at the soiled knees of his trousers.
Meanwhile, he kept a wary eye upon
Curtice, and measured the distance to
the door.
Collar him, capn: he wants to run
away" heavy hand fastened itself
firmly at the back of Salvador's neck.
Stop that sniffling; no ones going to
hurt you. Look here; what'll you take
for this?''
Jimmy ran his hand into the drawer OF
the operating table and brought out the
fun. Knowing that it was loaded, Sal
Nador promptly pumped down upon hiss
knees. Life was more dear to him than
the spotless purity wherein he had
garbed himself
Get up, you idiot, merely want to
buy the thing. What-oh, snatch him
of the ground, cap'n, and bat him one
II he doesn't stop babying!" This threat,
being partially carried out, had some
erect. Jimmy went on with the careful,
deliberate distinctness with which he
would have explained an abstruse prob
lem to child. "What-wiIl-you-ta
-for-this-gun? I want to buy it." He
flashed the roll of bills which had lain
there undisturbed since he had drawn
them at the cashiers window in the
Dial office.
yellow back of a twenty dollar certif-
cate encircling the money. Clearly,
then, these two desperadoes had COM
mitted some crime, and were willing to
pay for protection: The Anahuacan had
q vision of wealth easily gained by
blackmail. He frightened perceptibly.
Fifty dollars. senor," he said.
WHAT roared the captain, tighten
ing his grip.
That's much better" observed Jim
my. 'I'Il give you twenty, American;
thatp pay for two guns and leave
enough over TO pay for the washing of
your very pretty clothes. Now, we are
] want you to remember that if you do
any funny business with the police one
of us will come right back and eat you
up alive. Savvy? That's all right,
then"
He reached for blank and scribbled
rapidly upon II this message:
W. II. Hamilton, 20 Pasco Nuevo,
Guayana:
Meet me station one thirty from
San Diego. Need your assistance.
Must see Malone Immediately.
.CURTICE.
You can send that and pay for IT
out of the twenty he remarked.
"Buena noche, senor.'
1t was a two-hour journey which
brought them to Guayana. Dawn reluc-
tantly streaked the eastern sky as they
left the railway station and hurried
through the gray. bare streets and across
the Plaza de la Reforma to the Green
House. Yet, late as was the hour, they
found the Plaza far from lifeless: pale
yellow light streamed from the windows
of the executive mansion, giving ii an
appearance drearily bacchanal, as of
laS -l.o 4, or{,