Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-05

His first move prosaic enough. He cleared
from the squaor the pirates had left in the cabin,
spread himself meal ate heartily and drank two long
whskies and sodas Then he found the one deck chair
that had not been gratutously smashed and in it
smoked luxurious pipe while he gave atten-
ton the affairs of Herman Schesinger of New York.
The situation was gloomy enough. He had
down to the Nicaragua coast with remarkably scratch
crew on the little tramp steamer. They had been for
the most part shanghaed board and had been scared
OF the trade OF gunrunnlng from the very start. Two
had been killed by Ortizs rifle fire from the shore after
his first demand for the surrender of the cargo and
when subsequently he sent off his ultmatum that he
would cut the threats of every mothers board
if they waited another hour they took his word for it
and bolted rowing out of the estuary mouth in the little
tramp steamers leaky feboat, if silver cups de-
pended on their speed.
The steamer then rather white elephant; for,
though she had reverted his possession, he
unable to move her snglehanded. There was also the
question of the rifle and ammunition boxes though
he had retained the secret of the hiding place of these,
he could regain possession of them without help.
Lord George lit another pipe as he summed these
points, and blew contemplave tobacco smoke far out
into the warm, tropical night Presently he began to
smile. fancfu cloud that drfted up against the
suggested the outlines OF woman, and that woman
Carnencita Now, why did Carmencta want those
rifles? She from family that studiousy stood
aloof from volcanic Nicaragua politics. and indeed owed
their poverty to the fact that they mpartialy
robbed by the existing President and also by General
Laredo, the chronic opposition Somebody had obvi-
ously offered her large of money she could OBJ
tain possession: she had indeed admitted as much Who
could it be?
LORD george smoked three more pipes, Out TOBACCO
refused to give him inspiration So like wise man. he
up thinking and went to bed and slept till the sun
sailed once more high above the dingy steamer.
He woke to the din of distant rifle fire. Volleys and
scattered shots large section of the forest told of
brisk engagement But it took than trihe like
this push Lord George from his accustomed routine.
He had his usual morning tub in the steamers seedy
bathroom shaved dressed and gave careful thought
to which of his small stock of necktes he should pick
for the days Then he breakfasted, and finally
emerged on deck cool, complacent and well dressed
ready either await events take hand in them.
A S it turned out the scheme of action arranged
for him. A boat, furiously rowed emerged from
of the creeks bearing in her stern flag onethird yellow,
two-thrds white with crimson bar crossing the whole
diagonally. The flag the sign agreed upon that
General Laredos messenger to bring when he
to take delivery of the cargo.
So that there should be mistake about it, in
the sternsheets of the boat stood they drew
the steamer and waved the flag violently But Lord
George not cheered by the signal
as he thought he would be. He was look
ing ntently at who sat also in
the boats sternsheets, who other
than Dofla Carmencta.
The boat raced up alongside, and the
in cla rnb ered ,,nhan