The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-08-02

liberty Of supplying you both with the
funds needed In the completion Of the
enterprise. Enough money to cover
all probable expenses will be advanced
you, and when you reach the frontier
arms, horses, general equipments, and
trustworthy guides will be found To
night. Mr.. Brockett. you will receive
full instructions at your home Read
them over carefully-you also, Mr..
Solano. Be ready to start tomorrow
afternoon. need hardly remark that
you are not supposed to speak Of the
commission with which you are en-
trusted-not even to your most init
mate friends. AS to your parents
that, Of course. is a different question.
! think that is all. boys-go home and
bid your good-byes You will know all
further details in the evening"
Brockett hurried home to break the
strange news to his mother, while So
lano agreed to notify his father that
he had decided to preface his vacation
by a few extra weeks of travel. and
made all possible speed to the nearest
Western Union office. The Cuban
picked up a pad of cable blanks. and
reached for a pen. II was broken. An.
other pen proved equally useless, and
Solano fumbled in his pocket for a
pencil A little man seated on the
next stool turned quickly, and prof.
fered him an ink-pencil, one Of those
annoying contrivances which were in
vented a few years ago to displace
both lead pencils and fountain pens
and which are now a memory, and
nothing more.
Very annoying, the unpleasant de-
lay" said the little man. amiably. "Per.
NIT me that l am of a little assist
ance?"
And Solano. as he scrubbed his brief
cablegram, gave thanks. with true
Latin politeness, to the stocky, scar
checked Japanese who had walked
past Brockett and himself the previ-
Gus evening. When the Cuban left
the telegraph office, the little brown
man caught up the pad of cable
blanks. scrutinized the Impressions
left by his message. and, despite the
fact that the cabiegram had been writ
ten in Spanish, seemed to have no
trouble In deciphering its meaning
Whatever information he gained. how
ever, seemed to afford but small salts
faction. He smiled mirthlessly,
tossed the pad back upon the counter.
and walked out into the busy thor
oughfare.
Brockett's mother, a sweet-faced.
thoroughly feminine, but thoroughly
sensible woman. did not offer any seri-
GUS objections to her sons acceptance
of the strange commission so shortly
to be entrusted to his care. Mrs
Brockett, in fact, cherished an abid
ing belief in the foresight and the
cleverness Of her boy-a belief that he
could take care Of himself under al
most any circumstances. Bertha
Brockett. Harry's only sister, was
much more worried over the possible
dangers Of the journey than either her
mother or the young athlete himself.
She forecasted terrors Of the road and
hobgoblins Of the passes. In her six
teen-year-old Imagination, Mexico
teemed with bandits, Yaqui savages,
and ferocious insurrectos. AS Miss
Brockett was not only eloquent, but
extremely pretty, her arguments might
have dissuaded almost any young adj
venturer-unless the adventurer hap
pened to be her brother. Sisterly
counsels and entreaties have been
wasted on the wandering winds for
many centuries, and, presumably. al
ways will be.
Young Brockett had dined, had re-
ceived some excellent advice from his
mother and had rebuffed the implor-
ing sister with much humor. He was
glancing over the evening paper, and
waiting the arrival Of Ramon Solano
or Of the messenger who should bring
him his instructions. when the door
bell tinkled lightly. Bertha, answer
ing the bell, admitted a stocky. we'll
dressed man Of middle age-a swarthy
little fellow, with one cheek crossed
by a broad, indented scar. The boy
at once remembered the Japanese
whom he had seen stop Miss Lawson
on the previous night. but gave no
sign of recognition as he looked in
quiringly at his Oriental visitor.
There was Old World politeness in
the courtly bow with which the stran-
ger prefaced his Standardization.
al speak to Mr.. Harry Brockettf
Yes?"
"At your service. sir You are
Mr. -?"
Il am Mr. Yazlmoto OF Tokyo. I'm
porter of Oriental goods"
Wont you SIT down. Mr.. Yazimo-
tot"
81 thank you. yes. May speak OF
| A.. k,,.tron, 2bat hrfpoa No. 20 x,o,,