The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-08-08
CHAPTER XVII.

The boys sat half-dazed for several
minutes, while the colonel's fierce old
eyes twinkled above them. Then So
lano spoke, slowly, measuring his
words.
HAS Esteral made much progress
with his plans?"
Eyes. Wonderful progress. The
Latin-Americans In nearly every ma
ton have accepted his propaganda
blindly. They honestly believe that
the United States, ~land-hungry, eager
for conquest, intends sooner or later
to annex and COLOMBO the whole
world of Mexico, Central and South
America. Once president of Mexico,
Esteral would consolidate his empire
OF mutual defense and vested rights
IN less than two years. Then he would
sell his alliance to Japan or Germany.
Both are eager to gain his friendship,
and both are making him tremendous
offers. He Is financing his revolution
with japanese and German gold. jap
anese and German spies swarm all
over this country, bribing, scheming,
working to gain the secrets Of defense
and military policy. Japanese and
German agents also try to block every
avenue by which certain messages
could be conveyed to Gomez Esteral.
II those messages reach him | believe
his dreams will be shocked into sud-
den awakening. and q great light will
burst upon him."
"How-how do you mean, colonei?"
Brockett questioned.
"Because"-and the old soldiers
words fairly burned their way through
the very souls Of his young auditors
because both Japan and Germany
have every plan arranged by which
Esteral Is to be deceived, betrayed,
and made a catspaw. Germany pro-
poses, If the United States is Grip
pied, to seize upon Brazil and make
1t the home Of Prussia's overlooking
millions. Japan already counts upon
Sonora and Lower California as part
Of the Pacific empire which the
mikado is to rule. These schemes
are all matured, and the execution OF
the plans would be commenced as
soon as the var was over. In other
words, Gomez Esteral, dreaming of a
great Latin nation, is to be awakened
by the shock of finding himself the
tool of q great land-grabbing con-
spiracy, and his new-formed nation
the prey of Germany or Of Japan"
And" asked Solano, eagerly, how
do we figure in this drama of the ma
tions?"
"You have quite a part to play"
said the old soldier. "If ! am not
mistaken, the packet which you carry
to Gomez Esteral contains not only
the cipher code, and messages from
the United States to Esteral, but alb
solutely ~irrefutable proofs of the Jap
anese and German neutrality-suspicious.
made out in the cipher code, but fully
convincing 10 any man of ordinary in
telligence. Esteral, think, is a. man
Of rather more than ordinary brains,
and the evidence that will be set be-
fore him will give him q sudden shock
and a complete awakening"
Il think l can understand now"
said Brockett, why so many attempts
were made to rob us on the road"
Exactly concurred the colonel.
"And now, boys, / have something
else ! entrust to your keeping-a lit
tie addition to the messages you must
give Gomez Esteral. Here are some
papers taken from your friend Baron
Zollern-papers which were sent to
me from Little Rock, with instructions
to give them to you as soon as you
reached me. They will pretty nearly
clinch the case, so far as Esteral is
concerned, as they contain notice to
Baron Zollern that he will be appoint
ed governor of q Brazilian province
when everything has been properly
adjusted. Rather foolish of the
kaiser, don't you think? However
hat may be, here's the documents.
Add them to whatever you already
have In stock for Gomez Esteral, and
start for Rancho Nogal whenever you
feel so disposed. I can't even send a
cavalry escort across the river with
you--Esteral would take to the high
grass II he saw a solitary trooper ap-
preaching. You will have to look out
for yourselves and for the safety Of
your letters"