The Washington herald., 1912-01-10

NP7zEKE.
all probability meant to signify accept
ance Of the proffered honor. The gen.
eral smiled. reassuringly.
You don't say Il very clearly. son. but
your meaning is easily understood Now.
then, something along the same lines II
you had a companion on this journey, a
man who spoke Spanish by right OF birth
and blood, and who could be trusted
as absolutely as yourself. the chances OF
Euccess would be more than doubled
Ramon Solano. l knew your father.
have heard good reports OF you. II YOU
are half the man your father was a
dozen years ago, you are already selected
for this commission" :"
The Cuban gazed straight into the eyes
OF ths lighting man, and the general
understood
Now. boys" the veteran continued,
lets get busy without delay. You will
please make arrangements with the folks
at home for somewhat prolonged alb
sence. While you are gone, Mr.. Brockett.
your mother will receive your salary
and perhaps little more. Mr. Solano,
you are not In government employ"
The Cuban waved a supple hand
i have ample resources of my own,
general, and shall consider II a pleasure
TO expend them on such a mission
NeverthelesS answered Gen Cole,
the government will take the liberty
Of supplying you both with the funds
needed In the completion OF the enterprise.
Enough money 10 cover all probable ex-
penses viii be advanced you. and when
yon reach the frontier arms. horses. gen
eral equipments. and trustworthy guides
will be found. Tonight. Mr. Broekett.
you Will receive full instructions at your
home. Read them over carefully-you
also, Mr.. Solano. Be ready to start to-
morrow afternoon. l need hardly remark
that you are not supposed to speak or
the commission with which you are in
rusted-not even to your most intimate
friends. As to your parents-that OF
course, Is a different question. I think
that Is all, boys-go home and bid your
goOd-bys. You will know all further de-
tails in the evening"
Brockett hurried home to break the
strange news to his mother, while Sola-
no agreed to notify his father that he had
decided TO preface his vacation by a few
extra weeks OF travel and made all pos
sibie speed to the nearest Western Union
office. The Cuban picked up a pad OF
cable blanks and reached for a pen Il
was broken. Another pen proved equally
useless, and SOlanO fumbled in his pock-
ct for a pencil little man seated on
the next stool tuf1~ed quickly and prof
fered him an ink-penciI. one Of those an
noying contriyances which were invented
a few years ago TO displace both lead
I'encils and fountain peT.s--and which are
now a memory and nothing more.
VERY anoying. the unpleasant delay"
aid the little man. amiably. Permit !
ne that am OF little assistance?'
And Solano. as he scribbled his brief I
'ablegram, gave thanks. with true
attn politeneSs. to the stocky. scar
heeked Japanese who had walked past I
crockett and himself the previous even
ng. When the Cuban left the telegraph /
,ftice, the little brown man caught up
he pad OF cable blanks. scrutinfzed the
upressions left by his message. and. de-
pite the fact that the cablegram had
cen written In Spanish. seemed to have
% trouble in deciphering its meaning !
Whatever information he gained, how
yer, seemed 10 afford but small salts
action He smiled mirthlesSIy, tossed
he pad back Upon the counter, and
raIked out into the busy tho-oughsare.
Brocketts mother. a sweet-faced thor
ughly feminine but thoroughly sensible
Ioman. did not offer any serious OBJ
ections to her sons acceptance OF tho
TRANCE commission 50 shortly to be in
rusted to his care. Mrs. Brockett. in
act. cherished an abiding belief In the
oresight and the cleverneSsl OF her boy
belief that he could take care OF him 4
eit under almost any circumstances.
ertha Brockett, Harry's only sister, was 1
iuch more worried over the possible dan
ers OF the journey than either her moth
or the young athlete himself She fore
zsted terrors Of the road and hobgob- L,
rs or the passes In her slxteen-year-
"a imagination. Mexico teemed with
andits. Yaqut savages. and ferocious
'smrectos. As Miss Brockett was not 1
NY eloquent. but extremely pretty. her :
rguments mighe have dissuaded almost
ny yotng adventurer-unless the adyen-
lrer happened to be her brother. Sister {
eonnseis and entreaties have been (
asted on the wandering winds for many I
,nturies and. presumably. always viii I
Young Brockett had dined. had re- a
-iNed some cxeeaSnt advi-e from his e
otner, and had rebuned She inIpIoring 5
ster with much humor He was CLAM b
ng over the evening paper and waiting h
le arrival OF Ramon SoIano or OF the d
essenger who should bring him his tn
ructions. when the doorbeIl tinkIed
yhtly. Bertha. answering the ben, ad-
ttted stocly. well-dressed man OF mid !,
e age-a swarthy little fellow, with one
ieek crossed by a broad. indented scar. :,
be boy at once remembered the Jana
sse whom he had seen stop Miss Law
n on the previous night. but gave no
sn OF recognition as be looked inquir-
giy at his Oriental visitor La
There was Old World politeness In the A
'urtiy bow with which the stranger pre- $
ced his self-intrcduction
7 speak 10 Mr.. Harry Brockett-Yes7p
Al your service. sir. You are :
r -9
I am Mr Yazimoto. OF Tokyo. I'm
'rter OF Oriental goods.
Won't you sit down. Mr. Yazinotoz-
Z thank you, yes May speak OF mel ]