The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-04
Looking to
Moline
ny colia S. Collins

MY dear friend. let the dead pas
bury its dead" urged the dictator gen
~. Why should we give SO great con
Germ to the rides or the wicked admin
istration Of that dog Of 4 Molinag"
Because they are not paid for ans
I'm here to get the coin, said Hartley
Marvin with emphasis. "Y0u can lei
the dead revolution bury It's dead--ii
your trumpery revolutions ever az
have any dead-hut those guns ars
still I've issue.
Director Balamo sighed gently. The
day was warm, as was The argument
He dlsliked warmth Of any sort. else
he would have risen IN bis wrath, and
cast this importunate collector from
the palace door.
But to do that might involve some
unpleasantness with the diplomats and
Balamo well knew that the presence Of
q hostile gunboat in the harbor would
be made the excuse for revolution
that would be personally unpleasant to
himself.
You yourself agree that you sold
these rifles to that Molina" he re-.
minded. III this Is so. would It not be
az wen 70 ask Of him the payments
shail I give out Of the treasure Of the
country 70 pay the private debts Of
traitorous revolutionary"
You've got the guns, haven't your"
demanded Marvin brusQuely.
4 have some guns" admitted Ba-
lamo automatically. "That they are
your guna I do not know. When the
country rose in its might against the
extravaganza Of the prehdente and
made me dictator it was found that
there were many fine rifles. With those
we armed our troops. The guns are
the spoila Of war. II Molina did not
pay for them, is it then my faultG It
IS to Molina that you should look for
your money"
And your friend Molina! Where Is
her"
'Friendl" Balamo spat viciously at
the word. HE is no friend. senior, as
you well know. Where he Is / know
not but there is justice In San Cristo-
bal for all who come to the tribunal.
! VIII give you a warrant for this Mo-
lima Bring him to the bar Of Justice
and there bring suit You shall have
ample justice"
In spite Of his anger Marvin smiled.
Molina, the departed ruler, was a fu-
gitive in the forests.
4 think I'll accept that suggestion
agreed Marvin rising. Il suppose that
you look on the guns as spoils Of war,
but It would be better to pay for them
honestly instead Of referring me to
Molina.
THAT is a threat7a asked Balamo.
Merely advice" was the lazy re-
sponse. 4 bid you good day, senior"
Marvin strobe from the courtyard.
where the interview had been held, and
headed for the Plaza Cristobal, where
the Inhabitants Of La Rosario were
wont to congregate in cafe
To hts surprise the cafe was crowd
cd with strangers and they all were
Enthusiastically from the States.
us there steamer inY' demanded
Marvin as he sank into seat IN
corner where he could have d table |
to himself.
1T is a circus" explained the wait
er. 1T is but Just arrived and the
people, they are hungry and very
thirsty, so they come to the best place |
to eat and drink"
1T seems to be mostly drink. de- |
clared Marvin with laugh. "That /
may be In the fashion, bring me q
highball with lots OF Ice"
The waiter hurried away to give the
order and Marvin was still wondering
At the size Of the party when a hand /
Tell upon his shoulder and he turned
70 look into the face Of gigantic fell
low. For moment he stared won
deringly into the twinkling eyes, then
with q shout he was on his feet and
pounding the newcomer on the
back
Joe Bardeen, By all that's great"
be cried. What good fortune brings
you down here?"
"It looks more like bad fortune"
said Bardeen seriously as be sank
into a chair and pounded on the table
to attract the attention Of the waiter.
I'm the chaperon Of this bunch of
artistic talent"
Your show?" asked Marvin. How
did you come to get IN the chow bust
ness? ] thought that you we're con-
tent to stick to horse-raising IN Ari-
roma"
so I was" admitted Bardeen. "but
3 chap talked me into outHttiug his
VIVA West Show, and then when the
show did bad business 1 had to ad-
vance some more money to get a
chance to be paid for what had fur
llahed. Well, things ran on until the
irst thing you know owned the
show and had 10 run II n the hope
81 getting out clear"
TOO much for the country" de-
ilared Marvin, and Bardeen nodded .
bic approval Of the opihion.
Hes brought bis wares to a bad