The Washington herald., 1912-01-28
tCoz1iEht, lea1 b. ". G. CHAPlIAN.l
(coUTisht IN cEnadA and Great Bdtnin-)

young fellows TO see you. colonl. They've
been here two days waiting for you, sir.
Blamed good ball players, too. both of
EN-
What the bIazes do care about their
ball playing? Tell 'em to come in. and
show their excuse for living"
| Brockett and Solano. two handsome.
athletic youngsters. somewhat frayed as
to dress, saIuted the old warhorse with
becoming gravity Brockett drew from
his clothing a fiat package, and handed
/ IT to the colonel, who received it with
quizzical smile.
Never mind any explanations" said
the old soldier. Il have been given a
little advance explanations concerning
you. You are the secret service messen-
gers who were TO bring me certain orders
and instructions In cipher that no for
eign spy could translate without the aid
brought me the papers safely, was to
learn the confounded cipher. and adopt
1T for future correspondence. II you didn't
get through i was to report the fact
with deep regrets. Correct, isn't it2'' =
Yes, colonel" ..,
'IIave much trouble getting here?"
"a trihe, colonel"
The old fellow chucklcd. "a trifie, eh?
I'll bet IL was more than q trifie. Good
game boys, both of you. This package
contains orders that may mean a lot TO
our general foreign policy. and at least
two governments that could mention
would give a good deal to get the key.
Tell M about your trip, and what they
tried to do 20 you"
The boys, thus encouraged, told the
veteran the full details of their journey,
while the old man alternately laughed
and stormed. When the recital was fin
ished, Col. Lewis shook hands with them
heartily. and the youngsters knew that
the grim old hero was their friend for
life
''I'lI have to devote my attention to
this cipher code OF yours for the next
two hours said the colonel You BOYS
viii mess with me to-day, 1 hope?"
I'VE must be on our way as quickly as
possible" Brockett negatived. There is
stil some margin in our time limit. but
We would like to round up everything
as rapidly as possible. After delivering
these papers 10 you, our orders take
US to the Rancho NoSal. on the other
side Of the Rio Grande."
Rancho Nogal, eh?" and the coIoners
eyebrows were raised I'm surprise and
Interrogation. Message to Gomez Es-
teral. I suppose?'
Yes, colonel"
You know who Gomez EsiRral may be,
OF course?'
mo. sir. We didn't find out anything
about him. All We know is that We are
to deliver him a message, and that was
all We cared to know"
The colonel beamed with appreciation.
You boys will make good soldiers yet.
The first essential OF a good soldier is to
obey orders without asking questions. and
that. I see. You have already learned to
do. Uuder the circumstances ! think
will give you n little information con-
znV
to realize the Importance OF your final
mission"
The boys sat down and hitched their
chairs near the colonel. who spoke in a
low. impressive tone. while his young
hearers fairly Easped at the revelations
that were nov unfolded to their attentive
ears
Gomez Esteral.'' said Col. Lewis, "is
probably the brainiest and most am
bilious man between the Rio Grande
and Cape Horn. His plans are bound
less, his talents those of a Napoleon.
When DiaZ was Overthrown, only n
few months ago. Gomez Esteral hoped
to gain a high place in the new gov
ernment Of MeXicO-a position that
would serve as a stepping tone in his
ambitions. Disappointed in this he
has been raising mentor a new revo-
luton, and the fighting which has al
ready taken place between his men and
the government forces has furnished
the excuse for the cavalry's being sta
toned on the river. exactly as was the
case when the insurrectiOn against
Porfirio DiaZ broke out.
IF Gomez Esteral and the Mexican
government were simply fighting out
their troubles TO a finish. there would
be no special activity, either on the
part OF the United States or OF any
foreign powers. You probably thought
IL a little singular. didn't YOU that
there should be such a marked interest
shown in your messages and cipher
code? OF course you did. II il had
been merely a case OF guarding a from
tier, or maintaining an even break be-
tween the Mexican factions, neither
Germany nor Japan would have cared
a hoot in Halifax about you or the
documents with which you had been
intrusted."
1T does look that way, colonel" as |
sented the wondering Solano.
1T so happens, however resumed !
the colonel, that the situation is one |
OF far greater Importance than a mere |
frontier campaign Of idIeness and schem- !