Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1912-05-30


Brockett choked up, flushed. and
IN all probability meant % signify ae-
csptance OF the pronersd honor. The
general smiled. reassuringly.
you don't say II very clearf1. son.
but your meaning is easily under
stood. Now. then. something alons
the same lines. n you had a com
panion on this journey, man who 4
spoke Spanish BY right OF birth and \
blood, and who could be trusted as alb /
solutely as yourself. the chances Of
success would be more than doubled. |
Ramon Soiano, knew your father.
have heard good reports Of you- II
you are even half the mar your father
was a dozen yeaps ago. you are al
ready selected for this commission"
The Cuban gszed straight into the
eyes OF the lighting man. and the gen
eral understood
"4yow. boys the veteran continued.
/ Tets get busy without delay. You
/ win please make arrangements With
the folks az home for somewhat PRO
lonEed absence. While you are gone.
Mr.. Brockett. your mother viii receive
/
more. Mr.. SolanO. you are not In gov
eminent employ"
The Cuban waved a supple hand
Z have ample resources % ny own.
general. and shan consider Il q pleas
ure 10 expand th0n on such q mis-
sion
"NeVsrthaioaa.- answered General
Cole, the government VIII take The
liberty o. supplying you both Win ths
funds needed IN the compledOn q the
enterprise. Enough money 20 cover
all probable ezpansea Win be advanced
you. and when you reach the fronuei
arms. horses, general equipments. and
Trustworthy guides VIII be found. To
; night. Mr.. Broekstt. you WI receiv'
b fall instructions a. your houa- Hozt
- them over carefuly-gou also. Nj
Il solano. Be rsady to start tomorrow
"a afternoon need hardly remark TIA
y you are not supposed 20 speak OF ID
ID commission with which you are e.
ie / trusted-not even 20 your most int
nate friends. As 20 your parents
ID that, OF course. is q different question
70 think that is AL. boys-gO home an
ID bid your good-byes- You VIII know a
further details in the evening"
co Brockett hurried home TO break u
~ strange news % hts mother. while 8
lano agreed % notify his father Ia
~ be had decided 20 prsfAce his VAcatic
ny BY a few extra weeks Of travel az
made all possible speed 20 the neare
ca Western Union once. The Cubs
We picked up q pad q cable blanks. a.
4e- - -. - - - - 49,. A
other pen proved equally useless. al
Solano fumbied IN his pocket for
pencil. 4 little man seated on
~ next stool turned quickly. and pr
fered him an ink-pencn. one q TIC
annoying contFfvances which were
vented a FEW years ago 20 displs
both lead pencils and fountain pezs
and which are now a memory, q
nothing more
Very annoying. the unpieaAant
lay" said the little mstn. smtAbly. p
~ NIT ne that am Of a ntSls asE
anceT-
And SolAno, 80 he scrubbed his b
cablegram. gave thanks, With
Latin politsneEE. 70 TIE stocAy. q
checked japanese who had val
past Brockstt and himself the pr
Gus evening. When tie Cuban
the telegraph once, Cb0 nttis hrC
- man caught UP the pad q Cd
blanks, scrutinizsd the tmprsssi
left by his message. and. dsspsbs
fact that the cableSrGm had bSSn '
ten IN Spanish. seemed 20 have
trouble IN deciphering itB mean
Whatever information he gained.
- ever, seemed 10 afford bat small >.
ri faction He smiled rnirthlsi
~ tossed the pad back upon the cour
\ aud walked out into the busy I
III oughfare-
~ Brockett's mother, a swsse4s
thoroughly feminine. bat thOrou
= sensible woman. did not offer any
IN ous objections 20 her sons accept
~ OF the strange commission 90 sh'
TO De entrusted TO HIS care.
- Brockett. IN fact. cherished an
~ ing belief In the foresight and
q elsyerness OF her boy--a belief TIL
could take care Of himself unde
= most any circumstances 3,
~ BrockStt. HRrTy's only sister.
w much more worried over the pos
M dangers OF the journey than eithe
y n mother or the young athlete hin
"a She forecasted terrors OF the road
vi hobgOblins OF the passes. In be-
~ teen-yeAr-old imagination. NJ
4 tsemec with bandits. Yaqui saw
and feroc1ous insurrectoa- As
Brockstt was not only eloquent
IL, TO extremely pretty. her arguments !
Q can have dissuaded almost any youn
'enger veDturar-unless the adVenturer