The Washington herald., 1915-02-21

by Garrick's positive assurance that
II was mo cheap affair"
Might 1 see the ROOM" he ven-
| tured.
My largest private room is occu-
pied by a party tonight" she replied.
! Aren't there any others"
Yes. only ! am afraid they are
too small"
Still. l might get some idea OF
how the large one is fitted up, might
| not?" persisted Garrick.
81 will show you one that is not as
handsomely decorated as the big one"
she agreed at length.
Sonora Mendez led the way upstairs
disclosing. in fact. several rooms. As
they passed the door of one il was
opened by servant bearing a tray
of little cups of pungent. steaming
liquid. Just for a moment Garrick
caught a glimpse of the party inside.
There were several ladies and gentle
men. all smoking the inevitable little
cigarettes One face. however, caught
and held his attention. II was Sonora
Castillo Beside her sat her dark hair
ed visitor At the Vanderveer. There
was only time for a glance, but Gar
rick recognized none of the others
certainly there was no one who look
ed like the latest visitor at the hotel.
he of the furtive glance.
Sonora Mendez closed the door her
self. with Il little exclamation of vexa
ton. then ushered Garrick into a
smaller room down the hall.
On piano in the larger room some
one was playing a peculiar rhythmic
composition. with curious thread
of monotonous melody running
through it like the timeful beat of
a drum.
Sonora Mendez's dark eyes were
more languishing than ever. Indeed
the pupils looked as if they were
expanded by dose OF belIadonna. AS
Garrick caught her glance. he real
lied thSt she was under the influence
of mescal. at least partly.
He was not slow to take advantage
of the knowledge. As she displayed
the room, not without touch of
pride. he complimented her. adding
quickly: But, sonora, it is not only
the room that is attractive"
The rhythmic beat of the music
seemed to catch the spirit of it,
Il should like to try mescal-once,"
he ventured. What is it?"
"A shrub-a religion" she answered
dreamily.
Il should like to try it," repeated
Garrick.
The sonora pushed an electric bell
and servant appeared A few mo-
ments later she returned with a tray
of the little mescal buttons, curious
round, disc-like things about an inch
in diameter and perhaps a quarte- OF
an inch thick.
of the fuzzy tuft of hairs on the top.
rolled 1t into a pellet, placed II in
her mouth and began to chew il slow
ly, with closed eyes.
Garrick did the same carefully. The
pungent taste told him that II was
the same as the odor he had OBJ
served from the steaming cups that
the servant had been carrying during
his momentary glimpse into the
larger room.
He felt a sense of new physical
energy and intellectual power. which
soon, however, wore off. Then fol-
lowed a display of images and colors,
confused riot like a Kaleidoscope.
The lights in the room became as
steady and bright as the sun. only
surrounded by the prismatic colors,
blazing with glory as II they shone
on sands of diamond dust. The orna-
ments-strange Mexican gods and OBJ
jects Of art-seemed to take. on a
glory that was almost supernatural
until 1t was no longer any wonder to
of the half savages the mescal but
ton should have produced something
like a religion.
The servant returned, clothed this
time in a sort of halo of light and
color, every fold of her dress radi-
ating the most delicate tones. She
whispered word to the sonora, who
quickly rose and excused herself AS
she left, she seemed rather to float
over the carpet than to walk.
Garrick had been waiting for just
such an opportunity. Here he was,
alone in the room. He had been care
and for a moment. as he heard the
footsteps retreating, he threw open
the window and breathed in the pure
fresh outside air in gulps to clear
his head. Outside his door all was
now quiet. except the sounds down
the hall. What were they doing? He
tiptoed silently along fearful lest a
loose board might betray him. AS
he went he looked about into each of
the little rooms. All seemed to he
empty. Nowhere was there any one
who answered the description of the
mysterious stranger.
He paused for moment at the
door. Inside. the group were discus
sing in low tones the fortunes of the
war that was raging in their home
land. From the tone of her voice,
which he recognized now and then.
IL was evident that Sonora Castillo
was far from being reassured that all
would be well with her husband. She
was evidently suffering distress that
even the reassurances of the entire
party could not allay.
Further down the hall. Garrick
heard other voices. of man and a
woman. Although he was not quite
able to recognize the muffied tones.
he could at least catch a word now
and then.
where is the money" he heard
one of them ask.
I'm a .safety-deposit vault down
town"
Then we must get the key-and a
power of attorney from her to open
it."
II have tried
Then keep on-you must"
There was a movement in the ROOM
as though the two were coming out
again. Quickly Garrick retreated.
As he passed the door of the large
dining-room he heard voice say
But even If l had the money here
in gold-what guarantee would | have
that Jose would be released"
He paused. 1t was evident what they
were doing. They were getting the
beautiful Sonora Castillo more and
more under the influence of the drug.
weakening her reasoning powers. play
ing on her feelings-anything to get
the key to the safety-deposit vault