The Winslow mail., 1917-12-28
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OLD ST. AUGUSTINE
BY A. M'GAFFEY.

prettiest picture imaginable, and one
need not be surprised to meet q 70
nance at any turn of it's quaint old
streets. And the cathedral ON the
plaza, with its ancient Spanish belfTy,
would seem to be one of the most
likely places in the city for story,
or, at least, for the beginning OF one.
so must have thought the fate that
watches over our mundane affairs
when on Easter Sunday the bells be.
gan to ring out their joyous invitation
to the world.
AS the orderly crowds thronged into
church two young men crossed the
Plaza and entered. One was in naval
uniform; the other dressed as tour
lists guide, and both were bronzed aS
II from long sea service.
The services were half over when q
lady and gentleman came in at the
great door and passed down the aisle
toward the altar. The gentleman was
stout and middle aged, the lady in the
bloom Of twenty years.
AS they passed, looking neither 10
the right nor to the left, one Of the
young men touched the other on the
arm with glance at the pair. He
was answered by nod, and presently
both left the church, slipping out by
q side door. In a narrow street rum.
ming at right angles to the plaza, they
hailed cab, into which he of the unt-
form stepped, drew the door to and
sat down to wait.
The other, sauntering over to Che
plaza, took his station near the group
of palms, in the shade of which two
or three carriages were grouped. And
soon the old bells doomed and the pe0-
pie Streamed out. Among them were
the two for whom our amateur detec
tive was lying in wait, and as they en-.
tered one of the carriages he managed
to get near enough to hear the ordeR
to "Fort San Marco"
BY three o'clock in the afternoon the
fort was crowded with people. Walk.
Ing through this animated scene, O
part Of it, and yet foreign to it, were
the young lady and the stout gentle.
man. There was third person in the
party now, stranger with a distin.
guished air.
There's fine view for you, senor,"
remarked Mr.. Maynall, the stout gem
tleman.
Don Miguel nodded a smiling assent;
he was far too happy for words.
But cry Of rage from Mr.. Maynall
In hic, ;crI,+
the sea wall, at the foot of the eastern
glacis, four-oared boat, rocked on
the incoming tide, and as Marian May.
nall caught sight Of it, she turned tC
her father and said, with sparkle in
her eyes: "They are waiting for some
one down there; wonder who it can
be-"
'Yes, they belong to that gunboat
yonder. l suppose some young naval
sprig out for lark, curse him."
"Father!' exclaimed the girl angrily,
81 mean what I say" rejoiped the
other. 81 hate the whole service be.
cause Of that impudent jackanapes
with whom you have been fancying
yourself in love. What have you to
say, Miguel?"
"Oh! oh! What is it, senor? re.
piled Miguel.
II say we will laugh at certain
person after vespers," answered Mr.,
Maynall testify.
The Don's response was a scoWl.
AS the three moved away tourists
guide stepped out from an embrasure
and walked leiSurely down the stair.
way. He wrote something in a memo.
randum book. in his hand, then went
into the corridor below and waited.
The three came down presently. The
guide nimbly opened door on the
right, and before the two gentlemen
knew what had happened, they found
themselves in a small room with
table in the center. An obsequious
salesman took them in hand, while the
guide, saying: II will find a seat for
the young lady outside" slipped back
into the corridor.
Marian Maynall, divining that some
thing unusual was on the tapis, was
standing flushed and trembling when
the audacious guide put the paper in
her hand on which he had written:
Lieutenant Westville waits for you
at the foot of the eastern glacis. Lose
no time"
And Marion Maynan lost no time
She flew out of the dark portal with
swift step. A young man in naval
uniform met her half way, and clasp
ing hands they ran together down the
slope to the boat. They were in it in
trice, but had not gone many lengths
from the wall when a couple of gentle
men bounced. out upon the esplanade
waving their hands and shouting like
mad.
Something must be done, however
Don Miguel set off below the fort,
where he could hire a boat, and Mr..
Maynall, pressing a cab into his serv-
ice, hurried after, the crowd streaming