Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-07

some OF MS enemies, no SufI1Clenlly ulsCIccl
reply occurred to the puzzled schoolmaster,
whose intellectual gifts. moreover, were
lacking in the quick give-and-take needed
for street oratory. So. smiling benignly,
and somewhat fatuousy upon the noisy rab-
BILE, he thrust his hand deeper into his coat,
peered more owlshly through his gold-rim-
med glasses and, forgetting its future possi-
bilities, got such enjoyment rs he could out
of the novel situation.
The volunteers exploded with JOY over the
presidents apparent approval of their de-
mand Had Pedro cared TO stop for further
talk the impatience OF his comrades would
have prevented him. Although these poems
had no definite plan, they were looking Tor
something more exciting than an exchange
of opinions with this old graybeard of San
Carlos. A march through the city and then
On to Panama seemed as good program
as any to men who were indifferent to the
dry details of geography. There were more
cries of Down with the Yankees. and
cheers for Don Jose. Then before that be-
widered statesman could take himself off,
his unwashed admirers filed past his bal
cony, leaving the toy captain and his men
to close the gates they had so courageously
guarded.
Under other skies and among more vim
dictive people. a rowing crowd of poems, clam
orous for war and threatening all who OPP
posed them might be regarded with some
alarm. But the mildness of the Andesn
character. its dislike for actual bloodshed,
lessened Bogotas danger. Even the timid
Don Jose was not apprehensive. But there
We're others who thcusht II wiser TO keep
these poems away from Americans living in
Bogota. Not that anything would really
happen--past experiences seemed to prove
the harmlessness OF this kind of patriotism.
When the second expedition left for the
lsthmus, for instance, an American, looking
for novel Impressions. had posed the volun-
teers before his camera and snapshotted them
to his hearts content while they were de
nouncing los Yankees" But one mob of
patriots may be quite unlike another, and
it so happened that when King Pedro's army
of emboadores, In its ailnlesS wanderings
after leaving the Palace of San Carlos. Stun
bled upon native OF the United States. the
encounter became very lively one indeed.
As a rule, plenty Of Americans in
Bogota. Some go there to do business for
the merchant houses which they represent
some have their own local interests, others
are after thos. tempting Government con-
cessions" granted to the disinterested per-
son who develops the natural resources OF
the country by monopolizng them. When
the Panama revolution" came, most Ameri
cans left Bogota, conscious that II was not
a promising time to seek aid from the ma
,ional treasury for their ventures. Those
who were unable to leave stayed within their
respective hotels whenever popular upris-
ing seemed likely
It was down blank little side street,
modest o ne -storied houses. in a quiet district
unfreauented by foreigners that the rowing
poems met the one American who had failed
to conceal himself on this particular morn
ing. After leaving San Carlos, PEDRO haa
turned his men into the Plaza de Catedral,
where they had clattered along the vide
concourse, pausng to make rev merry
speeches before the Capitol, whose unroo1co
courts-the building was unfinished at that
time - and majestic Doric columns seem
T1-
gone the zigzag length of the principal ous'-
ness street. Then, firing of their progress
through an unresponsive city, tney hao
started to find their way back to the Gale
de Las Montanas. choosing Tor thls purpose
the obscure Gale de Las Flores
Ar their approach the street was virtually
desert ed all the doors opening on IL care
fully barred and. in some instances. even
the blinds OF the windows drawn ihus'
IL happened that q tall man, mumed IN
ruana wearing a wide sombrero. and with
his back against the entrance to one or the
houses became unavoidably conspicuous as
the throng Of emboladores surged along the
roadway abreast OF him.
.yiva Colombia! - shouted Pedro giving
the usual greeting. "Baja los Yankees:
Instead of answering in a like strain OF
enthusiasm the man addressed tossed the
raosa end of his ruana over one shoulder
showing, as he did so. pallid race on Which
played a contemptuous smile.
"soy un Americana" he replied COM
posedly, gancing at Pedro and then turn
ing his eyes, which were sngularly piercing.
| from one to another of those crowding about
him.
"1rp Yankee. I'm Yankee! Baja los
| Yankees"
movement Of the emboladores toward the
man whose attitude seemed to be a chal-
lenge to them.
Dali this
| Give him a chance. II he cheers Colombia,
| we will let him GO If he refuses, he Is
nrisoner Now Senior Yankee-viva Colonl-
| b:a,"
| The emboladores gave a lusty cheer. 1t
| was met with scornful silence by the man
| who had declared himself Yankee.
| =" Sil ST, Pedro el Rey!" they all shouted.
"He is an enemy of Colombia. He is
| prisoner
! The wily Pedro, unwilling to risk his posi-
| ton by denying the demands OF his fol-
| lowers yet fearing to aid in an act OF
violence, automatically said nothing The
| defiant American. meanwhile, regarded the
| neons with a dsdain that enraged them. al
though checking, through its very audacity
| their hostility.
| oI am not a Colombian" he said quietly
"I am not an enemy to Colombia. But
| won't cheer againSt-the Yankees"
| .J-n Yankee! Un Yankee" they retorted
| "a Yankee thief come for our gold !"
'.rhere is truth in that" he laughed
sardonlcally. II want gold that you are
| too lazy to get for yourselves-just as you
were too lazy to keep Panama
| .Un loco, He is insane!' cried Pedro in
| disgust. LET us go!
NO! No" yelled the angry mob. And
| amid cries of loco! Domonio! Yankee
| Puerco!" !" those in the front ranks made a
| lunge at the man whose exasperating cool
ness had kept them at bay, while a shower of
| missiles came from the poems who hovered
| in the rear.
| = But the attack was skillfully met. Trip
| ming up his first two assailants and ward
| ing off the blows of third. the Yankee
| smiling derisively. stealthily passed his left
| hand along the ponderous door against which
| he was leaning. This street door, as is usual
| in Colombian houses, had a small "postigo "
| or wicket, large enough to admit one per-
| son at a time, and opening much more
readily than the unwieldy mass of timber
| Having found the latch to this wicket.