Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-12-17

ASK 1t now"
"Are you Sobrantean?"
| 81 was born In this country aad
raised here until l was fourteen"
But you're--why, hang 1t, You're
not Latin?"
mo, I'm a mixture, with Latin pre-
dominating. My forebears were pure
Castilians from Madrid, and crossed
the Western ocean in caravels. It's
been a matter Of pride with the house
Of Ruey to keep the breed pure, but
despite all precautions, the family tree
has been grated once with Scotch
thistle, twice with the lily Of France,
and once with the shamrock of Ire
land. My mothe~ was an Irish woman
"You alibi yourself perfectly, Ricar-
do, and my curiosity Is appeased. Per-
NIT me to continue my tale,' he added
In Spanish, and forthwith he related
with humorous detail his adventure at
the gangplank Of the steamer that had
borne him ald Ricardo Ruey south.
Ricardo interrupted him. 1--WE know
all about that, friend Webster, and we
knew the two delightful gentlemen had
been told off to get you-unoficially.
The Sobrantean revolutionary junta
has headquarters In New Orleans. 1t
Is composed of political exiles, for
Sarros, the present dictator of So
brante, rules with al iron hand, and
has cute little habit of rallroading
his enemies to the cemetery via the
treason charge and the firing squad.
He killed my father, who was the
best president this benighted country
ever had, and / consider 1t my Chris
tian duty to avenge my father and a
patriotic duty to take up the task he
left ulfinished-the task of making
over my country.
"In Sobrante, as In most Of the coun-
tries in Central America, there are
two, distinct classes Of people-the
aristOcrats and peons-and the aristo-
crat fattens on the peon, as he has
had habit Of doing since Adam. We
haven't any middle class to stand as
buffer between the two-which
makes 1t sad proposition. My father
was an idealist and a dreamer and he
dreamed of reform IN government and
solution Of the agrarian problem
which confronts all Latln-America. He
trusted one Pablo Sarros, an educated
peon, who had commanded the gov.
eminent forces under the regime my
father overthrow. My tender-hearted
parent discovered that SarrOs was
plotting to overthrow him; but instead
of having him shot, he merely removed
him from command. Sarros gathered
handful Of bandits Joined the old
government forces paw fatAar had con-
! quered, hired couple dozen Yankee
artllleryme1 and-he won out. Ny
father was captured and executed the
palace was burned, and my sister per
ished In the flames. I'm here to pay
Off the score"
"a worthy ambition! So you organ
lied the revolutionary junta In New
Orleans. eh?"
Ricardo nodded. sword of 1t reached
Sarros, and he sent his brother Raoul,
chief Of the intelligence bureau, to in
vestigate and report. AS fast as he
reported, Colonel Caraveo reported to
me. My fathers sOl possesses name
to conjure with. Consequently 1t was
to the interest of the Sarros admins
tratlon that be eliminated. They
watched every boat; hence my scheme
for eluding their 'vlgilance-whlch,
thanks to you, worked like charm"
"But," Webster complained, SIN not
sitting In the game at all, and yet I'm
caught between the upper and neither
millstones."
"That is easy to explain. You inter
fered that morning In Jackson square;
then Raoul Sarros met you going
aboard the steamer for Buenaventura
and you manhandled him, and natural
ly, putting two and two together, he
has concluded that you are not only
his personal enemy but also friend
and protector of mine and consequent
ly an enemy of the state"
"And as consequence I'm marked
for Slaughter
at would be well, my friend" Doc
tor Pacheco suggested, ito return to
the United States until after Ricardo
and his friends have eliminated your
Nemesis"
"How soon will that happy event
transpire"
"In about sixty days we hope to be
ready to strike, Mr.. Webster"
Colonel Caraveo cleared his throat.
~ understand from Ricardo that you
and another American are interested
In a mining concession, Mr.. Webster"
Webster nodded.
as this a concession from private
landholder or did your friend secure
1t from the Sarros government
"From the government. We pay ten
per cent. royalty, on a nlnety-nine-year
lease, and that's all know about It
l have never seen the property, and
my object In coming was to examine II
and, II satisfied, finance the project"
'If you will return to your hotel,
my dear SIR" Colonel Caraveo sug.
gested, land remain there until noon
tomorrow, l feel confident l can guar
antee you immunity from attack there
after. have plan to influence my
associates In the intelligence Office
Bully for you, Colonel. Give me six
ty days in which to operate, and I'll
have finished my job in Sobrante and
gotten out OF 1t before that gang Of cut
threats wakes up to the fact that En-
gone. thank you, sir"
"The least we can do. since you have
saved Ricardo's life and rendered our
cause great service, is to save your