Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-12-02
The Refugees
Reward
Ey HOWARD SMITH.

'l"Aci the door III my room. IA
Ia" iii'r An.Nicau huf"! III Guy.r.. ,it
'i'e >'iinn"nS OF an unrNrrctcd :innci,
-'"pi!. nervous. appealing tar.
i"| most ",>tUuiui wuu.,,u 1 i.aI ever
seen.
She Ms trembling. yis!hly. rhosc
deep dark blue eyes were scin,lila,iuu
wiih Il seeming terror. She glanced
up ana down the corridor as II mo-
inentnrliy expecting some lowering
DOOM Then. br.athlcsSiy:
Scn"r. in the ualua of humanity. as
friend, as brother, as she
glanced ut my gray wig ffalsc). Il, The
mature obScuring co!orcd sI,ectnclrS |
woEe-'ts Il father" she added more
assnringiS: LET HE in. Allow me to
hide--t" occupy Your rocm for the
next thirty minutes"
1T was period OF wars alarms. Of
unusual happenings. All that portion
OF the republic waS in turmoil. /
WAS engaged 'uon Il peculiar mission
hence disguised. stepped past her
Into the hail. lifted my ha, and said
courteouSly:
with pleasure. 1t il; your apart
ment---nt your will" and heard the
door boltpd on III" inside ard went
DOWN to the lobby. uppiaudins myself
lor q Kind decd. III :: very few mo-
nients two men in Uniform accOmpa-
nleu by servant came buStling down
the stairs and UP to tho desk of the
hotel clerk. They were red. pcrspir-
Ing, angry.
I'VE have not found her." spoke
one Of the officers.
THE lady YOU describe. register
name Hermosa Alivlna. was given
room fl this morning.
1T is unoccupied; we have visited
other rooms. She IS not to he found.
One apartment was bolted on the in
| side. 1t wns 49," spoke the servant
All: tina; i" yo'lr room. IS 1t not,
sen"r: int"rr"::"i"d the clerk. aud /
arose und cane forward.
Mine" I bowed with alacrtty, for
1t was not u tiue to falter or arouse
suspicion. 81 just left it,"
l followed the group up the stair
| case.
Empty" pronounced the head off,
Ger III sour, disappointed tone as
the barrier was forced, and he dartei
| swift glance about the room.
"Observel" shrilly called out his
compatriot, lifting q flmy, dainty
dress from chair. Again" he add
ed, and pointed 10 the open window,
to sheet twisted into rope dan
| CLING into the shallow court below
The leader paused momentarily to
direct a scowling glance Mt me-
IF I thought you were party to
this escapade--" he began
| Save your Words" I INTERRUPTED
calmly. with an Indifferent shrug of
the shoulders. II am the loser, us
| miss suit of clothes"
took my loss philosophically. ]
had lost n good deal lately, + and my
partner, back at the mines.
| I have said that I wns disguised.
There was reason. Briefly, my part
mel. and myself had just got our grant
over on the range panning out great,
when the revolution came along.
We held Il concession from the CEN
| trail government. Fortunately, too,
the government Of the province had ap-
| proved it. This would hold when
peace came around again, provided 1t
| was filed ut the capital.
/ noticed two of the coach passen-
Cer%-su$plcious looking follows whom
l seemed to have seen before. uwoke
| from Il doZe. with the ominouS words
| ringing in my enrs:
'Senor, alight!'
One of the men held the driver nf
bay with n revolver. The other Simi.
larry armed, marched me to the side
| of the road, carrying my Sutchel with
him. He roughly burst it open, went
| over its. contents and arose to search
me.
"A certain document, Il mining CON
| cession---we know you have 1t. We
want It," he said.
Save yourself the trouble of n
search" 1 told the baffled spy. THE
| paper in question was taken with n
suit of clothes stolen from me, and
doubtless cast 1t away as worthless
! was allowed to resume my Jour.
ney. My partner Joined me in the
capital city little later. We had
abandoned all hopes as to the mines.
One evening we were seated in an
outdoor cafe enjoying some really
creditable music, when my companion
touched my foot and whispered: "rhe
lady at the table to the left seems
greatly Interested In YOU"
/ changed my position to view--my
lady Of the hotel episode! She WAS
radiant with youth, beauty and hapDI-
ness. She arose, distinguished
young man In uniform her escort.
"Senor, my friend" she cried spon-
taneously, clasping both Of NY hands.
"Nv husband l'nlnnnl AinnL..un Ali.-a