Evening star., 1921-05-29

May cut in"
Pug caught ouerita as she passed
and put his arm around her ne
heard shout of surprise, and the
pushing. excited mob OF nationalists
surrounded him. Then space was
cleared again. and he found himself
dancing with. Cammarillo's girl
And Cammarillo's girl could dance
She was light father ian. She
was seductive and elusive. merry ana
spiritual. dangerous and desirable.
She was as light as feather fan Sh"
and the passion Of Spain in her eyes
And tho youth Of Magella was in the
smile she gave rus-somethinE fresh
and huoyant and huhblinG thaf 49, 49,
TO his head like wine. He laughed e
and whispered 10 her: STEADY:
Querita. CammarilIo will eat out OF
your hand before dawn. He heard
the high. insistent tinklinG OF INC
clasped Querita and they whirled
toward the nationalist leader IKE
leaves spinning in a summer storm.
The crowd shouted-savaSe, jocu-
OF the perspirins. jostlinE propl"
shriek ed 'Signor Pug LihertS' ff'e-
dom for MaEella,'
rAMMARILLo had risen. He pushed
y back his chair and with an inn
passive face stood watching the
n
a p!ainsman. half Indian. half Span
lard He touched the Imagination be
cause he said nothing Of his own
sins. Neither did he boast. He knew
the temper of his bandits 10 be as
fluid as water and as elusive as quirk-
silver. He had promised them the
Fairchild mines and hero. dancing
with Querita. whom he had chosen 10
discipline. was the young American
who had rubbed the nose OF has right
hand man in the dust, had put pleso
IN control of the political swltchboard.
and had promised peace ana mat
rial prosperity 10 Magella. Gamma
rillo's eyes narrowed as he watched
the disgusting spectacle. but "ha'
he thought made no impression on IN"
fixed fmmobility of his face.
Querita whispered suddenly: stop
America Her eyes fell hefore
Cammarillos stare. and rug fe!t her
body droop in his arms. Il am alralo.
Puc laughed He lifted the girl above
his head and. running through the
crowd with a shout of triumph. swung
her up on the bar. Then ne $1,000
beside her. snatched "A glass or hatN.
wine from an unsteady lnu'an;
smiled down into that poor VI uP
"Siynori," he said "I have the hon
or TO salute YOU. Patriots. My name
is Pug. New York. Have YOU sot anS
4 l.
Cammarillo shouted. and his follow"
ers surred forward with roar,
| Ouerita dropped behind the bar ano
crouchod there with her hands over
her ears. Pug ran along tne pus
! jshed marble counter. kicking glasses
and bottles right and left. causht Al
ian elaborate chandelier when huns
i from the low ceiling. swung lnerF
| above the heads OF the struesl!hs
crowd. then dropped. He fell on the
el,n nf
i and knocked them down But ne
! rose again. laughing. and kicked n,s
way to the platform with the whole
roomful in pursuit. he Eippeu lev, In
sprawling headlong. and spurn the
| pianist right about face with one vio-
J lent twist. Then he Vaulted inc p'
ano. and pushed it forward on IN.
j edge of the platform on top or
souirming heap of dazed nationailsts
/ He had no time to feel much or
anything. but he knew that ne wa
happy He saw squirt of name. a
Duff of smoke. bullet Spiatlereu
against the wall behind him.
| "Butterfingers" he shouted.
|! He picked up one of the guitar
| players chairs and smashed ms way
back to the bar. Then, reacnlne De
/ hind him to the loaded shelves, he
seized bottles, glasses: bottles. and
more glasses. and used the enraged
faces below him as targets
It's fun while il lasts. ne thouSht'
why don't they get me
suddenly. with a completeness that
was sitting. the lights went out. Pug
heard groans. curses. sobbng. an IN
sane Scuff1e of feet. the thump OF
bodies in desperate collision. He TOOK
a fying leap into the dark. became
!entansled with dozen pairs or arms
and legs. shook them on. and wrig-
eled on his hands and knees to the
door. "If it's locked he whis-
l,A Nd
himself on the steep fight OF narrow
stairs that led to the street. There.
sleaning against the wall with his
arms folded and his eyes closed. Pug
found Carlo Gonelli. They raced to-
Igether to the street. Behind them
they heard a roar OF voices a stacca
Ito rattle of shots. the splintering OF
glass
THE Esplanade was quiet and dark,
In the distance the municipal
band was playing "Traviata." The
air was sweet with the breath of the
sea. the spicy fragrance of tropic
flowers. the aromatic dust of old
walls.
Want a light Signor Pug" Gonelli
asked in a gentle voice.
! In the sputtering glare of the match
;their eyes met. with suspicion. with
| humor. almost with appreciation.
Thanks" said Pug.
! He stopped a little. lighted his Gig
arctic with deep. satisfying puffs.
then Strengthened. smiling in the
| dark "It was great evening, CO.
/; nelli. But who put out the lights"
! How should | know" Gonelli an
swered. You crack the whip. and
dance. dance like a fool. like
/ clown like monkey on a stick. But
! l can still say Viva la liberia"
| Then. side by side, in great good
humor.' they crossed the city to the
consulate
| Copyright. Todd. Mead & Ob.)