Evening star., 1921-06-26

he held whispered converse with a
man who waited in rowboat upon
the Whispering fringe OF surf. The
Carib nodded, held out his brown palm
for silver, and pulled off across the
narbor to that small schooner which
still tackled aimlessly in the silver
faxed path of the moon. Pug watched
until the fellow had delivered the
message. Then the sail. which had
a moment before been sable. swung
to the fresh wind and the schooner
moved away toward the Capo head
land. snow-white, mysterious. silent.
Pug raced along the road to Porto
Bio. mounted on the presidents own
white charger. Pug bent his head to
the breeze and laughed aloud. Once
ct. Once he remembred what Miss
Diego had said: Heart of my heart
He blessed whatever gods there are
the gods of youth and the ahable
gods of love-for Messrs. Smith.
Brown and Jones.
And along toward dawn. when the
moon had called it a night and had
knocked of, the big charger clattered
around bend in the road. stopped;
quivered. expanded his nostrils, and
played ring-a. a.round-a-rosy.
whoa" said Pug. smoothing the
martial one down with the palm OF
his hand. whoa. Alexander! Are you
d
Alexander thought better of 1t and
pranced forward gingerly and dain-
tily, picking his way. 1t was as dark
as a closet. Close at hand you could
hear the whistle Of many small waves
on some pebbly beach. And there in
the road, turned over on its side: was
a public hack Diego's war horse
edged around it, snorting and quiver-
ing. =,
from the darkness What beast is
this? Eaboon. alligator, jaguar, or
demon? Devour me: 1 can do no
more"
Pug laughed. Fear not. amigo! I
am a traveller on the way to Porto
Bio. What has happened here?'
THE worst. sell my carriage and
my horse to three gentlemen-a tall.
a small. and a not so small one. Also:
there is lady. She scfeams and
to drive like the wind. They pay.
Each time I stop. they pay more.
wiring them dry. like sponge. Why
not? Ny horse is dead and I am cra3ed
with fear. The three and the lady go
on-afoot. And may God go with
them. I could not"
How long have you been here?"
Twenty minutes-perhaps more, ]
have an ague. I shall be dead in the
morning."
Pug followed the fugitives as
quietly as he could. Diego's charger
had tread meant to echo round Ma
CELIA and strike terror in the heart
of tepid royalists: Pug Pug. could .nnsas see ee
the road and to the right. the occa-
sional flash Of the .Capo light as it
turned to sweep the harbor. Barrios.
he knew. must be near at hand. for
when he looked over his shoulder. he
could see the lights of the capital
he was already upon the headland.
When within stones throw OF the
stony path which turned off to the
Capo. he stopped suddenly.
A flicker of dawn had lightened the
world. things appeared out of the
darkness like the shadows upon an
some people hurrying down the Porto
Bio road-one tall. one small. one not
SO small, and. between them. a
woman. who stumbled as they urged
Pug followed, his hand upon his re-
volver.. joy in his heart. Then the
tall Mr.. Brown stopped in his tracks.
He turned. There was q flash, an ex-
plosion, and the warehouse Alexander.
struck neatly between the eyes. went
down on his knees. rolled over, and
while Pug sprang free, kicked might
lily and died.
'"This man Brown" Pug thought.
speaks ,sesSss e,GSssnty licked wtth his sln ps and
crouched behind the towering corpse
It was evident that the fugitives
had mistaken him for Diego. Pug
heard Miss Diego shrek: Papa! I
am here!'
Mr.. Brown advanced upon Pug's i'm
hov Sryif n
feet he stopped and said: Now, Mr..
President, go easy. Hand me the ten
thousand nice and proper, making no
saueals. and we will head for Porto
Bio. leaving you to the peaceful en-
joyment of tropical politics. Stand
The pin-chick suitor fred over the
head Of the prostrate Alexander.
Then Pug lost his temper and, rising
quickly, let Mr.. Brown have It through
the, palm Of his ,facile right hand
The gambler yelled. and flung both
arms above his head. Pug possessed
himself Of the eloquent revolver and
ran up the road.
Miss Diego was engaged in holding
Smith. and Jones. Her methods were
timeworn but effective. She screamed,
kicked, bit and clawed. When she saw
pug running toward her with the re-
;voiyer in his hand she cried: 'It is
tainted in Mr.. Jones' arms.
"Wonderful girl" whispered Pug: I
+ + ~
Mr.. SMITH, sucking his left hand
1Nl where Miss Diego's sharp. white
teeth had left mark. with his right
.wrestled with his revolver. The shot
went wild. but Pug stumbled and fell,
4a :. i