Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-08-05
BY Randall
Parrish
Author of
The Strange Case
of Cavendish".
Copyright, By Randall Parrish
Copyright By Randall Parrish

| my progress. This, figured out.
| might be the same into which Wine
had entered In search OF Alva, when
he deserted me In the front hallway.
1 listened intently. but heard no
sound within, and. satisfied the room
was without occupants. venrureS finai-
ly to gain a glimpse inside. 1t WIS a
room not altogether unlike the one
had just left, although smaller,
and containing a chair or two In adj
dition to the writing table. noted
these things quickly, my gaze straying
to partially open door in the board
wall to the right, through which a
brighter glow OF light streamed. My
ears caught the sound of voices, the
words indistinct.
Although convinced the small room
was without occupants, l was some
aoments screwing up my courage to
enter. Yet there was no other way In
which l could learn the meaning of all
this, or be prepared to intelligently
play my part later with Harris To
trap the fellow l must know his pur-
pose, be able to answer his inquiries
and seem conversapt with his vii
lainy.
The door opened toward me, but II
would be suicidal to attempt viewing
the room beyond through that opening.
The only thing l dare venture was to
gain such survey as was possible by
means Of the narrow crack below the
hinge on which the door swung. This
Afforded me the merest glimpse OF one
side of the room, revealing four or five
men sitting motionless on a bench
against the wall, evidently listening in
tently to what was going on opposite
them. With the exception OF Wine,
who was third in the row, no face
saw was in the least familIar-two
being pronouncedly Spanish, the 9th.
ers not SO easily recognized as TO ma
tionality. j had no difficulty whatever
in overhearing their voices. and grasp
Ing the sense OF what they were say
Ing. AS a general thing the words used
were English, although occasionally
some one requested an explanation in
Spanish, which was Immediately given.
However, almost the first sentence
overheard convinced me that had ar
rived too late to learn directly the ma
ture Of those instructions received
from Washington. Alva was asking n
question.
But We are ready to act now" he
said impauently, his foreign accent
faint, yet plainly perceptible, "have
been ready for a month past. What
necessity then is there for further de-
layT
The woman. whom he evidently ad-
dressed. must have been very close to
the door; her voice soft. but speaking
with clear enunciation, sounded almost
within reach of my hand.
'"The reason Is Valparaiso, of
course" she said; at is not Washing
ton at all. When you strike, the people
must be ready there. You say you are
prepared, senior. That is what / was
sent TO learn, and / find you are not
prepared"
Not ready We are organized and
sworn to service"
She seemed to lean forward her
voice changing almost to a whisper
Il see that, your eagerness, your de-
votion. But that is not readiness for
such duty. Who has been chosen for
the act itself-the post of danger? No
one. Until the man / need not name
dies, we can accomplish nothing. You
have taken no ballot. II the single
word was flashed tonight. Go and 1t
may be, who among you is authorized
to execute the order?"
She paused. but no voice spoke.
England yet lies untouched. Surely
your instructions were clear, and moth
ing is being accomplished for the
cause while it rests in the vault. II
will require all of thirty days to dis
tribute this into the proper hands.
here and in Chile, yet nothing has
been done. We supposed IL was al
ready in circulation. What caused the
delay?"
One of the men on the bench spoke,
heavily built fellow, with long
gray mustache, and horn spectacles
shading his eyes.
'All know iss ct wait on der order
Of Gustave Alva to be indorsed BY
Senior Mendez. hol' EFT so in trust.
from the agent. Eft was In a private
safe, n package of currency, only
know where. The bank hsv' nothings
to do with der deal"
81 understand. The agent gave you
personally the letter of credit. which
you Immediately cashed, and you now
hold the currency subject to cnllT'
Certainly; dat vos how EFT vos. The
agent he tell me-"