The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-06-23

l walked from the car line. What's
up? Do you know, Captain?"
The fellow addressed exploded In
Spanish.
"Why you call me that? 1 tell you
my nameH
"It's safe enough il here, but I'll be
careful outside. What was this meet
ing called for?"
1T was a message from Washing
ton, orders maybe, that we act soon.
I hope it."
From Washington? Is Mendez
here?"
"Saprista, no! Can he move with
out dozen spies at his heels? He find
a messenger no one ever suspect. She
Bring the word"
"She? A woman?"
"Sure! that was better. No ore
know her; no one ever see her with
our people, 1t was a good trick, and
it fool the pigs"
"But who is the woman?'
The other uttered a gruff exclama-
tion of disgust
eff I know, you suppose 1 tell? Not
much, but do not know. They trust
her-is it not enough? 'Tis my guess
she come special for to do this
'She is a Chilean then?"
Maybe; maybe American, Spanish.
What difference If she be in our serv-
ice? They know what she is; tonight
she is Marie Gessler-it has the sound
of Switzerland. Beyond this I care
nothing"
"But you have seen her, perhaps?
"Not sight; none Of the boys have
She was to meet Alva at Times square
this noon. I went with him, but no
girl-just a messenger boy there with
a note in code. Something had fright
ened the lady, and she made night
appointment over here"
Here! How did she know the way
out?"
"She didn't, for the matter of that;
But she had been piped off on JAMS
place, and agreed to be there as soon
as it was dark. I'm wondering if she
showed up; let's 60 in and see.'
The three moved off down the pas
sage still conversing in subdued tones,
the sharp accent Of the Spaniard most
prominent, and I became acutely
aware of the black silence in which
stood. There was no occasion for me
to risk my life farther in an effort to
learn more. I had located the secret
rendezvous of this gang of revolu-
tionary plotters. I was aware of their
connection with the Chilean Junta at
Washington, and it would be COM
paratively easy matter now to capture
them red-handed. I saw therefore no
reason why I should venture further,
or endeavor to learn in detail the ma
ture Of this message intrusted to the
girl for delivery. My duty now was
to report what I had discovered, when
the prompt arrest of Alva, and few
others, would end the whole scheme.
It seemed simple enough, if l could
only find my way out safely.
But escape unobserved was far from
being assured. Any retreat by way OF
the lighted passage was Impossible;
there were guards there at both ends;
the only hope lay In a blind effort for
ward.
I accepted the only course possible,
and began to feel my way to<he left,
skirting the wall Of rough boarding,
until it widened out into what was ap-
parently the larger room beyond. No
sound reached me from any direction,
the silence and darkness depressing
me, as though they had weight.
Yet one fact became more and more
clear-the deliberate purpose with
which this deserted iron factory had
been prepared for a secret rendezvous.
Apparently, from without, it stood
grim. desolate and deserted, yet the
interior arrangements were such that
conspirators could meet securely In
side, protected from observation, In
rooms through whose walls no CLEAN
OF ngnt mlSnl De visible lfOln ellllel
street or alley. Only an accident, or
constant vigilance without, could re-
veal the true use to which the building
was now being devoted. This knoWl-
edge rendered the peril Of my own po-
sition the more intense. I could be
killed. murdered, and no man would
ever he the wiser. I would simply dis
appear, vanish. and that would be the
end.
At that moment had no thought but
to discover some means Of escape. The
knowledge of the danger I was in
robbed me of all courage. was like
a child afraid in the dark. I moved
forward, inch by inch, feeling my way
!