New-York tribune., 1921-06-05
lifting THE PAPRIKA TRAIL
Illustration by FRED c. YOHN

drove the main forces out two hours ago.
Camfnarillo is dead. / saw him die. Presi-
dent Diego and Miss Diego are at the consul
late. Mccarthy is holding the mines. And
the Royalist comic opera forces are now
gagged in cleaning up the waterfront streets"
He stretched, grinned happily, and his
hands over his dust-begrimed face
Mr. Blanchard rose from his squatting po-
ward with gingerly caution. Rita was behind
him.
Hello, Pug" she said.
Pug Fairchid shouted. He caught Rita's
lands He danced an ecstatc foxtrot up and
down the Rough Riders narrow neck.
Rita! An American girl in the middle of
a tupenny-ha penny revolution! You're a
sight for tired eyes"
Rita's glance was cool. Her heart was
beating at it's usual rate--which was just
g. little steadier than a watch. She was
pretty, and knew it. Revolution or no revo-
luton, here was just another young man
whose eyes kindled at the sight of her.
"Is there decent hotel in magellan" she
demanded.
NO." Pug said shortly. "But dare say
we can make you comfortable"
And his smile died like the sun going be-
hind a cloud.
They went ashore in the launch, Rita re-
fusing to stay another night on board the
Rough Rider.
A man was fussjng over the engine in the
launch---a thin, dark. man in soiled linen
Pug introduced him to the Blanchards as "My
friend, Carlo GoneIli, who fought for the
freedom Of Magella." Rita bowed, and Go
nelli, clicking his heels together, bent from
the waist.
"What monkey!" Rita thought
"What beauty!'' Gonelli thought
They continued to stare at each other all
the way across the harbor. Gonelli's black
eyes flashed sidewise, impudent and admiring.
His coat was ripped up the back; his collar
had wilted in the heat of some terrific fight
in the narrow streets of the city; his curly
hair stood on end. Rita saw that there was
blood on the back of his hands deep cut,
as if one had slashed at him with a
sword. Yet he busted himself with the en-
gine. Was he Magellan? An Italian?
The launch grated against an invisible jetty
Rita could see nothing save the bulky out
lines of sheds sad storehouses. But Pug got
a foothod on the slippery landing steps and
gave his arm to father and daughter They
stumbled up to the wharf level, Gonell close
behind.
II don't like this Mr.. Blanchard said
sharply. EIf anything should happen to
us"---
There is explaining the complicated
activities of destiny. 1t just happened that
the buoyant Signor Pug, flushed with victory
groggy with fatigue, and blinded by the sud
den darkness, had brought Magellas distin-
guished guests ashore at the wrong place
Ten Of Cammarlos Natonalists had eluded
the mounted Royalists in the dusty melee on
the Esplanade and, taking advantage of the
thickening twilight, had hidden themselves in
a tangle of freight on the companys wharves
None OF these men had any idea that Cam
marillo was dead. He had fallen in the Via
della Pace, not a hundred yards from the
American Consulate.
When they heard Mr.. Blanchard's voice,
coming out of the darkness like fretful echo,
they wriggled forward on hands and knees,
obeying the inaudible command of the dead
leader, jumped up swiftly and, with a single,