Evening star., 1921-03-13

into the landing boat Once 50 turn
ed and waved to the second officer.
| she was gone.
All night the Liberia auivered nm
der the feet of cammarillos fghtinrs
men. They swarmed up the sides.
and spread themselves over the decks
the cabins. the saloon and the rig.
ging-bsrefooted. dark. careless ment
wearing huge sombreros with choco-:
late-cream crowns
tillery that they ratified when they,
moved. Zach one carried long-l
barreled Winchester, a revolver andi
an assortment OF knives. Gamma,
them. He had cut the wires between
the capital and Porto Bio and had
left the embarkation of troops to,
Peterson, rushing away on horse.
back to join the major portion off
MS command in the foothills 1t wass
his intention to march into MagelIAs
from the north while the Libertaf
contingent was engaged on the,
water front. He knew that Dicgosi
four points of the compass and nott
likely to fire a shot against the su-,
perior nationalist force. II was a.
pretty game of ring-around-a-rosy.l
and the half-breed Spaniard calcu-,
lated on being in the palace. presi-.
dent and dictator. within a week.
| The Liberia sailed at dawn. in,
| crusted with men and so owe erloaded'
that her decks were almost flush with,
| the sea.
Peterson was on the bridge. ma.
Jestic. clad in white from head toi
! loot. the deus ex machina of the rev,
olution. He borrowed the captains,
glasses and made out Cora standingi
on the veranda OF the comma ndante 50
| house. where Peterson had left her,
! until the cause was won." Cora
had doubts about the cause, but she.
l i,
| gesture not meant for her father, but.
| TOR the sandy-haired youngster whot
had promised to come back for her,
What was Paris compared to the,
mystery and radiance of life with a.
man who had made her fall in love-
with him in one day and a half?
| The Liberia plowed south again'
across steaming sea. The funnel
belched black smoke The rusty pro-,
peller kicked up snowwhite. plumes,
| Of foam.
She was hurrying down the sea al.
| top speed. in order to enter Magella'
harbor in that impenetrable hour just.
| before the break of dawn. All dayi
, the jaded nationalists hugged the,
| meager shadow of the awnings or lsyt
| full length on the matches, their bare,
sandy haired youngster watched with,
something like fear in his heart. Hei
danced no more above the hidden car,
| gador's head. Instead. he hung over.
the rail, biting his nails and staring,
I Two men against 2.000--it looked,
like big deal. One thing he knew
he would trip Peterson. Then he.
would go back for that girl. and tells
her the truth. If he could
! The sun was quenched at last. like ~
fallen rocket. A cool mist rose. tho
unmistakable odor OF the drenche%
and tropical land. The nationalis's
began to stir. They shouted Thew
I sang And fearful hilippual oofhs>
| split the air. :
There was a constant rattle OF arms.
ominous and businesslike. The Libert"s
rode into the gathering datknes
! without lights quivering as sh's
| sensed the peril of the adventure
! THE second officer. wandering for.
ward. opened the matches with
ostentatious care for the CARGO
cargo not likely to reach it's destina-
tion. While he was fumbling there int
the darkness, the disreputable carga-
dor slipped out on the deck and fell
Immediately into the relaxed attitude
Of a sleeping nationalist. 81
1t was done SO quickly that the Sec
ond officer could not be certain that
the stowaway had left the hold. To
the captains angry shout from the"
| bridge: Close the matches, there." he.
p h..
and obeyed with alacrity. Then he
went slowly aft to his own quarters,
conscious of the soft pad Of bare feet
| behind him. The cargador slipped >,
! into the little cabin like shadow;
| closing the door and catching Whites
arm. he whispered: .'f
Give me some water. Mines alb.
gone. II was hot as blazes down
| there. What's up?"
THAT you, Mr.. Fairchild?"
| me. Where are weg"
"or the capo at o'clock t
who's on the bridge?' %,
Schmidt and the captain.
Have you got that gum"
Yes. sir"
II don't think you'll need to use 1t.
Listen! ! have hunch.' g.,
They whispered. sitting side by side:
on the edge of the second officers .
9berth. The cargador whispered to-,
White. and White whispered back,
tense and ardent as two conspirators q,
in a melodrama. tt
Outside. the nationalists squatted on.
their heels. sharpening their knives,
land their wits for the impending fray.
iOff TO the south, Magella slept be- 4.
meath the velvet-black sky. innocent r
as Graded babe. Diego's army was
hot-footing il through the forests"
iCammarillo. the liberator. bore down -
from the hills. There was nothing to -
prevent the downfall of the govern a.
ment. except time-time the impetu-
Gus. The hours passed. and the over
laden Liberia. feeling her way =
, through the impenetrabie darkness
approached the Capo light. passed be-
meath il. and turned at right angles I.
into the wide mouth of the harbor. A =
sudden babel of voices rose from the -
| steamers crowded decks and died
Iaway again like a passing furry Of =
| wind. Thereafter Cammarillo's na--5G
! tionalists stood motionless and SILENT >;
tstraining their eyes toward the faint -
lights of the city. g"
THERE was nothing to prevent thu .
second officer from going to the
bridge. He went. followed closely by
| his shadow--both of them invisible in =
the smothering blackness Of that :"
mysterious hour which comes just be-
| fore the dawn. o.,
Peterson and Dal Re were watch VI"
ing the channel intently. Now and
then bell rang. the steamer trem!
bleed. stopped, then slid forward
again. feeling her way between the, g.
encroaching reefs.
| We will take her to the customs
| wharf Dal Re whispered. =
! "Bene," Peterson answered in a calm
voice.
| Just then both Of them became con- 81
scious of a gentle pressure in the mid i, y.
die Of their backs. as il a cold finger
had been laid upon their spines with
insinuating intentions. They shivered
&c., H..