The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-06-24


other smaller room, whose door barred
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.
! listened intently, but heard M
sound within, and. satisfied the room
was without occupants. ventured final
y to gain q glimpse inside. 1t was =
room not altogether unlike the one
+ had just left, although smaller,
and containing a chair or two in ad-
dition to the writing table. l noted
these things quickly, my gaze straying
to q partially open door In the board
wall to the right, through which q
brighter glow Of light streamed. My
ears caught the sound Of voices, the
words indistinct.
Although convinced the small room
was without occupants, ! al some
moments screwing up my courage to
enter. Yet there was no other way in
which | could learn the meaning Of all
this. or be prepared to i~ntelligently
play my part later with Harris. To
trap the fellow I must know his pur-
pose, be able to answer his inquiries
and seem conyersant with his viii
lainy.
The door opened toward me, but 1t
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 n
side of the room, revealing four or Ave
men sitting mOtionless on q bench
against the wall, evidently listening In
tently to what was going OF opposite
them. With the exception 0f 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 M
tionality. had no difficulty whatever
In Overhearing their voices, and grasp
ing the sense of what they were say
Ing. As Q 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 l had ar
rived too late to learn directly the ma
ture of those instructions received
from Washington. Alva was asking a
question.
but We are ready to act now" he
said impatiently. his foreign accent
faint. vet plainly perceptible, shave
been ready for a month past. What
necessity then Is there for further de-
lay1"
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.
1.-THE reason is Valparaiso, Of
course" she said ut is MOI 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 l find you are not
prepared"
"Not ready We are organized and
sworn to service"
She seemed to lean forward, her
voice changing almost to q whisper.
Il e that. your eagerness. your de-
v0tion. But that is not readiness for
such q duty. Who has been chosen for
the act itself-the post Of danger? No
one. Until the man l need not name
dies. we can accomplish nothing. You
have taken no ballot. II the single
word was dashed tonight, Co. and it
may be. who among you il authorized
to execute the order?"
She paused, but no voice spoke.
Nor Il that all: the money from
England yet lies untouched. Surely
your instructions YER clear, and moth
Ing Il being accomplished for the
cause while It rests In the vault. It
Will require al Of thirty days to dis
tribute this into the proper hands.
here and n Chile, yet nothing has
been done. We supposed. It was al
ready r circulation. What caused the
.delay1.
one y tie men o. the bench spoke,
! heavily built fellow. with ! long
gray mustache. and horn spectacles
shading his eyea.
All I know iss et vait on der order
~ GuStave Avs q b indorsed ~
senior Nendes. II hol' ett - In trust,
frnua. the agent. Eft was ID ! private
safe. ! packase 81 currency. only 4
know where. The bank h6vse nOthing1