Evening star., 1921-06-26
By Mildred Cram.
Illustrated by F. c. YoHN

I rooms in the Albergo Morgano. That
night I went there. and asked the
Signora Morgano about them. 'Si-
Ycuro.' she said, Here Is the registro--
You can read with your own eyes
Signor Br-r-rown. SigEor Jones. Sig
Ecco" These gentlemen. I said. have
they gone out% But certainly they
carried letter to our presidente.
This very night they, had audience
with him at the palace. Such guests
in my humble locanda?"
What has this to do with my pros
pective papa-in-law?" Pug asked.
Shall I spill my suspicions?"
by all means" Pug glanced at his
watch.
TO begin with. distrusted Mr..
Smith, Mr.. Jones, and Mr.. Brown.
flag. which made me doubtful of their
purposes One of them is always sit
ting at Diego's side when he drives
In his carriage in the Esplanade. The
tall one is Brown. the middle one
Jones: The little one Smith.
Cards. They go where the Doodle
!is--strafght, as homing pigeons n.y."
said the consul. The treasury of Ma
CELIA is stuffed with American dol
lars. And Diego has easy access to
the golden Golfers Of the state. His
His drawing account Is dangerously
elastic. He is popular. He has held
the country together through two
years of seething discomfort. Because
he is a great man? No! Because he
is the breathing image Of great
man! When he appears in public
with his breast a-clatter with deco
rations he is every Magellan's idea of
the liberal dictator. the ruler, the in
corruptible hero.
But the people are beginning to be
curious about Diego's extravagances.
mules with selver harness. the statue
of himself recently erected in the
Piazza Independence. The Diego
chapel in the cathedral. But where
are the promised public schools, or
phan asylums. barracks and libraries?
Diego il extravagant-openly pub
licly. without thought for his repu-
tation or his popularity. 1t is my
opinion that he CANDLES with Smith.
Jones, Brown & Co. for high stakes:
and that the state pays for his losses.
Have you seen him lately"
There are noticeable lapses in his
martial manner. His eyes are un-
steady. I'm sorry for him. The po-
litical wind will change one of these
days and Diego will De blown out of
ONCE" The consul met Pugs eyes
through reliable gossip that Mr..
Brown. the tall scoundrel in the pin
check suit. has been making eyes at
Miss Diego"
The deuce"
"And that Papa Diego Is unaccount-
ably complacent. Amingo. 1 advise
you to wait until the Rough Rider
sails again."
Pug shook his head. Impossible.
There are three strings to my Lutte
fidelity. love and pleasure. pluck them
In the order Of telling. I'm of to the
Casa Diego to storm the moat"
He went out into the sunny street,
whistlipg. and crossed the town to the
Piazza zaVIndependenza- A sleepy sentinel
paced before the door Miss Diego. the
servant said. was in the garden. Would
the signore pass through the hall and
seek the signorina by the fountain? The
signore would.
"Signor Fairchildr' Miss Diego ex-
claimed. and gave him her hand. This
is the Signora Ortega. my aunt
Pug bowed and sat upon the rim OF
the fountain. For a moment struggling
politely with the Spanish Italian speech
Of Magella, he conversed with the Sig
nora Ortega. He was conscious Of mis-
chief in Miss Diego's eyes. She fluttered
her fan and smiled behind it.
''The poor signora understands not a
word" che said. 'She is as deaf as the
post Talk to me in the English"