Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-03-11
are Won an American citizen7"

are YOu all ALutIlCdH ClllLeH
"NO, I am citizen of Sobrante."
you had no money to pay for your
passage to San Buenaventura so you
sChemed to make me pay your way.
Hence take it that your presence in
the capital of your native country is a
matter of extreme importance and that
the clerk in the ticket office of the
Caribbean Mail line is a friend of
yours"
quite true. He knew my need"
"You were under surveillance and
could not leave New Orleans for San
Buenaventura unless you left secretly.
When | purchased both berths in this
stateroOm and the ticket clerk knew |
held frst-cass ticket for a valet that
was not, he decided to saw off on me
a valet that was. Disguised in the liv-
cry of a chauffeur and carrying hand
baggage you hoped to get aboard with
out being detected by your enemies
who watched the gangplank."
Andrew Bowers nodded.
do you think you succeeded?' Web
ster continued.
81 do not know, Mr. Webster hope
so. If | did nOt-well, the instant this
steamer drops anchor in the rOadstead
at San Buenaventura, she will be
boarded and searched by the military
police, | will be discovered and" He
shrugged
Lawn party in the cemetery, eh?'
Webster suggested.
Andrew Bowers reached under his
pillow and prod1ced two heavy auto
matte pistols and leathern box con-
tanning five clips of cartridges. These
he exhibited in silence and then thrust
them back under the pillow.
~ see, Andrew. In case you're cor
nered. Ell? Well, think would pre-
fer to die fighting myself"
"Tm not worried, Mr., Webster
Somehow, think ran the gantlet
safely"
"But why did you throw your livery
overboard?"
ut was of no further use to me-"
But you'll have to have some
clothes in which to go ashore, you
amazing man"
"NOt at all. The steamer will arrive
in the harbOr Of San Buenaventura
late in the afteEnOOn-tOO late to be
given pratique that day. After dark
shall drop overheard and endeavOr to
swim ashore, and in view of that plain
clothes would only prove an embar
rassment. | shall land in my own cOun
try naked and penniless, but once
ashore shall quickly find shelter. ri
have to risk the sharks, of course"
"Man-eaters?"
The bay is swarming with them"
You're breaking my heart" Web
Ster declared Sympathetically. Il sup
pose you're going to feign Hines:
throughout the voyage"
mot the kind of illness that will in
terfere with my appetite. | have pre-
Scribed for mySel, mild attack of in
hammatOry rheumatism. as an excuse
for remaining in bed and having my
meals brought to me. This service, Of
course, will necessitate some slight ex
pense in the way of tips, but am hop
NC you will ,"r your way clear to tax
! care Of rl.l for your guest
.",1y Webster handed Andrew
Bowers ten dollars in silver. "That
ought to hold YOU" he declared. "Fol
the rest, you're up to some political
skullduggery in Sobrante, and what II
is and what's your real name are two
subjects in which am not interested
Let it be understood that you are my
valet Andrew Bowers. That's all
know about you and that's all | care
to know about you. In fact, the less
I know about you the less will have
to explain in the event of your sudden
demise"
Fair enough" Quoth Andrew Bow
ers. you're a man after my OWL
heart. | thank you"