Evening star., 1921-05-15

ShadOwy room very slmpiy iuihsneo'
and the consul threw himself down in
fine, old Italian chair. giving himself up
to the business Of keeping an eye on the
courtyard through the half-open door
Pug discovered. as the afternoon faded
into twilight and darkness slowly hlled
the room. that the consul loved Magelia
that he would even die for 1t II neces-
sary. For his part he preferred the
stupd conservatism of Diego to Gonellis
political fanaticism.
Mapella was still a medieval state:
the provinces knew nothing OF what
went on in the capital. There had
been no such thing as order peace,
or progress for hundred years
Bands of marauders. like these ma
tionalists of Goneli's could crush
the spirit of the country There was
not national self-respect OF the coun-
try. There was no national self-re-
spect. Diego-he declared with con-
viction-was upright, but cowardly.
He had survived five years of his
term of Office because he had sur
rendered to every caprice of his mani
fold political advisers. He was alter
fidence and bullied into the most alb
ject uncertainty. His daughter-Ah.
Pug had noticed the daughter-his
daughter was intelligent. high-spir-
tied. and reckless II she had been a
man, she might have helped Diego to
do away with harmful agitators like
Gonelli. But women IN Magella could
do little more than 0o6eP for Magella
in silence and humility. TT is true"
the consul added thought fully, his
voice proceeding from the shadows
like a solemn, disembodied echo. that
all scrupulous Magellans want the
American railway to go through. But
they know that the first move on our
part will bring about a conflict. And
victory would elect Gonelli."
They were still sitting in the dark
sala. watching the half-open door,
when the sound of shooting in the
streets became distinctly audible.
There was a sharp rattle. like a stick
being drawn along picket fence.
Then a deep, somber boom. rather far
away. followed by a chorus of shouts
and insane screams in the direction
Of Piazza Independence. The consul
got hurriedly to his feet and whis-
pered TO Pug. Together they ran into
the court and, crossing it swiftly,
mounted the outside stairway to the
roof. The consuls Indian boy, sitting
crosslegged in the shelter of a low
chimney, got suddenly to his feet and
came forward.
There were men up here" he wis
pered, watching. They have gone
now"
The firing began again, and looking
4.
they could see a red smudge and the
slow putting up Of lazy clouds of black
smoke. Gonelli had set fire to the
Fairchild company's docks. and with
promises Of plunder had led his army
OF malcontents to the water front.
There was desultory firing along the
Esplanade; then a determined attack
on the railway stores, If any one
was anxious to get rid OF the young
american engineer who had come to
Magella to straighten out the matter
OF the Marias mines, his capture was
forgotten in the excitement of looting
waterfront houses, terrifying inno-
cent people who had had no time to
run to shelter, and setting fire to any,
thIng that would blaze under the ma
tionalist torches. 1t began in typical
opera -bouffe fashion with the firing
OF rev harmless shots at the closed
windows of the startled city and
might have stopped before the nation
allsts got out of bounds had not a
panic stricken saloonkeeper shot at
the rioters from balcony over his
snop. The place was broken into. the
chalrs, mirrors. lamps and bar all
smashed into pulverized fragme nts.
and the contents of the cellar poured
DOWN the looters' throats. After that
IL was not safe to venture out Of doors
Wlthln the city limits. Men who tried
II were occasionally unmolested
others less fortunate. crumpled up,
ana died In the cutters OF city they
oiu not know how to defend.
DUG and the American consul left
lust before dawn and went on
1901 walking very slowly without
any outward show Of nervousness. the
entire length Of the Via Nazionale
without encountering a soul. Every
gate was locked, every window shut
tered The street lights burned dim
~ in the opaque darkness of that
mysterious moment which comes inst
oetore the breaking of day. Behind
tnem they could see the ruddy glare
or the burning wharves and now and
t. tnen. very Tar away and terrible, they
Meard lrd the raucous. brutal yelling OF
the marauders. Their own footstens
echoed t, loudly against the stone walls
OF the houses. This part Of MapeIia
was az peaceful as a country yiIIare
LEI, ie. rug and the consul knew that
osninu every window there were peo
pie who crouched. listening. terrifiad
waiting for that tide of cruelty anG
violence to beat against the verv
walls that sheltered them.
~ ~oVloence Is ON our side" the
Ieit the outskirts of the
CITY, passing the vast. semi circular
shadow of the Arena Goldoni. and
entered the suburbs. where they had
20 cHmo a steep path which led up
petWeen villa walls to Bianchi's
;n nouse. ne was fully dressed, wait
ing tcr them In the garden, and in
.ne rant. opalescent light of the
coming dawn Pug saw a little old
man. very martial, very fiery. shaken
with boundless rage at Goneili's omta
burst. He had seen the burning
stores and had heard rife shots. All
night he had waited, pacing up and
down his garden, bemoanfnE his
helplessness A'"
III could have done something's
ne walled. fixing Pug and the consul
with his bright, intense and very
naive eyes. IT tell you, I would have
killed Gonelli If I had known where
to find him! What was Diego do
I ask your
Suddenly he grew calm shrugged
his shoulders and smiled You are
here, at any rate. I'm glad to see
you both. Come into the house. II
have some coffee for you, and cigar
cites AS soon as you are rested
we can start for Columbia. There
Is no doubt whatever that Goneili
will attack the Americans Nome di
Dio! What barharic country! IL
love every stick and stone Of it,
but there are times when I could
cry at the stupidity Of the people.
They are either brigands or saints
no one is sane. 1 am too old to
enjoy picturesque madness"