Evening star., 1921-03-13

"senti. capitano." he said. for they
only a dozen men who keep Diego
where he is-that Signor Pug, the
consul. Bianchi, Mccarthy, and the
engineers at Dora Riparia. Figure it
for yourself. Once the liberator is in
the city, the whole population will
corruptible one leaned back in his
chair. hooked his thumbs under his
suspenders. and smiled behind the
golden glory of his beard.
The little captain glanced away with
a troubled frown. There are loyal
troops"
asleep, Asleep, Drugged with
idleness and too much security. My
dear fellow, all you have to do Is TO
take the troops aboard at Porto Bio,
bring them into Magella harbor at
night and wait for your reward. 1t
will be ample"
Still the captain demurred. shuffiing
his feet and waving his hands. Sup
pose my crew"
You can buy your crew. See here"
From an inside pocket the banker
produced roll of bills: roll SO fat.
eyes started from his head. Amply
sufficient he said, thfckly. suddenly
collapsing into an attitude of abject
humility. The roll passed from Peter
sons hand into the captains and dis
appeared with surprising rapidity
into his pocket. viva la 1iberta"' he
together. viva Cammarillo, Abba $50
Diego. nemico della liberta."
Peterson got to his feet. IT will
come aboard tomorrow he said. "a
rivederci.''
Pug heard rustling in the grass. a
quick gasp that was like child's sob.
pefefSOnS f,rr Ia
stood in the doorway. silhouetted
against the flood Of yellow light, Pug
rolled over. groped blindiy. and jerked
pistol out OF Whites hands. SSH.
you fool" he whispered. winding his
arms about the sandy y-haired young
that"
They waited. breathing hard. until
Peterson and the captain of the Lib
erta had passed into the house.
Somewhere within they heard the
,aaht IAN, .inkie OF Cora's guitar and a
quail"
Pug loosened his hold on the pas
sionate avenger of old wrongs "Sim-
ple-hearted nephew of Uncle Sam"
ne whispered. "the obsequies are not
your enemy. Carl Schmidt. has been
frying his own goose. He has been
spinning his own shroud. He is as
good as dead already. Pocket your
little gun and listen to me- MY name
IS Fl, Fai.child. 7 mean what, say.
hands shorn. plucked and trussed.S
He glanced at the empty veranda.
next move" ne said. "is in the di-
rection Of the Cafe Albion. The
on'1ss or ca,, sss seh1;a, on me- but the joke is
Five minutes later Peterson came
out into. the garden. He glanced up
at the ve1vet-black sky and down at
the riot Of tropical flowers and
plants; pss >. %Tnnny;" ,;ra he thought. He
another. as one pin to another"
suddenly he turned and went back
into the house. calling in a loud,
frightened voice: Cora. Cora!
Where are you?"
A T noon Of the following day there
was the beginning Of great &C.
tivity in the harbor. A cargo of
fruit was going aboard the Liberia.
The winches ratified and screamed.
Clusters Of top-heavy native lighters
clung like barnacles to the steamers
sides. On the bridge Capt. dal Re
paced back and forth, nervously
chewing long black cigar. For the
first time in Magellan shipping his
tory, the Liberia was being loaded at
top speed.
Young White, second oficer and
general utility man. stood on the
forward deck. experimenting at close
range the lowering of the cargo into
the hold. His language was pic
turesaue and forceful. but he grinned
every time he glanced into the open
hatch. A gang of dirty. half-na ked,
wholly disreputable natives were
Shaving in the hold. One Of them, Of
powerful build. more or less invisible
beneath q coat Of sweat and dirt,
displayed q set OF daxxline teeth
whenever he caaEht sight Of the