Evening star., 1921-05-29

| itself was ready Tor the usual Dredk'
fast gathering of official Magella. The
long narrow room, with it's immense
mirrors and elaborate chandeliers, had
been put in some sort of order after
the destructive riots Of two days be-
fore. Walters were polishing the mar
Bile tables and handful of royalist Of
/ hcers, released from guard duty. were
gosspiing in corner. Pug steered tht
reeling, bloodstained. furious 'Gonell
: to table and ordered cofree. When n
came Gonelli drank hurriedly, the
cup trembling in his hands. Then with
, a perceptible effort he pulled himself
together. glared at the astounded roy
| alists. and whispered: whats tho
game
Pug leaned back in his chair. II had
an idea you might like to fight on the
right side"
Your side?"
Perhaps. You remember what a
! certain great man said about making
| the world safe for democracy? This
corner of the globe isn't safe yet.
Not by long shot. You Maaellans
are stark. dumb crazy. And selfish.
And blind. You go about stabbing
! each other in the back as a pastime.
I You're too proud to work for hv-
! ing. You hire men to fight for you
! and to die for you. You're all cak ed
! with prejudices a thousand years old.
! :upcrstitions handed down to YOU
I from the idol worshipers of anti
. quilE. ana Some OF You ltdiidIS anu
! Sraniards who have come here in the
! MagcIla for your own benefit
And you?" Gonelli asked.
Perhaps the Fairchild Company
! has done that in the past. But I'm
here to see that Magella has a square
deal in the future.
Pug threw back his head There's
something about this country worth
living for. worth fighting for Look
int q
statesmen! The graveyards are full
Of martyred priests and assassinat ed
presidents. Waste! See here, Gonelli.
it makes my blood boil to look at
there and the leprous beggars on the
cathedral steps. Some day Europe
and America will know their way
blindfolded into this port. And there
aren't going to be any hired spies
and bowling anarchists. Can't you
see it, Wide streets, shops with big
plate-gla windows. theaterS. hotels.
automobiles. wonderful railways run
ming back into the provinces. munici-
pal docks along the water-front. big
ships coming and going. Peace"
For Il moment Goneili was silent
He stirred his coffee gently. Then he
raised his eyes. ''Sisnor Pug" he
said. ''aI of my family were Carl,
fought and died for liberty. ] like to
figh.. Almost, like to die. But not
quite You saved my life today
hene: You crack the whip and I'll
dance
pug shouted. You're man of
talent. Gonelli. But 1 don't trust you
around the corner
81 am a visionary, Signor Pug. an
idealist. You are materialist with
an inspired sense of the dramatic.
gethcr. have no friends. When
you defeated me the nationalists
went to Diego. There isn't Il con-
fessed nationalist in Magella this
morning. Every one is a royalist.
Every one is watching you. not be-
because you sit horse like plains
man, shoot straight laugh when
you're afraid and take what you
want
"Gonelli." Pug said. you and ! are
fighting for the same thing. I came
down here to protect the Fairchild
mines and to put railway into the
Marias. You and your hired soldiers
tried to block me. For patriotic rea-
sons? AS a matter of fact. Magella
will benefit by the railway as she
would never have benefited by your
brand of atriotism-anarchy. selfish
ambition and disorder
* =: x x
|coNELLI was not paying attention.
He was staring beyond rug with
wide eyes. in which there was sud-
den fash of terror. Pug turned
quickly. A man was standing be-
hind his chair-a small fellow with
a dark brown. lean face. black hair,
a sharp nose and the sloping, muScu-
lar shoulders of fighter.
~ thought you were dead" he said
in Spanish.
81 am very much alive" Gonelli
answered. thanks to this gentle
man
"Ah" The Spaniard turned and.
half closing his little black eyes.
| examined Pug from head to foot. His
fingers were covered with silver
rings: he wore an elaborate f1owered
vest and Il corduroy jacket He blew
a cloud of cigarette smoke into Pugs
face. waved his hand, and asked:
What will you take for your pris-
oner?"
My prisoner?~