The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-09-29

I walked from the car line. What's
upf Do you know, Captain?"
The fellow addressed exploded In
Spanish.
"Why you call me thatr tell you
my namer
IT'S safe enough In here. but I'll be
careful outside. What was this meet
ing called for"
ut was message from Washing
ton, orders maybe, that we &C. soon.
I hope It."
"From Washington Is Mendez
hereY
"Saprista, mol Can he move with
out dozen spies at his heels? He find
messenger no one ever suspect. She
bring the word"
"She? womanr'
Sure! that was better. No ore
know her; no one ever see hcr with
our people. 1t was a good trick. and
1t fool the pigs"
But who Is the womanY
The other uttered grufr exclama-
tiOn OF disgust.
"ff ! know, you suppose | tell? Not
much. but do not know. They trust
hers 1t not enough? 'Tis my guess
she come special for to do this"
"She is q Chilean tlfen?"
Maybe: maybe American. Spanish.
What difference II she he In our scrv-
Ice? They know what she is; tonight
she 's Marie Gessler-it has the sound
OF Switzerland. Beyond this care
nothing"
"But you have seen her, perhapsr'
"Not sight; none Of the boys have.
She was to meet Alva at Times square
this noon. went with him, hut no
girl-1ust a messenger hoy there with
a note In code. Something had fright
ened the lady. and she made q night
appointment over here"
Here! How did she know the way
outT
"She didn't, for the matter of that:
But she had been piped Off on JAMS
place. and agreed to be there as soon
as 1t was dark. I'm wondering if she
showed up; let's go in and see."
The three moved Off down the pas
sage. still cOnversing In subdued tones,
the sharp accent Of the Spaniard most
prominent. and became acutely
aware Of the black silence In which I
stood. There was no occasion for me
to risk my life farther In an effort to-
learn more. 1 had located the secret
rendezvous of this gang Of revolu-
tionary plotters. was aware of their
connection with the Chilean Junta at
Washington. and II would he a COM
paratively easy matter now to CAPTURE
them red-handed. I saw therefore no
reason why ! should venture further,
or endeavOr to learn in detaii tine ma
ture OF this message Intrusted to the
girl for delivery. My duty now was
&c report what had discovered. when
fhe prompt arrest of Alva, and a few
others, would end the whole scheme.
1t seemed simple enough. II could
only fnd my way out safely
R'it escape unohserved was far from
heing assured. Any retreat by way OF
the lighted passage was impossible;
there were guards there at both ends;
the only hope lay In blind effort for
ward.
l accepted the only course possible,
and began to feel my way to the left.
skirting the wall of rough boarding.
until Il widsnsd cut into what was ap-
parently the larger room beyond. No
sound reached me from any direction.
the silence and darkness OppressIny
me, as though they had weight
Yet one fact became more and more
clear-the deliberate purpose with
which this deserted iron factory had
been prepared for secret rendezvous.
Apparently, from without, 1t stood
grim, desolate end deserted, yet the
interior ARRANGEMENTS We're such that
consp!ratnrs could meet securely in
side. protected from observation, in
rooms through whose walls no CLEAN
OF light might be visible from either
street or alley. Only an accident. or
constant vigilance without, could re-
veal the true use to which the building
was now being devoted. This knowl-
edge rendered the peril Of my own po-
sitiOn the more intense / could be
killed, murdered, and no man would
ever be the wiser. / would simply dis
appear, vanish, and that wonlG be The
end.
At that moment had no thought but
~ uaoS0Noh coihC OI cSCdDt. lie
knowledge Of the danger was IN
robbed me of all courage. l was like
child afraid In the dark. I moved
for~ ard, inch by inch, feeling my way
along the rough planking with one
hand, my limbs actually trembling ~.
der me. II I could only fnd so',"
opening; see some gleam Of :ix.:.. :
break away from this terrible sli:,:.
darkness
s'lr'~ sed was moving w.:h rhc 1T
most caution, every nerve or .dg-
feeling way forward with hands uod
feet. Once | stepped upoI sleIi CT
some kild which cruncied benea tn the
weight. and Ggaln my cropping hand
dislodged q small block of wood. which
fell with q slight clatter. halted
both times. my heart in my mouth, yet
nothing happened, and I moved for
ward again confident of not being over
heard.