Evening star., 1922-04-20
T was, I recall. at that period OF

tho late unpleasantness in the
little Central American republic
OF Vespuccia when things looked
darkest for American investors, that
I hurried home one evening to Ken
nedy. bursting with news.
By way of explanation. I may add
that during the rubber boom Ken
nedy had invested in. stock of rub
ber company in vespuccia. and that
its value had been shrinking for some
time with that elasticity which q rub
Der band shows when one party sud
denly lets go his end. Kennedy had
been in danger of being snapped
rather hard by the recoil, and l knew
he had put in an order with his broker
to sell and take his loss when . cer-
tain figure was reached. Ny news
was q first ray Of light in an other
wise dark situation, and I wanted to
advise him to cancel the selling order
and stick for a rise.
Accordingly I hurried unceremoni-
ously into our apartment with the
ciosed sne s door, Ds DO yoa Ssa
that the revolutionists have captured
half q million dollars from the gov.
ernment and are sending 1t to
stopped short. l had no idea that
With hastily mumbled apology
checked myself and backed out
toward my own room. I may as well
confess that l did not retreat very
fast, however. Kennedy's client was
not only a girl. but q very pretty one.
4 o., HA ~ a
ly at my sudden entrance ana be.
trayed a lively interest at the men.
ton of the revolution. She was
Latin American. and che Latin Ameri-
can type of feminine beauty is fasct-
nating-at least to me. / did not re.
treat very fast.
AS / hoped, Kennedy rose to the
occasion. Miss Guerrero" he said.
''let me introduce Mr.. Jameson, who
has helped me very much IN solving
some Of my most dimcult cases. Miss
Guerrero's father, Walter, is the own
product to the company ] am inter-
ested in."
She bowed graciously. but there
was a moment Of embarrassment un-
til Kennedy came to the rescue.
Il shall need Mr.; Jameson In han. =.
explained. would it be presuming
to ask you to repeat to him briefly
what you have already told me about
the mysterious disappearance OF your
father? Perhaps some additional de-
tails will occur to you.. things that
assure you, may be Of the utmost
Importance.
She assented, and in 4 low. trsmu.
lous. musical voice bravely went
through her story.
we come" she began, "my father
-
YVES little Girl--we come from. the
northern part Of vespuccia. where
foreign capitalists are much inter-
ested in the introduction Of a new
rubber plant. I am an only child
and have been the the COZ constant slant. CON- sHa-
since could ride = pony. going with
him about our hacienda and on busi-
ness trips to Europe and the states.
II may as well say at the start. Mr..
Jameson, that although my father 10
a large landowner. he has very lib
sympathy with the revolution that 10
now going on in vespuccia. In fact.
we were forced to nee very early in
the trouble. and as there seemed to
be more need Of his services here In
New York than in any OF the neigh.
you see that II the revolution is not
successful his estate win probably be
confiscated, and we shall be penni.
less. He is the agent-the head Of
the junta. ! suppose you would call
Engaged in purchasing arms and
ammunition" put in Kennedy, as she
paused, land seeing that they are
shipped safely to New. Orleans as
agricultural machinery, where an
tends to their safe transit across the
guN.''
She nodded. and after q moment
resumed: There is quite q little COL
ony of Vespuccians here In New York.
both revolutionists and government
You has any idea Of the intriguing
that is going on under the peaceful
surface right here in your own city.
But there is much Of It. more than
even I know or can tell you. Well.
my father lately has been acting very
frequently at the home OF q Sonora
Mendez-an insurrecto group. Of
course. l do not go, for they are all
much older people than I. know
the sonora well, but IL prefer .
different kind Of person. NY friends
cal, more in earnest about the future
OF vespuccia.
"For some weeks 1t has seemed to
me that this Sonora Mendes has had
too much influence over my father.
He does not seem like the same man
he used to be. Indeed, some Of the
junta who do not frequent the house
Of the sonora have remarked 1t. He
seems moody, works by starts, then
will neglect his work entirely. Often
1 see him with his eyes closed, ap-
parently sitting quietly, oblivious to
the progress Of the cause.-the only
cause now which can restore US our
estate.
"The other day we lost an entire
shipment of arms-the secret serv-
ice captured them on the way from
the warehouse on South street to the
steamer which was to take them to
New Orleans. Only once before had
1t happened, when my father did not
understand all the things to conceal.
Then he was frantic for a week. But
this time he seems not to care. All.
Il fear there was some treachery
there"
"Treachery?" I asked. "And have
you any suspicious who might have
played informerT'
She hesitated. II may as we'll tell
you just what suspect. fear that
the hold Of Sonora Mendez Is some-
how or other concerned with It all.
even have suspected that somehow
she may be working in the pay Of
the government-that she IL vam-
-pire, living on thhe secrets Of the
group who SO trust her. I suspect
anything. everybody-thats she is poi
soning his mind, perhaps even whis-
pering into his ear some siren pro-
posal of amnesty and his Aata tA a9afn