Evening star., 1924-07-06

He paused there for a good, long
drink. Pleasant people. I'll admit.
Some really charming people. But a
really clean, honest man, who could
be trusted. say, to administer an
estate-not one in the whole of Cen
trail America"
And yet you've lived here twenty
years"
Habit. | suppose. I've really got
to like it. I've my own place, and l
mind my own business. My mines
and settlements l run as / see fit. l
even have my own mint, SO that if
I ever have to coin my own money to
pay off my labor. / can. Because
there isn't a really solvent bank in
the country. But LET the people
alone and l let politics alone. And
the president lets me alone-except
that he's going to make me spend
nine hours tomorrow riding on his
horrible railroad just to take lunch
with him"
We heard Helen's voice outside just
then. She was calling. "Maman." not
very loud. The next minute she stop
ped in the doorway. Have you seen
my mother anywhere" she asked.
Her smile had just that same look of
wistful depreciation that l had seen
case into my legs. "Antoinette is all
broken out with something. and l
want mother to see before l put her
to bed"
"I'll try to help you find her"
said /.
THE deuce" said Mr.. Brangwyn
softly into his glass.
1t was rather a relief to all of US,
1 think, that he was gone in his spe-
cial train before any of the rest put in
an appearance. His absence removed
the one unsympathetic note in our
parting from the family of Senor
Cidaro. Even supposing he was right
in the low opinion he held of all Cen
trail Americans, couldn't there be an
exception? And what if the voice of
reason did whisper that if there were
an exception. Senior Cidaro was not
likely to be it. Why couldn't one OF
the others of us. the coffee planter or
the promoter, have been the one to
receive that invitation to spend the
day with his excellency at the CAPT.
tai: There must be ways of manag-
ing such things-of bribing somebody
or putting omething over so tina,
fortably in the capital and the chill
dren could play their care-free games
and Senior Cidaro wouldn't have 10
work
well. 1T was a painful morning
The health officers came aboard with
the evident intention of examinins
that unlucky family for every known
disease and putting them in ouaran-
tine. II possible, or forbidding them
to land at all.
"nen they were. baked in this
charitable intent by the inyincible
neeithlness of them all (Antoinette.s
rash mad fortunately disappeared)
the customs officers took a hand in
the game. The pathetically meaper
little mound of baggage was paved
over ana nung about as If the treas
ures OF Golconda might have been
hidden away inside. We were power-
less, of course. Madame herself made
spirited protest when she found
drunken little doctor on the noint
of vaccinating one of the children
twice, but the senior himself stood
iistlessly by, not seeming to think
that anything mattered or that anv.
thing could be done. He'd have stood
there just like that, 1 believe. If
they'd begun throwing the children
overheard. Very likely the presiden,
| would have ordered that done If he'd
| thought of it.
The miserable scene came to an
| end at last. The boom and tackle
was swung overheard, the box was
prepared, and the family, in fearful
| installments. went over the side and
| were bumped down into a lighter tha,
| waited there, and finally, four greasy
pirates in charge of 1t, with great
J deliberation started rowing them
ashore. With heavy hearts we
| manned the rail and waved a last
adieu to the family of Senior Cidaro
X X
T ATE that night I found Mr. Bran.
more, drinking a whisky soda Che
| carried his own whisky with him)
| and smoking one of his excellent
| cigars. And once more he encouraged
| me to join him in one of each. There
was something about his large placid
repose that made him q good COM
panion when you were feeling low in
your mind.
WELL" / observed. you got back
safe. His excellency didn't poison
you nor fill you up with alcohol and
! red pepper. nor any of his other little
| parIor tricks" He smiled comfort
ably. II suppose" concluded, 'he's
saving them up for those unlucky
| Cidaros."
| Don't worry about them" he said
| rather Grossly. Lets forget en-"
| 'T suppose I shall get them out OF
my had In n 6ny or two" conceded