The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-02-03
GODDESS
bv Herberf Jensen

by Herbert Jensen "Pleaset" interrupted Janice. "You were about to say. ."
 There was a shadow of annoyance in the smile Ortega gave Greene. q was about to say that Mir. Me- Grath asked me to meet you. would have been at the dock when your steamer arrived but we have had a little trouble here."
 His glance roved about the dam aged car.
 'l am sorry you were attacked on the way in from the coast, but the revolucionistas were marching on Merida and the troops on your train were federal soldiers. The revolu- tionary party have captured Merida. The federals have retreated and are encamped, we think. a few kilo- meters from the city. They await re- Inducements from Campeche."
 What effect will that have on us?" asked Janice. "Mr. Myberg planned for us to take the location shots at Chichen Itza. instead of at the nlace you spoke of"
 Impossible" Ortega shrugged his shoulders. That is why am here. A week ago McGrath was going to Chichen Itza to make arrangements for camp there where you could stay while you took your pictures. However. he was unable to get per. mission from the authorities. They had word that the revolution was about to begin and the ruins at Chichen would probably be within the zone of war"
 Then what did he do?" asked Mir. Greene discensolately.
 "He met me-" replied Ortega with the slightest of bows. "All the ruins in Yucatan are not at Chichen Itza, nor yet at Uxmal. Back along the trail of the Caribbean coast are others, bigger ones, and in better condition. too, for your work. Me Grath has gone ahead. l will guido you there"
 "T'HANK you, no," snapped MT,
 | Greene. Something in the tropic air had made the little man as az.  gressive as a fighting cock. Not any at all, thank you. Yours very truly, accompanied by Miss Kent and these three sons. will take the next train back to the coast, and thence to these or those-take your choice United States"
 Ortega shook his head and smiled. He appealed to Janice with a gesture of his unhurt arm.
 "I am afraid he does not under stand. There will be no steamers away from Progreso. None will come to go away. The revolucionistas con. trol Progreso. When steamers come their supplies will be seized, so none will come. It is always so."
 '"Well I don't like this ruin busi ness of yours. persisted Mir Greene. What's more. I don't like you, Ortega. think you're up to some monkey business. You're bad copy, if you want the truth"
 "Mr Greene!" exclaimed Janice with some sharpness. For Greene to call person bad copy was. for him, highly insulting-almost curse.
 Well. anyway" continued Greene in a quieter tone, we'll stay right here in Merida until you settle who's who and what of it. You can tell McGrath to come back and make an occasional fourth at bridge until we can get to the only legitimate ruins know of in this country"
 ''He means" chuckled Hogarth who had been listening interestedly, "that he's plagiarized lot of copy out of the Encyclope dia on Chichen Itza. Any other ruins would cramp his style.'
 "Who says so, you :. Svengali?" Hogarth flushed; Greene knew the directors weakness.
 Ortega looked at Greene specula. lively.
 Merida" he said. Twill be under fire continually. It will be safer where I will take you"
 "Oh," said MT. Greene after a re. flective pause.
 Again" continued Ortega, "Mr. McGrath told me to say that he was in complete charge of arrangements, and that if MT. Greene wanted to stay and be killed. by all means l was not to discourage him."
 Greene bristled. Hogarth cnuck- led. Wallace, the older of the camera men said, "Go ahead and stay, Greene"
 But MT. Greene looked pensive. His glance shifted from the face of Ortega to that of Janice, and back to Ortega's again.
 T don't like this layout" he said. Tt seems to me that the best thing we can do would be to get out of this country as soon as we can. You never can tell about these revolu- tions." He turned to Ortega You say we can't get out the way we came? Is there any other way. ."
 The big man dropped his cigaret and ground it under his heel. "The territory of Quintana Roo lies to the