The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-02-01
GODDESS

"PIeaSe! interrupted Janice.
"You were about to say. :"
There was a shadow OF annoyance
in the smile Ortega gave Greene.
Il was about to say that Mr.. Nc
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 royed about the dam
aged car. ..
81 am sorry you were attacked
on the way in from the coast. but the
revolucionistas we're 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
eneamped, we think, few kilo.
meters from the city. They await re-
Inducements from Campeehe."
What effect will that have on
us?" asked Janice. "Mr. Myberg
planned for us to take the location
shots at Chichen liza, instead OF al
the place you spoke off,
Impossible" Ortega shrugged his
shoulders. THAT is why | am here.
A week ago McGrath was going to
Chichen liza to make arrangements
for a camp there where you could
stay while you took your pictures.
However, he was unable to -et 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
Mr.. Greene disconsolately.
"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. Nc
Grath has gone ahead. | will guide
you there"
THANK you. no." snapped Mr..
l. Greene. Something in the tropic
air had made the little man as az
gressive as 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 gesture
of his .unhurt arm.
IL am afraid he does not under
stand. There will be no steamers
away from Pr0gresO. None will come
to go away. The revolucionlstas con.
troll Progreso. When steamers come
their supplies wiz be seized. so none
viii come. It is always So"
We'll. | don't like this ruin bust
ness or yours. persisted Mr.. Greene.
whats more. don't like yon.
Ortega. | think you're up to some
monkey business You're bad copy.
IL you want the truth"
"Mr. Greene!" exclaimed Janice
with some sharpness. For Greene to
call a person bad copy was. for him.
highly insulting-almost curse.
well, anyway" continued Greene
in a quieter tone. well 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 a lot OF copy
out of the Encyclope dia on Chiehen
liza. Any other ruins would cramp
his style"
"Who says so. you Svengali?"
Hogarth flushed: Greene knew the
directors weakness.
0rtega looked at Greene specula.
lively.
Merida he said. will be under
fire continually It will be safer
wherel will take you"
"0h.p said Mr.. Greene after re-
Elective pause.
Again. continued ortega. "Mr
mcGrath told me to say that he was
In complete charge OF arrangements,
and that II Mr.. Greene wanted 10
stay and be killed. by all means
was not 10 discourage him."
Greene bristled. Hogarth chuck.
led. Wallace. the older of the camera
men said. Go ahead and stay.
Greene"
But Mr.. Greene looked pensive.
His glance shifted from the face Of
Ortega to that OF Janice. and back to
ortega's again.
Il don't like this layout" he said.
1T 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.
tons" He turned to 0rtega you say
We can't get out the way we came =?
Is there any other way. -"
The big man dropped his cigaFet
and ground II under his heel. THE
territory OF Quintana Roo lies to the
eastward. 1t Is there I intend 20
take you"
fcesJrsAi. 1850. g. Rsrss,s isssssI
Tefaorrow, Frank ans Juan fah'
the JUNGLE.