The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-01-29
GODDESS

That night Grahame thought of
Janice. 1t should have been that
the distance that separated her from
him would also tend to keep his
thoughts of her equally far away
But 1t was not so. Her eyes, swept
by their long lashes, looked directly
at him.
He would have liked to have
reached out and touched her shining
hair. It was senseless to think
about 1t. Here he was down along
the coast of Quintana Roo. trying
to forget her.
Excitement, adventure, we're the
caustics to apply to the wound she
had dealt him. There was some
thing in that country beyond the
dull shore line that outsiders were
not supposed to see. He was going
in to look.
Langton,s plane, buffeted by the
southern hurricane. might have
crashed in there. 1t was not beyond
reasonable theory. Quintana Roo
contained thousands of square miles
that had not been inhabited since
the dim centuries when pagan
priests caused tall pyramids to be
erected to their bloody gods. The
wreckage Of Langton's plane might
we'll be hidden in there.
There might be other things hid.
den. He was going in soon to see.
THE launch slid between the roots
of mangroyes that gripped the
shores Of a lagoon which was like a
narrow river except that the water
was salt. They ehugged along un.
til they were two or three miles in.
land from the coast. when the pas.
sage widened into a lake several
hundred yards in circumference.
They edged inward toward a
small wharf extending at water
level several yards into the lake.
The waters edge back of the wharf
had been cleared and in the clearing
were several flimsy buildings of
palm-thatch. The launch was tied
up at the wharf and the hatch unbat.
tened.
Grahame helped with the unload
ing. AS the first case slid from the
deck to the pier he uttered an ex.
clamation. The size ard weight OF
the case was unmistakable.
Ortega and his two helpers paused
to watch him.
Someone is going hunting, /
see," he remarked dryly.
Ortega's reply was equally ironic.
"In this country" he said. there is
always hunting"
The unloading was accomplished
without further comment. Grahame
estimated that in the cargo there
were cases containing at least two
hundred rifles and a substantial
amount of ammunition. Sufficient,
certainly, to equip quite a little
army. as numbers went in these
countries.
He was puzzled, however. to
know what a band II men bent on
making trouble could do In this iso-
lated part of Mexico. In the first
place, the territory hereabouts was
uninhabited according to all reports.
Even IL the man-power were avail
able. 1t would be Impractical for
them to strike through the jungles
to the nearest civilized state, which
was Yucatan.
Furthermore, It would not be stra-
getic to dominate Yucatan. since
that state was isolated. more or less.
from Mexico proper. Grahame knew
enough OF revolutions and their
technique. &c appreciate that ele-
ment- Why, then. this warlike
equipment landed at this point?
Ortega brought up the subject
that evening. There are Indians
in the interior here that wish equip
ment with which to defend them
selves l know what you are think.
ing. You think because you have
heard rumors OF revolution in
Mexico, that these guns are for the
revolutionists.
at Is not so. True, there Is a
revolution brewing just now.-that
is why I avoided the gunboat the
other day. They are on the watch
for Struggled arms and II would be
embarrassing for me to b, searched.
But this cargo Is to be used solely
for defense. have brought many
such. ! have been well paid"
How do they pay you?"
with gold." replied ortega
shortly. "and other goods. In the
morning We will leave and 60 far
Their south. wish to pick up an.
other cargo, and return to Progreso.
When / return here, these cases
win be gone and the payment will
be In q place / know Of"
Il would like to talk to these peo-
pie who come for your shipment"
ortega's voice was harsh when he
answered. "You cannot do that.
Even ! never see them--only one
man. whom meet south OF here at
Puerto Morelos. II is there I pick
up my other cargo that I take to
Progreso."
fcstyytsIf. 1854. ~ Rs6syG IsssssI