The evening world. Newspaper, June 25, 1914, Page 17

VET’S REVOLT if YORKERS " he remarked. “You'd better start that fellow at breakfast again, Zarapa. Want to watch the cere- mony, Bill? You stay at the buttons, Snake, and give a good, hearty genes if anybody should happen to reak in unexpectedly. This way, Minister of War!" is He saunterod airily across to a door and opened it, to beam pure affection at the great wheel in the centre of the little room beyond. He ners. glanced at the clock and quickened his step, with: “Time's up!" And in quite the most matter of fact way, he laid hands on the wheel and tugged... The thing squeaked loudly and turned and he tugged again, while William Ryan stood in the doorway and scratched a he: which, deapite his best efforts, | sisted on shaking dubiously, Siz long creaks and the turning ceased. Robert Pollard stepped back to the office of the waterworks, v! brating an excitement he could not quite maak. “I don't know how much that main holds,” he observed, “but it won't he more than ten minutes before there's something doing in the little old town.” e The Snake, peering down the road with anxious eyes, spoke suddenly. "It Isn't going to be more than ten ‘acato smiled whimsically, je was 80 polite as to approve me,” he said, “but that ia not the point; he insisted, there and then, upon loaning to Santa Chanaa, with- out interest, without other security than our national word, three millions of dollars.” “Real money?” the captain asked amanedly. “In gold sovereigns, if 1 wish to wait for it. And see, I accept, Vel- vet. I have wept upon the neck of t incomparable Morena, 1 have told him, only last night, of his great- neas, “Thia morning, bappler than any child, I have returned to our city. [ meant to pay off the army in full at the very beginning and bave them solidly behind us. I meant to spen another million in righting wrongs done by Salvato. Ina week I planned to have all Santa Chanaa at our feet and I return to @ city of madmen, ney is nothing and water PRECEDING CHAPTERS. hae ‘Spaniah’ ry ouaye to bed Tew) an ta Chan: ete: * BR.00 rear ap Ang his mollve, mie the danger, ‘Uiey accet Alacrity, Later, when a me tries to lynch they ‘learn the truth, ‘arapn. accomplice, they flee from At the top of a Ro terworks wiuch suyplien “hold up” the elty a fe vi oo, CHAPTER XI. (Contiaued.) bea Meard aU about it, Mike” ne ed gravely. aenpron a thousand parched and fever-maddemed tongues,” Senor Pa- 0 @aid tragically. ‘Well, they haven't had time to get 4 fever-maddened Plot and Proclamation. E'LL plant our bias! 6 and we'll have it done before night,” the BMin- ister of State hurried on, "Then we'll have ‘Zarapa prepare a proclamation in good Spanish—can you have a pro- bed ani clamation printed+ and stuck Up seconds before there's something do- Oey DANGERS, ae eer any around town overnight, Za! i ing right here!" he said. “Look!” Len ber gerd Henk bates, Bsa my Tages Pears Pevions wit fin't the water that worries me eo ft, senor,” waid the First Assistant, CHAPTER X11. Saek It’e baving those three with deep interest. “Continue!” Rule by Buttons, crook! ‘The President of Sacta Chanza rose. “Then since there my duty is plain,” he sald. them with the million dollar “You'll do what?’ roared Capt. Vel- Robert Pollard controlled bis voice. “That proclamation will tell the people of that burg just thie: It'll say that three of America’e best diplo- mats were brought down here by Captain Velvet, under false represen- It will say that one million was promised us in gold and that we were offered Assassination instead of mohey. will 101 of the waterwork: o'clock to-morrow morning the will be shut off from the cit; “And then the mob"——— Nam Ryan. “That'll be interesting readin, nothing to what follows,” ch’ hia chief. “This proclamation will tell them that if we get million dollars in gold, delivered with safe condbct from the country, before 9 o'clock day after to-morrow, E it admitted that Robert Pollard 41d not lounge to the window and gaze there- from with any blase stare. Rather, he darted over to the case- ment and, aight at ite aide, lopked dewn the way that led to Relampago, and looked just once he breathed: “It's Velvet!” ‘And he's carrying @ white flag!” the Brute added, “Are you going to interview that old pirate indoors?’ “I'm going to sit right here for the stand powwow!” smiled the Minister of State as he slid into the chair be- bind the desk and laid @ delicate Anger o@ each of the two fatal but- 4s no other water “I go to wot. ‘ sball pay them and earn the un- dying gratitude, of my people,” said the President w! aignity. “1 go. Velvet, the strafigest political martyr in ‘ou Bit chair or—by gin I'll rip off one of its legs and aplit your skull with ft,” the astound- ing tain exploded so ferociously that Pacato quailed. "You're a good friend of mine, Mike, but I'll see you dead and buried before I ever let you pay a penny to those skunks that I haven't got a string tied to, Hear me?" T hear! But my paying them"—— Before I'd give those three blood- down in that his Reel end walked directly from the office of the waterworks. More, he walked to the road and headed down it in the direction of paawrage, without @ backward look; and, watching him, one might have fancied Capt. Velvet a broken follow up an unexpected advantage, Mr. Pollard leaned forward and bared his teeth rather nastily as he said: “You've more wits than I gave you credit for, Velvet! Now yet out of here and back to your little rat-hole of &@ town. Shake that million dollars in 4 Id out of other fools and have man—than which nothing could have d o nny of that nothing at all will happen. tons. “You alwi have the advan- £° na Be : “ is @ gucking dogs @ penny c million t here at it here before nine to-morrow! lear be more mistaken, for the 00d fiiiiion to keep I'd go out and kick 9 gciock we'll blow up thelr main (8 When you hold a business inter- mer Git! Captain merely felt the need for deep view in your own office, you know. thought too keenly to waste time in You might step out and tell bim not oe further fruitless conversation. they'll be without water He leaned back, half expecting obe- it the very best. a Dut the captain failed to ture ocean and ‘kick Santa Chanza after ence, but captain ‘em. They'll never get that million if it isn’t here at 10 o'clock, to try any cyclonic entran Bil.” and flee. AR AE SS dollars, Mil No, sir! Not till hades Pollard con- ““wvey and then ageln I might not!” _ Instead, bis big fists dropped to A Ilttle past one o'clock, standing fressen over aolid » “if we haven't one ‘a hips and reated comfort- in the window of the ante-room u are a violent man, my Vel- millien dollars in gold before 10 the Minister of War stated. “I”—— Behind the short beard a amile which lay behind the first door of the ‘clock to- w, we touch off their dam, damp. thelr whole reservoir. down on side of the mountain and— 1 He bit off the sentence and backed pb suddenly againat the wall, for, cyclon- Relampago Palacio's corridor, Velv watched the progress of an approach- ing old man with gildest interest n to twitch grudgingly into @: istence, and his hard eyes twinkled. unexpectedly, the @ isn't worth a cuse—J the captain said dismally. “We can't sheak up on ‘em, we can’t ” foally or otherwise, the captain was Shabby, typically th th a D y at's pretty good!" concluded ood Captain threw back hia head y, typ! @ antiquated shoot ‘em froin the hills, we can't do a the Mttilster bf Bite Diandly as be at band. Sind shook the place with his mighty Sante Chanzan, the old gentleman blasted thing without running an even His heavy tread, sounding through laughter! tottered up the palacio steps on his chan of blowing up the water- the harsrepres Caen yrer el for Cats “Robby!” he cried almost atten. hate, setioring in . door; his vy ed upon it tely. “You've come throw; ard ewa: rn Gnd pushed Nt open cand: oie cuits tonately. ish There was a long silence in the with whole skin!” “Have 1? Mr. Pollard asked un- emotionally, “Through what?" 5 “The little acid test I thought I'd ut on your nerve, son,” sald the resident pro tem. “By ginger! I'm tremor of bi head. Then the elderly man, in spl did voice and better English, said: “Come into the red room, my dear Velvet, ere I suffocate beneath the: accursed things Th mt anteroom after that, ‘Mik: when they read that pro: but wring their hands and cry a little and then hustle home to get the coin in the stocking and bring it here! They'll never think of coming up about. His under jaw seemed to be pro- truding; bis eye sparkled @ frozen, In- domitable fury that was well under ee Capt. Velvet entered and bee atill exist,” confeswed the Presi- Who owns that big country house up near the waterworks ere. ‘em, vontrol. A alngle second he tin proud of you--proud of you alll” em opened. “The tob Rodrigue: K 4 Henins ae oraaey. uttis sweeping the "Sn ke and q villian He took a step forward, hand =“ ike @ breathed. “Miner that git) whe was your pri- piss Thetech, forget it!" Ryan with his gase, and then it set- raised as if to pat his beloved Min “It te indood Mike!” tho President vary pecrotary downtown last youre. “There'll be severa? li of large, on Robert Pollard, r of State, and Mr. Pollard spoke of Santa Chansga stated bitterly. she was an almighty pretty gir.” “Come to the red room, where we may talk!" erly: “Thank you very much for the honey, and just ip back there, old scout! Two yards is near enough this desk for you. Your voice and my hearing are both good. Well?” Capt. Velvet chuckled rumbling en- and the excellent captain sald. I've come up here myecit with to you, Pol- the bottom of Minister of s “Tt will one man black type down that proclamation,” t State sald imperturb tell the people that, if tries to get near this pl if any at tempt of any sort whi er is made to molest one of us—if they try shoot- “Dolores? A wonderful little beauty, Velvot—and of infinite charm, Their parents were wealthy until a year or go; both were educated in your own United States, I believe.” “Both what?" The President of Santa Chansa Mike,” said the a little repair The Minister of State inclined his “Repair work—and at this time?” head slightly. “There's no time like the present bs, st. that need it,” | ing us from a distance or anything liver iti” he said. doymmen' for fixing up things grew less preoccupied. else=the man on duty at the buttons — “I'll deliver it fast enough!" Captain “Well, what in the rey ay egg nadie responded Capt. Velvet as he turned h wisters, my dear Velvet,” he will punch ‘em on the second, and Velvet informed him hotly. ‘ thi you trying to do UP the key. “What in thunder are you @ beauty of Dolores tm- he asked genially. lecting for ,. id tl Minister of nd they come high. Did you y of that million with you, doing back here, anyway? I thought you were comfortably hidden fifty or aixty miles away?" Senor Miguelo Pacato sighed heav- lly as he detached beard and wig and dropped into @ chair in the shadowy »Relampago's done for just as thor- fer” as if she'd been blown off the ‘People can't live more tha or four days without water, Mr. Pollard happily that proclamation, Zarapa I've read your proclamation. I* come here to talk it over with you. In fact, I've come to give you just two minutes to get out of this water- works and begin running down hill as if the devil himself were after you! Two minutes!" said Captain Velvet, essed your tender young heart, be our services rmen, is she as pretty as Dolores, Mike?’ it more beautiful!” said Pa much conviction, and then, “Don't talkgnonsense, my"— ” corner of the room. he grew really enthuslastic sm rt ! y The little man clasped his Uetle and produced his big watch, Min spol foal nuioes aA st “In truth, my dear Velvet, ite an Aad sinde) we discuss fair women hands; his adoring eyes refused to The Mintater of State permitted a ter ped odd enough story, this retu haven't much more than twenty- at this amazing time, Velvet, let me soul shall flow with the ink “Don't strain your eyes over that Prove itor not.” —to the little revort “1 had no Idea” — Capt. Velvet spread his palms in gentle, tolerant protest. “But this thing's such darned fool- iahness, Robby!” he said. “You're a lot of young, ho’ ded fellowa, and you don't un X doing. Why, got road that leads up he: back the populace th: trying to come up and tear you to bits.” “There's a dry time coming for the ‘Let her And tell that elephant fo ‘hustlo breakfast. ‘We'll have to get to Werk.” They went down the rbad with shov- els and dynamite, and well past noon they returned, patting down earth on buried wires under the clay and pushing the wires through the office window. They ate again and took their shov- els and vanished, laden down with town clock,” he said, most offensively. “The light’s rather poor in her: Thirty seconds have gone, Pol- lard!” the captain said, very quietly, “The man that can atop igh wilt die @ billionaire,” suggested the Minister of State, You have just one minute left to et out of here alive!” aid Capt. Velvet steadily, And there the ring of fighting And what arth, do 1 see flow, Zarapa! “Byes, Velvet, to pale hea brilliant star—yet eyes deeper and more mysterious than th reach of Interstellar space! n't, Mikel’ the captain eoun- solemnly all this. girl e in Rolampa If a certaint “Native?” i) three were born tn our up, Mike!” . the coffees millionaire.” “He's in Europe,” said Capt. Velvet, “He give it jorena, Was in Europe,” Senor Pacato § ed. “He returned quietly three weeks ago. Since then be has been resting at Aldaras,” “Resting from a vacation?” teel elty, . y lace that tries it,” amiled Mr. ON, h yd Velvet—recu- yes. Hut of the three, Mer- ynamite this time; and once, late in came into Mr. Pollard’s tone. popu ‘ot that, my dear i i the afternoon, the chief engineer des- “You're at liberty to stand there Pollard. erating after what seems to have Ae eal) Rreatest, have erled them far out along the great and clutch that curio for one century sive you a thousand dollars been a successful raid on all the aly Aver Hal AFCA a dam, patting down fresh earth where if you wish,” he said; “but if you've &Plece and sneak you out of the money markets of Europe! Morena elvet's excellent teeth showed country if you really want that—and if you take It quick!" concluded Capt. Velvet. “You've tried the bluff, and it didn’t 80," said the Minister of State. "Now you've tried the genial stunt, with a little money on the side, and it's a worse fizzle than the bluff, Offhand, I assume that you're planning ta work through the cold-reason stage, the veiled-threat stage and finally the sob stage, with a lot of stuff about smile as he swept the ante- room telephone to hin n. “Shut up Mike!" he ordered. “I'm oun #6 rave over her a little my- ee! (U] they had scarred the green growth, unreeling more wire. Slumber had claimed the chief once more when the Zarapa turned from the telephone and rubbed his hands, ‘It is arranged, senor!" he reporte:l, “I bave promised the good Pedro that he shall be richly rewarded for faith- ful service, I Ko to meet him half-way upon the road, with our proclamation “And I'll go with you, in case of- accidents,” the Snake suggested warily. read that proclamation you know precisely what will happen inaide of twenty-four hour: “One minute and thirty seconds!” intoned the good captain, and a hand dropped to the mighty pistol butt at bis right. Mr. Pollard amiled, ‘And two minutes!” exploded the President pro tem, and the big weapon came Into view with a swish and leveled straight at the Minister went away worth, perhaps, five mill- fons; he has returned worth twelve! It is from his own lip The President of Santa Chansa leaned forward savagely “And see the irony of money, Velr vet! I spoke with Morena for hardly fifteen minutes before he confided that on the homeward trip it had been in his mind to take active Interest in polities, to straighten out the chaos of our poor country with his wealth, to CHAPTER XIII. Impregnable. PON the mountainside above Relampago a rather unique *¥ou come too, Bill. of State. the suffering women and children of drive out Salvato and put in bis place situation had been created, } “And I'll be right here at the but- And there followed a very odd, very Relampago.” @ better man.” Robert Pollard watehed tons,” Robert Pollard purred, “and, tiny pa’ “Pollard” — “Like you, Mike?” sald the captain. Capt. Velvet trudge dismally toward Capt. Velvet looked straight at Mr. Pollard and his eye glowed quick death, The Minister of State looked atraight at Capt. Velvet and bis whole countenance shot rays of conscious, euperior power. f you shoot me I'll fall on *hcse “But if T were you I wouldn't bother with any of them, because they'll all take time—and get nowhere at al the Minister of State went on with earnest insolence, “We don't care any more about your tenth-rate popu lation than you care about the south side of the moon! All they've ever rapa, if by any possible chance you're thinking of putting over a little crook- ed work here in the interest of your rerumably, beloved soe 7 Lite herd 6 that this blast w! me et d—well, don't ery said the artied eee Are You Going Away for the Summer? ahead of time a bout it, Zarapa minister of state more gently. ‘ ht! buttons and blast your waterworks to tried to hand us was red-hot alaugh- When you go out of town for the summer you may find it is sues you're all big ti in the gloom, bits and kill at least two-thirds of your ter, and we're going to hand {t back > id self with th ae f i we wae miting there f ‘each button, population," said Mr, Pollard, “If you now pretty nicely unless we got the | “fficult and costly to provide yourself with the right sort of reading Sc echey returned within the hou, shoot elther of my friends here the price we ask. matter. go just the same. And if it e@ tucked count five hissed the Minister ‘One, two, three, four”—— His lips parted for the fifth count. Inconsciously, perhaps, the fingars above the buttons twitched, And the gun dropped back into Cap- tain Velvet’s holster—and a thrill went through Mr. Pollard from top to toe! He had accomplished whut, secretly. he had believed impossible—Captain Velvet had been bluffed back! And wince it is only the fool who faila to “I's one million dollars in. gold, Velvet, and it's to be delivered here before nine to-morrow morning. You'd better get back to your tewn and rustle it up, because there'll be no ex- tension of time. That's about all the speech I care to make on the subject,” aaid Mr. Pollard as he crossed his legs, “and if you feel compelled to answer {t with another, please step outside before you turn It lone.” ‘The Captain, after one last, long look at the buttons, at the wires and at the spots where they disappeared beneath the ground, bad turned on ert that Pedro Periero was on his way to a trusted printer with thelr unprecedented proclamation, He was sitting e'poee Sgain next 9 o'clock approached, megive minutes more and the water stops!" announced the Minister of Btate, ‘And the fun Villiam Ryan Perce the chief engineer yawned his way audibly back to con- seclousne: Mr. Pollard smiled at his first assistant. “Two minutes Why send to the city for novels at $1,25 or $1.50 each or buy them at a fancy price in some country store? You can supply yourself with the best, most delightful summer reading for six cents a week. By subscribing to The Evening World for the summer months you will secure a complete novel each week. Not some old book a country dealer has not been able to sell, bit the finest up-to-date fiction by the foremost living authors, Bear.this in mind, not only for yourself but for any of your friends who expect to spend the summer in the country. starts!" added more, and she AN_UNUSUAL ROMANCE OF [MOTHER LOVE AND OF THE GALLANT BAIILE WAGED BY A MAN AND NEXT WEEK’S COMPLETE NOVEL = IN THE EVENING WORLD = 4 ex E STAIN FORREST HALSE Y Sosccceec F “CA his home town—and then he rose with a _ that stretched from ear to ear! “Gentlemen,” he said, “we bave done it!” “Hut, at that, it seems queer that he'd give up like that, Robby,” said the Snake, sagely. "It isn't like him.” The Minister of War censed emil- ing, too. “And everything else we ever tried to put over on him bounced back, Robby, and hit us so hard”— “Well, thia tan't like anything else,” the Minister of State said impatiently. “This ts new and good—and the old man’s licked, He knows it; | know it; and I must say that he hae more brains than I gave him credit for.” At some time past 2 P. M, the Snake jerked into the office and cried: “Guy coming with a towel on a attck and @ bundle in bia band, Robby! What'll we do?” “You might pick bis pockete or try ta sell him some suburban lots, Snake,” id the Minister of State, and elevated his eyebrows In a fash- fon that quite startled the Minie of Finance. “Or you might even your own judgment and find out wha¢ he wants.” But Be auiekenes @ little when the Snake bh rushed out again, and Watched the meoting down the road. The newoomer seemed to be a Santa Chanzan of sturdy physique and humbia station; he waved his flag of truce and bowed low at the approach of the Minister of Finance. Efe ten- dered a cloth bag and a note and, bowing again, hurried off down-hill— and when the Snake had jingled the bag he turned and raced back to the office, “Robby! The coin ta here!” choked t hroat. Pollard leaned for from his dumfound Mr. “Ie it? nd count that ordered the guld- nius, as he took tt and tore the “I'm not going to let that ‘al short-change me!" Pi anding beside the Mints- ter of Finance, observed the delighted start of the Miniater of State as he read—observed and thrilled at the stony calm with which Mr. Pollard ceased reading and sald: “It's not all there.” The Minister of Finance looked up savagely. “You'll nevor get any nearer the truth than that, Robb; he stated with bitter smile, he adds wu $915,000 short of being a millfoi ‘Five thousand, eh?" ‘And not $1 more, senor! said “Has the Incredible beast dared offer"—— * sald Mr. Pollard crisp- 8 he flattened the note again. jon to this. It say Pollart—1_ have Ld jon joat care. ani le cided. that our one “ehat pay what RY demand. and thet wihout fi it te vs hath dewt eet nding ay vest and tae of what you require i e first instalment t the jor who carries this. Dy apologien and. the aamornuce: That, larwer sum will ortheom! ¥ The Minister of State folded the note again and tucked it in bis pock- et, while the Snake and William Ryan merely looked at one another. “Down underneath all his yowling and boasting, he seema to have more senne than TI fi ald Mr. Pol- lard quietly. ho has done tho one thing possible and simply ac- cepted it all as a plain business Proposition, Hy joing to force the town to pay up and—that's the thing in a nutashell,”* Tho Snake entered suddenly a Uttle past 4 o'clock, The Minister of Finance, breathing hard, laid a new canvas bag upon the desk and reported bri “More doug’ The Minis carefully, “Count It, Zarapa! Snake?" “One letter, general!” the dapper member said, and saluted as he slapped It to the desk. “And listen here. There's about another five thou- sand In that bag, from the looks, It'd tako a truck to bring @ million at this rate.” rm “Wel ‘There's a truck coming up thin way," said the Snake, ‘That's all.” The Minister of State started out of Peal of State surveyed it Anything else, his hy calm. “What sort of truck? Covered?" “Open. Tt’s all boxes and trunks." “Then possibly it's the rest of the money,” said Mr. lard. “Wait a minute and let me read this. Vaguely he was aware that the Snake's fa 1s Smile wandered from the ba his neck to the little canvas bag a* he read Tt 1s possible that Mr. Pollard flushed a trifle he bent, but be looked up with « glowing smile, “This isn short one and sweater!" he said. “Jusl lard Dene Heiatansga Shen beter cream, The Minister of State expanded his che as he tossed the note across desk. You will observe, Ja ha unwound his bluff D the pieces hoard, ‘That's first pathetic whine, and the ‘please’ is_undertined.” “It is—at t!" the Minister of Finance utte in astonishment ko out and look after that ke, and if it happens to be our stuff, have them open the boxes down the ad 1 think we have the old man rieht, but 1 won't risk having him unl 1 himself and friends trom J oe up the place.” ered where's tokly, © money? Vor an instant the Snake stared The PTAIN pele Novel Foch Week in The Fvenin SSS “The money? VET’S WELCOME’ Diankly at him—and his high-pieohed Volce broke loose again. I don't know any- thing about the money!” he sald im- patiently. pened?” CHAPTER XIV. Echoes From the First Garden. Mr. as \ train coming, Robby. Pollard weakly. “That wasn'ta money ‘That was just it d'ye think’s bap- HAT —has—happeneat 8 the plain, common or garden variety of express wagon. The people are moving into the house down below.” “What?” “And, Robert,” Finance. “Dolls! “Women?” id the Minister of “One real nice looking old dame,” the Miniat of War put in, in pleas- conversational style. “Then"-——~ “Then two or three girle—dreame— ches"*——— the Minister of Finance bubbled—then ceased bubbling be- cause Zarapa had bounced into evi- dence. The first assistant, indeed, had at- tajned a very extraordina: very brief time; and William Ryan as tein a hands wringing, countenance contorted, he alipped be- tween them and peered at the Snake he cried Gay not that the clement of woman hae entered this, our little Daradise\” The Minieter of Finance | turned again to hie him as ored wn ing chief, this time with a more col- if jected smile. “You gee, Robby, that wagon was just their trunks, and they mu ist be the people that own the house. They drove up behind it in @ little mule rig and—oh, we sort of piped ‘em off from a “And, what mo! the Minister of War {ffness unexpected even by himself. to curse ‘em in that etand there and roll your eyes ‘a no fault tartly. they didn’t bring js it? “Or maybe they're vome kind ol ggonted 1 go right Gown and t eo a fish co! they daa? ¢ messengers from 4 William n He wheeled toward the door. “You'll not go down there or any- where olso!” Pollard stated forcefully. women, eith ing up like whole deal wai many women are there and bow many men?” “Three or four wome: sald briefly. “No men “They're unque aro they? " the co with the engineer's in! 4 airily. they're Indies!” put in with « that's Snake saw fit to ad haen ap riee up on tbe doc! ott of ours that in with Maybe Ryan have no nonsense about When you came rac- it the Snake ‘They're not men in wom- en's clothes?” the Minister of State asked sharply. The Minister of Finance emiled by,” he sald, go out on the little bump Th Orat assistant on th “Who owns that “A milllonaire—-R¢ “A friend of Velvs “T think not.” “take ry horae, dr at's “Know him yourself? “No, senor." “Or ‘his tantly? these pa ez, I think.” “I did not know that his accursed family existed!" brokenly. Zarapa: cried “But let us not be dis- turbed by this unhalloWed nrischance, senor! Let us regard all women as ten thousand miles away, for their Consider history, name ts, trouble! senor! Connider Eve. Consider me, Whose young life was blasted by woman before” “I know said curtly. us In any wa: of that. Sna y, Zarape e, the game,” Mr. Pollard “It tan't going to affect be dead sure I want you to keep within Afty feet of this shack, or get out of the whole Rother Do you hear? proposition alto- Get out and stay out And that means you too, Bill” They wat about and amoked, chat- ting in quite the ordinary fashion, and !f an intangible, lurking hint of new constraint was in the air, they feigned ignorance of Its presence, ‘The Snake and Willlam Ryan, In fact, grew jovial to a degree; they dragged up sag-kneed, white whisk- ered jests from the misty past, pa- raded them mercilessly and laughed in truly uproarious mirth over them and sometimes Robert Pollard Joined them in a dry, grudging, half wondering way phiter the Ministers of War and nee shaved neer's ofly and the same uncanny 1 nerriment dined sparingly on the engi- unvarying fuod, to ‘They smoked again and fell silent for the mountain stillness was a thing of the past now Through the moonilt night came tinkling trills of plano music and the { faint little whine of a mandolin, When they ceased, when Zarapa's shaky sighing alone disturbed the evening calm, the Cabinet listened, minute after minut 1 as one man the Cabinet brightened again for, distantly and very sweetly, they caught a full, rich contralto It was @ very plaintive little mel- ody Indeed; the Minister of State listened it with mild interest. When the end came, he found that the Minister of Wa: bad risen and was wiping his eyes. “ET never could stand that sob stuff, Robby,” he said briefly. “I'm going to bed- on the floor in there.” The Minister of Finance glanced keenly at him and yawned "There's room for the two of us on that mattress in there?” he suggest. ed ax he Indicated the storeroom they had oceupled the previous night “I know it, Snake," said William Ryan, considerately, “but In there with the wheel T can stretch out more without disturbing you Aas acat these nights, You So long." A_GIRL AGAINST THE POWERS I'm restless instant, OF Book on the Stands Will Cost You $1.28 Get It for @ Cents === | Into the moonlight a slender, dask young woman stepped. - And then the suspense ended, ter another gir) appeared and hurried te the aide of the fret; and, Instead 4 hesitating and ehrinkin; they t to the road and atrolied for. led slowly ward. “His Exoallency, the Min! Finance?” asked one of the ‘tine English. “Why—lady"—— the Snake said blankly, “And the Minister of War?’ sald the same voice. “I'm you don’t understand, miss,” he said quickly. “We're not— exactly connected with the je ment an; 5 Sete aS Lae be iy We've seised the ‘e and we're bold. som,” aid the blond girl, ‘or ral with entire calm. “That is what we bave come to watch.” “That's Mr. lant it?" “Father's, of course—yee,” the girl eald easily. Carmen, my sister.” And having glided over introduc. Rodrigues's home, “T am Dolores. This is tions in her own fashion, she looked direct, pretty appeal at the Minister of Finance, “And you will tell us all about wonderful plot—what ia really beh! It, please: Snake shut his teeth grii and with more effort than he ever known before in any simi! circumstances. ‘T'd like to, Misa—M Dol he sald. “There isn’t anything Uke better; ut—this Capt. Vi man’s pretty popular, and he's @ and—bave friend of yours, I sup) pose, 1 said anything wrong?” the Boake blankly. asked f do not discuss Capt. her sister Fal in earnestly. and other familles—have v: bitter Feason for abhor ata ° Great popular hero.’ a btad inister of War expanded sud- jen Ww lady, If things are Uke that! he eaid, with queer joy. “Things are just like that,” the lighter sister sald; o an re the. ‘cret of just how —let us It, feels to be brav. snough to take a whole city by the aroat.” Abruptly as it had arrived, the Mghtning was gone from the Ps y—"James Evans.” } Mr. James Evans, then. suggested a walk mother pro ‘ted so vigorously that we told her we, to go straight to the waterwor. + take you prisoners—and she seem: d td think it a very poor joke. Let us #, ow | her that the bd of woman's _ macy is actually here by capturecr you.” , A highly ornamental reply trembled, on the lips of the Minister of Finance; he atilied it tied at his own suspected. capacity for flowery speech, and the darker, more practical elster was saying: “Dolores ia hinting delieately, I think, that If you can spare us just a” little water, Mr. Evans, very glad to have you jain us im the after-dinner coffee that was imposal- ble to-night. It was a very, very Carmen reflected +4 ad at the Minti of War. ad hung t) moon—a heav- enly body with the worst possible reputation as a promoter of sanity; before him stood positively the mest beautiful” young woman William Ryan had ever dared to view. Moon obliterated or piquant, appeal- removed, the Minister of night have suspected that the hacienda shielded a bloodthiraty Mttle squad of picked murderers. An it was, the Minister of War lasped large, cold bands behind him spoke gustily: Lady, if you've got a pitcher or a Ba or iuple of pitchers and couple of pails—I'll go up a the renorvolr, ‘That's right!™ big nd the Snake—lately a keen, tious, an ing personality, packed with Instinctive suspicion of every hand—merely nodded his approval to+ ward William Ryan, and resumed his wondering, wholly respectful tion of Dolores—the glorious, hatred slip of a girl who had mapped out of nowhere tn particular and fa- vored his criminal self with her ac- quaintance In the moat matter-of-fact way. She had turned now and was mov. ing slowly back toward the house, an@ her dimples had disappeared again ag she looked down on Relam; rep. resented now only by @ faint doe of light here and there, “Our poor little city has Evans," she sald thoughtfully, The Snake glanced cheerfully tes ward {t and started, “What struck the Hghte?” he asked, ‘he power houses could make steam without water," Dolores saidt and then a light little hand rested the Minister of Finai r (To Bo Continued.) EVIL