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WEBSTER -MAN'S MAN CHAPTER Xlll-—Continued. "I think so. I dare say Ricardo hopes to tnke Sarros by surprise, bot tle the city garrison up In the cuar tel and the government palace and there besiege them. Having secured nominal control of a seaport, he can Import arms and ammunition; also he can recruit openly, and at his leisure hunt down the outlying garrisons. The Barros crowd doesn't suspect his pres ence In Sobrante, and by a quick, sav age stroke he should be able to Jerk this oue-horse government up by the heels In jig time—particularly since the dtlxenry feel no loyalty toward the Sarros regime and are only kept In subjection through fear and lack of a leader. I’m going to play Ricar do to win. If he Isn’t killed In the opening row, for I’m certain he'll lead his men.” “I dare say he Is greatly like his father —not afraid to die for his coun try/’ she replied presently. “I am glad to be here when he takes that risk." “Oh, but you mustn’t be here,” Web ster protested. “Why?” “Because there’ll be street fighting •—probably of a desperate character, and 1 understand your countrymen go rather war-mad and do things not sanctioned by The Hague tribunal. If there’s a steamer In port at the time Til put you aboard her until the Issue Is decided. I’m going to see Ricar do tomorrow night and learn the de tails of his plan of campaign; after that I’ll be able to act Intelligently.” • •••••• Ricardo Ruey, with Dr. Pacheco and Colonel Caraveo, were engaged In consultation when Jack Webster, hav ing left the Hotel Mateo via his bed room window In order to avoid pos sible espionage and made his way to B1 Buen Amigo on foot, was an nounced by Mother Jenks. The three conspirators greeted him Joyously, as Indeed they should, for his loyal friendship had thus far been one of their principal bulwarks. "Well," Webster Inquired, after greeting them and carefully closing the door behind him, “here I am In Buenaventura, marking time and. like Mr. Mlcawber, waiting for something to turn up.” . “You will not be required to wait long,*’ Colonel Caraveo assured hlus. “Thanks to your kindly offices, the trap Is already baited.” “Our friend, Ruey. has, since our first meeting, Insisted on dispensing with my consent when using me to promote bis enterprises. Colonel. Btrange to say, I have been unable to berate him for his Impudence. I was down at Leber's warehouse this after noon. You have enough roud-maklng tools consigned to me there to build a pretty fair highway to the gates of the government palace, I should say. I hope you have all pondered the re sult to roe, an innocent bystander, If your enemies should take a notion to open one of those cases of shovels.” Colonel Caraveo favored him with n benignant smile. “You forget, my friend, that I am second In command In the Intelligence department, and that during the absence of your par ticular friend, Raoul Sarros, in New Orleans, I am first In command. Since I already know what those cases con tain, naturally I shall not take the trouble to investigate.” “Well, that’s a comfort. Colonel.” “You have Investigated your mining concession, Webster?" Itlcatdo Ruey asked. “You bet.” "What did you flndr* “A couple of millions in sight.” Ricardo shook his bead slowly. “It la not la alght. old man.” he reminded Webster. "Without our aid —and you cannot have our aid unless our revo lutlon Is successful, when you shall have It freely—your millions are. most positively, not In sight. If you want those millions, friend Webster, there Is but one way to get them — and that Is to close your eyes and play our game to the limit. I wonder If you'd go further —about $40,000 fur ther. to be exact.” “I might, but I never go It blind for a wad like that. What's your trou ble r •The Individual In charge of the funds of the revolutionary Junta In New Orleans was murdered last night; the funds were deposited to his cred it as agent In a certain hank, and be fore the Junta can obtain legal pos session of them again the psychologi cal time for their use will have passed. “We have a steamer chartered, and 200 men, whose business It is to fight under any flag at $5 gold per day and no questions asked, are now mark ing time on the Isle of Pines, off the coast of Cuba, waiting for our steam er to call for them and land them, with their rifles and ammunition and six 75-mlllimeter field guns and some rapid-fire Maxims, at San Bruno, some Kfi miles op the coast from here. *Ths cams aa 4 monitions act mw by Peter B. Kyne Author of “Cappy Rieka,” “The Valley of the Giants,” Etc. Id Tainpa, having been shipped to our agent there pn sight draft, with bill of lading attached; the steamer is char tered and en route to Tampa from Norfolk, Va., ond we must pay the owners. $10,000 the day she begins tak ing on her cargo, and $10,000 before sbe unloads It on lighters at San Bruno. “We must also pay 200 men one month’s pay in advance —that is, $30,- 000; we cannot meet this expense and still take up that sight draft now awaiting our attention in the bank at Tainpa. “In return for this favor to the pro visional government of Sobrante, you shall have the note of the provisional government, signed by the provisional president, myself, ond the provisional cabinet. Dr. Pacheco, Colonel Cara veo, and two other gentlemen whom you will meet in due course unless in the interim they should be killed. And as a bonus for saving this country from a brutal dictator, who is pillag ing its resources for his personal prof it. you shall have a deed of gift to that mining concession you and your friend, Geary, are so desirous of work ing; also the title sliull be certified by the government and the Supreme court of Sobrante and absolutely se cured to you against future aggres sion In the event that the new regime should be overthrown at some future date. Also you have my profound gratitude and that of my people.” “Tell me your plan of campaign,” Webster suggested. “In a secret rendezvous In the mountains I have 1,000 picked men— my father's veterans. They are armed with modem rifles and machetes. The nitrate company, which has been suf fering from heavy export duties im posed by Sarros, has loaned me all the rolling stock of the railroad for one night. It will be mobilised at San Miguel de Padua by next Saturday night; my troops will arrive late the same afternoon and entrain at once. “In the Interim all telephone and telegraph communications with Bue naventura will be severed. The night previous our steamer will have dis charged her cargo of men and muni tions at San Bruno; a chain of out posts will at once be established and all communication with the capital will be shut off. “On Saturday night, also, the Con solidated Fruit company’s steamer. La Kstrelllta, will make port with 30 Americans In her steerage. These men will be road-makers and miners Imported by Mr. J. S. Webster, and In order to make certain that they "Tell Me Your Plan of Campaign." will come, you have already ordered them by cable. We have arranged with the port doctor to give La Ks trelllta a clean bill of health the very night she arrives. Hence the ship’s authorities will not be suspicious, 1 hope, when we remove our men after dark and house them in Leber’s ware house. where they will spend the night unpacking those spades, picks and shovels of yours and getting the fac tory grease off them. “At 4 o’clock In the morning vari ous citizens of Sobrante. with rebel lion In their hearts, will begin to mo bilize at Leber's warehouse, where they will be Issued rifles and ammuni tion and where they will wait until the action is opened to the south by the detachment from San Bruno, w’hich, having marched from San Bru no the night before, will have arrived outside the city, and will be awaiting the signal from me. I will attack from the west—cautiously. “Now, there are 5,030 government troops In the city and in various can tonments on the outskirts. These can- too men ts are to be rushed and set afire; I figure that the confusion of our sudden attack will create a riot particularly when I do something that Isn’t very popular as a war feature down this way, and that Is charge— and keep on coming. “The government troops will start to fall back on the city, only to find themselves flanked by a fierce artil lery fire from the San Bruno contin gent ; the troops from the arsenal, the guards at the palace and the Fif teenth regiment of Infantry, now sta tioned at the Cuartel de Infanteria, next the government palace, will be dispatched post haste to repulse the attack, and 400 men, with the machine gun company waiting In Leber’s ware house, will promptly move upon them from the rear and capture the arsenal. There are a few thousand rifles and a lot of ammunition «stored there; 1 miss my guess If, as soon as the news of its capture by the rebels spreads through the city (and I shall have men to spread It), I shall not have a few thousand volunteers eager to help overthrow Snrros. "Once cut off from the arsenal and the palace, Sarros must fight his way out of the city In order to have the slightest chance to suppress the rebel lion, for he will have no refuge In the city. And with the railroad and all the rolling stock In our hands, with out a commissary for his troops, with out a base of supplies, even should the government troops fight their way through, they leave the city in my hands and I’ll recruit and arm my men and hunt them down like jack rabbits at my leisure. Once let the arsenal aud the pulace fall Into my hands, once let me proclaim myself provis ional president, once let the people know that lllcardo Huey, the beloved, lives again In the person of his son. and I tell you, Webster, this country Is saved. How do you like my plan of campaign?” “It couldn’t be any better If I had planned It inyself. You might accept my suggestion and armor that little motor truck of mine. It arrived on yesterday’s steamer." “And some armor sheet steel with It—sheet steel already loop-holed for the barrels of the two machine guns It will carry!” Dr. Pacheco cried Joy ously. “Have you provided a chauffeur, Doctor?” “I.have —likewise an armored sheet steel closet for him to sit In while cbaffeuring.” “How about that loan to the pro visional government?” Ricardo de manded pointedly. Webster did not hesitate. After all, what was money to him now? Billy had gone away, his hopes raised high, already a millionaire after the fash ion of mining men, who are ever ready to count their chicks before they are hatched, provided only they see the eggs. Besides, there was Dolores. Full well Webster realized that- Billy, tossed back once more Into the Jaws of the well-known wolf of poverty, would not have the courage upon hls return to Sobrante to ask Dolores to share hls poverty with him; should the revolution fall, Ricardo Ruey would be an outcast, a hunted man with a price on hls head, and In no position to care for hls sister, even should he survive long enough to know he had a sister. She would be alone In the world If he, John Sti* art Webster, failed her now—more than ever she needed a man’s strength and affection to help her navigate the tide-rips of life, for life to a woman, alone and unprotected and dependent upon her labor for the bread she must eat, must contain, at best, a full meas ure of terror and despair aud loneli ness. He pictured her through a grim processional of years of skimping and petty sacrifices —and all because he, John Stuart Webster, had hesitated to lend a dreamer and an idealist a pal try $40,000 without security. No, there was no alternative. If bis friendship for Billy was worth a sou. It was worth $40,000; If hls silent, unrequited love for Dolores Ruey was worthy of her, no sacrifice on his part could be too great, provided It guar anteed her happiness. “Ruined again,” he sighed. “Tills Is only another of those numerous oc casions when the tall goes with the hide. How soon do you want the money?” Ricardo Luiz Ruey leaned forward and gazed very earnestly at John Stu art Webster. "Do you really trust me that much, my friend?" he asked feel ingly. "Remember, I am asking you for $40,000 on faith." "Old sport," John Stuart Webster answered, "you went oVerboard In Buenaventura harbor and took a chance among those big, liver-colored, hammer-headed sharks. And you did that because you had a cause you thought worth dying for. I never knew a man who had a cause that was worth dying for who would even es pouse a cause worth swindling for. You win—only I want you to under stand one thing, Ricardo: I'm not doing this for the sake of saving that mining concession the Sarros govern ment gave my friend, Geary. I’m above doing a thing like this for mon ey—for myself. It seems to me I must do it to guarantee the happiness of two people I love: My friend, Geary, and the girl he’s going to marry. I reject your promissory note and your promise of a deed of gift for that con cession, and accept only your grati tude. There are no strings to this loan, because It isn’t a loan at all. It’s a bet. If you lose. I’ll help you get opt of the country and absolve you of any indebtedness to me. How ever, If you should win, I know you'll reimburse me from the national treas ury.” “And you do not desire a bonus?” ‘Nothing that will cost the citizens of this country one penny of their heritage. I’m going to bet this mon- tw» the CHEYENNE BECOBD e* —bet It, understand, not loan It However, If you want to be a sport and grant mo » Utile favor In return, you can.” “Fire away." _ "After I give yon this money, I don't want the doctor and the colonel to kiss me to show how grateful they “’"You wonderful fellow! Jack Web ster, If I had a sister 1 should want her to marry you." “Show how little you'd think of your sister—staking her to a senti mental Jackass. Shall I cable the money to New Orleans In the morn ing?'' „ “That will do very nicely. “To whom shall I cable the mon ey ?” “Send It to the Picayune National hank of New Orleans, with Instruc tions to credit account No. 246, J. B. P., trustee. In this little game we are playing, my friend. It Is saf er to deal In numbers and Initials rather than names. The local cable office leaks quite regularly.” “Very well, Ricardo, I’ll attend to It first thing in the morning. Go to It and win, or there’ll be several new faces whining around the devil, not the least of which will be mine. When you charge, remember you’re charg- Informed Dolores Fully of Hlo Inter view. Inf for my s4o,ooo—and go through with It I worked rather hard for that $40,000, and If I must lose It 1 do not want to do it in a half-hearted fight. Give me, at least a bloody run for my money. I*ll have a reserved seat somewhere watching the game.** M lf you'll take my advice, you'll go aboard La Estrelllta and stay there until the Issue la decided. When the first gun la fired. It algnala the open season on mining engineers who butt In on affairs of state.'* “What! And me with a healthy bet down on the result! I hope I’m a better sport than that.*' “You’re Incorrigible. Be careful, then, and don't get yourself potted by a stray bullet.'* “Shall 1 see you fellows before the blow-off?’’ “1 scarcely think so." “Then If you’re through with me, I’ll bid you all good-by and good luck. I'll have dinner with you In the pal ace Sunday evening.” “Taken."’ “May I bring a guest?” “By all means." Webster shook hands with the trio and departed for his hotel. For the first time in many years he was heavy of heart, crushed. “Neddy Jerome was right," he soliloquised. “This Is the last place on earth for me to have come to. I've made Neddy sore on me, ond he’s lost patience and put an other mnn In the job he promised me; I’ve raised Billy’s hopes sky-high and had to bet $40,000 to keep them there; I’ve been fool enough to fall in love with my friend’s fiancee; I’m a hu man cat’s paw, and the finest thing I can do now Is to go out next Sunday morning with that machine gun com pany from Leber’s warehouse and get killed." * CHAPTER XIV. The following morning Webster In formed Dolores fully of his Interview with her brother and his confreres the night before, concealing from her only the fact that he was financing the revolution and his reasons for financ ing It. He was still depressed, and Dolores, observing his mood, forbore to intrude upon It. Accordingly she claimed the prerogative of her sex— a slight headache—and retreated to her room, In the privacy of which she was suddenly very much surprised to find herself weeping softly because John Stuart Webster was unhappy and didn’t deserve to be. It was Impossible, however, for Webster long to remain Impervious to the note of ridiculousness underlying the forthcoming tragic events. Here was a little 2x4 poverty-stricken hot bed of Ignorance and Intrigue calling Itself a republic, a little stretch of country no larger than a couple of big western counties, about to indulge in the national pastime of civil war and unable to do It except by grace of an humble citizen of a sister re public! Five or six thousand Ignorant, Ill equipped, 111-drilled semi-brigands call ing themselves soldiers, entrusted with the task of enabling one of their num her to ride, hone and dog, over LOOO - people I ’ How farcical! No wonder Ricardo, with his northern ylewpolnt, oppress ed his patriotic task with gayctJ-.*£ most with contempt. And wb» W ater recalled that the about-to-be-born provisional government had borrowed from him the sum of forty thousand dollars In order to turn the trick-borrowing It. forsooth, In much the same spirit an a commuter board ing his train without the necessary fore halls a neighbor and borrows ten cents—llls natural optimism asserted Itself and lie chuckled as In fancy ne heard himself telling the story to Kea dy Jerome and being branded a liar for his pains. “Well, I’ve had one comfort ever since I first saw that girt.’’ he fleeted philosophically. “While lve never been so unhappy In all my »«• before, or had to tear my soul out by the roots so often, things have been coming my way so fast from other di rections that I haven’t had much op portunity to dwell on the matter. An for these compensating offsets, good Lord, I thank Thee.” He was John Stuart Webster again when Dolores saw him next; during the succeeding days his mood of cheerfulness and devil-may-care Indif ference never left him. And through out tlmt period of marking time Do lores was much in his society, a con dition which he told himself was not to his liking but which, nevertheless, he could not obviate without seeming indifferent to her happiness. And to permit his friend’s fiancee to languish in loneliness and heart-break did not appear to John Stuart Webster as the part of a true friend or a courtly gen tleman—and he remembered that she had once called him that. They rode together In the cool of the morning; they drove together on the Malecon In the cool of the evening; chaperoned by Don Juan Cafetero and a grinning Sobrantean, they went shark fishing in Leber’s launch; they played dominoes together; they discussed, throughout the long, lazy, quiet after noons, when the remainder of their world retired for the siesta, books, art, men, w’omen, and things. And not once, throughout two weeks of camaraderie, did the heart-racked Webster forget for a single Instant that he was the new friend, destined to become the old friend; never, to the girl’s watchful eyes, did he be tray the slightest disposition to estab lish their friendly relatioL* on a closer basis. Thus did the arrival of The Day find them. Toward sunset they rode ont together along the bay shore and noted far out to sea the smear of smoke that marked the approach of La Estrelllta —on schedule time. "You will go aboard her tonight," Webster said very quietly to Dolores. "And you?" "I shall go aboard with yon. I have arranged with Don Juan for him to stay ashore and to come out in Le ber's launch with the first reliable news of the conflict If Ricardo wins the cfty, he wins the revolution, and yon and I will then go ashore —to dine with him In the palace. If he loses the dty, he loses the revolution, and we will both do well to remain aboard La Estrelllta." "And In that event what will bo come of my brother?" "I do not know; I forgot to ask him, but If he survives, I Imagine he’ll have sense enough to know he's whipped and will retreat on San Bru no, fighting a rear guard action, em bark aboard the steamer that brought bis men there, and escape." “I’m worried about Mother Jenks." "I have asked Mother Jenks to dine with us at 7:30 this evening, and have ordered a carriage to call for her. When she comes I’ll tell her every thing; then, If she wishes to stay ashore. let her. She’s been through more than one such fracas and doesn’t mind them at all, I dare soy." And in this Webster was right Mother Jenks listened In profound si lence, nodding her approval, as Web ster related to her the story of the advent In the country of Iticardo Ruey and his plans, but without revealing the Identity of Andrew Bowers. At the conclusion of his recital the old publican merely said: "Gor* bli’ me I” After a silence she added: "My sainted 'Enery used to s’y the proper hodds for a white man In a bally row o’ this nature was 40 to 1. Gor’, but how my sainted ’Enery would henjoy bein’ ’ere this night to ’elp with the guns." She sighed. "How about a little bottle of wine to drink peace to your sainted Henry and luck to The Cause?" Webster sug gested. "That’s wot I calls talkin’," Mother Jenks responded promptly, and Web ster, gazing reflectively at the old lady’s beard, wondered why she had not been born a man. Dolores, fearful for her benefactor’s safety, urged Mother Jenks to accom pany them out aboard La Estrelllta, but the old dame Indignantly refused, and when pressed for a reason gave It with the utmost frankness: "They’ll be tykln* Sarros, an’ when they tyke 'lm they’ll back him ag’ln the same wall he backed my sainted 'Enery ariti your father against, my dear. I’ve a notion that your father’s son’ll let Mrs. Col. 'Enery Jenks come to the party.” CTO BE CONTINUED.) Improved Household Bell. Three different signal tones from an electric bell of ordinary appearance, calling the householder to the front, rear, or side door, are now made possi ble by the Ingenious device of an Ohio manufacturer. The two elec tromagnetic coils of the bell have separate armatures, one of which carries the bell clapper, while the other constitutes a boner.—Popular Mechanics Watch Your Kidneys! I That “bad back*’ if probably due to Ml weak kidneys. 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