Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 37: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AMERICANS to the new President of Guanama and state the case and demand action; they did neither. For one thing, the latter job was Bar- ton’s exclusively; for another, the visit was like to prove a sheer waste of time. Deeper than any other man in Guanama, perhaps, in this gigantic plot, would be José Altara, president of the country. There had been much talk of fraud just after his election, and curiously enough it had been only talk. The papers, with a unanimity never before in evidence, had assured all Guanama that not a sin- gle doubtful vote for Altara had been cast; and the light of recent events was shining strongly on those papers this morning as Hemmett and Girton dis- cussed the situation. It might seem far-fetched, yet either would have been willing to bet a portion of his wealth that not a newspaper in the country was actually owned by a Gua- naman now! Carmen and the boy returned for luncheon, and it was a rather silent meal —the air surcharged with suspense, the lovely young Mrs. Hemmett asking questions with her eyes but not with her tongue; the boy prattling with the cheer- ful irresponsibility of the three-year-old, and for the first time since last evening drawing Hemmett’s attention from the crisis in Guanama’s affairs and those of the United States. He was a wonderful kid, that Edward, Jr.! Hemmett still affirmed the fact to Stephen Girton not less than four times daily. He had the brain-power of a savant; he made remarks which for sheer wit and wisdom probably excelled any other remarks since children have been! Toward three they wandered down to the American minister and found him in a distressed state. Barton had reported to Washington, and was still awaiting a reply. He had also, in a fit of energy, gone straight to Altara and, according to his own account, confronted him flatly and AFTER ALL, 379 ferociously with Guanama’s treachery. The upshot of the interview had been, apparently, that Altara had exclaimed in amazement, had denied all knowledge of anything of the kind, had assured the representative of the great United States that an instant investigation should be set afoot and the plotters shot as soon as they might be captured—and in the next breath had informed Barton unquali- fiedly that none would be found because none existed! Following this Altara had slapped his chest and delivered a short oration as to the eternal fidelity of Guanama to America—and when he left even John Barton had understood that Guanama’s president was lying at high speed. Evening was drawing near, and still no reply had come. Hemmett and Gir- ton, having tired of watching Barton bite his nails, of hearing him call up the cable- office to learn that no official message was on the wire, eventually walked back to their home. They were in for a quiet night, appar- ently; perhaps they were in for a quiet six months or a year. Outwardly, the international affairs of the United States were calm and pleasant, and trouble of this kind cannot be forced in a minute. Then, too, the eventual staggering move would mean troops, doubtless to be moved as quietly as possible from Europe to Guanama and thence north when the time came. True, they might mean to move di- rectly across the Atlantic, but—it was all a little way in the future. Having readjusted their minds to the trouble that was brewing, Hemmett and Girton were almost themselves again as they climbed the white steps to the Hemmett home. And then, leaving the state where it involved millions of human beings, the mystery centered suddenly on the house itself! Hemmett was even laughing when a shrill cry came from the direction of the garage, lately the prison of William Jones. He brought up short; he turned MICLOOOK C©