Nina Wilcox Putnam

“ Even a bunch of sleepy dagos will wake up when they find a gagged and bound sentry outside the comandante's office, and the plan of the harbor defenses gone. No, I won't hush! There's no one near enough to hear, and it gives me a tremendous sense of satisfaction, talking about it under their very noses. By God! What's that? They've wakened up!”
An undersized man in the uniform of a Spanish private, his head uncovered and presenting a very disheveled appearance, had entered unobtrusively and was whispering in the comandante's ear. ”

“ Her eyes were fixed upon Ripley with quick apprehension. “Do you understand that you will accomplish nothing by giving us up, except the death of two men who are more than willing to die in the service of their country? Señorita, I appeal to you—we are in your hands. We have been guests in your house to-night. Will you help us?”
Naomi stood rigidly, staring still at Ripley, who had thrown back his thin poncho, and was examining a pair of pistols which he took singly from his belt. ”

“ No names: above all, not your uncle's,” said the big man warningly.
“By Jove, but that witch of a woman dances well! She's enough to drive a man mad. Aren't you sorry you can't speak Spanish, Ripley? She's makin' a dead set for you.”
The memory of a trim, quiet girl who had bidden him a dignified, properly controlled farewell in a Boston drawing-room came to the other, and he answered sharply.
“No.”
“If that wonderful creature would only stop her performance, we could get away,” said Haskell softly. “I'd like to get out of this with a whole skin, if possible, myself. ”

“ Evidently the man for some reason did not wish to elucidate, but Naomi had met men of mystery before; many came and went unquestioned at her house. She changed the subject.
“Drink, señor,” she said. “The wine is good and abundant; make the house your own.”
And then, without a murmur of resistance or a single backward glance at her silent visitor, she permitted herself to be led away by the comandante. ”

“ It's the only thing to do.”
The comandante was whispering to Naomi.
“I go, most beautiful, but will return,” said he, with a languishing glance from his beady eyes. “Send these cackling geese away, and let me find the patio dark. I will return in an hour!”
“My cherub, may the saints protect you!” said Naomi; but under her breath she sped him with other guardianship.
“That overfed general is coming back here, Heaven knows how soon,” Haskell managed to whisper to Ripley. “Look here, old man, you'll have to cut him out and get the girl to help us; otherwise we are done for. ”

“ Naomi was dismissing her guests. To go out with them would be dangerous; already one or two suspicious eyes were turned upon the strangers. In another moment they might be challenged. Now or never was the time to act. Without consulting Ripley further, Haskell darted to Naomi's side and whispered in her ear. ”

“ In the center of the floor, Anita the Little was languidly singing a curious Oriental air, half waltz, half machiche; and two young men in the Cuban conception of evening dress sat cross-legged on the floor before her and marked time with the hollowed palms of their hands. Gathered about a large table, a noisy group of people sat eating sweet stuffs and drinking a pink liquid from tall thin glasses ”

“ How strange for any one to love a book—a book! Though not so strange in him!”
And she shuddered for an instant and closed her eyes. Then she opened the little volume at random and began to read, standing where she had picked it up, and straining her eyes to see whatever it could be about.
And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into a harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there. ”