Wolcott LeCléar Beard

“ It isn’t safe in the streets, with things as they are now. I wonder your people let you go out—but they didn’t know you were going to try, I suppose!”
“You are impertinent,” she replied, still more coldly, if possible, than before. “I much prefer to go home alone.”
WITHOUT more words she went on her way, her head held high, leaving him standing on the pavement, looking after her. She had but a few steps to go. Seeing that she had entered the Torrenegro house, Jack turned, with a sigh, and was about to retrace his steps, when old Mr. Grey laid a detaining hand on his arm. ”

“ Who is that gorgeous, brass-bound individual at the head of those three companies of infantry?”
The smile faded from Tom’s face, which went very white as he sprang to the window and looked out. “It’s the head of the police,” he said. “They’re after the only father I’ve ever known—General Torrenegro.”
For a moment there was a sympathetic hush. Then Jack offered what he hoped might be a crumb of consolation. “Maybe not,” he said. “If they were going after the old General, they’d hardly take those balks of timber with them, would they?”
“Yes. Of course they would. Our doors are very strong.” ”

“ Grey, with kindly force, stopped him.
“Don’ be foolish, lad,” he said. “It would do no good to any one fo’ you to run out theah an’ be gathahed in by the police. Is theah no back way outah these houses? No path by which a man can get from one to anothah? Use youah haid! Think!”
“These houses are set right on the edge of the little level plateau that holds this part of the city,” replied Tom sadly. “From the rear windows is a clear drop of nearly three hundred feet.”
“That’s true,” admitted Jack, rising, his face set and determined. “Yet I think I know of a path that may serve. Come and see.” ”

“ Grey, shaking his head pensively as he leaned back in his chair and rolled another cigarette.
“But listen—do listen for a moment!” implored poor Stowell. “Here we are, with a general election just coming on. Of course Henning, and all that opposition crowd back of him, don’t want us to get the concession we’re after. Then we’d be a power, here in the country, and they don’t want rivals. Also, the country is trembling on the verge of a civil war. Peralta, who wants to succeed himself as president, fears it may break out any minute. ”

“ It isn’t wise, Jack,, to hollah fo’ the opposition like that, while Peralta still holds the reins. But what was it you were sayin’ when the interruption came?”
“This. Peralta is determined to remain in power, and probably he’ll succeed. He’s a soldier. Prado isn’t, and neither is Eche verria. The only leader of military ability that the Pradists have is old General Torrenegro, and he’s done nothing, so far as any one can tell. He can’t; he’s too closely watched, and would be arrested instantly if he should try to leave Santa Maria.”
“Doubtless,” agreed old Mr. Grey. ”

“ Infantry officers shrieked commands. Some of them fell with these commands hardly spoken. But others took their places. Bayonets flashed and rattled as they were snapped in position, and with shouts of self-encouragement the infantry charged. ”

“ Their mother is the wife of old General Torrenegro. Married him when Helen and Tom were little bits of kids. Tom’s been out of the city since before we came. Where in blazes has that lid of mine got to? She mustn’t be out there in the street alone!”
He found the missing headgear as he spoke, and dashed from the room, followed, more sedately, by Mr. Grey. In a few strides Jack was close behind the girl. ”

“ The police know where Helen and Dad have gone, now, and there’ll be things doing. There are windows flanking the doors in this house, so we can lam the stuffing out of ’em if they try that timber-ramming stunt, but Dad’s afraid they’ll have brought a couple of guns by this time. ”