nter, "as we might yet be
languishing in the _cuartel_ except for the fact that I was able to
give so good an account of myself, I don't see that you have any
reasonable quarrel with my halo."

Rodman raised his brows.

"Oh, I never lost sight of the fact that you had some reason for the
saint role, and, as you say, I was in on the good results. But, now
that you are flitting northward, what's the idea of keeping your ears
stopped?"

"They are open," declared Mr. Saxon graciously; "you are at liberty to
tell me anything you like, but only what you like. I'm not thirsting
for criminal confessions."

"That's all right, but you--" Rodman broke off, and his lips twisted
into ironical good humor--"no, I apologize--I mean, a fellow who
looked remarkably like you used to be so deeply versed in
international politics that I think this new adventure would appeal to
you. Ever remember hearing of one Senor Miraflores?"

Saxon shook his head, whereupon Rodman laughed with great
sophistication. Carter had known Senor Miraflores quite well, and
Rodman knew that Carter had known him.

"Very consistent acting," he approved. "You're a good comedian. In the
Chinese theaters, they put flour on the comedian's nose to show that
he's not a tragedian, but you don't need the badge. You're all right.
You know how to get a laugh. But this isn't dramatic criticism. It's
wars and rumors of wars."

The adventurer drew a long puff from his cigarette, inhaled it deeply,
and stood idly watching the curls of outward-blown smoke hanging in
the hot air, before he went on.

"Well, Miraflores has once more been at the helm. Of course, in the
lower commissions of the _insurrecto_ organization, we have the usual
assortment of foreign officers, odds and ends, but the chief
difference between this enterprise and the other one--the one Carter
knew about--is the fact that we have some artillery, and that, when we
start things going, we can come pretty near battering down the old
town."

Rodman proceeded to sketch the outlines of the conspiracy. It was
much the stereotyped arrangement with a few variations. Two regiments
in the city barracks, suspected of disloyalty, had been practically
disarmed by the President, but these troops had been secretly rearmed
with a part of the guns brought in by Rodman, and would be ready to
rise at the signal, together with several other disaffected
commands--not for the government, but against it.

The mountain of