No," interrupted Kennedy. "I prefer to go with you unexpected. Put
down the telephone. Otherwise, I may as well notify my friend Inspector
O'Connor of the Central Office and go up with him."

Torreon let the receiver fall back in its socket, and I caught just a
glimpse of the look of hate and suspicion which crossed his face as he
turned toward Kennedy. When he spoke it was as suavely as if he himself
were the one who had planned this little excursion.

"It shall be as you wish," he said, leading the way out to the
cross-town surface cars.

Senora Mendez received us politely, and we were ushered into a large
music-room in her apartment. There were several people there already.
They were seated in easy chairs about the room.

One of the ladies was playing on the piano as we entered. It was a
curious composition--very rhythmic, with a peculiar thread of monotonous
melody running through it.

The playing ceased, and all eyes were fixed on us. Kennedy kept very
close to Torreon, apparently for the purpose of frustrating any attempt
at a whispered conversation with the senora.

The guests rose and with courtly politeness bowed as Senora Mendez
presented two friends of Senor Torreon, Senor Kennedy and Senor Jameson.
We were introduced in turn to Senor and Senora Alvardo, Senor Gonzales,
Senorita Reyes, and the player, Senora Barrios.

It was a peculiar situation, and for want of something better to say I
commented on the curious character of the music we had overheard as we
entered.

The senora smiled, and was about to speak when a servant entered,
bearing a tray full of little cups with a steaming liquid, and in a
silver dish some curious, round, brown, disc-like buttons, about an inch
in diameter and perhaps a quarter of an inch thick. Torreon motioned
frantically to the servant to withdraw, but Kennedy was too quick for
him. Interposing himself between Torreon and the servant, he made way
for her to enter.

"You were speaking of the music," replied Senora Mendez to me in rich,
full tones. "Yes, it is very curious. It is a song of the Kiowa Indians
of New Mexico which Senora Barrios has endeavoured to set to music so
that it can be rendered on the piano. Senora Barrios and myself fled
from Vespuccia to Mexico at the start of our revolution, and when the
Mexican government ordered us to leave on account of our political
activity we merely crossed the line to the United States, in New
Mexico. It was there that we r