of the Andes, and is
believed by the natives to be a charm against death. At some time I
shall be glad to show you a treatise on the plant written by an eminent
Spanish botanist. Its effect upon me is instantaneous and yet it might
serve you quite differently, as our sensitiveness to these reactions of
the olfactory nerve are largely idiosyncratic. Let me tap your upper lip
with the cork--ah!"

There was nothing more repulsive to Archie than perfumes and he
impatiently jerked his head away. The odor proved, however, to be
exceedingly delicate and not the miserable chemical concoction he
dreaded. But he was not to be thwarted in his purpose to learn just what
the Governor meant by endangering their security so recklessly. He
slammed the transom tight and drew down the shades.

"Well?" he demanded sharply.

"It is evident," remarked the Governor good-humoredly, "that you do not
react to the soothing influences of the _rosa alta_. You seem perturbed,
anxious, with slight symptoms of _paralysis agitans_. Pray be seated and
I will do my best to restore your peace of mind."

"You needlessly exposed yourself to observation by sneaking down the
fire escape of this hotel--I know that!"

"My dear boy, I was merely gathering a few blossoms of the crimson
rambler from the ancient walls of the inn. You may have noted that I
wore a spray of buds in my lapel when I joined you in the ball room."

"You had no right to plunder the house without warning me! I don't
relish the idea of being jailed for your foolishness. And those people
were mighty decent to us! If they knew we were two crooks--!"

"They merely yielded to our charms! They feel themselves honored by our
acquaintance! Now seat yourself on the bed and I'll tell you the whole
story. When I left you I hastened into the village, bought a stick of
shaving soap in a drug store and a few cigars in a tobacconist's. In
each place I conversed with the clerk, thus laying ample ground for an
alibi. Hurrying back to the inn I avoided observation by entering by the
side door, skipped up to our rooms--and there you are! I did run a
chance, of course, in climbing down the ladder, but all's well that ends
well. I exchanged our new bank notes for sixty well-worn
one-thousand-dollar gold certificates negotiable in all parts of the
republic. That means a net gain in the Red Leary trust fund of ten
thousand dollars. Seebrook had the stuff in the collar tray of his
trunk. As the trunk was