enior Dictator. If you will permit me--"

He walked to his desk, unlocked a drawer, and drew forth a parchment,
which he tossed across to the Irishman. "It is my commission as
governor. Allow me to place it in your hands and put myself at the
service of the new administration."

"If you will kindly write notes, I will send a messenger to General
Carlo and another to Colonel Gabilonda requesting their attendance. I
think affairs may be quickly arranged."

"You are irresistible, senor. I hasten to obey."

Megales sat down and wrote two notes, which he turned over to
O'Halloran. The latter read them, saw them officially sealed, and
dispatched them to their destinations.

When Gabilonda was announced, General Carlo followed almost at his
heels. The latter glanced in surprise at O'Halloran.

"Where did you catch him, excellency?" he asked.

"I did not catch him. He has caught me, and, incidentally, you,
general," answered the sardonic Megales.

"In short, general," laughed the big Irishman, "the game is up."

"But the army--You haven't surrendered without a fight?"

"That is precisely what I have done. Cast your eye over that paper,
general, and then tell me of what use the army would be to us. Half the
officers are with the enemy, among them the patriotic Colonel Onate,
whom you see present. A resistance would be futile, and would only
result in useless bloodshed."

"I don't believe it," returned Carlo bluntly.

"Seeing is believing, general," returned O'Halloran, and he gave a
little nod to Onate.

The colonel left the room, and two or three minutes later a bell began
to toll.

"What does that mean?" asked Carlo.

"The call to arms, general. It means that the old regime is at an end in
Chihuahua. VIVA VALDEZ."

"Not without a struggle," cried the general, rushing out of the room.

O'Halloran laughed. "I'm afraid he will not be able to give the
countersign to Garcia. In the meantime, excellency, pending his return,
I would suggest that you notify Colonel Gabilonda to turn over the
prison to us without resistance."

"You hear your new dictator, colonel," said Megales.

"Pardon me, your excellency, but a written order--"

"Would relieve you of responsibility. So it would. I write once more."

He was interrupted as he wrote by a great shout from the plaza. "VIVA
VALDEZ!" came clearly across the night air, and presently another that
stole the color from the cheek of Megales.

"Death to the tyrant! De