AN UNWARRANTABLE INTERFERENCE.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 88, 30 January 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

AN UNWARRANTABLE INTERFERENCE.

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(Concluded). It was then a brilliant inspiration struck Jack, The name of the street had sounded familiar to him, and all at once he remembered why. * The British Consulate!' he exclaimed. "Itis in tho Chile Mayor is it not %Do you know it. Diego !' Diego did: it was (ho said) on the other side of the street, not far from the Plaza. ' Can we reach it in safety?' He thought so. ' L3t us go, then!' urged Jack. ' They will give us a shaker there. The Consul is a good friend of mine even if it weren't his duty.' He appealed eagerly to Dolores. ! You must be tired : and I am suro Mrs Chalmers will be only too glad to take care of yon for the night.' 'lt must be a 3 you please, Senor Thorold,' said Dolores. 'lt is very foolish of rue, but I do feel a little faint.' • Well, this settles it!—On you go, Diego !' So they turned their backs on the combatants, and moved boldly along the Calle Mayor in the direction of tho Plaza. Albeit they met not a soul, Jack did not breathe freely until he beheld the familiar escutcheon, with the royal arms of his country upon it, and was hammering with right good-will upon the iron gate of the Consulate. Like all Spanish-American houses of the better class, it was built round an interior courtyard; and it seemed an age before his clamour made an impression on the inmates, and he heard somebody moving behind the gate. Then a little grating was pulled back, and a voice demanded "/bo was there. . Jack recognised it joyfully. *ls that you, Chalmers 1' he cried. ' Open the door —it is I, Jack Thorold !' •Jack Thorold! What in the'- • Never mind that 1 Quick, man —.unless you want us to be shot in cold blood on your doorstep V. •A second !' There is a clatter of bolt3i and at last the gate was opened wide enough to admit them. Jack with Dolores on bis arm, was about to pass in, when he noticed that the other member of the party had disappeared. 'Hullo! where is Diego f he asked. • Gone to take his share in the fighting, I think,' said Dolores, in the most matter-of-fact tone. Mr Chalmers was a middle-aged Scotsman, with the national gift of caution. He barred tho gate behind them and without a word led the way across tho patio and along the veranda to his dining room, where be glanced from ono to tho other with such a comical look that Jack could scarcely forbear to laugh. Instead, he made haste to introduce his companion. ' And if it had not been for thi3 lady,' he said, ' I should have been nhot to-morrow morning by General Ferreira, and you would have had an international complication to unravel. If Mrs Chalmers is anywhere about' „ . • I will go for her,' said the Consul after he had bidden them welcome with Scotch heartiness. Sho 'returned with him in a few minutes: and when she saw how tired-out and weak the girl was—the men, of course, had hardly noticed it—insisted upon carrying her off at once. Then Jack, having hnd some supper, had his story to tell; and told it, now that all had ended well, with much humorous comment. Mrs Chalmers came back just as he had finished. ' How is she V he asked. ' Only exhausted with the fatigue and the excitement. And no wonder: she has been on her feet all day, in the service of a certain young gentleman. She is fast asleep already.' «She is a girl of remarkably good sense,' remarked Jack, suppressing a yawn. 'And, with your premission, I shall go to bed also.' He did so, and was not prevented by the continual rattle of riflp-tire from sleeping soundly. And when he came down to breakfast next morning, somewhat late, he looked round in vain for Dolores. ' Your friend went off very early,' explained Mrs Chalmers, observing his disappointment, ' Yes : she bad quite recovered. We found hor servant sleeping in the gateway this morning, and sent her off under his protection. Don't blame me, Mr Thorld ; she would go. She is staying just beyond the city, and was anxious for news about young Tovar,' Jack pulled a wry face. ' That beggar seems to have all the luck,' ho lamented. 'ls it so bad V laughed Mrs Chalmers. ' Well, here's consolation for you : she hoped you wouldn't leave San Estevan without seeing her again.' V * I don't mean to,' said Jack. Breakfast over, the Consul asked him what he intended to do with himself. The streets were not exactly safe for a foreigner; during thf' night, the insurgents had driven the garrison back to the Plaza ; and although they had melted away with daylight, things were naturally in a somewhat oltuotic condition,

1 1 was thinking of paying Ferreira a morning call,' said Jack. ' I have that apology to got, you know. Chalmers stared at him. ' Hon-' estly V ho said. ' Why not V ' But is it wise V ' That's your business, old man, grinned Jack. ' What's the use of a Consul, if he can't protect his countrymen from arrest and all sorts of insult 1 Tell me that!' ' Maybe you're right about going, though,' said Chalmers, on duo con sidcration. 'lf you're determined to stay in the city ' ■ ' I've got to see "this affair through.' ' In that case, better settle with Ferreira at once. But we'll do it in order. I'll write asking him for an official interview on important business, and in the meanwhile I have a telegram or two to send off—in case of trouble.' Ferreira's reply, which gave Jack some wicked amusement, wa3 that he would be delighted to receive Mr Chalmers in the afternoon. After lunch, accordingly, they walked along to the Plaza to make the visit. The usual number of soldiers was loitering about, and Jack imagined that some of them regarded him rather closely ; but they were ushered without interference and without delay into the presence of the Governor, Ho was in the old room; and, as before, Senor Elias was with him. 'Good-day, gentlemen,' said Jack softly, ' You V Ferreira leaped to his feet, red in the face with many conflicting emotions, his hand seeking his sword ; Elias simply stared at him in utter surprise. ' At your service. I have come for your apology.' It was amusing to watch the changes on the General's countenance—doubt, perplexity, rage, showed themselves in rapid succession, until finally the last predominated, and his hand moved towards a hell which stood on the table, ' Pardon me,' interposed Chalmers, coming forward. ' I should advise you to do nothing ra3h, General, This gentleman, who has a complaint against you for unjustifiable arrest, is a guest and friend of mine, and a British subject—Mr John Thorold, Secretary to Her Majesty's Legation to these republics.' Ferreira did not seem to understand. 'But Tovar? I do not doubt you, senor ; but' • I have nothing whatever to do with Tovar,' said Jack. ' Probably, owing to your stupid mistake, he is already in command of the revolutionary army.' 'And you V the Governor burst out, glaring at him. ' If you are not Tovar, you are an accomplice : you have friends amongst the rebels, who helped you to break out of prison : that you cannot deny, and as long as I have power in the city ' — Again Chalmers interposed. ' Permit me to remind you of my statement,' he said, with an assumption of dignity. ' For the rest, I telegraphed my facts this morning to Sir Ralph Petre, our Minister at Salvatierra, and asked him to take bteps for the protection of British interests. I have just received the reply that Her Majasty's gunboat Wasp, at present lying at New Salvatierra, will arrive off Sampacho to-morrow evening. And in these circumstances,' he added, ' 1 hope that the unfortunate matter will end in this room.' Elias plainly agreed with him; but Ferreira tramped to and fro for a little before realising that, whether he liked it or not, he must apologise to his late prisoner. Doubtless, it was a bitter pill to swallow, for he was a man of a quick and imperious temper. It is bare justice to say that he did it handsomely, and as if he meant every word ; and that, besides promising to send Jack's belongings to the Consulate, he ' went one better' by volunteering to give him a safe—conduct—to prevent, as he put it, any inconvenience from keen-eyed soldiers during his stay. And so the incident closed, on Jack's part with satisfaction, and on the other with a capital pretence of courtesy and good will. As they were leaving, a dnsty and travel-stained orderly brushed rudely past them on the stairs, making for the Governor's room. Outside, in the Plaza and the Calle Mayor, groups of soldiers had drawn together in significant confabulation; and from one of them Chalmers learned that an important despatch had arrived from the front, but of what nature the man would (or could) not say. There were, as we know, other channels of information in San Estevan than the official one. And, later in the afternoon, the rumour ran round the town —and was generally accepted—that in a skirmish on the previous evening between the opposing forces the famous Gatling guns had been captured by the Tovarites. ' If it's true,' said the Consul, ' we may expect to see them in the capital within the week. Events moved fast during the next three days. First, the rebel citizens having taught Ferreira a lesson, essayed a midnight attack upon the castle, and met with so little opposition from the complaisant Governor that they captured it. Then waxing bolder with success, they practically confined the authoritiea to the centre of the town,

Hour by hour the prospects of the revolution brightened. Good news came from the seat of war- Juan Tovar had taken command ; all jealousies were allayed ; the army was confident of victory. At-length on the third day, authentic intelligence was received of a decisive battle—so decisive that Melgarojo's force had ptactbalh ceased to exist, while he himself had fallen on the field. AnJ, as the result, General Ferreira and a choice body of kindred spirits—all thoso who for divers reasons dared not wait the sequol—betook themselves in some haste to Sampacho by rail, and there sought refuge onboard H.M gunboat Wash ! For by such strokes of irony does Destiny amuse herself. Jack 'Choroid's sole regret in the meanwhile was that he had seen no more of his fair preserver. On the fourth morning, hearing that Juan Tovar had arrived during the night amid the acclamations of the multitude, and taken up his residence in the National Palace, he determined to make some inquiries He was saved the necessity, however, by the receipt of a note from Tovar, inviting him, with many polite expresssions, to lunch. He went of course ; and the first person he recognised when he entered the room, conspicuous in the midst of a dozen others, was Dolores in person. The faces of two men were also familiar, One except for a lighter complexion, bore a remarkable likeness to the English speaking Indian of Sampacho ; and the other, the central figure of the group, was—is the intelligent reader has already guessed—one and the same with Senor Valdez, his fellowpassenger on the Idaho. Now he was resplendent in a general's uniform; and although there were points of resemblance between them in build and general feature, nobody seeing thorn together, would have confused them for a moment. L'he mistake of Ferreira and his underlings was not unnatural, for of course they had never seen the real Tovar in manhood. Evidently Jack's story was known for nothing could exceed the warmth of welcome with which ha was received by Juan and Dolores, and the others to whom he was introduced. Then Tovar drew him aside. ' I really dont know how I am to thank you, Mr Thorold,' ho said ' If it hadn't been for you, I shouldn't have been here to-day—perhaps my fate would have been that of my father. Thinking of it. I wonder if it wasn't Providence which put it in your head to land at Sampacho.' ' Areyou not placing it too high V asked Jack. ' besides, for myself, I was only a passive instrument,' 1 But that does not absolve me from gratitude. First and last, you have been my good angel. You remember our talk on the Idaho ? Well, I confided in the captain, and he landed me at a little creek about two miles below the port. I got to the rendezvous just as my friends, certain that I was a prisoner, had completed arrangements for a rescue. I had some trouble too, in convincing them of rry identity : none of them had met rac for years. Of course your capture made our path smoother, To tell the truth, Mr Thorold, I didn't bother too much about you, for I thought you were sure to be liberated at San Estevan. You know already how we travelled with you as far as the plain disguised as Indians, and how the quick temper of our friend almost caused a conflict. We reached the army late that night; and the next day our spies discovered that Melgarejo's force was in a state of immense jubilation over your capture. We took advantage of the fact to surprise them—the capture of the coveted Gatlings was the result. Thanks to the spirit of my men, the rest was easy. —Now, please Heaven,' he concluded earnestly, ' we shall open a brighter page in the country's history, and you will believe me, Mr Thorold, that I at least will never forget your part in bringing it about.' They shook hands upon it. ' Nor I,' said Jack—' and that for more reasons than the obvious.' ' Your imprisonment, for one V suggested Juan, ' My sister Dolores has told me the whole story. Well we must try to make it up to you while you remain here.' He slipped his arm through Jack's. ' And now for lunch!' he cried gaily. Jack did not hear : bis brain was in a whirl over the strange revelation. ' Dolores —your sister!' be managed to gasp at last, 'But 1 thought' ' Why, of course she is !' said Tovar, laughing heartily at his amazement. ' And for proof.— Dolores,' be called to her, 'come here and convince Mr Thorold that I am not an impostor.' Dolores came forward, blushing very prettily. ' Will you forgive nicT she entreated. ' Dolores Alvarado is the name I have used since I returned to San Estevan, and you are partly to blame for the deception yourself. You were so ready, you know, to imagine—something. And perhaps there was another reason,' she said, reddening again. ' May I ask it I ?'' She looked up smilingly. ' What if 1 did not wish you to spoil your chances ot escape by making love to me, Mr Thorold V she answered. 'Then I will only forgive you on one condition.' • Yes V i That the restriction is removed,'

said Jack as they went into luncheon. That it was removed seems to be proved by the fact that, some two, months later, on the day on which Juan Tovar was chosen President of San Estevan by the unanimous vote of the National Convention, his sister was married in the cathedra". of the capital to Mr John Thorold, of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service, And Sir Ralph Petre, who was present, said not a word about his subordinate's unwarrantable and effective interference in the affairs of a friendly State. [The Exd]