am all he has。 And there is this besides。 Were I to marry； of all the
men in the world it would be harder for him if I married you。 For if
you succeed in what you came here to do； the law will punish him；
and he will know it was through you he was punished。 And even
between you and me there always would be that knowledge； that
feeling。〃
〃That is not fair；〃 cried Everett。 〃I am not an individual fighting
less fortunate individuals。 I am an insignificant wheel in a great
machine。 You must not blame me because I…〃
With an exclamation the girl reproached him。
〃Because you do your duty！〃 she protested。 〃Is that fair to me？
If for my sake or my brother you failed in your duty； if you were
less vigilant； less eager； even though we suffer； I could not
love you。〃
Everett sighed happily。
〃As long as you love me；〃 he said； 〃neither your brother nor any
one else can keep us apart。〃
〃My brother；〃 said the girl； as though she were pronouncing a
sentence； 〃always will keep us apart； and I will always love
you。〃
It was a week before he again saw her； and then the feeling he
had read in her eyes was goneor rigorously concealed。 Now her
manner was that of a friend； of a young girl addressing a man
older than herself； one to whom she looked up with respect and
liking； but with no sign of any feeling deeper or more intimate。
It upset Everett completely。 When he pleaded with her； she asked：
〃Do you think it is easy for me？ But〃 she protested； 〃I know I
am doing right。 I am doing it to make you happy。〃
〃You are succeeding；〃 Everett assured her； 〃in making us both
damned miserable。〃
For Everett； in the second month of his stay in Amapala； events
began to move quickly。 Following the example of two of his
predecessors； the Secretary of State of the United States was
about to make a grand tour of Central America。 He came on a
mission of peace and brotherly love； to foster confidence and
good…will； and it was secretly hoped that； in the wake of his
escort of battle…ships； trade would follow fast。 There would
be salutes and visits of ceremony； speeches； banquets； reviews。
But in these rejoicings Amapala would have no part。
For； so Everett was informed by cable； unless； previous to the
visit of the Secretary； Amapala fell into line with her sister
republics and signed a treaty of extradition； from the itinerary
of the great man Amapala would find herself pointedly excluded。
It would be a humiliation。 In the eyes of her sister republics it
would place her outside the pale。 Everett saw that in his hands
his friend the Secretary had placed a powerful weapon； and lost
no time in using it。 He caught the President alone； sitting late at
his dinner； surrounded by bottles； and read to him the Secretary's
ultimatum。 General Mendoza did not at once surrender。 Before he
threw over the men who fed him the golden eggs that made him rich；
and for whom he had sworn never to violate the right of sanctuary；
he first； for fully half an hour； raged and swore。 During that time；
while Everett sat anxiously expectant； the President paced and
repaced the length of the dining…hall。 When to relight his cigar；
or to gulp brandy from a tumbler； he halted at the table； his great
bulk loomed large in the flickering candle…flames； and when he
continued his march； he would disappear into the shadows； and
only his scabbard clanking on the stone floor told of his presence。
At last he halted and shrugged his shoulders so that the tassels of
his epaulets tossed like wheat。
〃You drive a hard bargain； sir；〃 he said。 〃And I have no choice。
To…morrow bring the treaty and I will sign。〃
Everett at once produced it and a fountain pen。
〃I should like to cable to…night；〃 he urged； 〃that you have signed。
They are holding back the public announcement of the Secretary's
route until hearing from Your Excellency。 This is only tentative；〃
he pointed out； 〃the Senate must ratify。 But our Senate will ratify
it； and when you sign now； it is a thing accomplished。〃
Over the place at which Everett pointed； the pen scratched harshly；
and then； throwing it from him； the President sat in silence。 With
eyes inflamed by anger and brandy he regarded the treaty venomously。
As though loath to let it go； his hands played with it； as a cat plays
with the mouse between her paws。 Watching him breathlessly；
Everett feared the end was not yet。 He felt a depressing premonition
that if ever the treaty were to reach Washington he best had snatch it
and run。 Even as he waited； the end came。 An orderly； appearing
suddenly in the light of the candles； announced the arrival； in the
room adjoining； of 〃the Colonel Goddard and Senor Mellen。〃 They
desired an immediate audience。 Their business with the President
was most urgent。 Whether from Washington their agents had warned
them； whether in Camaguay they had deciphered the cablegram from
the State Department； Everett could only guess； but he was certain the
cause of their visit was the treaty。 That Mendoza also believed this
was most evident。
Into the darkness； from which the two exiles might emerge； he
peered guiltily。 With an oath he tore the treaty in half。 Crushing
the pieces of paper into a ball； he threw it at Everett's feet。 His
voice rose to a shriek。 It was apparent he intended his words to
carry to the men outside。 Like an actor on a stage he waved his
arms。
〃That is my answer！〃 he shouted。 〃Tell your Secretary the choice
he offers is an insult！ It is blackmail。 We will not sign his treaty。
We do not desire his visit to our country。〃 Thrilled by his own
bravado； his voice rose higher。 〃Nor；〃 he shouted； 〃do we desire
the presence of his representative。 Your usefulness is at an end。
You will receive your passports in the morning。〃
As he might discharge a cook； he waved Everett away。 His hand；
trembling with excitement； closed around the neck of the brandy…
bottle。 Everett stooped and secured the treaty。 On his return to
Washington； torn and rumpled as it was； it would be his
justification。 It was his 〃Exhibit A。〃
As he approached the legation he saw drawn up in front of it three
ponies ready saddled。 For an instant he wondered if Mendoza
intended further to insult him； if he planned that night to send
him under guard to the coast。 He determined hotly sooner than
submit to such an indignity he would fortify the legation； and
defend himself。 But no such heroics were required of him。 As he
reached the door； Garland； with an exclamation of relief； hailed
him； and Monica； stepping from the shadow； laid an appealing
hand upon his sleeve。
〃My brother！〃 she exclaimed。 〃The guard at Cobre has just sent
word that they found Peabody prowling in the ruins and fired on
him。 He fired back； and he is still there hiding。 My brother and
others have gone to take him。 I don't know what may happen if he
resists。 Chester is armed； and he is furious； he is beside himself；
he would not listen to me。 But he must listen to you。 Will you
go；〃 the girl begged； 〃and speak to him； speak to him； I mean；〃
she added； 〃as the American minister？〃
Everett already had his foot in the stirrup。 〃I'm the American minister
only until to…morrow；〃 he said。 〃I've got my walking…papers。 But I'll
do all I can to stop this to…night。 Garland；〃 he asked； 〃will you take
Miss Ward home； and then follow me？〃
〃If I do not go with you；〃 said Monica； 〃I will go alone。〃
Her tone was final。 With a clatter of hoofs that woke alarmed
echoes in the sleeping streets the three horses galloped abreast
toward Cobre。 In an hour they left the main trail and at a walk
picked their way to where the blocks of stone； broken columns；
and crumbling temples of the half…buried city checked the jungle。
The moon made it possible to move in safety； and at different
distances the lights of torches told them the man…hunt still was
in progress。
〃Thank God；〃 breathed Monica； 〃we are in time。〃
Everett gave the ponies in care of one of the guards。 He turned
to Garland。
〃Catch up with those lights ahead of us；〃 he said； 〃and we will
join this party to the right。 If you find Ward； tell him I forbid
him taking the law into his own hands； tell him I will protect
his interests。 If you meet Peabody； make him give up his gun；
and see that the others don't harm him！〃
Everett and the girl did not overtake the lights they had seen
flashing below them。 Before they were within hailing distance；
that searching party had disappeared； and still farther away
other torches beckoned。
Stumbling and falling； now in pursuit of one will…o'…the…wisp；
now of another； they scrambled forward。 But always the lights
eluded them。 From their exertions and the moist heat they were
breathless； and their bodies dripped with water。 Panting； they
halted at the entrance of what once had been a tomb。 From its
black interior came a damp mist； above them； alarmed by their
intrusion； the vampire bats whirled blindly in circles。 Monica；
who by day possessed some slight knowledge of the ruins； had；
in the moonlight； lost all sense of direction。
〃We're lost；〃 said Monica； in a low tone。 Unconsciously both were
speaking in whispers。 〃I thought we were following what used to
be the main thoroughfare of the city； but I have never seen this place
before。 From what I have read I think we must be among the tombs
of the kings。〃
She was silenced by Everett placing one hand quickly on her arm；
and with the other pointing。 In the uncertain moonlight she saw
moving cautiously away from them； and unconscious of their
presence； a white； ghostlike figure。
〃Peabody；〃 whispered Everett。
〃Call him；〃 commanded Monica。
〃The others might hear；〃 objected Everett。 〃We must overtake him。
If we're with him when they meet； they wouldn't dare〃
With a gasp of astonishment； his words ceased。
Like a ghost； the ghostlike figure had vanished。
〃He walked through that rock！〃 cried Monica。
Everett caught her by the wrist。 〃Come！〃 he commanded。
Over the face of the rock； into which Peabody had dived as into
water； hung a curtain of vines。 Everett tore it apart。 Concealed
by the vines was the narrow mouth to a tunnel； and