Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AMERICANS the United States a pretty low-down trick and he wanted to feel that he was doing what he could to undo the work. If the poor devil had lasted another hour, I’d have had information enough to stand our unfortunate little country up on edge. He didn’t. “He had given me the main facts and had informed me that the best part of the navy and three-fourths of the poli- ticians had been corrupted with large sums of real money, and he was just ebout to give me some names when—he was called to the other world. ‘‘ But it’s all true, and it all fits in with a dozen things I’ve been observing this last week or two. The whole country is honeycombed with bribery; the new navy isn’t Guanama’s at all! And the National Engine Works, out there on the point, gentlemen, is—”’ “Ves, I’ve heard about that—lI’ve heard about that,” Barton said, rising with growing agitation. “I shall act, of course. I shall act at once.’ ‘“‘ How?” Girton asked crisply. “ By reporting every detail to Wash- ington in code immediately and signifying that the matter is urgent and needs instant action!’ the American minister pursued with commendable force as he moved toward the door. “I was—er— wrong, Mr. Girton, in doubting your statements, apparently. Even now I cannot quite believe—but I will act at once.’ He departed quickly. Cortera shrugged his shoulders. ““T wish I could have kept the poor wretch this side of the Styx for another hour or two,” he said. ‘‘ Doesn’t it beat the devil—what any one with money can put across in Guanama? “Ten dollars, and our plain citizen will swear himself to eternal secrecy; fifty, and he’ll murder his own brother; a hundred, and he’ll hand you a mortgage on his eternal soul. Sometimes I think the whole lower class here are like a lot of defective children and—” “Well, the cure for that sort of AFTER ALL. 375 defectiveness is spanking!” Hemmett snapped with excusable savagery. ‘“* You are not going?” ‘There is a gentleman down at the hospital who is expecting me,” said Cor- tera. “‘ He must be under the ether by this time, but I had to drop in and tell you first. You, yourselves—what are you going to do about it? You're not the kind to sit passively and watch this kind of muddle?” “We're going to do whatever we can do,” replied Girton. ‘If Barton has waked up and rouses Washington, per- haps we’ll have nothing to do. Good-by, old man, and thanks.” Cortera, too, hurried away. For a little time Hemmett and Girton sat and threshed the matter out, to the general end that there was really nothing to do until word had come from Washington. They were, apparently, beginning the circle again when the telephone bell rang violently. ‘“ Barton!”’ said the voice at the other end. “Is that you, Mr. Girton? It is? Do you know a man named Jones, sir— William Jones?”’ “Eh? I’ve met him—yes.”’ ‘Who is he?” ‘“T give it up. Why?” ‘Jones, sir,” said the American min- ister, and his voice trembled—“ Jones came into this office, Mr. Girton, sat on the edge of my desk, laughed in my face, sir, and ordered me—ordered me, Mr. Girton!—to send no report whatever to Washington!” ce And—”’ “IT told him to go to blazes, sir, and he laughed again and—and threatened me. He informed me in so many words, Mr. Girton, that my personal welfare would be promoted by keeping complete silence! ”’ 6 And—?’”’ “ Then he blew some smoke in my face, sir, and left! I thought it best to advise you. I’m preparing my report at this minute.” “Go to it, old man!” chuckled the re- comicloool C©