Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

AMERICANS any future time, be found guilty of plot- ting against the welfare of the United States, this sum becomes immediately forfeit! ‘And further, each of the coast forts will hold, permanently, one regiment of United States Coast Artillery, supple- mented by whatever Guanaman troops may be desired by the colonel of that regiment! “And _ still further,” thundered Mr. Hemmett, who was enjoying himself hugely, ‘should the United States, on proof of Guanama’s continued good be- havior, decide to resell at cost certain of the naval vessels, it is agreed that they shall be officered and partially manned by Americans! Now holler yourselves hoarse,” he concluded, when the turmoil arose again, “and see what you make of it!” The odd thing is, perhaps, that when the tumult subsided, saner, chastened minds were in the ascendency. The terms were ratified! . Guanama had been spanked! And as foreheads were being mopped and smiling men were talking to scowling men, and hands were waving everywhere, Ferrata, president restored, hurried into the senate chamber, and Edward Hem- mett stretched. ‘““My job’s done here, Ferrata,” said simply. ‘‘ Take your chair!” he CHAPTER XX. AMERICANS AFTER ALL. ANP so the explosion in Guanama came to an end, and by evening most of the smoke had cleared away. People with too much on their minds had been leaving town all day; three steamers had cleared quite unexpectedly for Europe, laden down; trains for the north and south had been packed, too—yet now quiet was upon Puerto Carlo, and the residents were strolling down toward the plaza and the evening band concert just as usual, talking a little more animatedly, perhaps, AFTER ALL. 409 but otherwise moving along quite as they had moved these many years. From the terrace of the Hemmett home the owner and Steve Girton smoked and watched them silently. They had reached the stage of weary relaxation where conversation was distasteful; just now they listened thankfully to Edward the younger’s p~~**'e from the upper floor —smiled suddenly, and waved to Carmen and Mercedes, as they appeared at the window, two young women rather paler than usual and not so prolific in dimples, yet two who were recovering splendidly from a terrible experience. The danger was over. Guanama, ever ready for the psychological somersault, had executed a series of them this later afternoon, surrounding the house within five minutes after their return, cheering, hailing them as deliverers of Guanama, finally permitting the marine band to force its way through the howling thou- sands and, splitting the hot air with excited, gusty discord, to. serenade them! Just as they had always been, they were a lot of children, to be lured this way by a white stick of candy and back again by a striped one. In their lighter moments they were amusing; in their darker moods— Mr. Hemmett shook his head as he pondered and then rose to meet his father-in-law. Fernandez, too, was decidedly weary. Business men had been besieging him all day long, some furiously proposing a league of the righteous and blameless business element, others begging hyster- ically that he aid them in clearing away certain recent smudges on their reputa- tions. “You are national heroes again, Ed- ward,” he smiled. ‘You and Stephen!”’ “Circumstances have a way of taking the taste out of that job,” Mr. Hemmett said rather sourly. “I know, but—it was wonderful, nev- ertheless,”” murmured Fernandez. ‘ You gripped the whole thing so amazingly, you thrust through laws even before the sen- ators could catch their breath and MICLOOOK C©