Show ISonage Elf Noli? A Little Business Romance ' (Copyright by Ainalee knew e where Dicky Maloney hailed from or how he Puerto reached Rey He appeared there one day and that was all He said afterward that he came on the frul steamer Thor bjjt an In spectlon of the Thor's passenger list of that date have found would It to he Maloney-leshowever soon perCuriosity ished and Dicky took his place among the heterogeneous litter of the coast— the stranded adventurers refugees and odd fish from other countries that line the shore of the Caribbean He was an active rollicking fellow with an engaging gray eye the most Irresistible grin a comrather dark or much plexion and a head of the fieriest red hair ever seen In that country Speaking the Spanish language as well as he spoke English and seeming always to have plenty of silver In his pockets It was not long before he was a welcome companion both with the natives and the resident foreigners He developed an extreme fondness for vino blancho could drink more of It than any three men In the port and to meet Dicky Maloney’s brilliant head and ’smile coming down the street meant to any of his acquaintances the consumption of from one to three bottles of strong white wine Everybody called him Dicky everybody cheered up at sight of him— especially the natives to whom his marvelous ruddy hair and his free and easy style were a constant delight and envy amount of speculaA considerable tion still existed concerning the object of his stay In Puerto Hey hut one day be silenced this by opening a small shop for the sale of cigars dulces and the handiwork of the Interior Indians — fiber and silk woven goods deerskin zapatos and of tule reeds Even then he did not change his habits for he was drinking and playing cards half the day and night with the comandante the collector of the port the Jefe Politico and other gay dogs among the native officials The care of the shop And now It he left entirely to Pasa is both desirable and fitting to make forshe was Pasa’s acquaintance Dicky’s Digression La Madama Tlmotea Buencamlnos y Salazar de las Ygleslas kept a rum No disshop in Calle numero ocho Is a grace mind you for government monopoly and to keep a government dispensary assures respectability If not superemlnence Moreover the saddest of precisians could find no fault with the conduct of the shop Customers drank there In the lowest of spirits and fearsome-las In the shadow of the dead for la madama’s ancient but vaunted lineage counteracted even the rum’s behest to For was she not of the be joyful Ygleslas who landed with Ptzarro? husband not And had her deceased been Comlslonado de Camlnos y Puentes for the district? In the next room seated In the cane a rocking-chaidreamily strumming guitar could generally be found her daughter Pasa— "La Sanlta the young men had named her Navanjada Is the Spanish word for a certain shade of color that you must trouble to describe In to more go By saying: “The little saint tinted the most will apyou proximate the description of Dona Pasa Buencamlnos y Salazar de las actly Ygleslas That Dicky Maloney would sooner or later explore this field was a thing to be foreseen There were few doors In Puerto Rey his red head had not been poked Into He saw Pasa one afternoon sitting by the door with an unusually saintly look upon her face Dicky rushed off to find one of the white’ duck wallflowers to present him In an Increditime was be seated close bebly short There side the cane were no poses with Dicky At close range was his To carry the theory of subjection fortress with one concentrated ardent escalade — that eloquent irresistible was Dicky’s way Pasa was descended from the proudest Spanish families in the country Moreover she had had unusual adTwo years In a New Orvantages leans school had elevated her ambitions and fitted her for a fate above of her native the ordinary maidens And yet here she sucpumbed to land the first redbatred scamp with a glib a and charming smile that tongue came along and courted her properly For very soon Dicky took her quietly to the little church next to the Teatro Naclonal and then to his little shop In the street where customers seldom troubled him And It was her fate to sit with her patient saintlike s bisque figure ly eyes and Psyche behind its sequestered counter while Dicky drank and philandered with his frivolous acquaintances Sometimes pened While at the Banana Trade By O HENRY OBODY ) o! things mysterious Dicky’s night about hap- shop the front of It was dark In the little room back of It Dicky and a few of his friends would Git about a table carrying on some kind of very Slagaxiue Co) quiet negoclos until quite late Finally he would let them out the front door very carefully and go upstairs to his little saint These visitors were with men generally conspirator-likdark clothes and hats Of course these dark doings were noticed after a while and talked about number of letters arrived Quite addressed to “Mr Dicky Maloney” or to the con“Senor Dlckee Maloney” siderable pride of Pasa That so many pepple should desire to write to him only confirmed her own suspicion that the light from his red head shone As to their conaround the world There tents she never felt curiosity was a wife for you! in made The one mistake Dicky Puerto Rey was to run out of money at the wrong time Where his money came from was a puzzle for the sales of his shop were next to nothing but that source failed and at a peculiarly unfortunate time It was when the comandante Don Senor el Coronel looked upon the Casablanca little saint seated In the shop and felt his heart go pitapat who was versed in The comandante all the intricate arts of gallantry first delicately hinted' at his sentiments by donning his dress uniform and strutting up and down fiercely before her window Pasa glancing demurely with her saintly eyes instantly perceived to her parrot Chichi his resemblance and was diverted to the extent of a saw the smile The comandante smile which was not intended for him Conmade he envinced of an Impression and adthe confidently tered shop Paza vanced to open compliment she flamed royally: froze he pranced he was charmed to Injudicious pershe commanded him to leave sistence the shop he tried to capture her hand and — Dicky entered broadly smiling full of white wine and the devil the Five minutes later he pitched out the door upon the comandante That stones of the street senseless five minutes Dicky had spent In punand carefully ishing him scientifically so that the pain might be prolonged as far as possible had who A barefooted policeman been watching the affair from across the street now blew a whistle and a squad of eight soldiers came running from the cuartel Just around the corner When they saw that Dicky was the offender they stopped and blew which brought out ' more whistles of twelve enforcements Dicky being thoroughly Imbued with the martial spirit stooped and drew the comandante’s sword which was girded about him and charged his foe four He chased the standing army squares playfully prodding Its squealing rear and hacking Its bare He was not so successheels ful with the civic authorities Eight nimble policemen overpow muscular and him conveyed him triumered to "El Diablo Jail phantly but warily Colorado” they dubbed him and derided the military for Its defeat Dicky with the rest of the prisoners could look out the barred door at the grass of a little plaza a row of orange trees and the red tile roofs and ’dobe walls of a line of Insignificant tlendas At sunset along a path across this plaza came a melancholy women bearing procession of and fruit — bread casaba plantains each coming with food to some wretch behind those bars to whom she still noon Thrice a day morning clung and sunset they were permitted to come Water was furnished her guestP no food by the republic but For two days succeeding Pas- came at each appointed time and brought He eagerly Inquired each him food time If a letter or package had come for him and she mournfully shook her head On the morning of the third day she brought only a small loaf of bread There were dark circles under her She seemed as calm as ever eyes "By jingo" said Dicky who seemed to speak In English or Spanish as the whim seized him “this Is dry provenIs this the best you der muchachita can dig up for a fellow?” Pasa looked at him as a mother looks at a beloved but capricious babe "Think better of it" she said In a low voice "since for the next meal there will be nothing The last centavo Is spent” She pressed closer against the grating Pasa lowered her voice to almost a “And listen heart to my whisper heart” she said "I have endeavored to he brave but I cannot live without Three days now thee Dicky caught a faint gleam of steel from the folds of her mantilla For once she looked In his face and saw It without a smile stern menacing and Then he suddenly raised purposeful his hand and his smile came back like a gleam of sunshine The hoarse signal of an incoming steamer’s siren sounded In the harbor Dicky ca’led to the sentry who was pacing before the door: “What steamer comes?" “The Catarina” “Of the Vesuvius line?” “Without’ doubt of that line” "Go you picarllla” said Dicky joyously to Pasa "to the American consul Tell him I wish to speak with him See that he comes at once And you let me see a different look in those eyes for I promise your head shall rdst upon this arm tonight” It was an hour before the consul came He was a spectacled young man a greedy botanist who was utilizing his office to study the tropic flora He held a green umbrella under his arm and mopped his forehead Impatiently til that perpendicular line came between his brows that disalways tressed Pasa Presently she went and brought his hat and stood with it until he looked up Inquiringly "It Is sad for you here" she ex"Go out and drink vino bianplained co Come back when you get that smile you used to wear That Is what I wish to see" Dicky lnughed and threw down his “The vino bianco stage Is papers past It hag served Its turn Perhaps after all there was less entered my mouth and more my ears than people But there will be no more thought maps or frowns tonight I promise you that Come" They sat upon e reed sllleta at the window and atched the quivering gleams frurn the lights of the Catarina reflected In the harbor Pasa rippled out one of Presently her Infrequent chirrups of audible laughter "1 was thinking” she began antici"of the foolpating Dicky's question ish things girls have in their minds Because I went to school in the states I used to have ambitions Nothing less than to be the president’s wife would satisfy me And look thou red picaroon to what obscure fate hast thou stolen me!” “Don’t give up hope" said Dicky "There was a dictator of smiling Chill named O’Higgins Why not a President Maloney of this country? Say the word and I’ll make the race We’ll capture the Irish vote easy running by a head" "Now see here Maloney" he began captiously “you fellows seem to think you can cut up any kind of row and expect me to pull you out of It I’m neither the War Department nor a This country has Its laws gold mind one you know and there’s against pounding the senses out of the reguYou Irish are forever getlar army I don’t see what I ting Into trouble can do now Anything like tobacco to make you comfortable — or newspapers — ” "Son of Ell” Interrupted Dicky gravely "you haven’t changed an lota That is almost a duplicate of the you made when old Koen’s speech donkeys and geese got Into the chapel loft and the culprits wanted to hide In your room” "Oh heavens!" exclaimed the consul hurriedly adjusting his spectacles "Are you a a Yale man too? Were in I crowd? that don’t seem to you remember any one with red — any one named Maloney Such a lot of college men seem to have misused their advantages One of the best mathematicians of the class of ’91 Is selling lottery tickets In Belize A Cornell man dropped off here last month He was second steward on a guano boat FU write to the Department If you like Or If there’s any tobacco Maloney ” or newspa "There’s Interrupted nothing” II You go tell Dicky shortly “but this The Vesuvius Plays the captain of the Catarina that Dicky The banana republic of Costaragua Maloney wants to see him as soon as he can conveniently come two capitals The one Tell him has practically where I am ofilclally recognized Is San Mateo sevHurry That’s all" The consul glad to be let off so enty miles in the Interior But during The captain of the hot season rora May to October easily hurried away removes to Sicilian the entire the Catarlno a stout man born soon appeared shoving with lit- Puerto Rey where the sea breeze rentle ceremony through the guards to ders the pursuit of business and pleathe jail door Custom had so estabThe Vesuvius' FYult sure possible lished this annual heglra of the execuCompany had a habit of doing things tive that a commodious that way In Puerto Rey government “I am exceedingly the building had been erected on sorry— exceeding sorry” said the captain "to Bee this beach at Puerto Rey for the use of the I place myself at your service occur Mr Maloney Whatever you need shall be furnished Whatever you say shallf be done" unsmlllngly Dicky looked at hitn His red hair could not detract from his attitude of severe dignity as he with his now stood tall and calm line grim mouth forming a horizontal believe still “Captain De Lucco have funds In the hands of your comI pany — ample and personal funds ordered a remittance last week The You know money has not arrived what is needed In this game Money and money and more money Why has It not been sent?” LucDe Cristobal" the replied “By was “It co gesticulating dispatched Where Is the Cristobal? Off Cape Antonio spoke her with a broken shaft A tramp coaster was towing her back o New Orleans brought money ashore thinking need for It your In this might not withstand delay Is one thousand dollars envelope There Is more If you need It Mr Maloney” "For the present It will suffice” said Dicky softening as he crinkled the en velope and looked down at the half inch thickness of smooth dingy bills “The long green!” he said gently with a new reverence in his gaze "Is there anything it will not buy captain?” When the captain had departed Dicky called the sergeant of the Jail squad and asked: “Am I preso by the military or by the civil authority?” "Surely there Is nd martial law In effect now senor” Now go or send to the al"Bueno calde the Juez de la Paz and the Jefe Tell them I am prede los Policlos pared at once to satisfy the demands of justice” A folded bill of the "long green" sllj Into the sergeant's hand So that night Dicky sat by the window of the room over his shop and his little saint sat close by working at silken and dainty something Dicky was thoughtful and grave Ills red hair was In an unusual state of disorder Pasa’s fingers often ached to smooth and arrange It but Dicky would never allow It He was poring over a great litter of maps tonight and books and papers on h!s table un president and their sojourn his official family during But now this year the though middle of May was almost come the heart of the people was not stirred to the customary preparation joyous the entire republic there Throughout seemed to be a spirit of silent sullen discontent The administration of President Zarllla had made him far from a popular taxes Idol Fresh fresh import duties and more than all hla tolerance of the outrageous oppression of the citizens by the milihim the most obtary had rendered noxious president since the despised Alforan But the most impolitic of the administration’s moves had been when it the Vesuvius Fruit Comantagonized an organization pany of New Orleans and with a plying twelve steamships cash capital something than larger comCostaragua’s surplus and debt conan established bined Naturally cern like the Vesuvius would become irritated at having a smalt retail reall no with at public attempt to rating squeeze It So when the government proxies applied for subsidy they encountered a polite refusal The president retaliated by clapping an export duty of one real per bunch on bananas— a thing unprecedented In fruit growing countries An emissary an Interrequested view with a representative of the l company The Vesuvius sent Mr a little stout cheerful man Senor Verdi Ortiz ways whistling secretary to the Minister of Finance attempted the sandbagging In behalf of Costaragua Senor Ortiz opened negotiations by the announcement that the government contemplated the building of a railroad to skirt the alluvial coast lands After touching upon the benefits such an improvement would confer upon the interests of the Vesuvius he reached the definite suggestion that a contribution to the road’s expense of one hundred thousand pesos would not be more than an equivalent to benefits received Mr Franzonl denied benefits aay from the contemplation of a road He was authorized to offer a however contribution of five hundred to the contemplators Did Senor Mr Ortiz understand FYanzonl to mean five hundred thousand? no means hundred Five By pesos not gold And In silver “Your offer Insults my government” said Senor Ortiz rising indignantly In a "Then” cried Mr Franzonl warning voice "we will change it!” The offer was never changed Mr Franzonl must have meant something else So when the fifteenth day of May arrived the signs were that the presiceledential not be advent would brated by unlimited rejoicing President Zarllla was a little elderwith a conly man grizzly bearded siderable ratio of Indian blood revealed in his cinnamon complexion As he was assisted into hts carriage his sharp beady eyes glanced around for the expected demonstration of welcome hut he faced a stolid unenthused array of curious citizens Sightseers the Costaraguans are by birth and habit and they turned out to the unit to witness the last scene but they maintained an accualve silence At length after a prodigious gallopmaof ing and curvetting colonels and epauletted jors generals the procession formed for Its annual formal progress down the principal street — the Camlno Real — to the government building at Its end As the band struck up and the movement like a bird of began omen the S J Pizzonl Jr the swiftline est steamship of the Vesuvius glided Into the harbor in plain view of the president and hla train By the time the van of the procesthe sion had reached government building Captain Cronin of the S J Pizzonl Jr and Mr Vincent! member of the Vesuvius Company had landed and were pushing their way bluff hearty and nonchalant through the crowd on the narrow sidewalk Clad In white linen big debonair with an air of authority they made conspicuous figures among the dark mass of unlmposlng Costarato within a guans They penetrated few yards of the steps of the brown stone Moreno Casa the building brown White House of Costaragua Looking easily above the heads of the crowd they perceived another that towered above the undersized natives It was the fiery poll of Dicky Maloney against the wall close by the lower and his broad seductive step grin showed that he recognized their presence Dicky had attired himself becomingly for the festive occasion In a wellPasa was close by fitting black suit his side her head covered with the black mantilla ubiquitous Mr Vincent! looked at her attentively "Botticelli’s Madonna” he remark"1 wonder when she got ed gravely don't like hlsj getlntq the game ting! tangled with the women hoped he would keep away from them” Captain Cronin’s laugh almost drew from the attention parade "With that head of halrl Keep And a Maaway from the women! Hasn't he got a license? But loney! nonsense aside what do you think of It’s a species of filthe prospects? ibustering out of my line" Vincentl glanced again at Dicky’s head and smiled "There “Rouge et noir” he said Make your play genyou have It tlemen Our money Is on the red" talking’ for General They ceased Pilar had descended from the first carriage and had taken his stand upon As the the top step of Casa Morena custom oldest member of the cabinet had decreed that he should make the address of welcome presenting the to the keys of the official residence at Its close president Holding in his hand the gilt keys of Casa Morena he began his address In a historical form touching upon each administration and the advance of and prosperity civilization from the first dim striving after liberty down to present times Arriving at the regime at which point of President Zarllla to precedent he Rhould according have delivered a eulogy upon Its wise conduct and the happiness of the people General Pilar paused Then he lently held up the bunch of keys high above his head with his eyes closely regarding It The ribbon with which hound fluttered In the they were breeze "It still blows” cried the speaker exultantly "Citizens of Costaragua give thanks to the saints thi3 night that our air Is still free" Thus disposing of ZarlUa’s administration he abruptly reverted to that of Olivarra Costaragua's most popular ruler Olivarra had been assassinated nine years before while In the prime of life and usefulness A faction of the Liberal party led by Zarllla himself had been accused of the deed Whether guilty or not It was eight years before the ambitious and scheming Zarllla had gained bis goal Upon this theme General Pilar’s eloquence was loosed lie drew the pic ture of the beneficent Olivarra with a He reminded the people loving hand of the peace the security and the happiness they had enjoyed during that He recalled In vivid period detail and with significant contrast the last summer sojourn of President Olivarra In Puerto Rey when his appearance at their fiestas was the signal for thundering vivas of love and approbation The first public expression of sentiment from the people that day followed A low sustained murmur went among them like the surf rolling along the shore “Ten dollars to a dinner at the Saint Charles remarked Mr Vincentl '‘that rouge wins” "I never bet against my own Interests” salil Captain Cronin lighting a old boy for his cigar What’s he talking about?" age Vincentl “My Spanish replied “runs about ten words to the minute hla la something around two hundred Whatever he’s saying he’s getting ' them warmed up" "Friends and brothers" General Pilar was saying "could I reach out ' my hand this day across the lamentable silence of the grave to Olivarra ’the Good" to the ruler who was one of you whose tears fell when you sorrowed and whose smile followed your joy — I would bring him back to you but — Qllvarra Is dead — dead at the hands of a craven assassin!" The speaker turned and gazed boldly Into the carriage of the president Ills arm remained extended aloft as If to sustain his The peroration president was listening aghast at this remarkable address of welcome "Who says that Olivarra is dead?" suddenly cried the speaker his voice old as he was sounding like a battle trumpet “His body lies in the grave but to the people he loved he has bemore — his queathed his spirit — yes learning his courage his kindness-y- es more — bis youth his Image — peohave you forgotten ple of Costaragua the son of Olivarra?” Cronin and Vincentl watching closely saw Dicky Maloney suddenly raise his bat tear off his shock of red hair leap up the steps and stand at the side of General Pilar The minister of war laid his arm across the young man’s shoulders All who had known President Olivarra saw again his same unpose the same frank daunted expression the same high forehead with the peculiar line of the clustering crisp black hair General Pilar was an experienced orator He seized the moment of breathless silence that preceded the storm "Citizens of Costaragua" he trumpeted holding aloft the keys to Casa Morena "I am here to deliver these keys — the keys to your homes and liberty— to your chosen president Shall I deliver them to Earlco Olivarra’ assassin or to his son?” "Olivarra! Olivarra!” the crowd shrieked and howled All vociferated the magic name — men women children and the parrots And the enthusiasm was not conColonfined to the blood of the plebs el Rocas ascended the steps and laid his sword theatrically at Young Ramon Ollvarra’s feet Four members of the cabinet embraced him Captain Cruz gave a command and twenty of El Clento Hullando dismounted and arranged themselves In a cordon about the steps of Casa Morena But Ramon Olivarra seized that moment to prove himself a born genius and politician He waved those soldiers aside and descended the steps to the street There without losing elehis dignity or the distinguished the loss of hts red hair gance that brought him he fook the proletariat to his bosom —the barefooted the dirty' Indians Caribs babies beggars old young saints soldiers and sinners— he missed none of them While this act of the drama was behad ing produced the been busy at the duties assigned them Two of Cruz’s dragoons had seized the bridle reins of President Zarllla’s horses others formed a close guard and they galloped off with the tyrant and hla two malodorous ministers No doubt a place had been prepared for them There are quite a number of stone apartments In Puerto Rey Vincentl “Rouge wins” said Mr calmly lighting another cigar Captain Cronin had been Intently watching the vicinity of the steps for some time “Good hoy!” he exclaimed suddenly as If relieved “I was wondering If he was going to forget his Kathleen the Young Olivarra had reascended steps and spoken a few words to General Pilar That distinguished veteran descended to the walk and approached Pasa who still stood calm and where Dicky had left her With his hat In his hand and his medals and decorations shining on his breast the general gave her his arm and they went up the steps toOlivarra gether And then Ramon forward and took both her stepped hands before all the people And while the cheering was breaking out afresh everywhere Captain Cronin and Mr Vincentl turned and walked back toward the landing where was the ship’s gig waiting for them "There’ll be another presidents proclamada In the morning” said ’As a rule they are musingly not as reliable as the elected ones Put this youngster seems to have good stuff fn him He planned and maneuvered the whole campaign Ollvarra’s widow you know was wealthy She gave the hoy eight years of the best education In the states The company hunted him up and backed him in the little game” "It’s a glorious thing" said Cronin half jestingly "to be able to discharge a government and Insert one of your own choosing these days” "It’s business” stated Vincentl stopping to offer his cigar to a monkey swinging from a lime tree “and that Is what moves the world of toThat extra real on the price of day bananas had to go We took the quickest way of removing it” When She Hit the Mark Bohlits— I’ve always kept my eyes open but I’ve never seen a woman throw anything straight Collister — That’s because you have never been fortunate enough to see her throw a kiss Nothing Left "The English government canmt even terrorize the suffragettes by them in irons" "Why wouldn’t they mind that?” ' "It would he nothing to them aftef the hobble skirts" |