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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 f