A MISSION FOR FUNSTON.
"Santiago!" exclaimed Donald.
"By all that's great!" from Adrian.
"Help!" cried Lucia. "He will do something desperate!"
Donald and Adrian sprang forward, but their assistance was not
needed. Billie had by this time gathered his wits and in a
twinkling the mad-man was disarmed.
"Shall we bind him?" asked Adrian as they came forward.
"No, indeed," replied Billie as the now helpless man sank down
upon the chair. "He isn't dangerous."
"What's it all about?" queried Donald.
"Oh, nothing much! He simply wanted to make me his heir and marry
me to his daughter."
Donald and Adrian cast an admiring gaze upon Lucia, who was now
kneeling at her father's side.
"Well," said Adrian in an aside, "I don't see why you should
object to that."
"Who said I objected?" demanded Billie. "It is the young woman
who objects."
"But whoever supposed he had a daughter?" said Donald.
"Not I," from Billie. "But this is certainly a queer mess."
Then to Lucia: "How long has he been in this way, Señorita?"
"Only a few days. Since this trouble with the Americanos."
"But how could that affect him?"
"It is a long story, señor. For years he has been trying to
overthrow the government. When Madero was made president, he was
happy. Then came that awful tragedy, by which Madero was killed.
Since that time he has not been himself. But when it became
evident that the United States would interfere he became as you
have seen him to-day."
"When I told him that all the United States wanted was to get rid
of Huerta, he was much pleased," explained Billie. "That was when
he proposed to make me his heir."
Lucia's cheeks grew red, as she asked: "And did you accept his
proposal?"
"I neither accepted nor rejected. I just followed him in to see
what would happen next."
"But would you accept?" insisted Lucia.
"That depends," replied Billie, with a touch of color in his own
face. "But what had we better do now? You and I will discuss the
other question later."
"The best thing we can do," interposed Donald, "is to report to
Lieutenant Blunt. Isn't there some place, Señorita, where your
father can be placed for safe-keeping?"
"He will be perfectly safe here with me, señors, if the servants
are allowed to remain."
"They certainly will be," declared Billie. "I will personally
vouch for that. We have done Captain Rush a good turn to-day and
I know he will be glad to do that much for us. And besides, the
Americans will harm no one."
Lucia gave Billie a grateful look as she replied:
"Ah, señor, I shall trust it all to you. I can see that you are a
friend of my father and I know you are telling the truth."
"You bet you can trust me," was Billie's emphatic reply. "Come
on, fellows, let's go look after my horse."
In the door Billie turned:
"I'll leave my robe in the cupboard, Señorita; and, if you don't
mind, I'll ask Lieutenant Blunt to make himself at home in the
patio."
"The house is yours, señor. Do as you think best."
"By George!" exclaimed Adrian as they descended the stairs to the
patio, "this is getting serious."
"What?" queried Donald.
"Why this affair of Billie and the young lady we have just
left."
"Nonsense!" from Billie. "It isn't half as serious as what I saw
at Moreno."
"No!" laughed Donald. "I saw that myself; but Josie is an
American. Hey, Ad?"
"I don't think it's very nice to be making remarks about young
ladies in their absence," retorted Adrian, bristling up.
"Oh, come now, Adrian!" laughed Billie. "You started it. But what
do you make out of Santiago?"
"He's evidently a rich old chap with a bug. That's all."
"Well," commented Billie, with a nod of his head, "strange things
do happen when you travel. Who'd have thought we'd ever see the
old chap again, and at a time like this?" and he went back to
where Adrian and Donald had stabled the horses, to see if there
was anything he could do for the wounded animal.
When Lieutenant Blunt was made acquainted with the conditions
prevailing in the house, he immediately took possession of the
lower floor and from that time on until the arrival of General
Funston with the Fifth Brigade, it was made one of the official
residences.
The week following the occupation of Vera Cruz by the American
forces was a busy one for our boys. Because of their intimate
knowledge with the Spanish language, they were continually in
demand. There was never a verbal message from the American
Admiral to some Mexican official but what they were called upon,
and they very soon made friends of every Jackie and marine in the
city.
Ten days later the boys stood upon the wharf awaiting the arrival
of the first boatload of General Funston's regulars from the big
transports which had anchored in the harbor the night before.
Because of the shallowness of the water, everything in Vera Cruz
harbor has to be brought ashore in small boats, known as
lighters. As the boys watched the first of these to approach
there was something in the face and bearing of the officer in
command which attracted their attention.
"By George!" exclaimed Donald, "I seem to know that face. Don't
you, Billie?"
"Does look kind o' familiar. Where have we seen him?"
"I'll tell you!" cried Adrian. "It's the lieutenant who was in
charge of the patrol on the Rio Grande."
"Lieutenant Grant!" exclaimed Billie. "Sure as you're born. Well
this is luck!"
"Luck? What do you mean?"
"Why, maybe he'll be able to tell me whatever became of those
drafts for ten thousand pounds that I took from old Don Pablo."
His companions laughed.
"Still thinking about that, are you?" said Donald. "Why of course
you'll never hear of them again. The bank is simply in that
much."
"Maybe so," admitted Billie, "but I'll get something official."
And he did.
It was several days later, though, after the regulars had taken
possession of the city and the navy forces had withdrawn to their
ships. The boys were sitting in Lieutenant Grant's quarters, to
whom they had offered their services as soon after his landing as
they were able, and were laughing over their adventures on the
border.
"It was certainly a close call you boys had," the lieutenant was
saying. "I'm not sure but our neutrality was mighty near a
breaking point. What do you think, Billie?"
"Possibly so; Americans will be Americans. But say, Lieutenant,
whatever was done about those drafts I took from Don Pablo? I've
never been called upon to tell my story, nor have they ever come
back to me."
"That's because you were out of the United States," replied
Lieutenant Grant. "It was less than a month ago that I was asked
if I knew your whereabouts. Uncle Sam has decided that he has no
claim to the drafts and they were returned to me. I have them in
my army chest. If they are any good to you, I shall be pleased to
hand them over."
"I guess they are not much use to any one," sighed Billie
mournfully. "My father says no bank would cash them without Don
Pablo's signature, and no one can get that."
"I'm glad you take it so philosophically," laughed the
lieutenant. "I hope you'll have better luck next time."
The boys arose to leave.
"Which way?" asked the lieutenant.
"No place in particular. We thought we'd go home."
"You mean to the United States?"
"Not to-night," laughed Adrian. "Just to the house where we are
living. It belongs to old Santiago."
"Who is he?"
Briefly the boys narrated what they knew about him on the Rio
Grande, how they had met him here, and why they were staying at
his house.
"Has he no other name?"
"Why, yes, I suppose so," replied Billie. "We always call him
Prince to his face, and his daughter as the Princess Lucia. Of
course, it is all make-believe, but it is one way of keeping him
quiet."
He called to one of Santiago's servants, whom Lucia had lent them
to look after their horses.
"Oh, Chomo!" he said. "Do you know what Santiago's surname is?"
"Si, señor. It is Ojeda."
"What?" cried all the boys at once. "Ojeda? Why, that was old Don
Pablo's name."
The boys stood and eyed each other in speechless wonder. The same
thought was in all their minds.
"Do you think it is possible?" asked Billie at last.
"Do I think what is possible?" asked Lieutenant Grant.
"Why, that Santiago could have given those drafts to the stranger
so as not to be known in the matter."
"Possibly. He seems a man of mystery."
"Well," declared Billie, "I am going to find out."
"How, I should like to know," asked Donald. "He's too crazy to
remember anything, even if he wanted to tell you."
"You forget Lucia," said Billie.
"Oh, no, I haven't," laughed Donald, "and I have no doubt she
would tell you all about it if she knew; but I do not believe she
does. Santiago is too deep to have entrusted his secrets to a
girl not yet out of her teens."
"You never can tell," remarked the lieutenant. "Men with a
hobby do strange things. You'd better ride along with me to
headquarters. I'd like to introduce you to General Funston. He's
a man after your own hearts. You know how he went out and
captured Aguinaldo when he was in the Philippines."
"I've read about it," replied Adrian. "It was a bold deed."
"Sure was," said Donald. "We'll be mighty glad to meet him."
It may also be said that General Funston was glad to meet the
Broncho Rider Boys, especially after Lieutenant Grant told him in
a few words of the good work they had done on the border and on
the day that Vera Cruz was taken.
"And when do you expect to return to the United States?" asked
the general.
"Just as soon as we can obtain passage," replied Donald.
"I think we can arrange that for you in a few days," replied the
general. "In the meantime come in occasionally."
The boys thanked him and started to leave, when the telephone in
the general's quarters rang. He looked for some one to answer,
but no one being at hand, he picked up the 'phone himself.
"What's that?" he asked after a brief moment. "The water works.
You think they are attempting to cut you off. All right, I'll
rush help."
He set down the 'phone and turned to Lieutenant Grant.
"The enemy has gathered in force about the water works," he said
sharply. "They evidently intend cutting off the water supply.
Tell Colonel Bright to send them reinforcements at once. Do you
boys know the way there?"
"Yes, sir," from all three.
"Then show the men the nearest way! Now go! The safety of the
city may depend upon you!"