Appleby could not see his face because the light from the room was
behind them, but his tone was significant, and he waited in some
astonishment until the patter of feet commenced again, and half-seen men
flitted into the patio. The latter could, however, see the men above
them, for a threatening murmur went up when they caught the glint of
Harper's pistol, and two of them came running to the foot of the
stairway. Maccario laughed, and laid his hand on Harper's shoulder. Then
the murmurs died away, and the men stood still below, while Maccario
turned with a little nod to Appleby.
"One would fancy they would do what I wished," he said. "The Sin
Verguenza have, it seems, friends everywhere. It is permissible for one
to change his mind."
"Yes," said Appleby, who hid his astonishment by an effort. "Still, in
this case you have not been as wise as usual, Don Maccario. There are
men who become more obdurate when you try to intimidate them. You have
already heard my decision."
Maccario laughed, and waved his hand to the men below. "I commend these
two gentlemen to your respect. They are good friends of mine. There is
nothing else," he said. "Now we will go back again, Don Bernardino."
The men apparently went away, and Maccario, who walked back into the
room, smiled when he seated himself again.
"The Senor Harding is to be congratulated upon his manager," he said.
"Still, there is a difficulty about the rifles. There are ten cases of
them here already. They are marked hardware and engine fittings."
Harper gasped. "Well, I'm blanked!" he said. "I guess it's the only time
any kind of a greaser got ahead of me."
"Then they must be taken away," said Appleby. "Where are they, Don
Maccario? If you do not tell me I shall certainly find them."
"In the iron store shed, I understand. They would have been sent for at
night to-morrow."
"Get them out," said Appleby, turning to Harper. "They will be safer
lying on the cane trucks in the open than anywhere."
Harper went out, and Maccario poured out a glass of wine. "It is
fortunate you are a friend of mine, and one in whom I have confidence,"
he said. "Had it been otherwise you would have run a very serious risk,
Don Bernardino."
Appleby laughed, though he was glad that he sat in the shadow. "I can at
least, let you have four hundred pesetas if the Sin Verguenza want them;
but you will remember that if more rifles arrive here I will send them
to Morales."
"In silver?" said Maccario. "I have samples of tobacco to carry, and a
mule."
Appleby brought out two bags of silver from the chest in his office, for
golden coin was almost as scarce in Cuba then as it usually is in Spain,
and the two talked of different subjects with a frankness that concealed
their thoughts, until there was a rattle of wheels as Harper passed
below with several men pushing a little truck along the cane tramway. By
and by he came in and sat down.
"The cases are marked as he told us, and I've left them on the line," he
said. "I guess nobody would think of looking for rifles there. When are
your friends coming for them, Maccario?"
"I think that is better not mentioned," said Maccario. "Those cases
will, however, not be there to-morrow."
"And your men?" said Appleby. "I cannot have them here."
"You will listen to reason, my friend. I know you are one who keeps his
word, and we will send no more rifles here. Still, those men work well,
and the Senor Harding is not a Loyalist. He is here to make the dollars,
and because the Spaniards are masters of Cuba he will not offend them.
By and by, however, there is a change, and when it is we who hold the
reins it may count much for him that he was also a friend of ours."
"You know he is not a Loyalist?" said Appleby.
Maccario laughed a little. "Can you doubt it--while the hacienda of San
Cristoval stands? There are many burnt sugar mills in Cuba, my friend."
"Now," said Harper dryly, "it seems to me he's talking the plainest kind
of sense. Make him promise he'll give you warning, and take his men out
quietly when he wants them for anything."
Maccario gave his promise, and they sat talking for awhile until there
was a knocking at the door below, and Pancho, who came up the stairway
in haste, stopped where the light showed the apprehension in his olive
face.
"Comes the Colonel Morales, and there are cazadores in the cane," he
said.
There was a sudden silence, and Maccario, who started to his feet,
seized one of the bags of silver. He, however, nodded and sat down again
when Appleby's hand fell on his shoulder. There was, it was evident, no
escaping now, for a quick tread showed that the officer was already
ascending the stairway. Maccario made a little gesture of resignation.
"He has never seen me as a merchant of tobacco, and if he notices too
much it is assuredly unfortunate for him," he said. "Pancho will already
have the affair in hand."
Appleby said nothing, but he could feel his heart thumping painfully as
he leaned on the table until Morales came in. He carried his kepi in one
hand, and though he greeted Appleby punctiliously there was a little
gleam in his eyes, while for just a moment he glanced keenly at
Maccario. In the meanwhile Appleby saw Pancho's face at the lattice
behind his shoulder, and surmised that Morales was running a heavy risk
just then. He had little esteem for the Spanish colonel, but it seemed
to him that the fate of the San Cristoval hacienda, as well as its
manager, depended upon what happened during the next five minutes.
"You will take a glass of wine, and these cigars are good," he said.
Though every nerve in his body seemed to be tingling his voice was even;
but while the officer poured out the wine Maccario laid a bundle of
cigars before him, and smiled at Appleby.
"Your pardon, senor--but this is my affair," he said. "It is not often I
have the opportunity of offering so distinguished a soldier my poor
tobacco, though there are men of note in Havana and Madrid who
appreciate its flavor, as well as the Senor Harding."
Morales glanced at him, and lighted a cigar; but Appleby fancied he was
at least as interested in the bag of silver on the table.
"The tobacco is excellent," he said.
Maccario took out a card. "If you will keep the bundle it would be an
honor," he said. "If you are still pleased when you have smoked them
this will help you to remember where more can be obtained. We"--and he
dropped his voice confidentially--"do not insist upon usual prices when
supplying distinguished officers."
"That is wise," said Morales, who took the cigars. "It is not often they
have the pesetas to meet such demands with. You will not find business
flourishing in this country, which we have just swept clean of the Sin
Verguenza. They have a very keen scent for silver."
"No," said Maccario plaintively. "There are also so many detentions and
questions to be answered that it is difficult to make a business
journey."
Morales laughed, "It is as usual--you would ask for something? Still,
they are good cigars!"
"I would venture to ask an endorsement of my cedula. With that one could
travel with less difficulty."
He brought out the strip of paper, and Morales turned to Appleby. "This
gentlemen is a friend of yours?"
Appleby nodded, and the officer scribbled across the back of the cedula,
and then, flinging it on the table, rose with a faint shrug of
impatience.
"A word with you in private!" he said.
Appleby went out with him into the veranda, and set his lips for a
moment when he saw, though Morales did not, a stealthy shadow flit out
of it. He also surmised there were more men lurking in the patio
beneath, and felt that a disaster was imminent if Maccario's
apprehensions led him to do anything precipitate. Then it seemed
scarcely likely that the colonel of cazadores would leave the place
alive. Still, his voice did not betray him.
"I am at your service, senor." he said.
"The affair is serious," said Morales dryly. "I am informed that there
are arms concealed in your factory. Ten cases of them, I understand, are
in your store shed."
If he had expected any sign of consternation he did not see it, for
Appleby smiled incredulously.
"If so, they were put there without my consent or knowledge, but I fancy
your spies have been mistaken," he said.
"Will you come with me and search the shed?"
Morales made a little gesture of assent. "I have men not far away, but I
am a friend of the Senor Harding's, and it seemed to me the affair
demanded discretion," he said. "That is why I left them until I had
spoken with you. Still, if we do not find those arms nobody will be
better pleased than me."
They went down the stairway, and Appleby bade a man in the patio summon
his comrades. Then they walked along the tramway towards an iron shed,
where there was a delay while one of the men lighted a lantern and
opened the door When this was done they went in, and for almost an hour
the peons rolled out barrels and dragged about boxes and cases of which
they opened one here and there. Still, there was no sign of a rifle, and
when they had passed through two or three other sheds Morales' face was
expressionless as he professed himself satisfied. They walked back
silently side by side, until the officer stopped by a cane truck and
rubbed off the ash from his cigar on one of the cases that lay upon it.
He also moved a little so that he could see Appleby's face in the light
of the lantern a dusky workman held. The latter was eyeing Morales
curiously, and Appleby fancied by the way he bent his right hand that
very little would bring the wicked, keen-pointed knife flashing from his
sleeve.
"It seems that my informants have been mistaken," said the colonel. "I
can only recommend you the utmost discretion. It is--you understand--
necessary."
He turned with a little formal salutation and walked down the tram-line,
while the dusty workman smiled curiously as he straightened his right
hand. Appleby gasped and went back slowly, while he flung himself down
somewhat limply into a chair when he reached his living-room, where
Harper sat alone.
"Where is Maccario?" he asked.
"Lit out!" said Harper dryly. "He'd had 'bout enough of it, though I
guess his nerves are good. Kind of a strain on your own ones too?"
Appleby's face showed almost haggard, and he smiled wearily.
"It is evident that if we have much more of this kind of thing I shall
earn my salary, though the Sin Verguenza will apparently get most of
it," he said.