Page:Under three flags; a story of mystery (IA underthreeflagss00tayliala).pdf/91

 "The prospects were never rosier," is Chambers' reply. "It is evident that the Castilian has an enormous job on his hands in the present insurrection. We received a dispatch a short while ago which has a local reference. I sent it up to Hone, and perhaps Ricker has it by this time. It states that the insurgents count upon valuable assistance from New York and that an expedition is being fitted out here. This wire came from Washington and the Spanish minister there has asked our government to prohibit the assistance I speak of. Hello!" as a bunch of copy is thrown upon his table, "the president has issued a proclamation bearing on the matter."

The proclamation is brief but significant. It sets forth that, without a violation of the friendly relations existing between Spain and the United States, this government cannot countenance the fitting out of expeditions designed to assist the insurrectionists in Cuba. A number of United States vessels have been ordered to patrol duty, and a rigid surveillance of the coast will be maintained.

"That may be good government, but it is confoundedly un-American in sentiment," remarks Ashley, scornfully, for he is an American through and through.

"The government's course was clear," Chambers mildly observes. "The President could do nothing less. I do not imagine, however, that the patrol will be much more than perfunctory."

When Ashley reports at the Hemisphere office the next day he finds in his letter box two yellow envelopes. One is from the city editor and contains an assignment to interview Senor Rafael Manada of the Cuban revolutionary society in the United States. The senor is stopping at the Fifth Avenue and a full story on Cuban affairs from the New York end is wanted.

"Well this is something new, at any rate," thinks Jack, and he tears open the second envelope. This contains a dispatch dated from Raymond, Vt., the night before, and Ashley whistles softly as he comprehends the concise but thoroughly interesting contents:

"See you to-morrow afternoon at your office. I have found Hathaway's revolver. Barker."