Part 17 (1/2)

”He ht have wanted theet hold o' theain Then it's possible it would have suited hi in that Anyhow, your going overboard after Pepe ended the ives us a hold on them”

”I see that noo, but I did no' stop to think before I jumped,”

Macallister ht call a stroke o'

natural genius Then, ye see, I threw hihed

”Well, we et away as soon as we can I expect to finish with Don Martin to- with Evelyn in his private rooht him in a card

”Senor Go round three days, and I'd made up my mind to sail with Grahame to-morrohether he came or not”

”Who is Senor Gomez?” Evelyn asked

”I understand his official title is _Secretario General_, and he's next in power to the President of the country I' to do business with

My opinion is that they're both slippery rascals”

He broke off as the door opened and a dark-skinned gentleman came in

Gomez bowed ceremoniously to Evelyn and Cliffe, and then waited with his hat in his hand He was dressed all in black except for his spotless linen He wore a nus, and Evelyn noticed that his nails were unusually curved and long She shrank froave her, but resent, and she returned his greeting politely when Cliffe presented hieneral talk

”Now,” Cliffe said when Evelyn had left the three days for you, and am not sure the deal is worth it”

Gomez spread out his hands with a deprecatory air

”It was impossible to coest that the concessions we offer you are valuable?”

”So it seeh enough, and noe have half fixed things, you want to raise your terreasy, but his dress and rief to us, but the affairs of e We only ask for a little e of all parties that you agree”

”I can't see how it is to ood use of,” Cliffe replied

”I must speak frankly, senor” Gomez's manner became confidential

”These concessions have already cost you so, and there are dissatisfied people who are anxious to rob the President of his power”

”I've heard that some of them are anxious to shoot him; but that's not ree If the President loses office before the papers are signed, the concessions go I iined you understood this”