Part 3 (1/2)
”The Alish,” said Grahame calmly ”The difference is, no doubt, not important”
The man looked hard at him, and Grahaoing to the _fonda_; if you are going that way, I would rather you walked in front One is careful at night, h the fellow had a sinister look, he s on to the hotel, waited outside until Walthew came up The boy looked hot and breathless, but Grahame noticed that he had a flower in his hand
”I've been followed,” Walthew laughed ”The fellows dropped back soon after I caht Guess they saw they were after the wrong man”
”Very possibly It happened to ot away?”
They listened, but the toas quiet One or two citizens crossed the plaza, but no sound that indicated anything unusual going on rose from the shadowy streets
”It seems likely,” Walthew replied ”I don't think they could have arrested him without some disturbance Why didn't they search Sar a riot that would spread The President seems to be a capable man, and Don Martin obviously enjoys the confidence of the citizens On the whole, I think he deserves it”
”So do I,” Walthew agreed ”What do you think of the other fellow?”
”I wouldn't trust him He's no doubt sincere, but I'et the rose?”
”On the pavement outside the _casa Sarmiento_,” Waltheered with some es happen in Spanish-American towns, and it's possible that the President's spies have noted it against you However, you'll be too busy to think of the senorita e get back to the coast” Grahaht be wise to reerous business, and can't run the risk of any co until this job's finished”
”I'll take no risk that could get us into difficulties, but that's all I'll prolance
”Well, I suppose I must be satisfied”
They entered the hotel, and half an hour later they left Rio Frio and rode down the hillside toward the ed the coast
CHAPTER III
HIGH STAKES
The green shutters were half closed to keep the dazzling sunshi+ne out of Henry Cliffe's private sitting-room at the smart Florida hotel, but the fresh sea breeze swept in and teled with a delicate perfume such as fastidious wo an afternoon nap and her daughter had gone out, so that Cliffe and Robinson had the room to themselves They sat, opposite each other, at a sar box, but there was only iced water in the tall glass at Cliffe's hand
He had lunched sparingly, as usual, and now leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful His hair was turning gray, and his face was thin and lined, but there was a hint of quiet force about him His dress was plain but in excellent taste, and he looked, what he was, a good type of the American business man, who had, however, as sometimes happens to his kind, sacrificed his health to commercial success He was a financier and a floater of coenerally paid
Robinson was tall, with a high color, a prominent, hooked nose, and a face of Jewish cast His clothes ell cut, but their adherence to the latest fashi+on was rather pronounced, and he wore expensive jewelry He was favorably known on Wall Street and so o wheat pit Cliffe had proposed a joint venture, because he knew that Robinson did not fear a risk and he had learned that a Jew can generally be relied upon when the reckoning comes
”Well,” said Robinson, ”I see a chance of trouble If President Altiera goes doe lose our reed ”It will be our business to keep hi In a way, that's an advantage
He h for it”