The Key to Yesterday

icircle that breaks the straight coast line, a few steamers come to anchorage; at the other rise jugged groups of water-eaten rocks, where the surf runs with a cannonading of breakers,

em to a throb of familiarity. He had climbed the slippery landing stairs with the oppressing consciousness that he might step

ts church two crosses leaned dismally askew. A few barefooted natives slouched across the sun-refracting square, their shadows blue against the yellow heat.

convicting memories. He set out almost cheerfully for the American Legation to present the letters of introduction he had brou

pen area. There, Saxon wanted to stand, for a moment, against the masonry, with the sounds of the street in his ears and the rank fragrance of th

time of night. He would spend the greater part of the day, since hi

ince that would exactly duplicate former conditions. The night influences would be softer, less cruel-and le

his hostelry, on the main Plaza, only a few doors dis

that evening, or to-morrow morning at the latest. In the meantime, if the secretary could be of service to a countryman, he would

r. Partridge. "Possibly, you'd like to look in? I'm occupied for the da

ry to be given to the chief on arrival,

e moon was shining brightly between the shadows of the adobe walls and the balconies that hung above the pavements. As he went out t

stained walls, where the moon fell full upon them, Saxon turned into the byway. At the far end, the fa?ade rose blankly, fronting a bare drill-ground, and there he halted. The painter had not counted on the moon. Now, as he took his place against the wall, it bathe

his back, in the vaultlike recesses of the building, d

r some detail of the other time, if the other time had been an actual fragment of his life. He strove to recall the features of the officer who commanded the death squad, some face that had stood there before him on that morning; the

ubdued ejaculation, and opened hi

re drawn back over them in a snarling sort of smile. But the most startling phase of the tableau, to the man who opened his eyes upon it without warning, was the circumstance of the unknown's pressing an automatic pistol against his breast. Saxon's fir

or gargoyle fashioned in the wall, his first sentiment was less one of immediate peril than of argument with hi

ating. The voice was tremulous with emotion, probably nervous terror,

e certainty of walking away alive. It must be a pleasant reminiscence, but one never can tell." The thin m

went on almost wildly: "I've got to kill you, Carter. God knows I don't want to do it, but I must have security! This knowledge that you are watching me to drop on me like a hawk on a rat, will drive me mad. They've told me up and down both these God-forsake

t rising and falling almost hysterically. He was in th

d be ludicrous. Saxon was not in a position to claim that. The other man seemed to have knowledge that he himself lacked. Moreover, that knowledge was the information which Saxon, a

en gasping breaths, "why in h

man over the weaker, despite the fact that the w

eard the voice, now almost velvety, "it appears to me that there isn't very

hnic display! You have grandstanded and posed as the debonair adventurer, until it's come to be secon

lling you. I've craned my neck around every corner, and jumped at every shadow since that day-always watching for you. Now, I'm going to end it

xon could speak, a

care anything, about your p

nce of the juntas. The moment I saw you on the boat, the whole thing flashed on me. It was your fine Italian brand of work to come down on the very steamer that carried my guns-to come ashore just at the psychological moment, and turn me over to the authorities on the exact verge of my success! Your brand of h

learning profusely about the revolution of to-m

dirty work," he said, shortly. "Moreover, if you think

ughed sat

ou all this?" He halted, then went on tempestuously. "I'll tell you why. In the first place, you know it already, and, in the second place, you'll never repeat any information after to-night. It's idiot

imself for an opportunity that might present its

t bluff you. I saw you stand against this wall with the soldiers out there in front, and, since you can't be frightened off, you must be killed." The man's voice gathered vehemence as he

is flow of words. Saxon, with a strong

k I come for ven

n to this God-forsaken strip of coast? And you-you with money enough to live richly in God's country, you whose very face in the

ght be the cue to draw on the frigh

facts?" he demanded, with an assumption of the

r spoke

t seized me, you were free. Then, I was released, and you arrested. You drew you

in the actor. Accordingly, he allowed himself a skeptical laugh. R

e to have sacrificed you would have been infamous, but I didn't do it. I had been little seen in Puerto Frio. I was not well known. I had arranged it all from the outside while you had been in the c

hest, threatening execution, denouncing, cursing, yet all the while giving evidence of terror, almost pleading with his victim to believe his story! It was the armed man who was frightened, who dreaded the act he declared he was about to commit. And, as S

was frightened. It was his first experience. He didn't know of my c

form he could no longer disbelieve. He raised his hands

s afraid to come back. I knew what you would think, and then,

I have forgotten all that. I have no resentment, no wish for ven

say that. You're looking down a gun-barrel. You

s captive. The movement threw Saxon's hands out of his diminished field of sight. In an instant, the painter had caught the wrist of the slighter man in a grip that paralyz

no quarter. His lower jaw dropped, and he remained trembling, almost idiotic of mien. Then, as Saxon picked up the weapon and stood fi

is days with terror. Now that he regarded death as cert

here! Don't surrender me to the government! At least, let the ot

"that I had no designs on you. I meant i

of some unresting ghost in an Inferno. His eyes were the eyes of utter despair, and the hand that held the pistol hung limp at his side, the weapon lying loose in its palm. Rodman stood wide-eyed be

is hand slowly, and presenting the weapon st

charged with sadness to harbor either vengeance or treachery. He could not fathom the meaning, but he realized that from this

aughed

the answer!"

d with him. When they had gone a square, Saxon was again himself except for a stonily set face. Rodman was wondering how to apologize.

inquired in a differen

u doing in P

or punishment," replied Saxon, "a

mystified and Saxon walking on aimlessly at his side. He had no defini

a chance-risking

n't k

r pause, broken

! Stand on your good behavior. You may get away with it." He interrupted himself abrup

ho is President

ent into oblivion with the last revolution. Time is a great restorer, and so many similar affairs have intervened that you are probably forgotten. But,

made n

olled into the arcade at the side of the main plaza, "you've

not seem

olled about in their brightest uniforms, blowing cigarette smoke and o

king their pleasure with languid ease. But Rodman kept to the less conspicuous sides a

er comparatively dark. Here, the men met two army officers in conversation. Near them waited a

with extreme politeness, "but it is necessary

rated, and some of them came to the front, so that the two m

in a voice of truculent indignation. "

," declared the officer. "At the Palace,

first to the United States

" he assured them, "your legation will be immediately commu