ke, who was searching
leisurely through his pockets for his match-box. From outside came the
lazy cry of a vendor of lottery tickets, and the swift, uneven patter
of bare feet, as company after company of dust-covered soldiers passed
on their way from the provinces, with their shoes swinging from their
bayonets.

Clay slapped the table with an exclamation of impatience.

"After all, this is only a matter of business," he said, "with all of
us. What do you say, Burke, to taking a ride with me to Stuart's
rooms, and having a talk there with the President and Mr. Langham?
Langham has three millions sunk in these mines, and Alvarez has even
better reasons than that for wanting to hold his job. What do you say?
That's better than going to jail. Tell us what they mean to do, and who
is to do it, and I'll let you name your own figure, and I'll guarantee
you that they'll meet it. As long as you've no sentiment, you might as
well fight on the side that will pay best."

Burke opened his lips as though to speak, and then shut them again,
closely. If the others thought that he was giving Clay's proposition a
second and more serious thought, he was quick to undeceive them.

"There ARE men in the business who do that sort of thing," he said.
"They sell arms to one man, and sell the fact that he's got them to the
deputy-marshals, and sell the story of how smart they've been to the
newspapers. And they never make any more sales after that. I'd look
pretty, wouldn't I, bringing stuff into this country, and getting paid
for it, and then telling you where it was hid, and everything else I
knew? I've no sentiment, as you say, but I've got business instinct,
and that's not business. No, I've told you enough, and if you think
I'm not safe at large, why I'm quite ready to take a ride with your
young friend here."

MacWilliams rose with alacrity, and beaming with pleasure at the
importance of the duty thrust upon him.

Burke smiled. "The young 'un seems to like the job," he said.

"It's an honor to be associated with Captain Burke in any way," said
MacWilliams, as he followed him into a cab, while Stuart galloped off
before them in the direction of the cuartel.

"You wouldn't think so if you knew better," said Burke. "My friends
have been watching us while we have been talking in there for the last
hour. They're watching us now, and if I were to nod my head during
this ride, they'd throw you out into the street and set me