as it
probably would."

"I should hope so."

"And he believes, too, that in such an emergency the Mexican federals
and insurrectos would join hands in fighting the common enemy."

"That is quite likely. He's got that figured out in good form,"
laughed Frank. "I guess he isn't such a dub, after all."

"He is probably right in the supposition that such a war would stop the
fighting over here--that is, the fighting as it is now going on. He
seeks peace in his own land at the risk of a war with our country."

"Then he ought to be shot," declared the boy.

"He was negotiating with Mr. Cameron for the purchase of firearms and
ammunition," Nestor went on. "His people haven't got the guns, and Mr.
Cameron dealt in them."

"I see. Go on--faster," cried the excited boy.

"He went to the office that night hoping to convince Mr. Cameron that
he ought to sell him the arms he wanted. He doubtless expected to
leave the office with a signed contract for what he wanted--arms and
ammunition enough to make the proposed raid at least formidable. He
failed. Mr. Cameron would not sell the arms, knowing that they were to
be used against his own country."

"Good boy! Hope he gets well."

"Then this diplomat probably asked for the correspondence which had
been carried on between the two men. He doubtless feared that Mr.
Cameron would reveal the plot to the government, as he would have done."

"Say," cried Frank, "this is getting pretty swift."

"It has been swift from the start," replied the other.

"Did this diplomat get the arms of some one else?" asked the boy,
presently.

"I don't know, but it is believed that he did."

"And is coming here with them?"

"Unless they are stopped at the border."

"Then," Frank said, soberly, "I know what all these men are gathering
here for. I know what they are waiting for--guns."

"I'm afraid you are right."

"Does the War department know?"

"Certainly."

"You found out about it and told Washington by wire?"

Frank reached forward and seized Nestor's hand and shook it as if he
expected to keep it in his grasp forever.

"I know you did," he said. "You needn't say a word."

"The War department has the letters," said Nestor, "the letters the
diplomat did not secure from Mr. Cameron. I don't know why he did not
get them, I'm sure. They were in a drawer of the big desk. It is quite
probable, however, that he was frightened away, as the others were.
That must have been