The Broncho Rider Boys with Funston at Vera Cruz

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  A MISSION FOR FUNSTON.

  "Santiago!" exclaimed Donald.

  "By all that's great!" from Adrian.

  "Help!" cried Lucia. "He will do something desperate!"

  Donald and Adrian sprang forward, but their assistance was notneeded. Billie had by this time gathered his wits and in atwinkling the mad-man was disarmed.

  "Shall we bind him?" asked Adrian as they came forward.

  "No, indeed," replied Billie as the now helpless man sank downupon the chair. "He isn't dangerous."

  "What's it all about?" queried Donald.

  "Oh, nothing much! He simply wanted to make me his heir and marryme to his daughter."

  Donald and Adrian cast an admiring gaze upon Lucia, who was nowkneeling at her father's side.

  "Well," said Adrian in an aside, "I don't see why you shouldobject to that."

  "Who said I objected?" demanded Billie. "It is the young womanwho objects."

  "But whoever supposed he had a daughter?" said Donald.

  "Not I," from Billie. "But this is certainly a queer mess."

  Then to Lucia: "How long has he been in this way, Senorita?"

  "Only a few days. Since this trouble with the Americanos."

  "But how could that affect him?"

  "It is a long story, senor. For years he has been trying tooverthrow the government. When Madero was made president, he washappy. Then came that awful tragedy, by which Madero was killed.Since that time he has not been himself. But when it becameevident that the United States would interfere he became as youhave seen him to-day."

  "When I told him that all the United States wanted was to get ridof Huerta, he was much pleased," explained Billie. "That was whenhe proposed to make me his heir."

  Lucia's cheeks grew red, as she asked: "And did you accept hisproposal?"

  "I neither accepted nor rejected. I just followed him in to seewhat would happen next."

  "But would you accept?" insisted Lucia.

  "That depends," replied Billie, with a touch of color in his ownface. "But what had we better do now? You and I will discuss theother question later."

  "The best thing we can do," interposed Donald, "is to report toLieutenant Blunt. Isn't there some place, Senorita, where yourfather can be placed for safe-keeping?"

  "He will be perfectly safe here with me, senors, if the servantsare allowed to remain."

  "They certainly will be," declared Billie. "I will personallyvouch for that. We have done Captain Rush a good turn to-day andI know he will be glad to do that much for us. And besides, theAmericans will harm no one."

  Lucia gave Billie a grateful look as she replied:

  "Ah, senor, I shall trust it all to you. I can see that you are afriend of my father and I know you are telling the truth."

  "You bet you can trust me," was Billie's emphatic reply. "Comeon, fellows, let's go look after my horse."

  In the door Billie turned:

  "I'll leave my robe in the cupboard, Senorita; and, if you don'tmind, I'll ask Lieutenant Blunt to make himself at home in thepatio."

  "The house is yours, senor. Do as you think best."

  "By George!" exclaimed Adrian as they descended the stairs to thepatio, "this is getting serious."

  "What?" queried Donald.

  "Why this affair of Billie and the young lady we have justleft."

  "Nonsense!" from Billie. "It isn't half as serious as what I sawat Moreno."

  "No!" laughed Donald. "I saw that myself; but Josie is anAmerican. Hey, Ad?"

  "I don't think it's very nice to be making remarks about youngladies in their absence," retorted Adrian, bristling up.

  "Oh, come now, Adrian!" laughed Billie. "You started it. But whatdo you make out of Santiago?"

  "He's evidently a rich old chap with a bug. That's all."

  "Well," commented Billie, with a nod of his head, "strange thingsdo happen when you travel. Who'd have thought we'd ever see theold chap again, and at a time like this?" and he went back towhere Adrian and Donald had stabled the horses, to see if therewas anything he could do for the wounded animal.

  When Lieutenant Blunt was made acquainted with the conditionsprevailing in the house, he immediately took possession of thelower floor and from that time on until the arrival of GeneralFunston with the Fifth Brigade, it was made one of the officialresidences.

  The week following the occupation of Vera Cruz by the Americanforces was a busy one for our boys. Because of their intimateknowledge with the Spanish language, they were continually indemand. There was never a verbal message from the AmericanAdmiral to some Mexican official but what they were called upon,and they very soon made friends of every Jackie and marine in thecity.

  Ten days later the boys stood upon the wharf awaiting the arrivalof the first boatload of General Funston's regulars from the bigtransports which had anchored in the harbor the night before.Because of the shallowness of the water, everything in Vera Cruzharbor has to be brought ashore in small boats, known aslighters. As the boys watched the first of these to approachthere was something in the face and bearing of the officer incommand which attracted their attention.

  "By George!" exclaimed Donald, "I seem to know that face. Don'tyou, Billie?"

  "Does look kind o' familiar. Where have we seen him?"

  "I'll tell you!" cried Adrian. "It's the lieutenant who was incharge of the patrol on the Rio Grande."

  "Lieutenant Grant!" exclaimed Billie. "Sure as you're born. Wellthis is luck!"

  "Luck? What do you mean?"

  "Why, maybe he'll be able to tell me whatever became of thosedrafts for ten thousand pounds that I took from old Don Pablo."

  His companions laughed.

  "Still thinking about that, are you?" said Donald. "Why of courseyou'll never hear of them again. The bank is simply in thatmuch."

  "Maybe so," admitted Billie, "but I'll get something official."

  And he did.

  It was several days later, though, after the regulars had takenpossession of the city and the navy forces had withdrawn to theirships. The boys were sitting in Lieutenant Grant's quarters, towhom they had offered their services as soon after his landing asthey were able, and were laughing over their adventures on theborder.

  "It was certainly a close call you boys had," the lieutenant wassaying. "I'm not sure but our neutrality was mighty near abreaking point. What do you think, Billie?"

  "Possibly so; Americans will be Americans. But say, Lieutenant,whatever was done about those drafts I took from Don Pablo? I'venever been called upon to tell my story, nor have they ever comeback to me."

  "That's because you were out of the United States," repliedLieutenant Grant. "It was less than a month ago that I was askedif I knew your whereabouts. Uncle Sam has decided that he has noclaim to the drafts and they were returned to me. I have them inmy army chest. If they are any good to you, I shall be pleased tohand them over."

  "I guess they are not much use to any one," sighed Billiemournfully. "My father says no bank would cash them without DonPablo's signature, and no one can get that."

  "I'm glad you take it so philosophically," laughed thelieutenant. "I hope you'll have better luck next time."

  The boys arose to leave.

  "Which way?" asked the lieutenant.

  "No place in particular. We thought we'd go home."

  "You mean to the United States?"

  "Not to-night," laughed Adrian. "Just to the house where we areliving. It belongs to old Santiago."

  "Who is he?"

  Briefly the boys narrated what they knew about him on the RioGrande, how they had met him here, and why they were staying athis house.

  "Has he no other name?"

  "Why, yes, I suppose so," replied Billie. "We always call himPrince to his face, and his daughter as the Princess Lucia. Ofcourse, it is all make-believe, but it is one way of keeping himquiet."

  He called to one of Santiago's servants, whom Lucia had lent themto look after their horses.
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  "Oh, Chomo!" he said. "Do you know what Santiago's surname is?"

  "Si, senor. It is Ojeda."

  "What?" cried all the boys at once. "Ojeda? Why, that was old DonPablo's name."

  The boys stood and eyed each other in speechless wonder. The samethought was in all their minds.

  "Do you think it is possible?" asked Billie at last.

  "Do I think what is possible?" asked Lieutenant Grant.

  "Why, that Santiago could have given those drafts to the strangerso as not to be known in the matter."

  "Possibly. He seems a man of mystery."

  "Well," declared Billie, "I am going to find out."

  "How, I should like to know," asked Donald. "He's too crazy toremember anything, even if he wanted to tell you."

  "You forget Lucia," said Billie.

  "Oh, no, I haven't," laughed Donald, "and I have no doubt shewould tell you all about it if she knew; but I do not believe shedoes. Santiago is too deep to have entrusted his secrets to agirl not yet out of her teens."

  "You never can tell," remarked the lieutenant. "Men with ahobby do strange things. You'd better ride along with me toheadquarters. I'd like to introduce you to General Funston. He'sa man after your own hearts. You know how he went out andcaptured Aguinaldo when he was in the Philippines."

  "I've read about it," replied Adrian. "It was a bold deed."

  "Sure was," said Donald. "We'll be mighty glad to meet him."

  It may also be said that General Funston was glad to meet theBroncho Rider Boys, especially after Lieutenant Grant told him ina few words of the good work they had done on the border and onthe day that Vera Cruz was taken.

  "And when do you expect to return to the United States?" askedthe general.

  "Just as soon as we can obtain passage," replied Donald.

  "I think we can arrange that for you in a few days," replied thegeneral. "In the meantime come in occasionally."

  The boys thanked him and started to leave, when the telephone inthe general's quarters rang. He looked for some one to answer,but no one being at hand, he picked up the 'phone himself.

  "What's that?" he asked after a brief moment. "The water works.You think they are attempting to cut you off. All right, I'llrush help."

  He set down the 'phone and turned to Lieutenant Grant.

  "The enemy has gathered in force about the water works," he saidsharply. "They evidently intend cutting off the water supply.Tell Colonel Bright to send them reinforcements at once. Do youboys know the way there?"

  "Yes, sir," from all three.

  "Then show the men the nearest way! Now go! The safety of thecity may depend upon you!"