GENERAL LOPEZ INTERRUPTS.

The inhabitants of Castile, according to all accounts, are proud, haughty, honorable, and easily offended, and Carlo Lopez came of Castilians who had lived for three hundred years in Central America, where the climate has a degenerating effect upon the fine qualities of any white race.

He had made overtures to James Morrison in perfectly good faith, assuming that Jim was representing his father in Rosa Blanca and was fully informed regarding the situation of the fruit company in the republic of Santa Rosa, and he had been grievously offended by the curt note in which Morrison refused to dine with him without even bothering to explain his refusal. This was not only a slight to the ministry of war, but was particularly insulting to the very proud incumbent of the office.

Later in the evening, while paying his respects to Miss Goring in the presence of her parents, his ears had been assailed by ribald singing and he was informed that it was Jim Morrison in person who was making the night hideous under the window of Ellen Goring.

Lopez had long since made up his mind that Ellen would make a perfect Señora Lopez and his discovery that the son of Tom Morrison was interested in the young woman would have alarmed him if he had not been reassured by the behavior of Miss Goring upon that occasion.

But, as he kept informed of everything that happened in the city, he learned next night that the Gorings were dining with the Tillmans and that the only other guest was James Morrison, and he remembered an old Spanish proverb that one could not tell how a woman felt by what she said or did.

Ellen, he knew, did not like living in Santa Rosa and if she accepted the minister of war, she would have to reside here most of the time. Morrison was richer than Lopez and he could settle his wife in New York. It might be Morrison's winning argument.

Next afternoon, about four o'clock, General Carlo Lopez, wearing a striking service uniform of his own design--green coat, with heavy gold frogs, white riding breeches and high boots, and a gold and red fatigue cap--passed through the archway of the consulate and came into the patio, where he found Ellen Goring in the arms of Jim Morrison who was kissing her on the lips. True, she broke away immediately, her eyes blazing, her little fists clenched. She faced Jim like a young fury.

"I ask your pardon. I have intruded," softly said Carlo Lopez, whose black eyes were also blazing.

Ellen's composure returned. "Come right in, general," she said. "Mr. Morrison is just going. Oh yes, you are, and you're never coming back!"

"Is there any little thing I can do, Miss Goring?" asked Lopez softly but significantly.

"I am quite capable of managing my affairs, thank you," she retorted. "Good afternoon, Mr. Morrison."

Jim looked imploringly at the girl, threw Lopez a glance full of resentment for his intrusion and indeed for his very existence, then picked up his hat and went away. Lopez seated himself and, with exquisite tact, began to discuss a German opera company which the president of the republic had invited to Rosa Blanca.

Jim had behaved shamefully as he admitted to himself. Once again the brown eyes of that girl had intoxicated him and the kindness with which she had received him had affected his brain.

He had just come into the patio and Ellen, who was sitting under the colonnade, had risen and come forward with outstretched hand and a smile on her lovely face. All was well; she was no longer hostile and it only needed good judgment and a little patience; but what did he do?

Imbecile, he had flamed at the touch of her hand, exploded at the benevolence in her eyes and he had dragged her roughly into his embrace and rained kisses upon her sweet unprotected little face. She had struggled fiercely and then seemed to yield; he wouldn't swear to it, but it seemed as though she were beginning to return the pressure of his lips when that gold and green and white Adonis, Carlo Lopez, appeared on the scene. Ellen had thrust him violently from her and pronounced sentence of exile. It was all Lopez's fault. Now what was he going to do?

* * * * *

From his hotel he sent by messenger a letter full of extravagant protests of repentance, which was returned unopened. He tried the telephone and got Mrs. Goring, who told him Ellen did not wish to speak to him. He planted himself for two days outside the consulate and, on the second day, she emerged looking as cool and fresh in the melting afternoon as though she had come out of a refrigerator. She saw him, hesitated, and continued toward him.

"Please forgive me, Miss Goring," he said humbly.

"Don't you ever dare to speak to me again," she said as sharply as a lovely girl could say anything, and then she passed on her way.

General Carlo Lopez had a pleasant visit with Ellen after the departure of Jim Morrison and found her kinder toward him than usual, but her manner did not entirely satisfy him. He had seen her repulse and banish the mad American, and she certainly seemed to resent the man's familiarity with the utmost bitterness--but would she have done so had the minister of war not appeared unexpectedly upon the scene?

Being totally unacquainted with the impulsive nature of Jim Morrison, Lopez could not conceive that the fellow might have embraced and kissed Ellen without some encouragement. The Latin race has always overstressed the importance of a kiss. Lopez recalled the old Spanish proverb: "A woman kissed is two-thirds won." He was already furiously jealous of the young American, yet, such was his breeding, he had asked Ellen no questions regarding the situation he had blundered upon.

Back in his office in the Administration Building, however, General Carlo Lopez had a secretary telephone to John Laird, who was at the Hotel Trinidad, and Laird arrived shortly before six o'clock.

"Mr. Laird," he said crisply, "at our conference I told you that we should keep our agreement with the Morrison Company. That goes. If it should happen, however, that the Morrison Company should make an unjust demand upon this government, or reflect in any way upon our ability to govern our country, I should feel that we were absolved from our obligation and I am sure President Garcia would feel the same way."

"Yes? Is there any--er--prospect of such a thing coming to pass?"

Lopez smiled. "I think there is such a possibility. Therefore, if your principals can make us a better offer--"

"I'll undertake to arrange that," said the Blue Star agent eagerly.

When he had gone, Carlo Lopez wrote a letter, called in a spruce young officer and studied him for a moment.

"I want this letter placed in the hands of Pizzo the bandit," he said slowly. "Do you think you can find his camp and deliver it?"

"_Sí, Señor Géneral_, I shall do my best."

"Go in civilian clothes and be silent about this mission. If you succeed you will not be a lieutenant any longer, you will be a captain."