to get out of it."

"There's one way," suggested the elder. "There's another" came the challenge. "Which are you going to take?" asked the Chief bluntly.

The Consul-elect stared at the sky now resplendant with new stars and made no immediate answer. Finally he met the gaze of the old man and said defiantly, "Quien sabe? Who knows?"

"I thought you were an American," said the Chief quietly and passed on.

Mason was welcomed heartily and cheerfully when he came in to dinner. "There's good news from home, sir," said the Consul. "Congress has passed a bill that we down here have advocated for years. I flatter myself that they have some respect for our opinions. I count it a feather in my cap, I assure you." "No other news?" said Mason rudely. "None, except maybe the papers have it. Kate and I haven't worked around to them yet." The young man threw back his head and laughed boyishly. "Mr. French, it's worth while being an American isn't it?"

"It means everything," said the Consul in some astonishment.

By the evening candle Mason read the papers aloud while Kate worked at her needle. Without the town was waking; gay laughter floated in from the passers on the street, the vendors of lottery tickets cried unceasingly and little naked children peeped in by the door. As the night deepened they fell silent. The two men smoked and watched Kate, who lcoked up now and then to smile at her father. At least above the sounds of the street there rose the music of a band.

"I'll go to bed now," said the Consul. "What with the pleasure of meeting you, sir, and the good news from home, I shall sleep soundly to-night."

"Isn't it rather early for sleep in this climate?" Mason asked when the old man was gone.

"Yes, and father doesn't go straight to bed. He'll be out on the upper balcony long after you're gone sound to sleep. I reckon he's always done it."

"It is surely a night for dreaming," he returned, "and-surely that is America?" When they stepped out upon the pavement the melody was in full swing. Above the mountains appeared the glow that heralds the rising moon, but sea

ward the stars shone in still undimmed splendor. In the shadows of the lower night Mason had not seen, but now that a hand was laid upon his arm he saw above, in the dull gloom of the Consulate, the old gentleman with head bared in salute to his country's hymn. His own throat swelled: he had dreamed of the thrill with which he himself should salute that hymn.

The band swept on into one of those enchanted airs which beat through the soul like the pulse of all the life that's worth the living. As they listened the very stars swung in the sky, and John Mason bowed his head that Kate French might not see his face; for he was losing his way.

A passing group compelled them to step off the pavement and he sought a seat for her by the little fountain that plays iu the middle of the plaza. When she was seated he stood before her. "Did you see the letter explaining my business?" he asked.

"Yes."

He smiled faintly. "Why didn't you tell your father?"

She looked up at him with a pitiful quiver of the mouth. "I will as soon as I can," she said, "but it is a hard thing to do."

"Was it because you thought I'd do what was right?" he continued without noticing her plea.

"You looked to be a gentleman, and I thought you-I could-you would excuse a little delay."

"Why is it so hard?"

She made no answer and John Mason felt ashamed of himself. He said more gently, "What is the right thing to do, Miss French?"

"I-I don't know," she confessed.

He stiffened his shoulders slightly. "You mean," he said "that you thought you might put me in so uncomfortable a position that I could choose the easier thing?"

"If I did," she retorted looking him bravely in the eyes, "I was foolish."

He glanced at her soberly with words on his lips. Instead of uttering them he gazed upon her delicate face showing clear and proud in the darkness. From

her white shoulder the black lace fell over an arm of surpassing fairness. A sense for the beauty of this woman woke within him and his eyes dimmed. "Yes," he said blindly, "it seems unjust,-it is ul.just."

The tone roused her and she arose, saying quickly, "Well, let's say no more about it. It is hard, a little hard, but we must both obey our government."

"I don't want you to think too hardly of me," he responded. "I am not sure that there isn't some mistake. Don't mention this to your father and if there has been a mistake, I will right it."

"Surely there must be," she pleaded half to herself, "for he has done so much. He was wounded and they made him Captain. Down here, he has done them honor. You could have told them how much they respect him here."

"I sympathize with your father," he said a little grimly.

In the hallway of the Consulate she said good night hospitably and he held her hand an instant. "What was the Chief's idea?" he asked gravely.

Her hand rested within his as she answered. "He said that you were an American and a gentleman."

That night the Consul-elect spent laboriously over pen and paper. The dawn was breaking when he folded the final sheet and mopped his face. "They've paid off all obligations by giving me this appointment," he muttered, "and they won't give a hang for this stuff. They'll think I'm crazy; that may do some good. Any way I've done my part. Now for the fun."

He sealed the package and stepped off to the post. Here he entered into parley with an early rising official who guaranteed its delivery to the United States mails within eight days. "Allow three weeks," thought Mason, "and my Christmas tree will be ready. Lord, but I'm sleepy." So he went to bed and slept.

For a week he dawdled away the time in such aimless fashion that the polite Consul hinted that he would be glad to help him in any business, and Kate grew more constrained. Each evening the hour of the National Airs found him in the plaza whence he watched the old man

dreaming in the shadows of his balcony. "It's not so much fun as I expected," he admitted to himself one night. "I'm not over-nice in matters of politics, but this isn't politics; this is”. He halted over the last word and scowled savagely at the arms over the Consulate. Later he entered the hall to find Kate sitting alone in the dusk. He sat down heavily and watched her face. "I have made up my mind," he said presently.

"Yes?"

"I shall resign."

"My father is still Consul; how can you resign?"

"I mean that I'll throw up the appointment, Miss French. I'll explain to the Bureau and the man who got me the chance."

"But," she said quickly, “maybe it will mean that another will come in your place."

"Is your armory exhausted?" he returned.

The tears rose in her eyes. "Haven't I humiliated myself enough?" she pleaded. "Can't you understand why I do this?" He made no response except a gesture of assent.

A slight breath of air crept through the room and he stirred restlessly. Finally he broke the silence by saying, "Would you mind a stroll in the plaza?"

"No; let's get a little fresh air. I'm sorry you're going to leave us," she went on, somewhat "When will you go?"

inconsequently.

From the beach they faintly heard the notes of a sailor's guitar and above its strum the laughter of women. A parrot chattered rudely from an unseen perch. Mason laughed. "This is very good. Must I leave it?"

"How can you stay?" she responded, simply.

"Won't you feel safe while I am here?" She looked at him curiously. "Have you written your letter yet?" she inquired softly. He bit into his lip and his hand trembled on the lapel of his jacket. Kate, with an almost unwilling movement put

out her hand toward him and tried to speak. He turned around and they went back to the Consulate. She was about to pass in, but he stopped her with a gesture. "You've said exactly what I deserve to hear," he averred. "It was utterly childish in me to try such a scheme. I wrote my letter the night of the day that I accepted your hospitality. It's on its way to Washington if it's not there now. I felt rather virtuous (for a while) and thought I'd surprise you. I didn't tell you because I wanted a little fun for my trip and-isn't it ridiculous?"

"I-I shouldn't have asked you the question if I-I hadn't known-the answer-I think," her voice shook a little as she raised her eyes to his "and i beg your pardon-humbiy."

"Quite unnecessary," he answered, gravely, "for I have got my deserts. Adios!"

"Where is Mr. Mason?" Kate asked her father at breakfast the next morning. "Left for Chinchuga to look at a mine," he answered. "He seems a nice, gentlemanly fellow, and he knows a good many respectable people. Funny, though, that ho should stop here: wonder what he's after. Railroad, probably."

"Did he leave his luggage?" she asked. "I believe so; in fact he asked me to ship it up by the Quito, in case he didn't get back in time to catch her. He seemed to think he might not be back here."

"His room is ready for him if he comes back," said Kate, and the subject was dropped.

The Quito called and went up the coast, but John Mason did not appear. However, the Chief showed Kate a cablegram among the bunch sent aboard by the operator at San Juan del Sur. It announced that the appointment of John Mason of Oregon to the Consulate at Mapala had been revoked at his own request, and Mr. Thomas French continued in that office. Over this Kate cried. Much to the Chief's amazement.