Picture-Play Weekly (Apr-Oct 1915)

0 PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY saw him knock you down for it. And 1 admire his spirit in having done so. Who are you, sir?" he turned to inquire crisply of Royal. When he had stated his name and descent from the Macklin fighting line, with the hope which had brought him from the United States that he might lind a place in Laguerre's company, Royal felt both his shoulders gripped by the veteran soldier of fortune. "You came all the way down here to join my troop — you, the grandson of General Alacklin !" repeated the adventurer warrrfly. "Well, it'll be an honor for me to have any one with his blood in his veins fighting under me ! 1 knew your grandfather, sir. He was a >naii! You're not only a member of my companj', from now on, but I herewith appoint you my lieutenant in chief. Boys !" he turned to address the men under his leadership. "Captain jMacklin — three cheers !'' They were given with a will. Captain Heinz, thus deposed from his rank as subcommander by Royal, was the (inly one who did not join in them. He stood looking after General Laguerre and Royal as they walked off. arm in arm, toward the tent. .\nd then he spun around on his heel and moved away in the opposite direction, with his black brows drawn together in a scowl that boded no good to Royal — or to Laguerre, either, who had openly rebuked him before the whole company. The grizzled adx'enturer explained to Royal that he was planning to bring up his company to Garcia's encampment, join forces with liim, and then attack Alvarez in the city of Tegucigalpa at once. "A man named Graham," said Laguerre. "backed .Aharez in the revolution that gave him Garcia's presidency. He's running things, back at the capital, with a high hand, I hear. That's why we've got to strike soon, Garcia and I, or there won't be anything left of the government for him to reclaim. Graham will have picked it as clean as the bones of a turkey a week after Thanksgiving Day." Graham had, indeed, conducted the government for Alvarez, who was nothing but his tool, and from whom he had demanded for himself the office of secretary of state, in a high-handed fashion. So much so, that he had gone to the length of seizing the warehouses of the Isthmian line, owned by Joseph Hardgrave. When the news was cabled to him, the latter had decided to come down to Anduras himself. He had taken Beatrice along with him, thinking the sea voyage might do her good, as she had lost much of her former color and gayety since Royal went away. She had indifferently accepted her father's invitation— not knowing that it was to Anduras that Royal had gone to make good. Beatrice was waiting for him at the tree that bore their initials within the heart. He had cut them in the bark on the day before, as they told each other of their love. .Arrived in the capital city, Hardgrave and the girl went to the palazzo to see Alvarez, from whom the American millionaire demanded an explanation of his right to seize his warehouses. "It was done at my order," announced Graham, confronting the president of the Isthmian line, with cool insolence. "What are you going to do about it?" By way of reply, Hardgrave's fist shot out toward the rogue's sneering face. Graham parried the blow, and grappled with him. He shouted for the sol diers in the corridor without. They | ran in and made Hardgrave a prisoner. "Take the girl, too,"' the scoundrel ordered them. "But lock her up separately— there, in that adjoining room. I'll deal with her later, myself. There's an old score I've got to settle with her. Throw her father into a cell, and keep him there." Both Beatrice and her father appealed to Alvarez, but he only laughed uneasily, spreading out his hands in a gesture which suggested that he v>as helpless to interfere in any plans Graham might have; and they were led away in opposite directions. Even as this was taking place. General Laguerre, having reached Garcia's encampment, was making ready to attack the city with their combined forces. "May I make a suggestion, sir?" said Royal. The older man, regarding him in silence, nodded. "It is this," said Royal. "That we divide our number, and attack the city, front and rear, instead of making a concerted assault upon one point. Our ■force is much smaller than Alvarez's; the odds are at least two to one against our success, as matters now stand. Why not split up into two parties, so that if one should fail to break into the city, the other, perhaps with more luck, could come through from rear gates or front.' as the case might be, and let them in?"' General Laguerre slapped his thigh i approvingly. "There spoke the grandson of Gen-eral Macklin !" he declared. "Your idea' is a good one, and we'll carry it out. I'll lead one force at the front gates ^ and you. Royal, take the other and assault the rear." Royal's strategy was to have a far i more important result in deciding the; fate of the expedition than either he or Laguerre could have foreseen at the tinie. For, having slipped stealthily away from the consultation in Garcia's ten' before Royal had made his suggestior that the original plan, to attack the cit\ in a body at the front gate, be changed Heinz, mounting his horse, had riddei to warn Alvarez of the coming assaub — thinking, by the traitorous act, to pa} back Laguerre the grudge he bore bin for having elevated Royal to his rank. Meanwhile, back at the palazzo, Gra