But a half-hour later the commandant returned to the cell, and
this time he brought with him a number of his little policemen,
each armed with a club. Feeling some menace in their coming, Kirk,
who had seated himself dejectedly, arose to ask: "What's coming
off?"
Alfarez merely issued some directions in Spanish, and chain
handcuffs were once more snapped upon the prisoner's wrists.
"So! you're going to hold my trial, eh?" cried Kirk.
But the other snarled: "Senor Locke, you 'ave force' the water of
the 'ose-wagon upon my body for making the people laugh. Bueno!
Now I shall laugh." He seated himself, then nodded at his men to
begin.
IX
SPANISH LAW
Mrs. Cortlandt answered her telephone for the second time,
repeating with some impatience: "Tell the man I can't see him."
"But he refuses to leave--says he must see you at once; it's
important," came the voice of the clerk.
"Oh, very well. I'll come down." She hung up the receiver with a
snap.
"Why don't they send him up?" queried her husband from the
sitting-room.
"It's a negro, and the clerk says he'd rather not allow him up-
stairs. Another sick family, I suppose."
"They're beginning to impose on you. It's usually that way with
charities," said Cortlandt.
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