"Indeed! Are you 'behind the ribbons' at the local Wanamaker's?"
"I 'ave been promote! I am appoint' yesterday by his Excellency
the Presidente to be his secretary. So! Those dastardly attack of
yours is transpire to my blessing. It will be always so."
"I suppose it's a good job, but you ought to be selling poison in
a drug-store. Did you call me out to hear this news?"
"Si!" Alfarez nodded his head vigorously. Then, narrowing his
eyes, he said, meaningly, in a voice that none might overhear,
"Panama is sometimes very on'ealthy city for fat Americans." He
ran a hostile glance up and down Anthony's burly frame. "It is the
climate per'aps--of too great 'eat."
"In other words, you intend to make it hot for me, eh?"
"I?" The ex-commandant shrugged his shoulders in eloquent denial.
"I shall do not'ing, bot--if you are wise man you will not display
yourself to the dangers of these climate; you will return 'ome."
"Say! I've a good notion to punch your head."
Alfarez paled slightly.
"Soch would be most dangerous, for in Chiriqui prison there is at
the present some fatal disease." He laughed sneeringly. "The senor
is reech man's son, eh? Those do not geeve the appearance."
With supreme insolence he touched one of the buttons upon Kirk's
linen uniform with his cane, whereat the American snatched the
stick out of his hand, broke it, and tossed it into the street.
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