Arizona -- Fiction; Grand Canyon (Ariz.) -- Fiction; Western stories
Senor Juan Cadiz was prompt and so was Enoch. For a long hour the two
sat in the breathless heat of the July night while the Mexican answered
Enoch's terse questions with a flow of dramatic speech, accentuated by
wild gestures. Shortly after eleven-thirty Jonas appeared in the
doorway with two tinkling glasses.
"You are sure as to your facts about this bandit leader?" asked Enoch
in a low voice.
"Of an absolute sureness. If I--"
The Secretary interrupted. "Could you go to Mexico for me, in entire
secrecy?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes! If you could but see him and he you! If he could
but know an American of your type, your fairness, your kindness, your
justice! We have been taught to despise and hate Americans, you must
know."
"Who has taught you?"
"Sometimes, I think partly by the Germans who have come among the
people. But why should Germany do so?"
"Why indeed?" returned Enoch, and the two men stared at each other,
deep intelligence in the gaze of each. Jonas tinkled the glasses again
and Senor Cadiz jumped to his feet.
"I know, Senor Jonas!" he laughed. "That is the good night cap, eh!"
Jonas grinned acquiescence, and five minutes later he turned off the
lights in the library. Enoch climbed the stairs, somewhat wearily.
His room was stifling despite the wide-flung windows and the electric
fan. He slowly and thoughtfully got himself into his pajamas, lighted
a cigarette, and walked over to the table that stood in the bay window.
He unlocked the table drawer and took out a large blank book of loose
leafed variety, opened it, and seating himself he picked up his pen and
began to write.
"July 17.--Rather an easier day than usual, Lucy, which was fortunate,
for the heat has been almost unbearable and at the end of the office
day came that which stirred old memories almost intolerably. A letter
from Frank Allen! You remember him, Lucy? I told you about him, when
I first began my diary. Well, he has written that his daughter, Diana,
is coming to Washington to ask me for a job which he does not wish me
to give her. I cannot see her! Only you know the pain that such a
meeting could give me! It would be like going to Bright Angel again.
And while the thought of going back to the Grand Canyon has intrigued
me for twenty-two years, I must go in my own way and in my own time.
And I am not ready yet. I had forgotten, by the way, that Frank had a
daughter. There was, now that I think of it, a little thing of five or
six who went down Bright Angel with us. I have only the vaguest
recollection of what she looked like.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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