“Hello!  Colonel Jolson, I’m very glad I caught you.  This is Mrs. Cortlandt.  Colonel Jolson, young Ramon Alfarez has arrested Kirk Anthony, of whom I spoke to you.  They have maltreated him, as usual, and have hidden him for three days.  Yes, yes!  I discovered it quite by accident while Mr. Cortlandt was down-town.  Oh, this is serious, and I’m furious. ...  That will do no good; I have reasons for preferring to handle it myself. ...  Thank you for the compliment.  We must go to Colon at once, and I thought you might give us a special.”  There was a slight pause, then:  “Good!  That will do quite as well.  In fifteen minutes.  Thank you.  Good-bye.”

Turning to her husband, she explained, swiftly:  “The Colonel’s automobile will be waiting at the station in fifteen minutes.  Are you ready?”

“I think you are going about this in the wrong way,” he said, coldly.  “When will you learn—?” She checked her crisp words at the flush that leaped to his cheeks.  “I beg your pardon, Stephen.  Please do as Colonel Jolson has done and trust me to manage this affair.”

He bowed and left her, saying, “I will have a coach waiting at the door.”

Fifteen minutes later a gasoline railroad motor-car with two passengers in addition to its driver and flagman rolled out of the yards at Panama City and took the main line, running under orders like a special train.  As it clanked over the switches with ever-increasing speed, Mrs. Cortlandt leaned forward and spoke to the driver.

“We will have a clear track, and you may go as fast as you like.”

The next moment the machine was reeling drunkenly around curves and a fifty-mile gale was roaring past.

Senor Ramen Alfarez was considerably nonplussed when his two distinguished visitors made known the nature of their errand.  Cortlandt did most of the talking, his cold hauteur serving a good purpose and contrasting strongly with the suppressed excitement of his wife.

“Pardon me, there is no necessity for delay,” he said, as the commandant endeavored to formulate an excuse.  “I trust I need not insist upon seeing the prisoner?” He raised his brows with a stare of inquiry that caused the other to reply, hastily: 

“Of a certainty not, senor.”

“Then take us to him.”

“I will spare your lady the painful sight of the prison-house.  The prisoner shall be fetch’ with all despatch.”

“We will see him alone.”

Again the commandant hesitated, while his bright eyes searched their faces with a sudden uneasy curiosity.  “I am fear soch t’ing is not permit’.”

“Nonsense!” exclaimed Mrs. Cortlandt, unable longer to restrain herself.  “We know the law quite as well or perhaps better than you, Senor Alfarez.  If you wish, Mr. Cortlandt will get permission from the President.  You have a telephone?”