“Much obliged,” said Gale. “You’ll get the ten dollars in a couple of days—provided you keep quiet about it. I don’t want anybody to know about these letters just yet.”
The next morning the New York Daily News published on its front page a story which bore the following heading:
“WIFE HEARS FROM MISSING PRESIDENT.
“Francisco Felix, Fugitive President of Baracoa, Sends Wife Cheering Epistles From Gay Paree.—Weird Rumor Knocked On Head.—Daily News Staff Correspondent at San Cristobal Unearths Interesting Correspondence Which Proves Absurdity of Charge that Felix Was Victim of Portiforo Conspiracy.”
This, of course, did not escape the eagle eye of the New York correspondent of the San Cristobal Herald, whose chief duty was to go through each issue of the New York newspapers and pick out all stories which were likely to be of interest to the citizens of Baracoa. Thus it came about that five hours after that issue of the Daily News appeared on the streets of New York, the first edition of the San Cristobal Herald, with the same story, under a New York date line, spread all over its front page, was selling like hot cakes in the streets of the capital of Baracoa.
At about the same time a lengthy dispatch in cipher from the Baracoan consulate at New York arrived at the executive palace. It ended as follows:
“Upon investigation, I have the honor to report that this morning’s article in the News, one of the most influential newspapers in the United States, has made a great impression upon the American people. There is already heard both here and in Washington considerable criticism of the President of the United States for having permitted a member of his cabinet to show such conspicuous friendship for the wife of Felix. Now that the woman’s guilty knowledge of her husband’s whereabouts has been proved, it is felt by the better class of citizens here, that the United States has been placed in an embarrassing position by the fact that while she was residing at the home of the United States attorney general she was in constant receipt of letters from the fugitive.
“I have the honor to report, also, that I am reliably informed that in addition to publishing its sensational story, the News has cabled secret instructions to its staff correspondent in Paris to begin immediately a search for Felix. The editor believes that the clews furnished by the postmark of the letters ought to make it an easy matter to find him.”
That President Portiforo was not exactly vexed by this information was evident when he appeared in public later that day. As he rode through the streets in an open carriage, the people were able to get a good view of his features, and it was noted that he wore a grin broader than any that had appeared on his moonlike countenance since the day of his inauguration.
“I saw him this afternoon—I was walking along the Avenida Bolivar when the presidential equipage rolled past—and his expression reminded me of the cat just after swallowing the canary,” the Camera Chap remarked laughingly to Virginia Throgmorton, whom he met by appointment that afternoon at the usual trysting place. “It looks as if our little ruse had the desired effect.”