that of Pimentel, a corporation-jobbing Cientifico; and there were other men in the procession who had a keen eye for Gustavo as he passed, and could not have failed to note undue haste on his part.

The car rolled through the Chepultepec gates, to the castle's porte cochere. Gustavo took the list of traitors from the American's hand, and went up to see the man whom they were plotting to depose. A very long hour the American waited for Gustavo. When he came, his face was not pale; it was flushed with the excitement of futile contention.

"Pancho wouldn't believe it; he laughed at me," was all he had to say till the men were back in town again, with four walls around them, and the doors well locked.

CHAPTER XIV

T must not be imagined that Gustavo Madero had sought the President merely to communicate his fears.

I

He was a man of action, the practical politician of the family. His gifts and experience explain why he believed the colonel's story, instead of rejecting it because of the deplorable revelation of the man's character. Gustavo saw nothing incredible in what had occurred — that this fellow should come whining for money to one whom he was conspiring to destroy, and should then upon an impulse turn about and betray the other party from whose members he had obtained no help in his distress. Human nature in the raw will sometimes look like that.

The colonel had convinced Gustavo that the list was authentic, that the men whose names appeared upon it— with one exception, still doubtful as was indicated by a question mark—had pledged themselves for the overthrow of the Government. The date set was March 16. Two of the names were of men then in prison, another was that of a civilian. The officers included could probably control about 12,000 troops, a great majority of the garrisons in and near the capital. Even the commandant of the palace guard stood ready to deliver up the headquarters of the Government at the demand of the conspirators.

Eight men of the twenty-two were of commanding importance; the others were followers. The eight were: General Mondragon-On retired list. Active organizer of the conspiracy.

Rodolfo Reyes- Lawyer. Counsel and guide of Felix Diaz.

General Felix Diaz-Confined in the penitentiary in Mexico City under suspended sentence of death for treason. General Bernardo Reyes - Father of Rodolfo. Confined in Santiago barracks in Mexico City under suspended sentence of death for treason.

General Blanquet-In active command of 4,000 troops of all branches. Headquarters at Toluca, capital of the State of Mexico, 46 miles distant from Mexico City.

General Huerta (?) Not in active service. Had not positively agreed to join the revolt.

General Beltran - The man who "captured" Felix Diaz at Vera Cruz in October, 1912. At this time commanding infantry at Tacubaya, a suburb five miles from the National Palace.

General Navarette-Commanding artillery at Tacubaya. Gustavo perceived that in order to break up the conspiracy it would be necessary to deal effectively with the eight men noted. The thing was not impossible, provided that the President would authorize vigorous measures. Felix Diaz and Bernardo Reyes already were in close confinement. Blanquet, Beltran and Navarette could be transferred to distant posts, widely separated. General Huerta, who for reasons not quite clear, had given only a qualified pledge to join the plotters, could be, as had previously been suggested, sent abroad to study military tactics. Of the eight there remained but General Mondragon and Rodolfo Reyes who might be arrested; or, if the President was disinclined to take such a step they could be placed under such close surveillance that they would voluntarily leave Mexico. General Villar, ranking officer in the capital, and General Figueroa, Chief of the Federal District police, were faithful; so was General Felipe Angeles in command of troops