1
THE CONSPIRATORS
BY ARTHUR B. REEVE
TAKEN FROM "MCCLURE'S MAGAZINE," VOLUME 40, NOVEMBER 1912 - APRIL 1913
It was nearly twenty years ago that Burns took up, and followed by various paths to its end, the exceedingly interesting and romantic case of the Costa Rican banknote. Counterfeit Central American paper money--under ordinary circumstances--is not among the chief causes of anxiety of the United States Secret Service. But this note, unfortunately, was manufactured in the United States.
Burns started at once for the office of the consul-general of Costa Rica in New York.
"Ah, you come from the grand government of the United States," said the consul, in exuberant friendliness. "Welcome! I greet you!"
He seated Burns in his innermost office.
"It is the revolutionists," he explained. "This much we know, but not yet can we prove it."
"The revolutionists!" said Burns.
"You are surprised, my friend? No wonder," said the consul. "But listen; I will tell you. It is like this.
"My country has no revolutions. It is not like other Central American countries. It is Costa Rica--the Rich Coast, as you say it in your English tongue. We have riches, we have property, we have justice. We have more school-teachers than soldiers. But now, two, three years ago, we find the revolutionary junta--here in your great city, New York. They plot and plan to destroy my country. At the head is a very bad man--General de Mora; his grandfather once was Costa Rican President--a bad, a very devilish man."
"I see," said Burns. "What then?"
"I will tell you. Listen. This is the hard times, is it not?" (It was the darkest period after