Gilpin observer., 1899-12-21

armed and mounted, and accompanied
by several Maxims, should. be intro
duced into Ell Dorado, as the nucleus
Of the revolution. Even when he was
overruled by the syndicate he insisted
that the arrival of such a troop from
England, where he was known to be,
would excite suspicion, which must
lead to his recognition at the port and
| immediate arrest. His proposal was
that he should go to America, work his
way round by land, and join the troops
at the Ell Doradan capital. To this the
syndicate assented-though Bob did all
in his power to persuade Lady Wey-
bridge to dissent.
Perhaps because he felt that O'Fla-
herty did not like him, or possibly be-
cause O'Flaherty was contemptuous
about "the circus" Bob has conceived
a great distrust of the general. At the
same time it seemed to him fatal to
the success of the expedition that the
leader should put whole continent
between himself and his men and trust
to luck to turn up in time. He did not
suspect O'Flaherty's treason, but he
doubted his capacity. Though Lady
Weybridge had never told him that she
was buying Ell Dorados, he took this
for granted, and advised her very
strongly not to risk too much. This
angered her, for she had not intended
him to know anything about these
speculations, still less to share them,
preferring that when they married-as
she intended they should-he should
owe everything to her. She was also
piqued that he shoald set his judge
ment against hers. So there was
kind of lovers quarrel between them.
in which she said many foolish and
unjust things, and at last told him
that she wondered, if he had such a
distrust of the general, that he con-
tinued to associate himself with the
enterprise. Stung to the quick by
this, he formally washed his hands OF
the plot and went away in rage.
Reflection, however, brought better
counsel.
1t is matter Of history that the ex-
petition failed. Far from heading the
projected revolution, O'Flaherty gave
information to the Ell Dorado govern
ment. The result was that the cir
Gus" was stopped at the port OF debark-
alton, and the arms and ammunition
confiscated The El Dorado boom col
lapsed at once and O'Flaherty reaped a
large fortune.
When Bob FitzSimon realized what
had happened he hastened to Lady
Weybridge and found her in despair.
Il have lost nearly all my fortune"
she cried. "Oh, my friend, why did l
not listen to you?"
Things need not be so black II you
will listen to me now" he replied. 81
love you. l have loved you from the
first, but l was held back by the fear
that you might think me mercenary.
Now, 1 am a wealthy man. Will you
be mine
She hesitated painfully.
NO." she replied, in broken tones;
II am not worthy of such love; l will
not bind you to my broken fortunes. l
am we'll punished for my distrust and
you will soon forget that have ever
existed
She broke down in his arms, and an
she sobbed on his shoulder. it was
somehow tacitly settled that. as usual
the lady's No" would do just as well
dS Co.
Bob explained to her later that when
he had severed his connection with the
plot he felt free to act. Distrusting
O'Flaherty's good faith. he had specu-
lated for fall. and. owing to the mo-
mentary boom which had resulted from
the large purchases Of the syndicate
and the total slump which followed,
the result had exceeded even his antic-
ipations. He was, as he said, rich
man. He had won back for her all
that she had lost.
O'Flaherty did not enjoy his fortune
long He happened to meet one of
the expedition which had failed, who
had been informed o. his treachery by
the official report of the Ell Dorado
government. This person thought him
self aggrieved, and explained his opin-
ions so freely with the help Of a bowie
knife that the ex-president did not live
to reply.-London Truth.