Hutchinson gazette., 1901-07-18

himself confronted by coalition be-
tween Philip and Don Juan that badO
fair 10 defeat his own secret purposes.
So, when the contract was signed,
Don Juan went TO a certain wealthy
man In New York who frequently bo'
came the backer Of shady enterprises,
invariably exacting a great return for
his money; and this person, upon tho
promise OF Don Juan 10 furnish o
contract, signed by Philip Of Arngon,
TO give him, sollma, the backer Of the
state, the full control OF all trade be-
tween Venezuela and the United StatOB,
agreed to furnish twenty thousand
rifles, millions OF cartridges, and a mil
lion dollars to promote the success OF
the royal cause.
The plans worked smoothly without
a break. The Agostura was chosen as
the vessel to carry the arms out OF
New York; and this was whore Gomez
proved himself to be the master-hand
In the whole conspiracy,
Up to this time the success had all
depended upon him, with the one ex-
ceptlonal instance of Garza's aid imam
cially. But then, Gomez had chosen
Cara,
He had selected his agents shrewd-
ly, MANAGED their movements, and
guided their hands, He had been all
over tho ground to prepare the way
for his emlssaries. He had met Pedro
Francisco, and had trusted him. He
alone, Gomez, controlled tho situation.
AT the same time the Agostura was
being laden with arms In tho East
River the Turtle, ship In the carry
ing trade between Boston and the pen
insula, lay at her dock in Boston re-
celvng cargo OF bona-nde agricul-
tural implements, ostenslbly for Me-
aragua.
The invoices OF the Turtle and the
Agostura, one false, the other true,
were identically the same, The invoice
Of the Agostura Tailed correctly with
tho invoice Of the Turtle.
The morning OF the 9th was a men,
orable one to Lola CARA.
She had been awakened before day
light by her father and ordered to
dress.
"Come," he said, I'VE so to place you
on throne"
She had rebelled. A struggle had act
ually taken place, Lola had been
dragged forth against her will, thrust
into a carriage with her father
Gomez and Philip OF Aragon, and TAX
en- to Port Morris.
They boarded the Agostura. The
ship sailed at Ave o'clock,
Gomez was radiant. His plans had
so far been signally successful. His as
sociates wondered at his hopefulness
They knew nothing about the purchase
of the Turtle.
But Gomez had a surprise In store
for them.
When the Agostura had reached
point about five degrees east OF Wash
ington and thirty-lve degrees north
latitude, she hung about as II waiting
for something.
That something was the Turtle.
I'VE are lostl" Don Juan had eX'
claimed when he saw tho strange
steamer coming toward them,
1--WE govern" Gomez replied, "Vene'
zuela is ours from to-day"
The two steamers were lasAed to-
gether.
Each had been furnished with don
key-englnes and hoisting apparatus,
The cargo Of the Agostura was trans
ferred to the Turtle.
The Agostura unloaded at Bolivar
as we have seen. General Salvarez had
started for homo In disgust There
was no way for Medworth and Tempest
to leave before El Callao sailed, which
would be in five days. Castle Salvare2
was only twenty miles away. They ac'
cepted the offer Of hospitality Salyare2
held out to them, and accompanied
him up the Coroni valley.
In the meantime, the Turtle, free
from all hlndrance, had followed the
Agostura, and at the very hour the
Agostura was unloading at Bolivar
the Turtle, loaded with twenty thous-
and rifles, came to anchor in the Or.
inoco at a shorter distance below the
mouth Of the Coroni River than Boil.
var was above It. Gomez had outwitted
them all.
ITO be continued)