Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-09-27
CHAPTER I.-(Continued.


dertake to explain the case as we'll as
/ am able. will tell you the whole
story as it lies nearest to my hearr,
and you will be able to take from 1t
what most concerns you. To begln'
then, General: Some time ago l was
fortunate enough to rescue beautltcl
girl from being dashed to the ground
and killed by runaway team OF horses
In New York. That girl was Lola Gar
"a, the daughter of Don Juan Cara,
a proud old Spaniard who has lived IN
Venezuela and latterly in New York,
where he married a wealthy lady, now
dead Don Juan is one of the proud
est of Castilians, and though am by
no means poor, I was not wealthy
enough, or of noble birth, to satisfy
his ambitions for his daughter. Lola
Cara, who has then seventeen years
of age and is now eighteen, inherited
more of her mothers American nature
than her fathers Spanish one. She
cared nothing for royalty and old
world courts, and being wealthy In
her own right, was Independent. grew
to love her, and she returned my love,
but Don Juan forbade all communica-
ton between us. Still, we met clandes-
timely as often as possible.
"Well, Don Juan, about six months
ago, began to receive strange men at
his house, and it was evident that
some kind Of conspiracy was on foot.
Still, he guarded his secret closely, and
we learned only the name of one of
these-Ferdinand Gomez. There was
another, whose name we could not at
first learn, who always wore a gor-
geous uniform, concealed, when on the
street, under a long Spanish cloak.
ION the evening of the fourth of this
month, these men and several others
were at Garza's house, and Lola was
called to meet them. Don Juan put her
hand in that of the uniformed stI.ng-
er, and said:
"'Philip of Aragon, this is my
daughter, Lola I made my bargain,
and who shall say you will not be the
gamer by it?'
There was a great deal more said,
and the poor girl, though much fright
ened, gathered enough from the con-
slant talk to know that these men
were engaged in desperate
plot to seat Philip of Aragon
on the throne of some coun-
try now republic, and that her
munition and ready money for the en-
terprise, STIMULATING, In turn, that his
| daughter, Lola, should be made queen.
When, after long time. during which
| she trembled with fear, she was al
lowed to leave the room. Ferdinand
| Gomez, who was near the door, bent
| over and whispered in her ear: Heed
him not-the mailman Whether he be
King or not, you shall never be his
bride. I have loved you long, and love
| you now, too we'll to give you up to
| him. Rather than have him marry you
I would kill him. And rather than
| give you to another, I would kill you.
Remember, peace or war, success or
| failure, you are mine
CAS- you may suppose, General, the
| poor girl was doubly frightened at this,
and made haste to tell me all on the
| following day. Before could act, how
ever, on the morning OF the 9Th, Don
| Juan CARA, his daughter, Gomez
and Philip of Aragon were missing
| was much alarmed, and with my tried
| and true friend here, Jack Tempest,
| visited the Venezuelan consul, among
others in New York. At the consul's
office we learned that the steamship
| Agostura had sailed from New York
| that morning with the conspirators
! and a cargo of arms for Bolivar There
fore, it is certain that Venezuela is the
country to be turned into monarchy
with Philip Of Aragon on the throae
Now where are the conspirators?"
Salvarez laughed, and said:
"You need not fear. Your Lola is
now probably safe in the hands of the
| Republic, and will not be harmed If
your story is true. The Agostura Is so
| long overdue that I do not expect to
see her at Bolivar"
Notwithstanding this opinion Of
General SalvareZ. the smoke Of
steamer was seen approaching on the
| 22d. Activity began at once, and Sal
varez prepared to receive into captivity
the enemies Of his country.
When the steamer drew nearer, they
were surprised to see that she carried
the Custom House flag, thus showing
that she had been examined and
assed at La Guayra.
Then it could not be the Agostura.
But it was the Agostura.
Slowly she swung into the dock: the
hustle of landing occupied some lit
tie time, and the captain presented his
papers.
Not a passenger was on board; no
Gomez, 20 Cara, no Lola. no Philip
Of Aragon.
The invoice was examined. The seal
of the custom house was genuine.
The work of unloading began.
Case after case was brought ashore,
and by the command Of Salvarez brok-
On open.
The contents of one was a plow, Of
another a harrow.
So on, until the dock was strewn
with agricultural implements.