Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-11-15
CHAPTER XIII.

8
ssrntion Of Salvarez postponed until
uaidnight-is beyond my comprehen-
.sion. Is there any game In it."
1t was Gomez who spoke. He and
francisco were in the Council Room.
Philip was away in another part OF the
castle with Don Juan.
Gamer" replied Francisco. What
.;Eane could there be? What do you
Imean. Gomez? Explain your lnslnua-
tEons!''
.-It is strange that true lover OF
Che king and hater of the Republic
should seek to delay the execution OF
.s5ne OF Crespo's most dangerous gen.
ssrais. Rather, to my mind, should he
hasten the death OF the entire horde.
Francisco smiled.
General Gomez" he said. there
are other hearts than yours. You are
aaot the only friend the king has in
Venezuela. Have I not led my sol
padiers?'
your soldiers? Oh, yes. your SOL
eafiers. OF course, my dear Pedro, your
waIor is beyond dispute. But in this
ease Of Salvarez-the delay of his ex-
-scution as demanded by you and yield
ed by Phillips, to say the least, in
applicable. There must be a motive
An it
Yes replied Francisco, after
p2nse, there is a motive in 1t. There
rs .. reason why I have asked to have
the execution OF Salvarez postponed.
u have explained this reason to the
hing. It satisfied him. It must satisfy
you
Gomez laughed.
(which 10 your way Of informing
Ene that 1t is none of my. business" he
said.
mot 50. You are general Of the
army. you
@tOh, well, let 1t drop. If Philip is
satisfied, I am sure ought to be.
There are matters to be thought of that
are more important than this rebel
general. It is time we moved toward
che OrinocO."
II thought it had been decided that
.our safest plan was to walt here for
CFespo's army to attack us. He will,
undoubtedly. send only small detach-
rnents at time, We can destroy them
as they come"
Nonsense" said Gomez, Struggling
his shoulders. Are we to sit here in
aetive while Crespo fires the enthusi-
asm of the mObs north of the Orinoco?
What would Godoy, Hernandez and the
Others say to that? Remember, we
AaVe thousands of supporters there
who are ready to join us as soon as
we begin our triumphant march to-
ward Caracas. II we remain here, they
zwill think we are afraid, and will de-
sert the Crespo. understand our peo-
pie well enough to know that their
loyalty to our cause can be depended
apon only as long as we show them
we are succeeding. Our best move is
TO cross the Orinoco as soon as pos
.sIhle, picking up reinforcements on the
way. We shall have easily twice as
many followers as Crespo by the time
we meet him"
But will the king leave the castle
as long as Garza's daughter is ILL.,"
<.He must. Is the cause to be lost
through his infatuation?"
When Francisco had gone. Gomez
sent for certain captain upon whom
he felt that he could rely.
General, you sent for me-" said the
captain, as he entered.
Yes sent for you. because trust
you more than I do any other officer
nj the king. and have something for
you to do
Thank you. general. will en-
sieavor to deserve your high regard"
Captain, what do you think of
.Erancisco?"
Francisco? What do I think of
nim? That is strange question. gen
sraL"
81 know 1t is. but strange circum-
stances cause it. You were probably
surprised when you learned that the
execution OF .Salyarez was postponed
ELL midnight"
eyes, was surprised at that"
ssYou would no doubt be more sur
s1rised il you knew that this was done
at the solicitation of Francisco him
SELF
Francisco! He was to give the
command to fire"
etJust 50. Now. captain. you have
lived near enough to Francisco to
Asnow something about him. What
have been the relations existing be-
tween Francisco and the family of Sal
xarez7 Is there anything there?"
ooh, Francisco has long wanted to
marry tho daughter OF Salvarez. Ev-
@srybody knew that"
DO You think his love for the girl Is
ssincere?"
sincere? It is strong enough -
You don't like the word sincere
ut hardly applies to ordinary cases
a,f love on the Orinoco. I think Fran
riaco wants her for his own happiness.
81 don't think he considers hers
"Still, his passion for her is such
that he would resort to any means to
compel her to marry him."