Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-03-18
CHAPTER X.

the scene SO lately enacted, had turn
ed her back to them and was gazing
out through the window at the car
riages that were constantly passing to
and fro.
"Now, Carmen" said Craig ut last.
"war Is declared. do not know what
Escudera has got up his sleeve
"a knife, doubtless" she interpolat-
| ed, and Craig smiled and continued:
-"but l do not doubt that he has
something. We have forced his hand,
and l have not doubt that he will at
once endeavOr to fix this crime that we
know he committed upon me. Still
have considerable time to act, so we
need not make unnecessary haste.
There are several things that l must
know to complete the knowledge al
ready have, for already know more
about the history Of your father and
Burr than you think do. think the
best way to get at what I require now
will be to ask you few questions. 1t
will save time, and in that way we can
get directly at the important points"
al will reply to any question you will
| ask IL 1t is one that I am Informed
| about"
Under what name did your father
first visit Mexico?
Bridge. That is why my cards are
inscribed Del Puente-of the bridge"
Ibid your mother know his true
uame when they were married"
"Yes. He never deceived her."
"Do you know why he went to Mex
leo under an assumed name"
"Yes. PanchO, who was his servant
aud is now mine. has told me. A syn
dicate that had been formed by my ia
ther in New York met with disaster Of
some kind at the hands Of the then
Mexican government. He was known
to the Mcxicans by name only. and he
went among them to investigate the
affairs of the syndicate. In order to
accomplish the task better he assumed
name at random. Bridge happened
to be the one he selected. The govern
ment Of Mexico was very unstable at
that time. Life was not valued at a
very high price-not much higher than
their bonds, which were then worthless.
There were national complications or
some kind which do not understand.
but
II know about that, Carmen, and
will tell you in few words enough so
that you will know what a really great
man Robert rcndleton was. An Ameri-
can officer Of the government was
grossly insulted by the Mexican gov
ernment. Your father might, by in
forming his own government Of all he
knew. have brought on difficulties be-
tween the two nations, which would
probably have resulted in the downfall
of Mexico, at that time torn by Internal
conflicts. Your mother plead for her
country, and for love Of her he not only
kept silent, but he voluntarily relin-
quished a fortune, or what they would
call there several fortunes. He did not
return to Mexico for the same reason,
because his life would not have been
safe for a moment and because she
begged him not to do so. She prom
ised to come here to him, but she died.
That much have learned from docu-
ments that found in Burr's safe. And
here let me add: Burr knew that his
father had married again in Mexico
and that his wife had died. He did
not know that there was child, but
he believed it probable. and that Is
why he left the property In trust to me,
with private directions what to do.
Now, Carmen, were you the only child
Of that marriage"
mo" She cast down her eyes SO
that he could not meet her glance. Il
had twin brother"
"You had a twin brother? He Is
dead, then?"
mo; he lives, but I will not recog-
nize him. Captain Romero, with whom
Burr fought the duel, is my brother.
He. was born at the same time that
was born"
my God. Brother against brother!
What fortunate thing 1t Is that the
duel did not terminate fatally! Did
you know about 1t at the timer
"Yes, and | tried to prevent. But for
PancEo, my old servant, would have
done SO. But for once in his life. and
only once, believe, Pancho betrayed
me. But lie hates Ignacio for his own
sake and because he has been unkind
to me. After Burr left Mexico he came
to me and confessed what he had done.
1t was Pancho who drove my carriage
yesterday, so you may know that l
still trust him. He came to New York
once with u message from my mother
to NY father. and he remained here
month. Now you understand how 1t Is
that he Knows his way about the city"
Then In n few words she related to
Craig how she. having learned that
there was to be duel, determined to
prevent 1t; how she sent a messenger
to Burr requesting him to meet her In
the garden at jerks" how. failing to