The Elbert County tribune., 1905-09-21

BOl vi Nnhi nlt clnEH
Upon this pretty picture Smithers
suddenly bursts without warning.
1iravers needs only one look to tell
him the agent brings news of some
sort, and he springs up hastily to
meet him.
Travers feels a little guilty and
shows some confusion, but the girl
artlessly cries out:
Il. have been charmed to find in
your friend one whom knew in Santa
Fe as Senor Jack. We have chatted
over old times, and seeing he was i'm
patient for your return. have endeav-
ored to entertain him In my poor
way"
81 have no doubt you succeeded" re
marks the other drily; and then adds,
with your consent. senorita, would
like to see Mr.. Travers alone for a
short time"
'Ah you bring him news; Is 1t not
so. | do not know what business has
tempted him to visit this poor dis
tracted country just now, but surely
| wish it success" she says, quickly.
Thank you,' returns Jack, mentally
NohAtiiht W Htthti oHt NOuiu Dt dS
sincere should she know that the OBJ
ject of his venture is simply the
strong hope that he may win the love
of his own wife-that and nothing
more.
She kisses her hand to them and
with merry words dances away, man
dolin in hand. Jacks eyes involun-
tarily follow the will-o'- '-the-wisp. Men
tally he is thinking that fine feathers
make fine birds;" the last time he saw
Lola, she was apparently in poverty.
though known even then in Santa Fe
as beauty.
She is a child of genius; she pos
sesses the form and face of Hebe
and the smile of an angel. Beware,
Senior Jack" warns Smithers, half in
earnest, though his way of shaking
his finger at the young mine owner
in melodramatic manner might be
intended in the light of a joke.
Don't engage in any worry on my
account. Smithers. my dear boy.
frankly admit the girl is beauty,
and has a charm about her, a witch
cry, that might affect even Jack Ira
vers were he heart-whole and fancy
free. But you understand that / am
deep in love with my Highland lassie
and there is no room in my heart for
two-certainly not at the same time.
I'm no Turk, Smithers."
Pardon me, sir; | only joked. AS
you say. there is a mysterious charm
about the presence of Lola. feel it
m UcnIf--fnp1 at I oh ho
glad to give up all the world and de-
vote myself to her service. But this
isn't business"-with a sudden snap
of his jaws that indicates a putting
away of gentler thoughts.
"Ah. yes. you have discovered some
thing-something of Importance,
should judge"
We'll. yes, rather think | have.
sir. 1t has staggered me quite lit
tie, l admit and there is promise
of some lively work ahead"
Having thus aroused Jacks curios-
ity. Smithers casts nervous glance
around him-not that he has fears of
eavesdroppers in this place. but such
an act is second nature to him.
Il have had my suspicious of Senior
Roblado for some time, although in
doubt as to the exact nature of his
character. He has been working under
a cloak, in disguise. You remember
in New York spoke of his meeting
a number of mysterious men,"
Whom you believed at the time to
belong to the Cuban Junta. which has
headquarters in that metropolis. where
filibustering expeditions are planned
and money collected for buying arms.
ammunition and dynamite"
Smithers shrugs his shoulders.
Yes, and dynamite Well. when |
risked the hazard of that guess was
mistaken"
"Then the senor is not a conspira-
tori"
81 didn't say that-only he was not
meeting members of the revolutionist
party"
"Still, they were secret agents he
met, and his business had to do with
Cuba. All, yes! l grasp the situation
They were Spaniards."
Exactly. Roblado is and has been
n trusted agent of the Spanish govern
ment | could not exactly say what
his mission to London may have sig
nified, but there was something deep
behind 1t; for he is desperate. dar-
ing man. in whom the captain general
places the utmost reliance.
But now that you understand so
much, let me tell my story. went to
the hotel. and loitered about, asking
questions where I could without excit-
ing suspicion. The senor was at din
ner with the ladies and his friend Col
Spencer; for it seems this gentleman
has title when he reaches Cuban
soil.
while l watched, 10 and behold
Roblado appeared. He looked anx-
ious. ! was the only person near. and
believing. no doubt. | belonged to the