Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-09-22


with the little Cuban beauty. waited
on by weii'trained servants.
The day Is slipping away. and
Jacks worry increases. lie hopes
smithers will bring news when he
does eome-news that will throw some
light on the business In hand.
Lola has endeayorcd to entertain
him with music. She sings Spanish
songs To the tinkiins OF tho mandolin.
and her voice is round contraito.
very full and sympathetic. Jack has
picked up smattcrins of Spanish
while In Texas and along the border.
so that he can understand tho major
portion OF what she sings.
Upon this pretty picture Smithcrs
suddenly bursts without warning.
Travers needs only one look To toll
him tho agent brings news OF some
sort. and he springs up hastily to
meet him.
.Travcrs feels little guilty and
shows some confusion. but tho girl
articssiy cries out:
Il have been charmed 10 ind In
your friend one whom knew In Santa
Fo as Scnor Jack. We have chattcd
over old times. and seeing he was I'm.
patient for your return. I have cndcay.
orcd To entertain him In my poor
way"
Il have no doubt you succeeded" re-
marks tho other driiy: and then adds.
with your consent, scnorita. would
like to see Mr.. Travcrs alone for n
short time"
''Ah. you bring him news: Is II not
so. do not know what business has
tempted him to visit this poor dis.
trac;cd country just now. hut surely
wish II Succcss." she says. quickly.
Thank YOU" returns Jack. mentally
wondering whether she would be ms
sincere should she know that the oh.
jcct OF his venture Is simply the
strong hope that he may win the love
OF his own wifc-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 wiii.o.thc.wIsp. Men
tally he Is thinking that zine feathers
make finc BIRDS" the last time he saw
Lola. she was apparently In poverty.
though known even then In Santa Fc
as n beauty.
''Shc is child of genius: she pos.
sessos the form and face of Hcbc
and the smile of an angel. Beware.
Senior Jack" warns Smithers. half In
earnest. though his way OF shaking
his finger Mt the young mine owner
In melodramatic manner might be
intended In the light of n Joke.
Don't engage In any worry on my
account. Smithers. my dear boy.
frankly admit the girl Is beauty.
and has charm about her. n witch.
cry. that might affect even Jack Ira
vers were be heart.whole and fancy
free. But YOU understand that I 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 mysterious charm
about the presence of Lola. feel It
myself-feel that should be only too
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"
well. yes, rather think have.
sir. It has staggered me quite lit.
tie. admit: and there is promise
of some lively work ahead"
Having thus aroused Jacks curios-
ity. Smithers casts n nervous glance
around him-not that he has fears Of
eavesdroppers in this place, but such
an act is second nature to him.
81 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
cloak. in disguise. You remember
in New York I 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.
Eyes. and dynamite. Well. when I
risked the hazard of that guess I was
mistaken"
"Then the senior is not a conspira-
tor?"
II 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! I grasp the situation.
They were Spaniards."
Exactly. Roblado is and has been
trusted agent Of the Spanish govern
ment. l could not exactly say what
his mission to London may have sig
uifed. but there was something deep
hehind IT. for he is desperate dar-