The Holly chieftain., 1905-09-22

b AHe udy rs slipping away, ana
Jacks worry increases. He hopes
Smithers will bring news when he
does come-news that will throw some
light on the business in hand.
Lola has erdeayored to entertain
him With music. She sings Spanish
songs to the tinkling of the mandolin.
and her voice is a round contralto,
very full and sympathetic. Jack has
picked up a smattering of Spanish
while in Texas and along the border,
so that he can understand the major
portion of what she sings.
Upon this pretty picture Smithers
suddenly bursts without warning.
Travers 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 Senior 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"
Il have no doubt you succeeded" re-
marks the other drily; and then adds,
With your consent, senorta, | would
like to zee Mr.. Travers alone for
short time"
"Ah. you bring him news; is it not
so. do not know what business has
tempted him to visit this poor dis
tracted country just now, but surely
| wish 1t success" she says, quickly.
Thank you" returns Jack, mentally
wondering whether she would be as
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 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 child of genius; she pos
sesses the form and face of a 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 joke.
Don't engage in any worry on my
account, Smithers, my dear boy. /
frankly admit the girl is a beauty,
and has charm about her, witch
cry, that might affect even Jack Ira
vers were he heart-whole and fancy
free. But you understand that l 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
away Of gentler thoughts.
"Ah, yes, you have discovered some
thing-something of Importance,
should Judge"
We'll, yes, I rather think I have
sir 1t has staggered me quite lit
tie, admit; and there is promise
of some lively work ahead"
Having thus aroused Jacks curios-
ity, Smithers casts a 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 Senor
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 l spoke of his meeting
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 I
risked the hazard Of that guess l was
mistaken"
Then the senor 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