Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-08-02

moonlight fitting across the frontier with
a whole skin at least, if with an empty
| pocket, and leaving the rival patriots OF
Aurea taland to fight it out among them
selves.
Happily, however, nothing occurred to
| justify my fears. The other side seemed
to be sunk in dull security. The Presi-
dent went often TO the ministry OF finance,
| and was closeted for hours with Don
Antonio; | suppose they were perfecting
| their nefarious scheme There were no
| signs of excitement or activity at the bar
| racks; the afternoon gatherings on the
| Piazza were occupied with nothing more
serious than the prospects of lawn tennis
and the grievous dearth of dances The
! official announcements relative to the debt
| had had a quieting effect, and all classes
seemed inclined to wait and see what the
| Presidents new plan was
So passed Wednesday and Thursday
| On neither day had l heard anything
| from my fellow-conspirators our arrange
ments for writing had so far proved IN
| necessary-or unsuccessful. The latter
| possibility sent shiver down my back, and
my lively fancy pictured his excellency's
! smile as he perused the reasonable docu-
ments. If l heard nothing on the morn
! ing of Friday, l was determined at all
| risks to see the Colonel With the dawn
of that eventful day, however, I was re-
| lieved of this necessity. l was lying in
bed about half-past nine when my servant
brought in three letters.
Sent on from the bank, sir" he said,
with Mr.. Jones compliments, and are
/
'My compliments to Mr.. Jones. and he
may expect me in five minutes" l re-
piled.
The letters were all marked 'Immedi-
ate"-one from the Signorina, one from
the Colonel, one from the barracks.
opened the last first and read as follows {:
THE officers Of the Aureataland Army
have the honor to remind Mr. John Mar
tin that they hope to have the plea nlre
of his company at supper this evening at
10 p. m. precisely. In the unavoidable
| absence of his excellency the President,
| owing to pressing cares of state, and the
Hon. Colonel McGregor from indisposi-
ton, the toast of the Army of Aureata-
land will be proposed by Major Alphonse
DeChair.
"P. S.-Friend Martin, speak long this
night The two great men do not come,
and the evening wants to be filed out
"ALPHONSE DE CHAIR"
at shall be long, my dear boy, and we
will fill out your evening for you," said
| to myself, we'll pleased so far
Then l opened the Signorina's epistle.
Dear Mr.. Martini" it began-"WiIl
you be so kind as to send me in the course
of the day twenty dollars in small
change? [ want to give the school chill
dren a scramble. / enclose check. l am
so sorry you could not dine with me to-
night, but after all l am glad because l
should have had to put you off. for | am
commanded rather suddenly to dine at the
Golden House. With kind regards, be-
lieve me, yours sincerely,
CHRISTINA NUGENT."
VERY good" said 1. Il reckon the
scramble will keep. And now for the
Colonel"
Dear Martini inclose check for
$500. My man will call for the cash to-
morrow morning. l give you notice be-
cause l want it all in silver for wages
Carr and l are here together, both seedy.
Poor Carr is on his back, and likely to
remain there for a day or two. I'm bet
| ter, and though I've cut the affair at the
barracks tonight, 1 fully expect to be
up and about this afternoon. Ever yours,
GEO. MGREGOR."
"Oh, so Carr is on his back and likely
to remain there, is he? Very likely, l
expect; but l wonder what it means.
| hope the Colonel hasn't been very drastic.
However, everything seems right; in fact,
better than l hoped"
In this more cheerful frame of mind
arose, breakfasted at leisure, and set out
for the bank about eleven.
OF course the first person / met on the
street was one of the last | wanted to
meet namely, Donna Antonia She was
| on horseback, and her horse looked as if
| he'd done some work. At the sight of me
she refined up. and | could not avoid
stopping as | lifted my hat.
Whence so early?" l asked.
"Early?" she said. Il don't call this
early. I've been for a long ride; in fact,
I've ridden over to Mr.. Carr's place,
with message from papa but he's not
there. Do you know where he is, Mr..
Martini"
Haven't an idea" said I.
HE hasn't been home for four nights
she continued, ''and he hasn't been to the
ministry, either. It's very odd that he
should disappear like this, just when all
the business is going on, too"
What business, Donna Antonia?"
asked blandly
She colored, recolecting, no doubt,
| that the business was still a secret
oh well, you know they're always
! busy at the ministry of finance at this
time. It's the time they pay everybody
isn't it?"
Its the time they ought to pay every
body l said.
We'll" she went on, without noticing
my correction. t'at any rate papa and the
President are both very much vexed with
| him: so l offered to make my ride in his
| direction
Where can he be?' I asked again.
Well she replied, Il believe he's at
Colonel McGregor's. and after lunch l
| shall go over there. l know he dined
| there on Monday. and l daresay he stayed
on
No" thought l, you mustn't do that,
! it might be inconvenient So l said ::
The Colonel says Carr told him he was
! going off for a couple of days sail in his
yacht
| ITS very bad of him to co. she said,
but no doubt that's it, Papa will be
angry, but he'll be glad to know no harm
! has come to him"
Happy to have relieved your mind"
| said l. and bade her farewell. wondering
whether Don Antonio would find no harm
had come to poor Johnny. l had my
| doubts.
CHAPTER XIII.
When | arrived at the bank I dispatch
| ed brief answers to my budget of letters;
| each of the answers was to the same
| OurDort namely tba+ should ba a. tba