The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-04-13

opened, and Gomez came In. NJ,
Things 60 our way" he said. smiI-
ing. Venezuela is olrs."
Part Of it." replied Philip. not
smiling.
"All Of It. The soldiers of Saliva
req arc nearly all killed. salvarez
himsef is a prisoner. There is now
no reason to delay pushing on to the
north and planting our standard be-
yond the Orinoco. Our friends are
waiting for us there. Caracas must
fall at last"
"At last. But there is something to
be done here before we cross the Or
inoco. What is the sentiment of the
people near us, now that Salvarez is
crushed?"
Judging from the reports we are
receiving, the entire country south Of
the Orinoco is loyal to YOU"
Then I must delay my coronation
no longer"
II would not delay it another day."
There was pause, strained sill
ence.
Gomez" said Philip, bending a
keen gaze on the General. 81 want the
truth about that mysterious affair of
Lola Cara"
Il thought it was mysterious no
longer. The girl is found. What is her
story?'
II have not yet heard. Cara is
with her now. l will send for him at
once"
CARA was sent for, but before he
arrived Francisco came in. He Sas
there when Don Juan entered.
You sent for me?" said Don jean.
It did" said Philip "You were
with your daughter. How is she?"
Alas. she is not well. The cave in
which she was confined by that half
breed scoundrel was damp, and as she
was bound hand and foot, she became
thoroughly chilled. The result is now
that she has bad fever, which alter
mates With severe chills"
THAT is bad. Have you heard from
her own lips the story of her abduc-
tion?"
Yes. All. what scoundrel that
MattaZudo is. Yes, he went to her.
telling her that it was my wish for
her to accompany him to a place of
greater safety until after the battle
She believed him, ana followed him to
cave up the river about a mile,
where he bound her, and. needless Of
her cries for mercy. left her, telling
her to be quiet until he came for her
She was found there by the two Amer
leans, who, it appears, have followed
us here for no other purpose than to
rescue my daughter from myself. That
is a strange case. AS if l had not my
daughters welfare at heart. But they
are prisoners, and my poor girl is
safe; so what matter?"
1T matters to me-" said Philip. "As
for the Americans. they have done
no harm; but l will not have the
scoundrel Mattazurdo around me. Co.
mez, shall be crowned king at ten
o'clock to-day"
Good! Your triumph will then be
complete
"At 1880 l shall order Mattazudo's
execution"
ITO be shot?"
To be shot
Your majesty" gasped Francisco.
The safety of your crown de-
pends-"
essay no more. When Lola Cara
shall have recovered sufficiently, she
will become my wife, and Queen Of
Venezuela. The safety of the Queen
must be assured. In no other way
can this be done than by shooting the
rascal who carried her away once, and
who, no doubt, would try to do SO
again."
Quite right" said Gomez, with q
CLEAN of hate in his eyes.
1t may perhaps be necessary to in
terject short explanation here to
show the reason Gomez was pleased at
the prospect of Mattazudo's death.
Yet it seems almost unnecessary, for
the reader must already have seen
the duplicity toward Gomez with
which MattaZudo acted.
Don Juan. having answered all the
questions Philip chose to ask. turned
to go.
ITO be continued.)