The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-03-09
CHAPTER 1.-(Continued.

swered;
General, as l am the one most in
terested, it is proper that l should I'M
dertake to explain the case as we'll as
1 am able. will tell you the whole
story as it lies nearest to my heart,
and you will be able to take from 1t
what most concerns you. To begin,
then, General: Some time ago I was
fortunate enough to rescue beautiful
girl from being dashed to the ground
and killed by runaway team of horses
in New York. That girl was Lola Gar
"a, the daughter of Don Juan Cara,
a proud old Spaniard who has lived in
Venezuela and latterly in New York,
where he married wealthy lady, now
dead. Don Juan is one of the proud
est of Castilians, and though l am by
no means poor, l was not wealthy
enough. or of noble birth, to satisfy
his ambitions for his daughter. Lola
Cara, who has then seventeen years
of age. and is now eighteen, inherited
more of her mothers American nature
than her fathers Spanish one. She
cared nothing for royalty and old
world courts, and being wealthy in
her own right, was independent. I grew
| to love her, and she returned my love,
but Don Juan forbade all communica-
ton between us. Still, we met clan des-
timely as often as possible.
well, Don Juan, about six months
ago. began to receive strange men at
his house. and it was evident that
some kind of conspiracy was on foot.
Still. he guarded his secret closely, and
We learned only the name of one of
these-Ferdinand Gomez. There was
| another, whose name we could not at
hrst learn, who always wore a gor-
geous uniform. concealed, when on the
street, under long Spanish cloak.
"On the evening of the fourth of this
month. these men and several others
were at Garza's house, and Lola was
called to meet them. Don Juan put her
hand in that OF the uniformed strang-
or, and said:
Philip of Aragon. this is my
daughter, Lola. | made my bargain,
and who shall say you will not be the
gamer by So?
There was q great deal more said.
and the poor girl, though much fright
ened, gathered enough from the con-
slant talk to know that these men
were engaged in a desperate
plot to seat Philip of Aragon
on the throne of some coun-
try now republic. and that iiar
father had furnished the arms and am
munition and ready money for the en-
terprise. stipulating. in turn, that his
daughter. Lola. should be made queen.
When, after long time, during which
she trembled with fear, she was al
lowed to leave the room. Ferdinand
Gomez, who was near the door. bent
over and whispered in her ear: Heed
him not-the mailman. Whether he be
king or not, you shall never be his
bride. have loved you long, and love
you now, too we'll to give you up to
him. Rather than have him marry you
1 would kill him. And rather than
give you to another, l would kill YOU
Remember, peace or war, success or
failure, you are mine
AS you may suppose General. the
poor girl was doubly frightened at this.
and made haste to tell me all on the
following day. Before ! could act. how.
ever, on the morling of the 9Th. Don
Juan Cara, his daughter. Gomez
and Philip Of Aragon were missing. /
was much alarmed. and with my tried
and true friend here. Jack Tempest.
visited the Venezuelan consul, among
others in New York. At the consul's
office we learned that the steamship
Agostura had sailed from New York
that morning with the conspirators
and cargo OF arms for Bolivar. There
fore, it is certain that Venezuela is the
country to be turned into a monarchy
with Philip of Aragon on the throne.
Now where are the conspirators?'
Salvarez laughed. and said:
''You need not fear. Your Lola is
now probably safe in the hands of the
Republic, and will not be harmed if
your story is true. The Agostura is so
long overdue that | do not expect to
see her at Bolivar
Notwithstanding this opinion of
General Salvarez. the smoke Of a
steamer was seen approaching on the
22d. Activity began at once. and Sal
varez prepared to receive into captivity
the enemies of his country.
When the steamer drew nearer. they
were surprised to see that she carried
the Custom House fas, thus showing
that she had been examined and
| passed at La Guayra.
Then it could not be the Agostura.
But it was the Agostura.
Slowly she swung into the dock; the
hustle of landing occupied some lit
tic time, and the captain presented his
papers.
Not a passenger was on board; nc
Gomez, no Cara, no Lola, no Philip
of Aragon.
The invoice was examined. The seal
Of the custom house was genuine.
The work of unloading began.
Case after case was brought ashore,
and by the command of Salyarez brok.
en- open.
The contents OF one was a plow, OF
another harrow