The Ladysmith news and Ingram news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1905-1906, 1906-03-10
CHAPTER II.
A Shrewd Move


all the calculations of General Sal
varez, and filled Arthur Medworth with
dismay, to turn our attention to the
men who were conspiring against tho
peace and liberty OF Venezuela. and fol-
low them in one of the shreWdest
moves the brain of plotter ever de-
ViSed
It had seemed to Salvarez, who re-
called the words in the message of
President Crespo, that the consul at
New York had been too hasty in jump
ing to a conclusion.
But the sailing of the Agostura laden
with arms for the royalist cause was
a fact. The consul at New York, in
cabling his information to President
Crespo at Caracas, had stated nothing
but the truth. Where, then, the mys-
terry? Shrewd as Medworth mad been,
shrewd as the consul had been, they
were but children compared to the
shrewdness of Ferdinand Gomez.
The first thing was 70 discover king.
1t may be wondered at that Gomez
did not aim to the crown himself. But
the astute Spaniard was experienced
enough to know that if he, as father of
the scheme, admitted that he wished
to be king, re would drive from his
side his strongest supporters, for it
would stand bare as the selfish, grasp
ing plot of an adventurcr. He discover
cd the man he wanted, and supported
by the glory of the house Of Aragon,
they began operations.
They found plenty of sympathizcrs
in Spain, but mostly among men who
were ready to join the expedition with
visions of old-time Spanish conqucsts
before them. But there were two great
difficulties that confronted Gomez. The
Monroe Doctrine, SO positively en-
forced and maitained by the United
States government, made it impossible
for the roya1ist movement TO emanate
from Spain. The impulse must come IN
the way of a revolution in Venezuela,
and for this there was no money avail
able. But Gomez was not the man to
sit down and acknowledge himself de-
feated.
He went to Venezuela. He felt the
political pulse. EIe appointed agents to
all the states and provinces. Then he
went to New York.
The reports of his agents were favor
able Men were ready to take up arms
for the royallst cause. But the. arms
were lacking.
Now Gomez showed himself mas
ter He carefully studied all sources
from which assistance might safely be
derived
One after another he cast aside as
undesirable or impossible.
In a splendid house in New York
lived proud old Spaniard Don Juan
Cara. Don Juan had, in his own way
and time, been something of an ad
venturer. Born in CASTLE, Of a very
proud, very aristocratic and very poor
family, he inherited all the love Of
pomp and royalty and nobility without
the means to crafty it. For time
he served in the army, but at the age
of twenty-five he left Spain and went
to Venezuela. That country had, after
a thirty years war, enjoyed ten years
of liberty from Spanish rule. The coun
try was unsettled and dangerous,
and Don Juan had his fill of exciting
adventure, but did little to fill his de-
pleted Golfers. He remained in Vene
zuela long enough to bring down upon
his head the anger of the government
for intrigue and political treachery,
and was forced to leave. From there he
went to New York city, where he met
and won the beautiful daughter of a
wealthy merchant. His married life
proved happy enough to keep him out
of political miscief, but his mind often
turned longingly to the pomp and glory
Of courts.
The merchant died, leaving his for
tune so arranged that, at the death of
Don Juan's wife, it should descend to
the daughter, then a pretty little thing
Of six.
When Lola was fifteen years of age
her mother died, and the old Spaniard's
mind turned with greater longing to
political fields.
Thus it was, when Ferdinand Gomez
was looking for some one to assist in
his great enterprise, Don Juan CARA
was looking for an enterprise to as
sist.
They met, these t?o, and conferred.
Don Juan was sixty years old, and was
shrewd. He desired to know the exact
position of the new movement in Vene-
zuela. Gomez, therefore, sent for his
agents. and for Philip of Aragon. While
waiting for them to arrive, Gomez fell
violently in love with Lola Cara, who
was herself in love with Arthur Med
worth, against whom the father had is
sued his decree.
Philip and the agents arrived A
meeting was held at Don Juan's house,
and it was made apparent to the old
man that one hundred thousand peo-
pie in Venezuela stood sworn to sup
port Philip of Aragon. The pride and
ambition Of Don Juan was touched.
He agreed to furnish the arms and am
munition for the enterprise, if Philip
would agree to contract in writing
whereby he bound himself to marry
Lola Cara as soon as the crown of
Venezuela was on his head. To this