The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-04-13

A footstep was heard, sns door
opened, and Gomez came in.
Things go our way" he said, smil-
ing. Venezuela is ours"
Part of it." replied Philip, not
smiling.
"All of it. The soldiers of Saliva
rez are nearly all killed. Salvarez
himsef is prisoner. There is now
no reason to delay pushing on to the
north and planting our standard be-
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 | must delay my coronation
no longer"
Il would not delay it another day"
There was pause, a strained sill
ence.
Gomez said Philip, bending a
keen gaze on the General. Il want the
truth about that mysterious affair Of
Lola Garza."
Il thought it was mysterious no
| longer. The girl is found What is her
story?"
Il have not yet heard. Garza is
| with her now. l will send for him at
once"
Garza was sent for, but before he
| arrived Francisco came in. He was
| there when Don Juan entered
You sent for me?' said Don Juan.
''T did," said Philip "You were
! With your daughter. How is she?"
! Alas, she is not we'll The cave in
hich she was confined by that half
orced 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-
tom"
| Yes All what a scoundrel that
| Mattazudo is Yes. he went to her
| telling her that it was my wish fol
her to accompany him to a place OF
greater safety until after the battle
She believed him, and followed him to
a cave up the river about a mile
where he bound her, and, needless oi
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 tc
! rescue my daughter from myself. Thai
IS a strange case. As if | 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. Gas
for the Americans. they have done
no harm; but | will not have the
| scoundrel MattaZurdo around me. Go
mez. | shall be crowned king at ter
o'clock to-day"
Good! Your triumph will then bt
complete
AT 1890 I shall order Mattazudo'!
execution
ITO be shot?"
ITO be shot
"Your majesty" gasped Francisco
The safety of your crown de
pends--''
Say no more. When Lola Carr;
shall have recovered sufficiently, sht
will become my wife, and Queen o
Venezuela The safety OF the Queer
must be assured In no other wa.
can this be done than by shooting tn
~ascal who carried her away once. an,
who, no doubt, would try to do 81
again"
quite right said Gomez, with
gleam OF hate in his eyes.
1t may perhaps be necessary to in
terject short explanation here t
show the reason Gomez was pleased a
the prospect of Mattazudo's death
Yet it seems almost unnecessary, 70
the reader must already have seel
the duplicity toward Gomez wit
which MattaZudo acted.
Don Juan. having answered all tn
questions Philip chose to ask, turne
to go.
(To be continued.)
| v2a