Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-10-11
CHAPTER XYIII.

ELMEH. =
The mirror room was an immense
apartment, only separated from the Gov
cred gallery by two anterooms. 1t was
furnished with p~rincely luxury. and it
was here that the general gave those
banquets which are still talked about in
the high Mexican circles.
This room, merely lighted by two lamps
standing on a console. was at this moment
plunged into n semi obscurity. when com-
pared with the other apartments in the
mansion, which were full of lights.
A gentleman dressed in full black. and
with the red ribbon of the Legion Of
Honor carelessly knotted in a buttonho.e
of his coat. was leaning his elbows on
the console where the lamps stood, and
seemed SO lost in thought that when the
| general entered the room the sound of his
steps. half subdued by the petates. did
not reach the visitors ears and he did not
turn to receive him. Don Sebastian. af-
ter closing the door behind him. walked
toward his visitor, attempting to recog-
nize him.
don Valentine! r he said.
Myself. General" replied the visitor,
with an almost imperceptible smile and a
profound bow.
pray sit down. May offer you any
refreshments!
eral,' said Valentine. Il nave merely
come to propose a bargain"
"a ~bargain?" Don Sebastian exclaim.
ed with surprise. II do not understand
you"
ALLOW me. in the first place. to ex-
plain to you what our position to each
other IS"
go on. senor." the general remarked.
with a smile.
I'm two words. this is your position.
In the first place, you wish to overthrow
General R., and have yourself pro-
claimed President.
"Ah, ah," said the general, with a
forced laugh; you must know. senior.
that in our blessed country this ambition
is constantly attributed to all officers.
This accusation, therefore, is not very
serious"
1T would not be so. if you limited
| yourself to mere wishes, possibly legiti-
mate in .he present state Of the. country,
but, unfortunately. it is not SO"
What do you mean!
II mean. general. that you are the
head Of q conspiracy I: that this conspir-
acy. several times already a failure in
Sonora, you have renewed in Mexico. I'm
der almost infaliibie conditions Of sue
cess. and which, in my opinion. would
succeed, had I not resolved on c~ausing
them to fail. ! mean that, only q few
days ago., your conspirators assembled in
a velorio kept by a certain No Lusncho.
Through the agency of Don Jaime Lupo.
yen divided among them two bags of
golL. brought by you for them. and emp
tied in your presence. | mean that. after
this distribution. the finai arrangement
were made, and the day was almost fixed
for the nronnncia,n A.. ! deceived
general. or do yon now see that | am
well informed. and that my spies are
quite equal to yours. who were not even
able to inform you Of my arrival ut the
ciudad. where I have been for moro thtn
a week and you have not known a word
about itg'
will initiate your frankncss. senior.
OF what use would it be 10 d~issimilate
with an enemy 50 well informed 7.
LET us for the present. Valentine
went on, still calmly and coldls. leave
this conspiracy, to which we will rever:
presently. ard pass to a moro interesting
subject. I believe. Senior Don Sebastian.
yon have a ward of the name OF bona
Anita de Torres?'
The general started. but remained si-
lent.
Now continued yalentinr. "in con-
sequence of a frightful caiastrophs. this
Young lady became insane. isus that
does not prevent yoU from inSistinS IN
tAaatginM hew.s aMcontsempt OF as Jaw.
divine ind human. for the ssim::aie reason
that sheis enormously rich. II i%ssrae
that the young lady does not love you.
? aeser did love ycx: Il i also Huc