Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-02

woman who is now the Duchess de Morny
In Paris. He had also a niece, equally
lovely. Both these young women were ia
miliar with the French capital. both had
received attention from the Duke de Morny,
and both regarded with a not unfavorable
eye the prospect OF queening It in Partisan
society.
Enter Hamilton on the scene. In the
intervals OF selling biscuits he made the
acquaintance of Blanco's niece and de-
voted himself to her. Next he had the
happy idea of exploiting the natural
wealth of Venezuela, marrying the young
lady, and playing a great part in South
America for the rest of his natural life.
And he seemed truly in a fair way to
fulfill his ambition. He petitioned for a
concession OF the rights of all the natural
products Of the state of Bermudez, and
volunteered to find capital to exploit his
grant,, allowing a liberal percentage OF
the profits to drift into the pocket Of
President Blanco. Blanco was not i'll dis
posed to this Idea, but he hesitated. Ham
ilton had not much ready cash at his dis
posal, and Blanco did not have the high
est opinion of his ability to procure 1t.
This Is where the woman first appears
in the play. Senorita Blanco possessed
AAA1NAA "a btA @SN p
and she did not propose to have any wo-
man come between her and the duke of
her choice. She conceived the idea Of
marraying her cousin and Hamilton, first
making Hamilton rich and eligible. Now
Blanco's one weakness was his daughter.
She could persuade him to do anything;
and she persuaded him to give Hamilton
the concession. Everything went through
as planned. Very shortly Hamilton mar
ried the niece and received from the uncle
as a wedding gift the desired grant,
From that moment the United states
was interested in the Bermudez asphalt
lake and troubles begun
The American Financier.
After the wedding It was up to Ham
ilton to produce the American financier
who was TO develop the country. Coming
up to New York. he interested several
people, notably w. H. Thomas, and the
New York & Bermudez Company was
formed. Many years later, after passing
through various changes, the New York
& company into the hands
OF the General Asphalt company, the great
concern which claims so serious a griev-
ance against Castro today.
Alas, poor Hamilton! One little para
graph will dispose OF him and his connec-
ton with the romance. The New York &
Bermudez company sent him back to Vene-
zuela to represent them there. Hamilton
had money and II he did not know much
about asphalt he knew a great deal about
how to get rid OF ready cash in a short
time. What with the yachts and entertain
ments and riotous living OF one kind and
another, Hamilton did not last long. He
spent his money. he lost his job, and he
was reduced to penury. He wandered over
the tropics borrowing such small sums
as he could and his wife came to New
York and opened a boarding house.
SO much fer the romance OF Hamilton and
the niece. The daughter had so such sad
fate awaiting her. Blanco's rainy day, so
long anticipated, came one morning in the
shape of a bomb. True, the bomb was
badly made and did not explode, but II con-
veyed a hint to Blanco. and that night he
and his daughter left the country. Their
leavetaking was brief and not very sad.
The tale perhaps little exaggerated runs
that some $50. 900 in gold had preceded
them. Back in Caracas there are riots
and Blanco's statue is pulled down and 1t
is well that he is not there. or Il would go
hard with him. In New York, when the
family land content and smiling from their
steamer, De Morny meets them. the ac-
cepted lover OF the beautiful Miss Blanoo.
Then there IS a fashionable wedding In
Paris and a dowTy OF 100000 OF asphalt
money paid over to the duke. Incidentally,
and Just 10 show how trouble pursued the