Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-14


troll, we are TO oppose the passage of
this Spanish force till our friends can
arrange either to get away or prepare
for defense"
While he spoke was thinking of
the two influences that had been draw
ing him, the gentle Concia and the ag-
gressive Iuez.
Where did you get your informa-
ton as to this move of the Spaniards?"
asked.
A singular look came over his face.
look in which | fancied saw some
thing of doubt. Of pain, as he replied:
Il have the right to tell you anything
that concerns only myself. l have no
right to implicate another"
Well | added, you have taken
sides at last. hope you have decided
for the best"
THAT remains to be seen"
We parted with a firm hand grip.
/ went to bed. but not to sleep.
There was faint glimmer of dawn
at the windows when | heard sounds
without-the tread OF horses hoofs.
men talking. Then there was a loud
rap on the main door below. II was
not answered and was followed by
kick. Then a window WINS shattered.
| arose. threw on a double gown and
went downstairs. The hall was light
ed and, filed with Spanish soldiers.
Henry Molina was in their midst,
dressed. and as looked was marched
away. 1t was plain TO me what had
hod
through his spies learned of his con-
templated move, nipped It in the bud
and possessed himself of its leader.
My view of Henry Molina passing
! out of his home TO go to prison ended
my immediate cogniZance of what was
leading up to a tragedy. If l could
have got my friend out Of the clutches
of General Weyler would have taken
| some chances to do so. 1t seemed
! wiser for me to depart and leave the
struggle going on in Cuba to those d.
rectly interested. So | sailed away
from Havana and felt that l could
draw a free breath as soon as was
out of the harbor.
But the blowing up of the Maine
gave our people an interest In the Gu
ban struggle for independence that led
to It's attainment. and | was one OF
those who went to the island for the
purpose. 1t was not till it was all
over and had been mustered out of
the United States service that return
ed to Cuba with a view to learning
what had become OF Henry Molina.
gathered the story gradually. The
first part of 1t 1 heard was that Henry
had been taken to MORO castle at Ha-
vana and had been condemned to
death. but had escaped the day before
be was TO have been executed. How
he escaped l did not learn, but ii was
reported that boy some seventeen or
eighteen years old had visited his pris
on and managed to convey to him saws
with which to remove a bar in his win
dow. He had Joined the revolutionary
forces, but had done more for the
cause In other ways than as com
mander This could understand. re-
Numbering his education at an Ameri-
can university.
The next chapter in the story was
that Inez de Ia Barra had been found
on the grounds of her home with
bullet hole in her left breast and in
dying condition. She had been assassi-
mated, but could not or would not tell
who had been her assassin. 1t was
we'll known, however, that she had
been a spy of General Weyler, and, the
Molina plantation having been confis-
Gated by the Spanish government. she
had received a large sum of money.
Lastly, | heard that my chum had re-
gained possession of his estate, his ia
Their having died, and the son had just
been married to Concia Sierra.
Naturally I put these facts together
and filed out the story in my own way,
but | could not tell how far l was
right or how far wrong. / lost no time
in going to the Molina plantation,
where | found its owner recovering
from the privations he had endured
since | had parted with him. He was
rejoiced TO see me. and, after | had
been received by his wife. he took me
apart and told me that lnez de la Bar
ra had entrapped him and caused his
arrest He gave me a surprise when
he said that Concia had been the
means Of his escape from Moro cas-
tie, having gone there disguised and
, bribed a guard to give her secret &C.
cess TO her lover
All this interested me. but the eli
max to the drama. the assassination
OF Senorita de la Barra. was what /
. wished TO have explained
WHO killed the woman who betray.
! ed yong | asked.
singular expression came over Hen
RVS face in which fancled there was
something Of pain. He turned his eyes
away from me and did not reply.
"Oue question" | added. land ! will
! ask no more. Surely you did not do
this deed
No" he replied ~ did not"
I made my own inference as to who
had avenged him: but. since l may be
mistaken and do not wish to name the
wrong person. leave my reader 70
: make his or her own inference.
' Dec. IA in American
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