The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-17
CHAPTER III.
A Broken Promise.

"A broken PROMISE.
While Holton was making up his
mind to ask Miss La Tossa several
questions, her father began to do that
very thing without, apparently, wait
ing to make up his mind, as soon as
the two were within the little ante
room of their hotel suite.
"Carita!" he expostulated. you
did not attend this dance to flirt?"
She laughed. Father, and how
could | help it? He was such-such
a corker."
The senior raised his hands heaven
ward and looked at his daughter in
mock dismay. Agreed. then, he was
a corker. am glad to know that. 1t
is really valuable information. But
now tell me was he such a corker
that you forgot to ascertain that for
which you attended this ball? Was
he in reality Lieutenant Holton?"
"Ch, yes, he was"
well, then, what about the Scor
pion?"
why, II did not recall that YOU"
The candor which was naturally part
of the girls nature asserted itself
Father, he was SO fascinating that
! forgot all about the Scorpion"
"So!" Senior La Tossa shrugged his
shoulders. There was very small
doubt that he really was Lieutenant
Holton," he went on. Several of my
men recognized him. But what was
really important was why he left the
torpedo boat, and having done SO,
what became Of the boat. That was
what I really wished to know. and
what you easily could have learned.
am sorry you have failed me-"
Il am sorry disappointed you. but.
father, l hate the Spaniards--I am
Cuban born, and hate them because
they have been SO cruel" Her eyes
flashed. 81 have disowned Spain."
"My daughter!" exclaimed the IA
Their sharply.
Il cannot help 1t, father. Have we
not seen women starving with their
babies at their dry breasts? Have we
not seen men fighting for the bones
we have thrown from our baskets!
Have we not seen murder after muir.
der in cold blood?"
THAT is why have been aiming to
obtain the governorship," said the IA
Their, land how are you helping me?
Not by such language. That is what
you have to consider" Another thing,
my daughter, have heard that you
are becoming too closely affiliated
with certain groups Of Cuban plot
ters-you know who l mean. for.
bid that absolutely"
The girl blazed at him with dilated
eyes.
You have heard what?" she asked.
Il have heard enough to make it
seem my duty to have you sent back
to Santiago-to the estate You are
a girl-you are young, and am sorry
to have to say that you are also a
tritle foolish. You will therefore sail
on the Ward liner Saturday with your
aunt"
very well, father; 1t shall be as
you wish. There will be war, you
Think"
There Is no doubt as to that, The
drift of this government is easily
read"
And then"
Cuba will never be taken. We shall
plan no war Of aggression. We shall
wait to be taken-but that never shall
come to pass"
you say that" The girl regarded
him closely. THE United States is a
great nation"
Eyes, but not a warlike one. Our
soldiers uphold the traditions OF the
Cid: the blood of war flows in their
veins. 1t Is inconceivable that the
arms Of a nation Sc rich in military
history. SO filled with annals OF
achievement and Of conquest both on
land and sea, should succumb to ma.
ton whose shrines are dollar.marks
and whose gods are profit and loss.
Remember, until my return TO San.
tiaso, you are TO remain at the estate"
He paused and took a paper from
his POCKET.
And between now and Saturday"
he added. adjusting his glass yat,
will avoid Senores Perez. pedrai. ~
Montez, Cassajara, and CfS.Io.'
The daughter cast a sW 3 a,paco e
her father, and then let her eyes fall
TO the tieor.
You see" he continued. ~ an tol-
erably familiar with what has h,.1
going on. My position here. paqra.
is one of dignity am net spv !
am not diplomatic emissary. When
relations OF Diplomacy uie broAsa /