The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-01-01
Yes"
And sher"
Hill merely pointed to the paper.

timized In some manner, and so set
Pc me to find out the cause Of the
trouble"
"Hum!" said Vanderpool And
why did you not come here this way,
in the first place, instead Of spying
upon my activities disguised as a
goodness-knows-what?"
Because l knew you would be un-
der no necessity to tell me anything
unless l already possessed some
knowledge" lied Hill with readiness
that surprised himself.
Then this Is a sort of blackmail?"
Not at ALL" cried Sam holly. II
have no wish to use the power which
the knowledge l have gives me over
the friends who rescued me from that
beastly hut would be a pretty strong
weapon II l chose to use 1t. But /
don't; to do so would be to defeat my
own ends and those of Iris. What I
want Is nothing more than some state
ment from you, which will enable me
to fulfil the conditions of that promise
which your daughter has signed. Be-
yond reassuring her, give you my
word that I shall keep your confidence
entirely: furthermore. IL / can hon
estly do so. shall even assist you in
your enterprise!"
Vanderpool arose and began to pace
up and down, silently, appearing to
consider the proposition that the
younger man had just made. Then he
stopped abruptly, shooting direct
glance at Hill from under his fine
brows. He was a man of quick deci-
sions, and he had decided in. Hills
favor.
Il believe you are sincere" he said
slowly, "and there, am going to trust
you with the whole story. Sit down
and smoke il you like-no, l prefer
to walk"
The financier continued to pace in
silence for few moments, his white
head bowed, his thin, youthful figure
alert and active as a boys, his hand
some cameo-like features contracted
in thought Then he spoke abruptly.
You have surmised that a revolu-
ton was afoot? You are right-there
is-in Venezuela. My asphalt inter
ests are chiefly there. The export-tax,
as it stands, would be drain upon
my profits, and ostensibly that is the
reason for my backing this scheme to
upset the present government. But
there is another reason, a deeper one,
L. MI t< nfh
Rowe. 1t concerns woman, who,
he tells me, is kept prisoner by the
now president of that God-forsaken
place. Let me tell you about her.
When / first took up this business l
went to Venezuela to make my coz
friends with the DICTATOR fine old
man. He had very young wife-hard-
ly more than a child. / fell in love
with her and she with me. She had
a child-a girl it was, but it was be-
ing brought up as a boy because the
father had been SO bitterly disap-
pointed at having no son and
Carmen was faithful to her child and
her husband am glad she
was l would not have had 1t
otherwise. But we danced together
great deal there was no harm
in that Then, one night the
inevitable, or rather the usual revolu-
ton broke out. 1t broke out in the
ballroom Fl. where we were
Waiting. The orchestra stopped
abruptly: all was confusion. was
knocked unconscious while trying to
save her husband. When I came to, I
was aboard a ship bound for New
York. The president was saved, as l
learned afterward, but the revolution
was successful and he was deposed.
Carmen, / heard, was dead. Then,
after while, married to please my
family"
Iris mother?" said Hill.
YES" continued Vanderpool "She
died within a year, leaving the baby
I was fond Of her, In a way.
and sorry but l never forgot
Carmen. Recently, / came across
Rowe, who had been prominent in the
affairs Of Venezuela during my visits
there. He told me that Carmen was
not dead. Good God! that
was all he needed to say, but he
added that she was being kept pris-
oner, to all intents and purposes, by
the present government for fear that
the country would rise in favor Of her
supposed son IL she were left free.
Now you will understand the situa-
ton. l have financed everything. The
last boat sails on the early tide, before
daylight tomorrow. have here let
ter to my daughter which l thought
would sufficiently explain my alb
sence."
"You are going with them-with
the revolutionists!" exclaimed Hill.
II am going to rescue Carmen" re-
piled Vanderpool with a wistful. smile.
And you sail at dawn! Will you
not come with me to the house at
once, and tell Iris what you have told
me-" cried Hill excitedly. by. jove!