The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-18

tho candle he held GA The hurenu and.
bidding bis guest good night. left him.
Coral was pusEied. The goperal had
assured him that bis devotion TO inex
had nothing TO do with the manner OF
his reception. what, then. could it
mean7 He was at loss TO form any
theory, He went to bed, but could
not sleep for thinking Of solution.
He expected to arise at o'clock and
ride to the city before s. At 10 O'Clock
he heard the sound of horses hoofs
on the road. They grew more distinct,
approaching the house. and stopped
before It. Coral heard what sounded
like the clank of q saber.
In ten minutes the conner rode away.
but within half an hour another horse
man came and went as the other had
done. Up to midnight Eve or six per
sons visited the house. Coral heard
them come and go. but nothing more,
Something surely was brewing. He
began to get sleepy. but preferred not
to go to sleep. To prevent his doing
30 he left his bed and sat by win
dow. The room was chilly. and he put
ON some OF his clothing.
On a rise in the ground several miles
distant he saw light. 1t was a bon
FIRE On another summit was another.
He counted FIVE OF these fires within
view. What did they meant
A faint light appeared in the east.
A few minutes later Coral saw fash
through the keyhole OF his door. Go
ing to the door, he opened 1t just far
enough to look out. He saw Inez with
n candle In her hand at the foot OF
staircase leading up to square tower
built at the corner of the house. He
had often been up there and knew that
there was a ladder In ii giving access
to the roof.
Inez assembled the stairs. Coral
emerged from his room. ran around
the court and followed her. overtak
ing her In the room that constituted
the tower. So steaithfly did he move
that she did not know OF his presence
till she stood at the foot Of the ladder
leading to the roof, when she felt her
self clasped by a pair of arms Turn
ing her head. she saw her lover,
what are you going to dor he ask
ed In n whisper.
He partly unloosed her. and her head
sank upon his breast
How unfortunate"
What Is unfortunate
Your coming at this time"
Txa ha al lvf 4 a In
La wrong. You are doing the work Of
General Munez Choose now between
him and me, once and forever"
~ am obliged to choose you. can
not do what he requires Of me without
your permission. and when you know
my intention you viii prevent me"
Then followed confession which
amazed Coral more than his frigfd re
ception. but explained It. General
Munez was at the head of troops who
were to begin their march 10 the cap
ital at dawn TO assassinate the presi-
dent and seize the government. The
insurgents were scattered. Each group
had kindled fire az a signal that It
was ready and waiting. General Munez
had gone to a posat OF rendezvous to
take command He had exacted
promise from Inez that she would at
dawn show light on the tower OF
his residence as signal for the differ.
ent bodies 10 converge at the point
where they would find him
Having received the confession. Cor
al betbought himself what to do
"Inez," he said presently. you have
kept your word with your benefactor
against your lover, so far as you are
able. l viii not permit you TO give the
signal. Promise me that you will so
to your room and remain there. taking
no further part In this matter | will
set out ut once for the capital and
warn the president as i 81 y and
promise You that no action shall be
taken against General Munez, without
the signal the rey5Iufion VIII collapse
The president will ignore IT,"
This proposition accorded with Inez's
desires. She had been bitterly oroos.
ed TO a movement which. having been
concocted in the house where she lived. |
she WAS necessarily cognizant Of II
successful It would make q breach be
tween her and her lover: IL it failed |
General Murez would suffer death !
She made the promise.
"But you viii not get through" she |
added. "All the roads leading to the !
capital are picketed, the guards being
instructed to pass no one without the I
eountersign."
what is the countersign?''
She hesitated for moment, then /
said. "Since the revolution cannot he /
carried ont perhaps it is better that !
you should hare it." Then she whis-
pered 1t In his ear.
'Goodby. sweetheart he said. You /
have acted for the best. The attempt
would have failed, and General Munez
would have suffered DEATH
Descending to the yard, he went to
the stable, saddled his horse and was
soon flying over the road to the city |
He was often stopped; but, having the |
countersign, he was not long delayed i
He now understood why the general |
had kept him overnight. He knew that |
Coral would not get through.
The signal not having been given, |
the troops dispersed at sunrise and the