Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-06-28
Senorita
Conciia Garcia
BY ALAN HINSDALE

broke out. So he concluded to take a
look at trench warfare in France and
went to Paris for that purpose.
Paris has always been attractive to
Americans, and Van Amberg after a
brief visit to the scene Of fighting lin
gered in the capital. BE had nothing
TO do, and Satan finds plenty Of work
for idlers. The f1end did not come to
the American in his Own proper per-
son. He did it all through Cupid, a
favorite auxiliary at times of his in
fernal majesty.
Van Amberg formed the acquaint-
ance of one Jules Gravolet, a man
about town also with apparently moth
ing to do.
One day the two were dining to-
gether in cafe located on the Champs
Elysees. A very pretty woman of a
Spanish cast of countenance bowed to
Gravolet. Van admired the beauty with
dark eyes and hair, and his friend
offered him an introduction. Van ac-
cepted the favor only too readily, and
Gravolet after a brief interview with
the lady led the American to her table
and gave him the promised introduc-
ton.
Senorita Concia Garcia was a typi-
cal Spaniard. There was nothing pas
sive about her; on the contrary she
was aggressive. She did not wait to
be wooed; she wooed.
After the dinner she invited the two
men to go with her and her mother,
who was dining with her, to their
apartments. Gravolet excused himself,
but Van accepted. He spent delight
-ful evening, and when he came away
he was intoxicated with love for tn.
olive cOmpleXioned Spaniard.
That was the beginning of frequent
visits, rides and walks on the part Of
the young American with Senorits
Garcia. One day when he was diI-
ing with Gravolet, unable to speak Ut
anything or any one except the Span
lard, Gravolet said to him:
Il am very sorry, my friend, that /
gave you this introduction"
''Why so?" asked Van with some
thing like alarm in his manner.
"Your heart is evidently set upon
her and her heart is set upon some
one else"
'"Whom?" asked Van, paling.
"a member Of the corps legislatif"
Van Amberg wilted. Then suddenly
bracing up. he said
Are you sure?'
Perfectly"
II can't believe it. Only last even
ing i told her Of my love and asked
her to be my wife. She admitted that
she loved me, but took my proposal
under consideration"
You will believe nothing till it is
proved. In this you are like all men.
can prove what say, but to do so
I must get letters Of this other suitor.
They are locked in q desk in the seno-
rita's rooms"
Here is where Satan began to get
n his fine work. He sang in Van Am
berg's ears continually, "Open the desk
and convince yourself that she is
either true or untrue to you" He had
access to the room where the desk
vas located and could go there when
Eae occupant was out.
IF you don't wish to confirm or
disprove what I say" said Gravolet.
procure for me the key to the desk
and will get the proof for you"
This seemed about as demeaning as
doing it himself He declined. But
the next time he called on Senorita
Garcia she was not at home, and her
mother had gone out with her. A
Dit of 1t, he made an impression Of
che lock. This was as far as he went;
he did not intend to go so far and to
tell the truth he went no farther.
Satan had got through with him.
When he saw Gravolet again he let
out what was weighing on his mind.
He confessed what he had done. but
avowed his intention to do no more.
Gravolet did not argue with him. The
Two were dining together, and some
now the wine got into Vans head. He
went to sleep in his chair, and when
he was awakened by a shake from a
waiter Gravolet was not there.
Van Amburg. wondering, staggered
out Of the cafe. called a cab and was
the next morning he thought of the
wax impression he had made. He felt
1or 1t in his pocket, intending to de-
stroy it. 1t was gone!
He began to worry. Something must
be wrong. Going to a cafe, he break
TASTED and about II o'clock In the
morning went to the apartments of
SSenorita Garcia. He found only her
another.
Where is the senorita?" he asked.
The woman gave him a look of con-
tempt and repulsion, but said nothing
"Where is the senorita?" he repeated
~Dead"
@'Deadw
~She was not my daughter She
merely rented rooms of me. We were
out late last night. When we came in
I'VE found an officer and soldiers here