The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-03-18

~ Ii the llSL WASA ~ C3IAS
along, and by his EXPLANATIONS of
excitement informed me that he had
secured one of the first prizes of
so, GOO marks.
SITS. Paul and Peter Get Candles
Holy st. Paul and Peter" he cried
in his emotion, and went on to vow
to the saints candles, as a mark of
gatitude for the favors bestowed up
on him.
He rushed to the interior Of the
lottery office and kissed everyone he
met, danced around and again left
the hall to once more examine his
ticket number. think he feared that
he might be mistaken. But he was
right. he was the lucky winner. I
was still watching him, having sta
toned myself at the. entrance of the
hall. Then, in his excitement he
| turned to me, and vehemently ex-
| planned the good fortune which had
| overtaken him "just when I wanted
some money for my republic
There. is Only One Kunani
The phrase struck me, for Kunani
| was in my mind, and 1 did not sup
| pose there could be two republics so
| hard up for money that their presi-
dent had need to buy lottery tickets
! to assist the state finances.
Here was my chance. I entered in
to conversation with the lucky ticket
holder, who was beaming with hap
| piness, and could not resist my SYM
| pathy and warm congratulations. In
ten minutes I was in possession of
his card and along with it his heart,
and had accepted an invitation to
dine with. him at the obscure hotel
| in which he was but lately driven
to stay.
Only a Side Show
I should mention here that my as
signed mission had no connection
with the affairs of. the republic of
Kunani or the person of it's Preside;
to me this was a little recreation, a
little change from the monotony of
the regular work. But as later the
Foreign Office admitted to me, this
was the best and most valuable as
signment that 1 had filled.
But of course, 1 was not author
lied to take a course without first
Therefore, before keeping my rendez-
vous with Lopez, I thought it was
wise to find out whether there was
any danger in associating with him
and why he was allowed to remain at
large in the Brazilian capitl, where he
was well known, without let or him
drance.
1 directly went to our Ministry and
made inquiries about my prospective
victim. This caused a great deal OF
amusement among the circle of our
Ministry staff, but our Consul him
, self was highly gratified at the news
of my lucky meeting with this man
Lopez. I was naturally happy to think
that my little innocently conducted
sides how turned out to be a lucky
incident whereby I could serve the
fatherland.
, Our Ministry at Rio knew all about
l this man. Lopez ruled a great tract
of land in the heart of Brazil anC
had a railroad fifty miles long. Lo-
PEI could be financed to buy engines
= and cars. The Republic of Kunan
: could be utilized as a base of opera
E tons against Brazil, should circum
t stances demand it. If we could only
!, induce Lopez to join us we coulc
1 build up a real state for him, and ht
was regarded as such fool that NJ
one would seriously suspect what ht
was doing. But Lopez. could not b.
L approached. He was such a eranl
i that no person from our Ministr!
staff was so far successful in striking
a an acquaintance with him. You are
the one person, you, Gracious Coun
L tess you can capture Lopez and hi
republic for us!" said our Ministe
0 in a great glee.
Out to Get Lopez's Republic
Lopez was a retired coffee mer
u chant and at one time he had a
: much as 100000 marks. And h
u !, came from San Paula where there ar
Il thousands of German settlers. TIL
{ Brazilian government knew him an
had. always regarded him as a harm
less crank. The authorities had neve
I taken his claim to the Presidency t.
T the Republic of Kunani seriously
g The official attitude to him in Brazi
IL was one of amused tolerance. Alread,
s he had built for the government
E railway, which must one day be TO
= alone; no harm could come of him
And he was so out of the way tina
even if he desired to make trouble
= what could he do?" This was the gis
of the official attitude towards Lope
and his republic in the Brazilian CAPT
- tai.
- Preparations
I had left Lopez with a little al
n of mystery, and that mystery I de
G ,cided to enhance. 1 dressed for gu
a dinner with the utmost care, covere
: myself from head to feet with a lon
- black cloak, hid my face under tire
> wells, and when 1 lifted these veil
before my mirror and saw my ow-
face in rehearsing my role on meet
- ing Lopez, I admitted in the secrec
!. of my chamber that I was good t
u look at. On this occasion I had t
u utilize my husband" as the driver 0
- my car.
u motored off to the rather Bohem
N ian quarter of the city where he ap
l. pointed to meet me and give me din
II ner.
Happy was this Preside Lopez i
n my company and he made no at
n, tempt to hide it His manners wer
lg courtly and his behavior that of
al thorough gentleman. I had made n
a mistake in attributing to him som
Id very fine qualities. He had the birth
a the education. and the instincts of
Portuguese grandee. I was as SAT
lie with him as in my own hotel.