The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-12

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crossed to the French windows
and flung them open.
Before you act on that impulse"
he suggested, '1et me remind you
that the notoriety will have been
attained to no purpose. can jump
from this balcony right into the
seat of my car, and---look."
Don Alferde looked. Demurely
his daughter sat curled up in the
cushions beside the drivers seat,
confident and assured. The Green
Dragon was purring softly.
King put out OBTAINING arm
when His Excellency took an i'm
pulsive step toward the balcony.
Don Alferde stepped back in weary
resignation,
why have you come to me at
ALP he demanded.
"To be fair with YOU" the Amer.
lean replied.
This is your idea Of fair play?
You ruin my cars-I cannot follow.
You manoeuvre me into hopeless
position, from which Il Is impos.
sible to extricate myself, and then
because you advise me of II, you
call 1t fair play" Don Alferde
sneered his contempt.
King shook his head.
You don't understand yet" ne
said, land am anxious that you
do. When you refused me a few
days ago, did you leave me any
choice? You simply consulted your
own whims and supposed that
Made and | would be governed by
them. You were wrong. | might
have run off with her In the night,
like thief, but that wouldn't have
been playing the rules you insti-
tuted. would be more than a
craven, Don Alferde. II gave her
up when we love each other, and
she trusts me. You held all the
trumps, so to speak, and didn't
hesitate to use them. Now | have
checkmated you. in coming here
and telling you have given you
just little more chance than you
gave me. That's all. Now l am
going"
He turned away. DON Alferde
started to speak, but a knock
sounded at the door from the hall.
King stepped to the window, but
the Governor halted him with q
gesture. .-.-
stay" he begged. I'VE have
not yet finished"
Il have your word that you will
only receive this visitor and per-
NIT me to recover exactly the posi-
tfon We are now in?'. King exacted.
my word OF honor" Don Alfredo
promised ~.
Very we'll" King crossed the
room and unlocked the door.
Come in" invited the Governor.
King recognized the visitor when
he entered as a captain in the
Spanish garrison at Portios Pad
res. The officer saluted smartly.
You were delayed, Captain"
King observed the nervousness fur
lively betrayed beneath the Cover
nor-Genersle's brusque manner
Il will explain, sir" the soldier
said. San Jolidas l found in a
furore, and regret to report that
Captain de lola is undeniably at
the bottom of It all. He has given
out news that Your Excellency has
been assassinated and that Portios
Padres is in state Of revolt.
There seems to be no doubt but
that II waJ he who caused the sew.
erance Of the telegraph communi-
cations"
King gasped This was big. He
watched Don Alferde's face grow
more composed with each passing
second, and mentally cheered the
diminutive thoroughbred's splen-
did control. So Don Marquil wasr
at the bottom of the contretemps
at San Jolidas, He chuckled; so
much for windmill spearers! The
officer went on:
Bulletins found were issued
from the Residences office an.
nounce that Caracas has been
formed into a republic and will soon
link arms with Haiti in govern
ment. That has driven the people
into a panic. De lola has pro-
nounced military law and Is prom
Using them to march at their head
and conquer the countryside. Sew.
enty per cent of his troops are with
him; the rest arc in the cuartels
OF the city. fear, sir, that he is
setting himself up as dictator on a
well.conceived plan"
Did you see Don Marquil?" the
Governor shot out crisply.
mo, sir. When he discovered
that was in San Jolidas an at
tempt was made to arrest me. !
entered a stable, stole a horse and
made my escape from the city.
was ambushed not ten miles from
Portios Padres by a party of his
soldiers, and my horse was killed.