The Ely miner., 1931-12-11

gan the tale of my misadventure,
which lost nothing in the telling. AS
I had only to wait l studied the man
who was to be my judge, the man
whom South America now calls the
greatest military genius of the ages.
Gen. Simon Bolivar was slim, with
narrow chest and spare body. His
legs were too thin for the grenadier
boots that he wore. His hands were
tiny. and his teeth were white and
well formed. His hair was black, his
skin sallow, and his eyes were a pierc-
ing black. His head was very large.
and his nose, like the nose Of able
men, was long. There was calmness
about him that might have been con-
sidered mental and physical repose,
or it may have been complete control !;
l never knew.
When PM had finished his story
the general, whose eyes showed NO
hint of friendliness, addressed me ::
"Who is this Spanish officer, Senior,
whose safety seemed so dear a thing
to you, whose life you value above
your Own?"
"Senorita Dulce Lamartina"
Bolivar pinched long upper lip be-
tween thumb and forefnger. would
she be the lady whom Colonel Adolfo
de Fuentes journeyed to New Orleans
to meet, and whom he expects to
marry?"
GVac
MAY l assume then, that, though
you come presumably to offer service
to me, you would aid the fiancee of
Colonel Fuentes?"
Menace The world seemed
suddenly filled with it. l was lost
"Not because she is the fiancee of
Colonel Fuentes, Excellency," | es-
sayed a faint smile, "but because she
was his fiancee. l had hoped"
If Bolivar smiled it was so swift
a transition that only imagination
might have caught it. "In time of
war, Senior, may the regard that a
soldier bears for Z lady be sufficient
inducement-?"
mo, Excellency," l admitted. 1T is
difficult to explain; sudden terror
seized u.s.
Francisco's clear, incisive voice
broke in: MAY / speak word for
this man, General, who. because of an
overwhelming love for the Senorita
Lamartina, has blundered into trouble
and out again dozen times? l have
told you about Garde, the young Amer
icano-and Capt. MOnahan, / am sure
There is Monahan now. He
will tell you also"
The red-haired Irish soldier turned
at the two stone posts that had once
been a gate and approached 1t was
good to see that freckled, smiling face
again. He saluted General Bolivar,
then he took my hand in an iron grip.
1.-The Viking!" he cried. Il knew you
would come to US, some time. Where's
the girl?"
1.-The girl?'
"Sure; the Senorita Lamartina.
Didn't you tell me that you'd bring
herr"
and sent her back again"
Monahan turned to Bolivar-whose
knowledge of English was limited
and went back to Spanish again: "I
met this man on the Maracay road,
General, and showed him way to
enter Caracas because, as a rival of
Colonel Fuentes, he could help US.
even gave him money. He promised
with typical American boastfulness.
that he would not only disarrange the
wedding of De Fuentes, but that, when
he left the city, he would bring the
lady with him."
HE tells US that he did," said Boil
var grimly; yet the tale that he
brings"
Now Monahan looked at me with
wonder in his eyes. "Garde," he
gasped, "can such a thing"
Il did disarrange the wedding" said
l, "and the Senorita, disguised as her
brother, accompanied me. Why Man
uel should have sent her is thing
| cannot fathom. yet l know she de-
sired to leave Caracas. If | cannot
find belief" l shrugged my shoul-
ders hopelessly.
A silence fell upon US, a deep sig
nificant silence that was broken sud-
denly by the swift drumming of a
horses hoofs upon the hard road
The speeding mount came to sliding
halt and swarth.r figure dropped to
the ground
(To BE CoNTINUED.)