White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1932-01-28
CHAPTER VIII
The Bugle of Maracay
Copyright by Bobbs-Merrlll Co.


tle," said he, "he thinks he's Alex
ander."
you speak in parallels, Monahan;
PM falls deal short Of Alexander"
He grinned, and bent his red head
to indicate massive rock house a
stones throw to the north of us.
"That's his headquarters-or will be
until the Spaniards run us out again.
He has lately entered 1t, with lady
-. a reluctant lady, it's true, but
the manner of PM was gently but
firmly coercive, so :"
II shall apprise him of our danger
at once; we must reform and we
must keep in touch with the main
body of Bolvar's army, else we are
lost, for our ammunition"
Sure" he said. He caught hold of
my arm as l turned away. "Is your
pistol loaded, Garde?" There was a
strange light in his blue eyes, and
under his air of seeming Indifference
I read definite tenseness.
"Do l require a pistol to approach
our colonel?"
He shrugged go ahead; you went
in Caracas without gun-and out
again. This lions den shoud be vast
ly simpler. Providence watches
over you"
The heavy wooden door with it's ex-
quisite carvings stood open and as
would have entered sentry put
gun across the doorway. 1.-THE colonel
has issued orders that he is not to be
disturbed will the major wait?'
"The major won't; will you tell the
colonel"
He showed white teeth in a wide
grin. II cannot; it would be as much
as my life is worth to disturb him."
While I waited, wondering what
should be done, the colonel's tenor,
carrying the burden of a caress,
came down the hallway: would not
the wines Of Montalban caress thy
palate, Bonita?"
failed to catch Bonita's reply, but
1t was not acquescence, for the col
onel spoke again: "When the Span
iards take a city, Senorita, they take
all that is in it; may we, then, do
less?"
He laughed at her rejoinder and
continued: "Had I known Maracay
held so gorgeous beauty l should
have taken it long ago; so fair
vision of loneliness may not be kept
for mere Spaniard he cannot
properly appreciate. Be not so cold"
he pleaded; "a little wine, a little"
mo, no." she cried, "ah, MOI"
Name of G-d-the one voice in all
the world! 1t had called to me in my
dreams, it had ridden the wings of
the wind, and now
With no thought of consequences l
thrust the sentry aside with sweep
of my arm, sped along the hallway
and threw my body against the door,
which crashed inward under the i'm
pact of my fall. BY the time / had
regained my feet PM, pistol held
ready, was standing across the table
from me, and the Senorita Lamartina
leaned against the wall, fear in her
pale face and slim hands pressed
against her bosom.
''Senor % she gasped.
"Dulce!'
Colonel PM, misunderstanding me,
laughed. "Aye, dulce indeed, Major
Garde, for she is the sweetest by far
of all those that the stupid Spaniard
has yet brought over. But why do
you enter my quarters by such force
full meansf"
Think! must think, must con-
troll myself; blind luck so far had
been my portion, but now -. Ora
cious Cd, give me the use of my
brain! PM did not recognize her, did
not realize the value of the prize that
he had won; then, manifestly, he
should remain in ignorance.
"a vision, in TRUTH" said l, laugh
ing. "But do you not know, my col
onel, that the taking of Maracay has
cost us over a hundred men? We
would hasten"
She looked at me in amazement, re-
sentiment In the deep blue eyes, and |
thought, an expression of pleading
also.
AYE" PM agreed, "a hundred men
indeed-but it's worth it; the Senorita
alone is worth two hundred" | think
the garrulous colonel had partaken
too freely of the wines of Montalban.
"Yet there is much to do"
did not Bolivar say to take the
city, and have not done soYa
Eyes, but General Bolivar also said
to hold it. Do you not know, my col
onel, that half our Indian soldiers.
having fired away their remaining am
munition in celebration of our victory,
have discarded their guns, assuming
them-empty-to be of no further
use?"
He laughed. "A misfortune, but
nothing tragic; it has ever been the
habit of the stupid savages. thing
to be discounted as inevitable"
"And," continued, that the forces
of Paez and Plaza have fallen back
before the Spaniards, freeing the two
wings that NAV now close i'm uDOn