White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1932-02-11
BY FRED MCLAUGHLIN
Author of "The Blade of Picardy"
Copyright by Bobbs- Merrill Co.
(WNU Service.)
CHAPTER X-Continued


promise that nothing Of that unfor-
tunate affair of Maracay should reach
the ears of the Liberator. Was he
mad, could he hope to gain anything
by thus breaking his word would
Bolivar forgive him for that vital hour
Maracay? 1 did not think so, for the
Liberator was too good soldier to
overlook so fragrant a blunder. l
waited.
eff there is anythisg," said Bolivar
In voice of cold menace, (which
should have been told to me that
either of you have refrained from
telling"
"Tell him." PM cried, "tell your
general about your arm; explain to
him how you were wounded"
imagined the willy colonel assumed
that would never mention the
Senorita, which, indeed, l had no in
tention of doing
II am waiting" said Bolivar.
Colonel Pint shot me- my general"
Francisco, seated next to me, rasped
a bitter curse, and sigh went around
the table. The Liberator leaped to
his feet. Colonel PM shot you? You
JEST Senor.''
mot at ALL"
"Was this at Maracay?"
eyes, my general"
''Pini would doubtless have good
reason for doing such a thing" He
turned judicial eye upon the colonel.
sMay expect an explanation"
PM smiled. major Garde, I'm sure,
will make explanation
II attacked him. my general"
"Mother Of G-d!" Bolivar gasped.
"That u.s." dissembled, my attack
upon him and his shooting of me came
so near the same instant that it would
be impossible to tell which was cause
and which effect"
"Was this-er-unfortuna affair in
any way related to the loss of Mara
cay?"
mo. general" Colonel PM lied; "it
was purely personal. We could not
have held Maracay with the force at
my command"
Now Bolivar's eyes questioned me.
1T was not in me to explain to the
Liberator how Colonel PM had wasted
precious hour in drunkenness and
In an unsuccessful attempt to win the
favor Of the Senorita Lamartina; an
hour in which he might have made the
defense Of Maracay.
Colonel PM is entirely right, gen.
eral that unfortunate affair was pure
ly personal. I confess to having been
insubordinate, I confess to having at
tackled the colonel, my superior officer,
and I do not care to offer any de-
fense."
Bolivar's face was study. He
must have known that, in service to
him and to Venezuela, had given my
best; he knew that the Apure bat
TALON of three hundred Indians whom
had commanded was the best of his
native fighting force. for had trained
them with the greatest care ''Why,
then, Garde" he questioned, "did not
Colonel PM make report of this on
his return to TinaquilloT
"That, my general, is a question for
Colonel PM"
Pint must have realized that his
burst Of anger had opened up dan
gerous abyss for himself, for he smiled
and, assuming pose of charity,
OF
a gallant soldier General; our Ameri-
cano has been bit impetuous and
did not report that hapless circum-
stance because had no wish to injure
him in your eyes, Our personal diff
ferences will doubtless be settled as
time offers us opportunity"
Drunk, even, the sophist was al
ways a good liar.
General Bolivar laughed, relieving
thereby an awkward tension. II cam
not expect all my officers to love one
another; it is not the way of soldiers
for most of them are sudden and quick
in quarrel; neither can | afford to
lose one of them thus on the eve of
our greatest struggle. You will have
to postpone the pleasure of this con-
test between yourself and Colonel
PM until after we have won the bat
tie of Carabobo."
AYE, my general"
SO we drank again, and Monahan,
pinching my arm. whispered, ANY sol
der who can dash glass of wine into
the face of his superior officer, and
get away with it, must surely have the
fairies working for him !"
Dawn came slowly as we rested on
our arms in the early morning of the
twenty-fourth of June, day which
might be termed the birthday of vene-
zuela. We occupied the timbered
heights southwest of the field of Cara
bobo, and waited to ring down the cur
tain on the last act of the great
Colombian tragedy.
We had waited thus, six years be-
fore rapnmhoroI or Cbo lmottn