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, . - . . . . - . . " JJM JJ ? ATALL OF I11L N&W WriR
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" Copyright , ISj ! ! , by i' , Tennyson Nee11' ,
CHAPTER XI-Continued.
'Valt ; you mar change your mind ,
Senor Jack , " says the agent , dell .
, cmtely.
"Supose ) Uoblndo , bent upon such
? i dangerous mission , should fall Into
the hands of the enemr. They would
perhaps feed him to the wild beasts ,
If you : have any such In the Cuban
- 4 chaparral , and possibly the dashing
Colonel Spencer would share his fate ;
. hut I can see no reason why I should
1 mourn under such conditions. "
"Unfortunately It is not such clear
. sailing. The senor Intends taking hIs
; . . . .i . . daughters with him upon the oxpedl-
' "
tlon
" "Monstrous ! The old wretch ! It ,
must not be allowed ! " cries Jacl\
< ; "You arc powerless to prevent it.
" . He has a design behind It all , and
hoes ) by the presence of the girls to
avoid suspicion A very shrewd old
fellow , this Roblado , and a caicuJat-
Ing and cold- looded as you find
them But , Senor Jack , that Is not
all "
. "The deuce , you say'Still ! ' worse
coming ! Well , 1 am prepared for It.
Fire away ! "
; "Uememher , this Is In confidence
You must swear that through you not
whisper of It shall ever reach the
cars ot the anthorltles. "
' . . . - "Oh , I give you m3' solemn prom-
.
r prom-
t ! : \ ; : Ise And what I say I always do ; you
' \ know that , " replies Tra"ers
' ' ' ' ! ' ( "I learned that It was the .enor's
' .
f'J Intention to take a train from Havana
- . . > , that would bring him In the vicinity
i , of Gomez' main cam ) ) .
1 "Well , I have It on pretty ) good authority .
} thorlt3' that the rebels Intend to dyna-
f' mite that train , and the chances arc
,
that not a soul on board will escape
to tell the story. "
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CHAPTER XII
Just Five Minutes Too Late
Smithers' Intelligence causes a gritting .
ting of teeth on the part of his audit-
or. The Qsslblllt3' of such a fate
overtaking Jessie Cameron Is quite
enough to unnerve him.
" " "A diabolical way of striking a blow '
for lIbert3' We could not sanction it
in our countries , Smithers. But that
Is not to the point. The question Is
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' ' 3 "The rebels intend to dynamite that
train l"
how to save the girls As to the men ,
f I have no Interest in their lives They
.
can take pot luck. "
I "Your promise , \II' ! 'ravers ? "
1 "I bad not forgotten , That ties my
r hands so far ae informing the authorities -
sties is concerned. "
. . " . "
f . "Good
,
, ' p , . . - "On nn' part I would say : 'bad , ' for
now you and ! T m\Ft EaC : ; ! ' - , . - , girls.
. '
.
Copyright , iS99 ! ! ! , by Street and Smith
I am determined on that , even though
I have to start upon ] the doomed train
myself "
"We must plan quickly , then , sir "
"How so ? Is there something more
you have not told me ? "
"You see the dar : is declining , "
"Yes-yes "
- ,
"And this train will leave Havana
at about nightfall , I understanl1. "
"But such a move is contrary to the
usual rules governing railroad travel
In these parts. All trains run hy daylight -
light , so that the danger may be less
marlwd. "
"Jt ! . so , anti the rebels knowing
this will not be on the lookout , it Is ,
supposed , and the extra train , or spe- :
cial , can go on unmolested. "
"Ah , I see. Quite a clever piece of
engineering , though the secret must
have slipped through in some way ,
since as you declare a scheme Is on
foot to blow the train up with Yankee
dynamite. Our time may he short.
'Ve must think and act qulcl { ] ' . "
"Our only hoe ) would be to separ-
ate the ladies from the rest of the
party , perhaps at the last minute be-
fore the train started. "
"I gras ] your meaning. Continue. "
"Rohlado and his companion would
be powerless to accomplish nnrthlng :
They dare not leeep the train waiting ,
and should they fall to be on It when
the signal is given to start , the iron
hand' of the Captain-General would
'lese upon them In a grasp that could
only he cut loose before a corporal's
guard at the dead.llne. What do you
think ! of the Idea ? "
" 'V ell , you understand I must not
appear In the matter. My promise to
- -
Jessie forhill/ ' "
"Excuse me , but if she fell overboard -
board In mid-ocean , would you : feel
compelled to walt until she appealed
directly to you before leaping over
to her rescue ? I know you better than
that , Squire John. First her life , then
her reproaches If she pleases to be so
contrary. That life Is In deadly danger -
ger now You expect to fly to her re-
lief. Already you are hampered by
enough 11romlses. Then away with
the notion that you dare not come into
her presence unless she calls for 'ou.
How Is she otherwise to Imow you
arc In Havana ? "
Jack throws up ] his hands.
"Smithers , you have wonI recognize .
nlze the folly of carrying that thing
out to the leUer. If the occasion demands
mands such an exposure on my part ,
I am ready to submit , even though
she Scorns me for breaking my WOI'(1. "
"Scorn 'ol1-m3' dear sir , evidently
you have not studIed the feminine
mind as much as the methods of min-
Ing , 0- : the necessities of a stock
ranch Besides , unless all signs / fall ,
you may he In a position to save her
from a terrible fate , and the very opportunity
portunit3' you desire be granted. "
"I am ccnvinced Now tell me how
you : would carry out such a scheme. "
Smithers has evidently thought it
all out beforehand , as he unravels a
plan so well arranged that Jack can
hardly add anything to it.
Just previous to the time for the
train to go someone employed for that
purpose will ] draw the senor to the
end of the station platforms on particular -
lar business-perhaps a few last ver-
hal directions from the Captain-Gen-
oral of R noncommittal uature.
While he Is away from the carriage
in which the ladles have taken up
their places , another messenger will
come to them apparently from Don
Rafael , bearing the information that
he has given up ) the trip , and that
they will accompany the Qther In the
victoria back to the hotel , where the
senor will rejoin them.
How simple-how otfective !
If no hitch occurs to mar the little
g.le. Senor R3hlado will make a mad
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dash for his carriage as the signal to
tart is given , and plunging In as the
tmln moves , discover it to ho empt3'
Ho may rave , ho may bellow like a
mad bull , but that will not prevent
the special from leaving Havana and
plunging in among the hills back or
the Cuban capital Ho dare not leave
the train , since Spain e.pects him to
do his duty , and any detection on his
part may bring immediate ruin upon
his house.
Meanwhile , it will not ho so diffi-
cult a feat for the drives of the vehIcle -
idle to explain matter' to the two
girls , and endeavor to gain their con
sent to his driving them-not to the
hotel , but to the house under whose
roof Senor Jack has found such an
hospitable welcome. '
"Tho rest I must leave to you , sir ,
for I expect you to be with me on the
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Something C/ : piratical look.
box of the vehlclo. It you have never
kissed the Blarney stone , I Imagine
you may at least be able to offer some
specious plea as to why they should
accept this hospitality. "
"And Lola will he there to greet
them , " adds Travers , mentally pictur-
Ing the scene when these two come
together-the one so fair and winsome
a lassie bred in the bonnie air of the
Scottish highlands , the other dark and
beautiful , like a tropical fiower.
"Well-er-no , I hardly think Lola
will be at home. I gave her a note
from head-from some parties who
desire her presence , and unless I am
mistaken she has gone from here before .
fore now. But that will not matter.
The whole house Is at their dlslQsaI. "
"I hope they will accel't. What
comes after , we must leave to I
chance , " and Jack smiles at the pleas-
Ing prospect.
"At any rate , with the clan out or
the game , there's no reason why you
shouldn't advance your cause , my I
frlend "
"H'm ! Poor r10n. It is a teriHJle
fate , and I hate to think of it ; but I
presume these people have been rendered '
er'rl quite desperate by what they be-
hove to bo their wrongs. At any rate ,
I don't pretend to judge just how
far they are justified in such severe
actions. My whole concern Is to save
m3' wife from such a fate Into which
as an entirely innocent party she
seems In danger of being dragged. "
"The wrongs of Cuba cry aloud to
heaven for redress from every hili-
slde--the3' have burned like smol11der.
Ing fires for half a century , breaking
out now and again in such heroic
struggles ! " as the Ten Years' War. The
end Is inevitable , and done but the
wilfully blind can fan to see the hand-
writing on the wall. Cuba must , and
shall be free. "
Smltbers has unconsciously betrayed -
tra3'ed himself. He realizes that his
enthusiasm bas carried him beyond
the line of prudence. His face pales ,
and he Immediately places his hand
on Jack's arm
"l < orget what I have said , I beg or
you , sIr. "
"No , I could not if I wou Id , and J
would not If I could Iyiii tart la In
sympathy with the movement : to free
this island ' , from her r-nke. It dC06 not I
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surprise ; J1\O that you are interested ] In
the desperate struggle-maI\3' bravo
Englishmen are Nothing / surprises
mo In connection with this countl' ' .
I honor you for the stand you have
tal\Cn. Your secret Is safe with mc ,
Smithers. Now I can give a guess
why you hesitated to come hacle to
Havana . But , since we understand
each other , let liS talk of 01\1' plans for
saving the girls "
Jack readily admits that ho call
think of no positive 1111IrO\'emel\t In
connection with the idea so clearly
suggested b3' the IWCl1-slE-hted ; agent ,
and which appears to quite cover the
ground
"Ilow much time have wo to make
ready ? " he aslts.
Smithers consults his clironolneler .
"It is now a quarter to five-tho
trail is appointed to leave al Jlx.thlr- !
tr , " he Fa 's ,
"An hour find three-quarters Ample
time to accomplish wonders , Iny dear
fellow. l'\'e seen occasions when the
world was apparently turned topsy-
tUI'\3' In far less. "
"I don't doubt it You fellows In
the Wild West live fast. I know
something about It myself , sir "
"Yol\\e seen our country , then ? "
"That Is n fact , sir. "
"n'en In the Colorado mll\es-
looked on a Texas ranch perhaps ? '
"Never shall ! forget It. . "
"And possibly visited some of our
Spanlsh.Amerlc31cities down near
time border of 1\1exlco-Sllnta Fe , for
instance ? "
"Again I admIt the soft Impeachment } -
ment , " return : : Smltllc , a little un
easily ! , as If he realizes what Jack Is
driving at.
HAh ! "
That Is all Tra\'ers says , but there
Is a worlll of significance 11\ his manner .
nor of uttering the one word. lie un'
derstand8 now that it must have been
while In the New Mexican capital this !
English agent met Lola The relations ,
tlons between them arc beyond his
present ken , but hy degrees It appears
as hough t the curtain will rise.
Smithers prepares : to holt.
"I shall lie back here with a vehicle .
Icle hy six o'elock. Meanwhile , alter
your looks a little so as to seem more
of a native. You will find certain
things In your apartment that will aid
rou. As to Ah Sin , shall we take him
with us ? "
"Ho mar prove valuahle. I have
found him so on many occasions. "
"Very well. He goes along. I'm
off , sir. "
Jack watches the other's vanishing
form until it is swallowed UI' amid
the luxuriant flower bushcR. Then he
seeks solace In a cigar , and passes
through the court to time . suite of
rooms assigned him.
Remembering Smllhers' Injunction
he tries his hand at darkening his
skin a little : and In various ways alter-
ing his appearance , so that when success '
cess follows his eforts he Is ccn-
strained to believe he presents somc-
thing or h piratical look , and experi-
ences a feeling of dismal dismay at
the prospect of her eyes being turned
upon h11l1.
( To continued , )
- -
Horrible to Think Of.
Church-"In some of the Hlndoo
temples an elephant takes up the collection -
lection It goes round with a basket
extended from its trunle. "
Gotham-"What do you suppose
woulll happen If some thoughtless t
man dropped a peanut In the basket
sonic Sunday morning ? "
She Was Cornered. 1
\fother-Wh3' : have you taken all or
the chairs out of the parlor , dear ?
Daughter-Because George Is so
fearfully bashful , I'm not progressing
at all. Now there Is nothing left in
the room but a tete.a.tete and he's gal
to sit near me-Dctrolt ! Free Press
Their } Smile Came Off.
Maud-I always like to stand b . . . .
tween 11 couple of brawn footbal'
players.
Both ( pleascd-A ! why , now !
Maud-Tbelr hideous appo3Tarce
I sets off a girl's looks so , ,
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