Richard Harding Davis

“ The sides were open, and half of the wharf was filled with moonlight, but over the other half the roof cast a black shadow, and into this Inez passed quickly. Roddy as quickly followed. His heart was leaping in a delightful tumult. His love of adventure, of the picturesque, was deeply gratified. As he saw it, the scene was set for romance; he was once more in the presence of the girl who, though he had but twice met her, and, in spite of the fact that she had promised herself to another man, attracted him more strongly than had any woman he had ever known. ”

“ His eyes were wide and staring. Vicenti, returning hastily, looked into them and, with an exclamation, drew back.
“The fever!” he said.
Roddy was shouting wildly.
“It’s a lie!” he cried. “She did not send you. She does not care whether I drown or live. She loves Pino Vega. She will marry——”
Peter, with his arm around Roddy’s neck, choked him, and held his hand over his mouth.
“Be still,” he entreated, “for God’s sake, be still!” He looked fearfully at Vicenti, but the young doctor, though his eyes were wide with astonishment, made an impatient gesture. ”

“ As though waiting for Roddy to make some comment or ask some question, the girl hesitated.
“I see,” said Roddy.
“No, I am afraid you cannot see,” said Inez, “unless you know the facts. I am sorry to weary you with family secrets, but, if you know them, my mother’s prejudice is more easy to understand. Colonel Vega wishes to marry me. My mother also desires it. That is why they are hostile to you.”
The young girl gave an exclamation of impatience.
“It is ridiculous,” she protested, “that such an absurd complication should be brought into a matter of life and death. But there it is. ”

“ But in every camp there are traitors. No one can tell at what hour all our secrets may not be made known. Of only one thing you can be certain: matters cannot continue as they are. Within a week you will see this country torn by civil war, or those who oppose Alvarez, either of our party or of Vega’s, will be in prison.”
When Roddy, rested and refreshed and with normal pulse and mind, came to luncheon, Peter confided to him all that Vicenti had told him.
“If all that is going to happen,” was Roddy’s comment, “the sooner we get Rojas free the better. We will begin work on the tunnel to-night.” ”

“ And she and Vega pointed me out and laughed.”
“Stop him!” shrieked Peter. “You must not listen! Give him morphine! Dope him! Stop him!”
Roddy wrenched his wrists free and ran to Pedro, clutching him by the shoulders.
“But we’ll save him!” he cried. “We’ll set him free! Because he is an old man. Because he is a great man. Because he is her father. We’ll make him President!” His voice soared exultantly. “To hell with Vega!” he shouted. “To hell with Alvarez!” He flung up his arms into the air. “Viva Rojas!” he cried.
Peter turned on Vicenti and shook his fist savagely in his face. ”

“ She thinks you are doing all in your power to spoil the plans of your own father and of Vega. She—we have all heard of your striking Vega in defense of Alvarez. Vega is the one man she thinks can save my father. She believes you are his enemy. Therefore, you are her enemy. And she has been told, also, of the words you used to my father when your friend was permitted to visit him.” With an effort the girl tried to eliminate from her voice the note of obvious impatience. ”

“ They suspected his loyalty to his former patron and chief, they feared his ambition; and they believed, were he to succeed in making himself President, he would be the servant of Forrester, and of the other foreigners who desired concessions, rather than of the people of Venezuela. ”