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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 11, 1918)
THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE. NEBRASKA. Rainbow's By CUETO'S TREACHERY BRINGS NEW PERILS UPON ESTEBAN AND ROSA. ' Synopsis. Don Ksteban Vroun, a Cuban planter, hides his wealth money, Jewels and title deeds In a well on his estate. Tho hiding place Is known only to Snbnstlnn, a hIrvo, Don Rstehan's wlfo dies at the birth of twins, Estebnn and Ilosa. Don Ksteban marries the avaricious Donna Isabel, who tries unsuccessfully to wring the secret of the hidden treasure from Sebnstlan. Angered at his refusal, she urges Don Estebnn to sell Evangcllna, Sebastian's daughter. Don Estebnn refuses, but In tho courso of a Rambling orglc, he risks Uvangellna at cards and loses. Crazed by the loss of his daughter, Sebastian kills Don Esteban and is himself killed. Many years pass and Donna Isabel Is enable to find the hidden trensun.1. Don Mario, rich sugar merchant, seeks to marry Itosa, who has returned from school In tho United States. Johnnie O'ltellly, an American, who loves Itosa, wins hor promise to wait for him until ho can return from New York. Donna Isabel falls to death while walking In her sloep. Esteban's connection with tho Insurrectos Is iHscovercd and ho and Itosa are compelled to floe. In New York, O'ltellly gets a letter from Itosa tell ing of her peril and urging him to rescue her. O'Reilly Immediately returns to Cuba. CHAPTER VII Continued. 6 O'ltellly read the label. "It's bit trs," said ho. "Bitters I And I asked for 'yellow' it glass of agwa with yellow." Branch's Yolco shook. "I'm dying of a fever, and this Ivory-billed toucan brings me a quart of poison. Bullets!" It was Impossible to describe the suggestion ef profanity with which the speaker colored this Innocuous expletive. "Weak as I am, I shall gnaw his windpipe." He bared his teeth suggestively and raised two talonlike hnnds. Tho waiter was puzzled but not alarmed. He embraced himself as his customer had done, and shuddered; thee pointing at tho bitters, he nodded encouragingly. O'Reilly forestalled an outburst by translating his countryman's wants. "Un vaso da agua con hlelo," said he, and the attendant was all apologies. "So you' speak the lingo!" marveled Mr. Broach. "Well, I can't get tho hang of it Don't like It. Don't like anything Spanish, n 1 of a country, isn't it? where the ice 1b 'yellow' and i the batter is 'meant to kill you,' and does," O'Reilly laughed. "You've been studying a guide book, 'with complete glossary ef Spanish phrasea.' " Mr. Branch nodded listlessly. "I'm Supposed 'to report tills Insurrection, ut the Spaniards won't let me. They i edit my stuff to suit themselves. I'm jgattlng tired of tho farce." "Going home?" "Don't dare." Tho speaker tapped Ibis concave chest. "Bum lungs. I came down here to shufllo off, and I'm waiting for It to happen. What brings you to Cuba?" "I'm hero for my health, too." Tho real invalid stared. "I have rheuma tlem." "Going to sweat it out, eh? Well, thorns nothing to do but sweat"' (Branch was racked by a coughing spasm that shook Ids' reedy frame; "sweat and cough. Bullets 1 No mis take about that hospital bark, Is there?" . When he had regained his (breath he said: "Seo hero! I'm going ito take a chance with you, for I like 'TOHr looks. My newspaper work Is a 'bluff ; I don't send enough stuff to keep ia alive. I came here to euro my llHBgs, and I want you Ito help me lio it." j O'Reilly stared at the man In sur prise. "How can I help you!" he asked. "By taking mo with you." , "With mo? Where?" "To tho Insurrectos, of- courso." : The men eyed each other fixedly. "-What mokes you think" O'Reilly 'began, J "Oh, ston't say it I Tvo got a hunch I IX don't know what your gamo Is probebly dynamite: there's n story that the rebels have sent for some American experts to teach them how to use the stuff, and God knows they imjwI InutftiiMnii T Invhnnr T ! M ' t 1 - 41 . T jOwaituw wiiu riteuiiiuuoui im. thought you might give me a lift. Take me along, will you?" "And how would that benefit your cough?" Johnnlo inquired curiously Mr. Branch hesltutcd. "Well, I'll tell jou," he said, after a moment. "I'm Jtfrald to dlo this wuy, by Inches, and hours. I'm soured to death," It seemed ilmposslblo that the sick man's cheeks iCQUld further blanch, but thoy becaino 'fairly livid, while u beading of mols turo appeared upon his upper Up '"Heaven! You've no idea how It gets in a fellow's nerves to see himself clipping slipping. I'd like to end It suddenly, llko that!" He voiced the last sentence abruptly and snapped his Angers. "Then, too, I'd llko to have u thrill before I cash In tnsto 'the salt t life,' as somebody expressed It. That's war. It's tho biggest game In 'the world. What do you think of tho Wear "Not much," O'Reilly sutd honestly, "Difference in temperament I sup tote It is a flck fancy, but I've got It. I'm a rotteii coward, but I'll light if the. Cubans will take me," "Where are the Cubans?" "Oil, they're ot youder la the hills. I Hmk all a,' Mt '. Gouts over to REX BEACH (Copyright, bf Harper my quarters, and I'll show you a map, If you'ro Interested." , "I am," said O'Reilly, nnd, rising, he followed his new acquaintance. CHAPTER Vllt. The Spanish Doubloon. On the whole, Poncho Cueto's plans had worked smoothly. After denounc ing the Varona twins as traitors he had managed to have 'himself appointed trustee for tho crown, for all their properties, consummation for which he had worked from tho moment he read that letter of Estcban's on the morn ing after Donnu Isabel's death. That there was a treasure Cueto had never doubted, and, once the placo was hit? to do with as he chose, he began his search. Commencing nt tho lower edge of the grounds, be ripped them up with a sc ries of deep trendies and cross-cuts. It was a task that required the labor of many men for several weeks, nnd when It wan flnlshpd thero was scarce ly a growing thing left upon the place. Only a few of tho larger trees re mained. Cueto was disappointed at finding nothlug, but he was not tils couraged. Next ho tore down tho old slave barracoons nnd the outbuildings, after which he completely wrecked tho residence Itself. He pulled It apart bit by bit, brick by brick. He even dug up its foundations, but without tho reward of so much as a single pesata. FI nally, when tho villa was but a heap of rubbish and tho grounds a scar upon tho slope of La Cumbre, he de sisted, baffled, Incredulous, while all Matanzas laughed at him. Having sac rificed his choicest residence, ho re tired In chagrin to the plantation of La Joya. But Cueto was now a man with grievance. Ho burned with rago, and his contempt for the boy and girl hp had wronged sourod Into hatred. In tlmo he began to realize ulso that so long as they lived they would Jeop anlizo his tenure of their proporty Public feeling, at present, was high; there was Intense bitterness ngulnst all rebels; but tho war would end some day. What then? Cueto asked him self. Sympathy was over on tlio Bide of the weak and oppressed. There would come a day of reckoning. As if to swell his discomfiture and strengthen his fears, out from the hills at tho head of the Yumurl issued ru mors of a little band of guerrllleros under tho leadership of a beardless boy a band of blacks who were male ing the upper valley unsafo for Span lsh scouting parties. Cursing the name of Varona, Pancho Cueto armed himself. lie did not ven turo far alone, and, llko Donna Isabel before him, ho began to have bad dreams at night. Ono day a field of Cueto's cane was burned, nnd his laborers reported see-; ing Ksteban and some negroes riding Into tho wood. The overseer took horso within tho hour and rode pell- mell to Matanzas. In the city at this tlmo was a certain Colonel Cobo, In command of Spanish volunteers, those execrable convict troops from tho Isle of Pines whoso atrocities" had already marked them as wolves rather than men, and to him Pancho went with his story. "Ah, yes I Thut Varona boy. I've heard of hltn," Cobo remarked, when his culler had finished his account "Ho has reason to hate you, I dure say, for you robbed him." The colonel smiled disagreeably. Cuoto murmured something to the effect that tho law had placed him la his position as truateo for tho crown, and should therefore protect him; but Colonel Cobo's respect for tho law, It seemed, was slight In his view there was but one law in the land, tho luw of forco. "Why do you como to mo?" ho asked. "That fellow is a desperado." Pan- cJio declured. "Ho should bo de stroyed." "Buhf The country Is overrun with desperadoes of his kind, and worse. BuVnlng crops is nothing new. I'd make un end of htm soon enough, but nenrly nil of my men arc In Caraenns, Wo have work enough to da." End Author of "The Iron Trail," "The Spoilers," "Heart of the Sunset," lite. and Brother) "I'd make it worth while, If you could put an end to him," Puticho said, hes itatingly. Then, recalling some of those stories nbout Colonel Cobo, he added, "There are two of them, you know, a boy and a girl." "Ah, yes I I remember." "I can direct you to the house of Asenslo, where they live." "Vm-m I" Cobo was thoughtful. "A girl. How old Is she?" "Eighteen." "Ugly as an alligator, I'll warrant" "Hal The most ravishing creature In all Matanzas, All the men were mad over her." Coldncl Cobo, the guerrilla, licked his full, red Hps and ran n strong, square hand over his curly, short- cropped hair. "You say you know where she where they are living?" "Ah, perfectly I It's less than a night's ride. There's no ono except the boy to reckon with." 'How much Is ho worth to you?" bluntly Inquired the soldier, and Cueto sat down to make the best terms pos sible. "Do you think ho received my let ter?" Rosa asked of her brother one evening us they sat on the board bench by Asenslo's door. It was a familiar question to Estcban ; he had answered It many times. "Oh, yes I" he dcclnred. "Lopez mes senger got through to Key West" "Then why doesn't he come? "But, ray dear, you must be pntlcnt. Think of his dlfllcultles." This subject always distressed young Vnronn; therefore he changed It "Come I You haven't heard of my good fortune. I enptured another fine snake today, a big, sleepy fellow. Believe me, he'll "Wukc Up when I set fire to his tall. He'll go like the wind, and with every foot he goes away will go more of Pancho Cueto's profits." "You Intend to burn more of his fields?" ubsently Inquired the girl. "It seems terrible to destroy our own property." Estebnn broke out excitedly; ho could not discuss Pancho Cueto with- Esteban Whispered, "In tho Well." out losing control of himself. "Would you permit that traitor to fatten upon tho profits of our plantations? I shall ruin him, as ho ruined us." Rosa shook hor dark )iead sadly. "And we are Indeed ruined. Think of our beautiful house; all our beautiful tlilnfu tfin I Wn iiil tn pnnslrier nnr. nftr ,1(irw ,,, , Unftro of r(ln, nnvPt rr,.PP nrn mnnv k .,.... T nnve ,.. ....,., lcftr "I thought It best to buy those rifles." tho brother murmured, dropping his eyes. "It was one chance In a mil lion." "No doubt It was. It seems thoso Spaniards will sell their souls." "Exnctly. We cun dig food from the earth nnd pluck it from tho trees, but good Mausers don't grow on every bush. Besides, of whnt use would money be to us when we have no place to spend It?" "True I" After a moment Rosa mused aloud : "I wonder If Cueto found the treasure? If only we had that " "Ho didn't find it," Esteban declared, positively. "I" he hesitated "I think I know why he didn't. I think I know where It Is." "Where Is ttT' breathlessly Inquired the girl. After ti furtive look over his shoul dor Esteban whispered, "In tho well." "You'ro Joking 1" "No, no I Think for yourself. It was old Sebastian who dug that well" "Yes." "And ho nlono shared father's confl denco. i That suuken garden was all Sebastian's work. No one else was al lowed to tend It. Why? I'll tell you, They feared to let onyono else draw the water. Ibl searched for yearn; If that treasure had been above ground her sharp nose would have smelled It out, nnd now Cpeto lins moved the very rnrth." Rosa sat back disappointed. "So that's your theory?" "It's more than a theory," the boy Insisted. "Look at thisl" From the pocket of Jils cotton trousers he pro duced an odd-looking coin, which he placed In Rosa's hand. "Why, It's gold I It's a Spanish doubloon," she said. "It's the first one I ever saw. Where did you find It?" "You'll think I'm crnzy when I tell you sometimes I think so myself. I found it In Isabel's hand when I took her from the well I" Rosa was stricken speechless. "She clutched It tightly," Esteban hurried on, "but as I made the rope fast her hand relaxed nnd I saw It In the lantern light It was as If well, as If she gave It to me. I was too badly frightened to think much about It, as you may Imagine. It was a hor rible place, all slime and foul water; the rocks were slippery. But that coin was In her fingers!" Itosa managed to say: "Impossible! Then she must have had It when she fell." "No, no! I saw her hands up stretched, Jier fingers open, In the moonlight." "It's uncanny. Perhaps " "Yes. Perhaps some unseen hand led her to the placo so that we should at last come Into our own. Who knows? There's no doubt that father hid his money. He turned his slaves Into gold, he bought Jewels, precious metal, any thing he could hide. Well, perhaps there were old coins In the lot. The water In the well Is shallow; Isabel must have groped this piece from the bottom. Some day I shall explore the hole and we shall see." Rosa flung her arras rapturously about her brother's jicck and kissed him. "Wouldn't it be glorious?" she cried. "Wouldn't It be wonderful, to be rich, and to want for nothing; to have fine clothes and good things to eat once more? Good things t6 cat!" Her Hp quivered.' "Oh I'm so hun gry." "Po little girl 1" "Walt till O'Reilly hears about this." Rosa was all excitement once more "He'll be glad he camo and got me, If ho does come." Esteban caressed her. "He'll come, never fear. I know It Every time I lenve you my heart is in my thront for fear of what may happen In my nb sence nnd yet I can't always be at your side." "There! You acknowledge that I handicap you. Except for me you would be making a glorious name for your self." "Nothing of the sort. More probably I'd be getting myself killed. No! It's better this way. Wo must bo brave and patient and think of what is wait ing for us at the bottom of that well:" It was Indeed a great piece of luck which had enabled Esteban Varona to buy a half-dozen Mausers from a Span ish soldier. Through Asenslo's no qualntanco he had profited by the dls- noncsiy or. an enemy, uuu, niuiougu it had taken all his money to effect the purchase, Esteban considered the sac rlflce well worth while. The Are of patriotism burned fiercely In him, as did his hatred of Pancho Cueto, and the four trusty young negroes to whom he had given rifles made, with Asenslo and himself, an armed party large enough to be reckoned with, These blacks wero excitable fellows, nnd wretched marksmen, but, on the other hand, each and overy one had been raised with a machete at his hip and knew how to use it After a fow pre llmlnury forays under Estcban's lead ershlp they had absorbed a bit of dls clpllne and wero beginning to feel a military ardor. In the Cuban field forces thero wero many negroes, nnd few of their fel low patriots fought better, or endured tho hardships of guerrilla warfare more cheerfully than they. General Antonio Mnceo was of mixed blood, nnd yet his leadership was character ized not only by rare Judgment and ability, hut also by nn exalted abandon of personul bravery, nis several brothers rendered Cubu services scarce ly less distinguished, nnd they were but of a few of many dark-skinned he roes. This struggle for independence was no patrician's war ; tho best stock of tho Island fought side by side with field hands. At dawn of the morning following his talk with Rosa, when the members of his command assembled, Esteban was up and ready. Ho had made his preparations to destroy Pancho Cueto's fields, and since the road over the hills to La Joya was long he had summoned them early. "Be careful I" Rosa implored him. "I shall dlo of suspense." "It Is for you to be careful," he laughed. "Keep a good watch, and conceal yourself at tho first alarm. However, I think wo have taught these bnndlts n lesson. As for Cueto, ho would run to tho Jungle If ho saw us, He lius'tho heart of a mouse." Ho kissed his sister affectionately and then rode off at tho head of his tat tered baud. Rosa waved him a Taut farewell ns ho disappeared Into the woods, then, to occupy herself, she helped Evnngcllna with what little housework there was to do, later going with her to the gar den patch where the vlnndas grew. Evangellnn's early devotion to her mistress hnd not diminished with time; If anything, it had deepened. When emancipation came she would have re turned to the service of her beloved twins had It not been for Donnn Isa bel's refusal to accept her. As It was, she and Asenslo had married, and by means of Rosa's surreptitious help they had managed to buy this little piece of land. Rosa had practiced sclf dclal to make the purchase possible, and her self-sacrifice had borno fruit r that act of childish beneficence had fronted a refuge for Esteban and her self nnd had ripened the negro wom an's affection into Idolatry. Evangellnn's Joy at having the girl to herself, where she could dnlly see her, touch her, serve her, was tem pered only by the knowledge of Rosa's unhapplness. She scolded and tyran nized, she mothered nnd adored the girl to her heart's content; she wntched over her like a hawk; eho deemed no labor In her service too ex acting. It would have gone 111 with anyone who offered hnrm to Rosa, for Evnngellna was strong nnd capable; she had the arms and the hands of a man, and she possessed the smolder ing black temper of Sebastian, her father. Even In peaceful times few people came to this clenrlng In the woods, far off from the maln-trnveled ronds of the Yumurl, and the day, ns usdal, passed uneventfully. Evangellna worked, with one eye upon her Rosa, the other watchfully alert for dan ger. When evening camo she pre pared their scanty meal, upbraiding Rosa, meanwhile, for her attempts to assist hen Then they sat for nn hour or two on the bench outside tho door, talking about Juan O'Rall-yo nnd the probable hour of his coming. When Rosa fretted about her broth er, the negress reassured her. "Don't be frightened, little dove; he has the makings of a great soldier. Now, then, It is growing cool nnd the night carries fevers. Creep into your bed nnd dream about that handsome lover of yours." Rosa obeyed, although reluctantly, I'll sleep for a while," she compro' mlsed, "then I'll come out nnd take my turn." Dawn was still n long way off when, true to her promise, Rosa emerged from the hut with an npol ogy for hnvlng slept so long. Evan gellna protested though her eyes were heavy and she had been yawn ing prodigiously for hours. But for once the girl was firm. Having fi nally prevailed in her determination, she seated herself in the warm place Evangellnn had vacated, and, curling her smnll feet under her, she settled herself, chin in hand, to think of O'Reilly. It wns a good time to think, for the Jungle was very still and the night like a velvet curtain. "We had better leave the horses here." Pancho Cueto hesitatingly ad dressed the dim blur which he knew to be Colonel Cobo. The colonel of volunteers was In a vile temper, what with the long night ride and nn error of Cueto's which hnd considerably lengthened the Journey. "Where Is the house?" growled the officer. "Not fnr. But the path Is rocky and the horses' feet " "Yes, ycsl" There was a creak of suddle leathers and a 'groan as the colonel dismounted. "Now, my good Cueto," he threatened, "another of your mistakes and I'll give you some thing to remember me by." A curt order brought his men out of their saddles. One of their num ber was detailed to gunrd the ani mals, while the rest fell In behind Cueto and followed htm up the trail by the stnrglow. Etteban and hi followers ar rive on the scene In tho nick of time. What happened when they encountered Colonel Cobo and his men Is told In the next Installment. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Many Will Claim Spitsbergen. More than 800 yenrs ago, In 1014, James I of England, formally claimed Spitsbergen. The Muscovy compnny, a British concern, was ordered "to up hold the king's right to Spltzbcrgen" by nn order In council. That claim was allowed to lapse In tho same man ner In which the Russian claim inpsed, the Britons Interested In the country say. 1 With the end of the war old data will be dug up, with records of com paratlvely recent times, to bolster the contentions of the various clal. mints, as Spltzbcrgen Is sure to occupy prominent plnce In north European af fairs. Uncle Sam Is happily out of the matter because of the sale by the Arc tic Coal company, although Judg Ing by precedent It never was likely that this country would go so far us to desire tr. exercise suzerainty over tho land. Such n tyurse wns urged In America in mis ana iui3. sad 101 nto He Brougnt war into Home. The beginning Of Iwatllltles between Italy and Austria wnsUlio cause of sim ilar activity In tho lWusehnld of An thony Sokelic, says liM wife, formerly Baroness Blanco Alesff n her divorce complaint, filed nt Ni York "tie I n Crootln she alleges, "nnd I am nn Italia aroness. Ho has been u raving n c since our respective countrtea tkrough." into war. rat FRECKLES Now Is the Tuns to Cct Rid These Ufly Spoil Thm'i i tonrrr the stlzhtrtt npM of fefllnc ..i,.mM f. your freckle, is Othlne double Bttwtth Is cutriDttcd to remote these homely Pot. Simply Itet to ounce 01 uumr-wrauii rnrth frnttt rour drusrltt. tod IDDlj little of It night and morning end Tu should soon are that eren the worst freckles hare begun to dis appear, while the lighter ones bate Tanunea en tirely. It Is seldom that more than one onnc la needed to completely clear tha skin and galo beantlful clear complexion. n attr tn ask for the double strength Othtne, as this Is sold tinder guarantee of money back U It falls to remote freckles. Adr. Tlmo to Retire. Prospective Employer Why did yon leave your last place? Chauffeur The guy I worked for went crazy. Started shingling his houso when his car needed new tires. Next to knowing when to grasp nn opportunity, tho most Important thing to know Is when to let go. THAT CHANGE IN WOMAN'S LIFE Mrs. Godden Tellt How It May be Passed in Safety and Comfort. Fremont. 0. 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