RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF IIM I IM 11111 a. S HP Mi.w- LHMVr' -J-.'Jh iimi V RAWB0W5END v. isioxnci cIZEX j&EACJT- AUTHOR. OJF- YfffJ&WmAZ. - mSPOfLEGS" VfA9TaF7NESWSr"IZ iiiri ar " ' ESTEBAN'S CONNECTION WITH THE INSURRECTOS BRINGS DISASTER UPON HIMSELF AND ROSA. Synopsis. Don Estebnn Vnromt, u Cuban planter, hides his wealth mouoy, Jewels and tttlo deeds In n well on Ills estate. The hiding plnco Is known only to Sebastian, n slnve. Don Estelian's wife dies at tho birth of twins, Estebou nud Itosn. Don Esteban marries tho nvarieious Donna Isabel, who tries unsuccessfully to wring the secret Qf tho hidden treasure from Sebastian. Angered nt his refusal, sho urges Don Esteban to sell Evangeline, Sebastian's daughter. Don Esteban refuses, but In tho course of n gambling orgle, ho risks Evangellna nt cards and loses. Crazed by the loss of his daughter, Sebastlun kills Don Esteban nnd Is himself killed. Many year3 pass nnd Donna Isabel Is unable to find tho hidden treasure. Don Mario, rich sugar merchant, seeks to marry Itosn, who has returned from school In tho United States. Johnnie O'ltellly, an American, who loves Itosa, wins her promise to wait for him until ho can return from New York. incnt to nnyonc. Anybody could sec " "Stopl" Esteban was turning alter nately red nnd white. "You seem to Imply something outrageous." "Now let us be sensible. I under stand you perfectly, my boy. Hut an olllcer of tho Gunrdln Civil may arrive at any moment and ho will want to know how you came to ho with your stepmother when sho plunged Into that trap. So prepare yourself." Young Vurona was wntchlng his In quisitor now with a faintly speculative frown. When Cueto had finished, Es teban said: "You would like mo to confess to some black Iniquity that would make us better friends, eh? Well, It so hap pens that I was not nlono tonight, but that another person saw the poor wom an's death and can bear mo out In ev erything I say. No, Pancho, you over reach yourself. Now, then" Esteban wns quick-tempered, and for years he had struggled against an Instinctive distrust and dlsllko of the plantation manager "remember that I have be come the hend of this house, nnd your employer. You will do better to think CHAPTER IV Continued. Seating himself on ono of tho old tono benches, tho young man lit a cigarette and composed himself to wait, no sat thero for a long time, grumbling Inwardly, for tho night was damp nnd ho was sleepy; but ut last a flguro stolo out of tho gloom and Joined him. Tho newcomer wus a rag ged negro, dressed In tho fashion of tho poorer country people. "Well, Asenslo, I thought you'd nover come. I'll get n fever from this 1" Esteban said Irritably. "It is a long way, Don Esteban, nnd Evangellna made mo wait until dark. I tell you wo have to he careful these days." "What Is tho news? What did you hear?" Asenslo sighed gratefully as ho seat ed himself. "Ono hears n great deal, but ono never knows what to believe. Thero Is lighting In Santa Clara, and Mncco sweeps westward." Taking the unaddressed letter from his pocket, Esteban said, "I have an other message for Colonel Lopez." "That Lopez I lie's hero today and thero tomorrow: one enn never Hnd him." "Well, you must find him, nnd Im mediately, Asenslo. This letter con tains Important news so Important. In fact" Esteban laughed lightly "that If you find yourself In danger from tho Spaniards I'd udvlse you to chew it up nnd swullow it as quickly as you can." "I'll remember that," said tho negro, "for there's danger enough. Still, I fear these Spaniards less than the guerrllleros: they are everywhere. They call themselves patriots, but they nro nothing more than robbers. They" Asenslo pnused abruptly. He seized his companion by tho arm nnd, lean- mH' HRHHAh awtflww! Ml Mi BBHHIwnJnm EMwjUt yea II iJWvl JPs a! HrafiHi 111 i sMU5P-sI3fiS? wf f ml La LJ'TvJil "What's That?" Gasped the Negro. lng forward, stared ucross tho level garden Into tho shadows opposite. Something wus moving there, under tho trees; tho men could seo that It iwns white nnd formless, nnd that It , pursued nn erratic course. "What's that?" gasped tho negro. Ho began to tremble violently and his hroath became audible. Esteban wns 'controlled, to hold him down by main force. "It's old Don Esteban, your fa ther. They say ho walks at midnight, carrying his head In his two hands." Young Vnrona managed to whisper, with sonio show of courage: "Hush I "Walt I I don't bcllevo In ghosts." Nev ertheless, ho was on tho point of sot ting Asenslo nn example of undignified flight when tho mysterious object (emerged from the shadows iuto tho open moonlight; then ho sighed with relief: "Ah-hl Now I scol It Is my stepmother. She Is asleep." For n moment or two they watched tho progress of tho white-robed figure; then Esteban stirred and roso from his seat. "She's too close to that well. Thero is" Ho started forward a pace or two. "They say people who walk at night go mad If they'ro awak ened too suddenly, nnd yet " When tho somnnmhullst's dellhcrato progress toward tho mouth of tho well continued ho cnllcd her namo softly. "Donna Isabel!" Then ho repeated it louder. "Donna Isabel I Wako up." The woman seemed to hear und yet not to hear. Sho turned her hend to listen, but continued to wulk. "Dont be nlnrmed." ho snld, rens Hiirlngly. "It Is only Esteban Donnn Isabel I Stopl" Estobnn sprang for ward, shouting nt tho top of his voice, for at the sound of her name Isabel had abruptly swerved to her right, a movement which brought her danger ously close- to tho lip of tho well. "Stopl Co backl" screamed tho young man. Above his warning thero camo n shriek, shrill and agonized n wnll of such abysmnl terror as to shock tho night birds and the Insects Into still ness. Donnn Isabel slipped, or stum bled, to her knees, she balanced briefly, clutching at random whllo tho earth nnd crumbling cement gave way be neath her; then sho slid forward nnd disappeared, almost out from between Estclmn's hands. There was n noisy rattle of rock and pebble and n great splash far below; n chuckle of little stones striking tho water, then n faint bubbling. Nothing more. The stepson stood In his tracks, sick, blind with horror; he wus swuylng over tho open ing when Asenslo drugged him back. I'aneho Cueto, being a heavy sleeper, was the last to he roused by Estclmn's outcries. When ho hnd hurriedly slipped Into his clothes In response to the pounding on his door, tho few serv ants that the establishment supported had been thoroughly awakened. Cueto thought they must be out of their minds until he learned what hnd be fnllen the mistress of the house. Then, being a man of nctlon, ho too Issued swift orders, with the result thnt by the time he and Esteban had run to the well a rope and lantern were reudy for their use. lleforo Estebnri could form nnd IU n loop for his shoulders there wus sulllclcnt help on hand to lower him Into the treacherous abyss. That was a gruesome tusk which fell to Esteban, for tho well had been long unused, Its sides were oozing slime, Its waters wore stale and black. He was on the point of fainting when he finally climbed out, leaving the negroes to hoist the dripping. Inert weight which he hnd found fit the bottom. Old Sebastian's curse had come truo; Donna Isabel had met the fate he had called down upn her that day when lio liting exhausted In his chains and when tho files tormented him. Tho treasure for which the woman hud Intrigued so tirelessly had been her death. Furthermore, as If in grim mest Irony, she had been permitted at tho very last to find It. Living, she had searched to no purpose whatso ever; dying, sho hud almost grasped It In her arms. Onco tho first excitement had abated and a messenger had been sent to town, Cueto drew Esteban asldo nnd questioned him. "A shocking trngedy and most pe culiar," snld tho overseer. "Nothing could umnzo mo more. Tell me, how did you come to bo there at such an hour, eh?" Esteban saw tho malevolent curios ity in Cueto's faco and started. "I That Is my affair. Surely you don't think" "Come, cornel You can trust me." Tho overseer winked and smiled. "I hud business that took mo there," stlflly declared tho younger man. "Exactly I And n profltuhlo busi ness It proved I" Cueto luughed openly now. "Well, I don't mind telling you Donna Isabel's dcuth Is no disappoint- f " ?tt, "Your Accuser Is rTono Other Than Pancho Cueto." of your own nffnlrs thnn of mine. I Intend to havo a careful reckoning with you. I think you know I havo n good hend for figures." Turning his bnck upon tho cider man, ho walked away. ' Now It did not occur to Cueto renlly to doubt the boy's Innocence, though tho circumstances of Donna Isnhel's death were suspicious enough to raise n question In any mind-; hut in view of Estcbnn's threat he thought It wise to protect himself by setting a bnck- flre. As ho sat on nn old stono bench, moodily replcturlng the cntnstrophe as Esteban hnd described It, his nttentlon fell upon nn envelope nt his feet. It was scaled ; It was unnddrcsscd. Cue to Idly brokcC It open nnd began to read. Before ho had gone fur ho start ed; then ho cast a furtive glance about. But the plnco wns secluded ; ho was unobserved. When ho llnlshcd rending ho rosoTBmillng. He no longer feared Esteban. On tho contrary, ho rnthcr pitied tho young fool ; for hero between his fingers wns that which not only promised to remove tho boy from his path forever, but to place In his hands the entire Varona estates. One afternoon, perhaps n week later, Don Mario do Cnstnno came pulling and blowing up to the qulnta, demand ing to seo Itosa without n moment's delny. With n directness unusual even In him, Don Mario began : "Itosa, my dear, you nnd Estebnn huvo been discovered I I was at lunch with tho coiunandnnto when I Icnrned the truth. Through friendship I pre vnlled upon him to glvo you an hour's grace." "What do you mean, Don Mnrlo?" Inquired the girl. "Come, come I" the plnnter cried, ini pntlently. "Don't you see you can trust me? Henvcnl The recklessness, tho folly of young people I Could you not leave this Insurrection to your elders? Or perhaps you thought It n matter of no great Importance, nn amusing thing" "Don Mnrlo!" Rose Interrupted. "I don't know what you nro talking about." "You don't, eh?" The caller's wet cheeks grew redder; he blew like a porpoise. "Then cull Est.olmn quickly ! There Is not u moment to lose." When the brother appeared I)e Cnstnno blurted out nt him accusingly: "Well, sir! A line fix you've put yourself In. Perhaps you will be Interested to learn that Colonel Fernandez has Issued or ders to arrest you and your sister as agents of the Insurrectos." "What?" Esteban drew back. Itosa turned white as n illy nnd luid u flut tering hand upon her throat. "You two will sleep tonight In San Severlno," grimly announced tho ro tund visitor. "You know what that means." Itosa uttered a smothered cry. "Colonel Fernandez," Don Mario proceeded, Impressively, "did mo this favor, knowing mo to bo n suitor for Rosa's hand. In splto of his duty nnd tho ovldenco he " "Evidence? Whnt evidence?" Este ban nsked sharply. "For ono thing, your own letter to Lopez, tho rebel, warning him to be ware of tho trap prepared for htm In Santa Clara, nnd advising him of tho government force nt Sabnnllln. Oh, don't try to deny It I I rend It with my own eyes, nud it menus death." Rosa said faintly: "Esteban I I warned you." Estebnn wns tnken nbnek, but it wns plnln that ho was not In the lenst frightened. "They haven't caught mo yet," he laughed. "You say they Intend to arrest me also?" Itosa eyed the caller anxiously, HJ'Exactly I" "Who accuses her, nnd of what?" Esteban demanded. "That also I have discovered through the courtesy of Colonel Fernnndez. Your accuser Is none other than Pan cho Cueto." "Cueto I" "Yes; he hns denounced both of you as rebels, and the letter Is only part of his proof, I believe. Now, then, you can guess why I am here. I nut not without Influence; I can save Rosa, but for you, Estebnn, I fear I can do noth ing. You must look out for yourself. Well? Whut do you say?" When Esteban saw how pale his sis- tor hud grown, ho took her In his arms,' saying gently : "I'm sorry, dear. It s ull my fuutt." Then to tho merchant: "It's very good of you to warn us." "Ha!" Don Mario fanned himself. "I'm glnd you appreclnte my efforts. It's a good thing to hnve the right kind of a friend. I'll marry Rosa within an hour, nnd I funcy my name will be a sulllclcnt shield" Rosa turned to her elderly suitor and made a deep courtesy. "I am un worthy of the honor," snld she. "You see, I I do not love you, Don Murlo." "Love I" exploded tho visitor. "God bless you! What has love to do with the matter? Esteban will havo to ride for his life In ten minutes nnd your property will be seized. So you hnd better moke yourself ready to go with mo." Itut Rosa shook her head. "Eh? Whnt nils you? What do you expect to do?" "I shall go with Estebnn," snld tho girl. This calm nnnounccment seemed to stupefy De Cnstnno. no snt down heavily In the nearest chair, nnd with his wet handkerchief poised In one pudgy hand ho stared fixedly at the speaker. His eyes were round and bulging, tho sweat streamed unheeded from his temples. He resembled somo queer bloated mnrlno monster Just emerged from tho sea and momentarily dazzled by the light. "You You'ro mad," ho finally gasped. "Esteban, tell her what It moans." But this Estebnn could not do, for he himself hnd not the fnlntest no tion of what was In storo for him. War seemed to him a glorious thing; he had been told that the hills were peopled with patriots, no was very young, his henrt was ablaze with hatred for tho Spaninrds and for Pancho Cueto. no longed to risk his life for a free Cuba. Therefore he snld: "Rosa shall do as sho pleases. If we must be exiles wo shall shore each other's hardships. It will not be for long." "Idiot 1" stormed tho fat man. "Bet ter that you gave her to tho sharks below San Severlno. There Is no law, no snfety for women outside of tho cities. Tho Islnnd Is In nnurchy. These pntrlots you talk about are tho blacks, tho mulnttoes, the lowest, laziest snv nges In Cubn." "Pleusel Don Murlo!" tho girl plendcd. "I eunnot-tmirry you, for I love nuothor." "Eh?" "I love nnother. I'm betrothed to O'Reilly, the American nnd1 he's com ing back to marry mo." Do Cnstano twisted himself labori ously out of his chulr and wnddlcd townrd tho door. He wus purple with rnge nnd mortlflcntlon. On tho thresh old he pnused to wheeze: "Very well, then. Co I I'm done with both of you. I would have lent you a hand with this rnseal Cueto, but now he will fall heir to your entire property. Well, It ts a time for bandits I I It-" Unable to think of a purtlng speech sufllclcntly bitter to mutch his disappointment, Don Mario plunged out Into tho sun light, muttering and stammering to himself. Within nn hour tho twins were on their way up tho Yumurl, toward the home of Asenslo and Evangellna; for it was thither that they naturally turned. It wus well thnt they hud made haste, for as they rode down Into the valley, up the other side of the hill from Mutunzus cume u squad of tho Ouurdlu Civil, and ut Its head rodo Pancho Cueto. CHAPTER V. A Cry From the Wilderness. New York seemed almost like a for eign city to Johnnie O'Reilly when ho stepped out Iiito It on the morning after his arrival. For one thing It was bleak und cold: the north wind, hail ing direct from Ratlin's bay, had teeth, and It hit so cruelly thnt ho wns glad when he found shelter In the building which housed the olllces of the Curter Importing company. Tho truth Is O'Reilly was not only cold but fright ened. It wns not tho effect of his report concerning tho firm's unprofitable Cu ban connections which ho feared Samuel Carter could take calmly tho most disturbing flnnnclnl reverse it wns the blow to his pride at learning that anybody could prefer another girl to his daughter. Johnnie shook his shoulders and stumped his feet, but tho chill In his bones refused to go. Ho wept to meet his employer ns n man mnrehes to execution. Ills henrt snnk further nt tho wel come ho received, for tho Importer gavo hint a vcrltnblo embrnco; ho put ted him on tho bnck nnd Inquired threo times ns to his health, O'Reilly was anything but cold now ; ho was perspir ing profusely, and ho felt his collar growing limp. To shnttcr this old man's eager hopes would bo llko kicking n child In the faco. Carter had nover been so enthusiastic, so demonstra tive; them wns something almost the atrical In his greeting. "Well, my boy, you mnde a fizzle of It, didn't you?" The tone wns nlmost complimentary. "Yes, sir, I'm n bright nnd shining failure." "Now, don't 'yes, sir mo. We're friends, aren't we? Good! Under stand, I don't blame you In the least It's that Idiotic revolution that spoiled our business. You did splendidly, un der the circumstances." "They have reason enough to re volt oppression, tyranny, corruption." O'Reilly mumbled the familiar words In n numb paralysis at Mr. Carter's Jo vial familiarity. "All Latin countries are corrupt," announced tho Importer "ulwnys hnve been nnd always will be. They thrive under oppression. However, I dare say this uprising won't last long." Johnnlo wondered why tho old man didn't get down to cases. "It's more than nn uprising, sir," he snld. "Tho rebels have overrun the enst end of the Inland, nnd when I left Mncco nnd Gomez were sweeping west." "Bah I It takes money to run n wnr." "They havo money," desperately ar gued O'ltellly. "Marti raised moro thnn n million dollars, nnd every Cu bnn clgnr maker In tho United Stntes gives n pnrt of his wnges every week to the cause. Tho best Jilood of Cubn Is In the light. Spnln Is about busted; sho can't stand the strain." "I predict they'll quit fighting as soon as they get hungry. The govern ment is starving them out. However, they've wound up our nffnlrs for the time being, nnd " Mr. Curter enro fully shifted the position of nn inkwell, a calendar nnd n paper knife "that brings us to a consideration of your nnd my affairs, doesn't It? Ahem I You remember our bargain? I wns to glvo you a chanco and you wero to make good before you er planned any or matrimonial foolishness with my dnughter." "Yes, sir." O'Reilly felt thnt tho moment hnd come for his carefully re hearsed speech, but, unhappily, ho could not remember how the swan- song sturted. Mr. Cnrtcr, too, was un accountably silent. Another moment dragged past, then they chorused. "I huve an unpleasant " Each broke off at the echo of his own words. "What's thnt?" Inquired tho Im porter. "No-nothing. You were saying " "I wns thinking how lucky It Is that you and Elsa waited.' Ilm-m! Very fortunate." Again Mr. Carter rear ranged his desk fittings. "We some times differ, Elsa nnd I, but when sho sets her henrt on n thing I seo thnt she gets it, even if I think she oughtn't to hnvo It. What's the uso of having children If you can't spoil 'cm, eh?" Ho looked up with a sort of resentful challenge, nnd when his listener np penred to ugrce with him ho sighed with satisfaction. "Early marriages are silly but she seems to think other wise. Mnybo she's right. Anyhow she's licked me. I'm done. She wants to bo married right away, before we go west. That's why I wnlted to seo you nt once. You won't object, will you? We men hnvo to tnke our medicine." "It's quite out of the question," stammered the unhappy O'Reilly. "Come, come! It's tough on you, I know, but" Johnnlo hud a horrified vision of himself being dragged unwil lingly to tho altar. "Elsa Is going to hnvo whnt she wants, If I havo to break something. If you'll ho sensible I'll stand behind you llko a father and tench you the business. - I'm getting old, nnd Ethelbert could never learn It. Otherwise" The old mnn's Jnw set; his eyes begnn to glenm angrily. "Who Is Ethelbert?" faintly In quired O'Reilly. "Why, dnmmlt I He's the fellow I'vo been telling you nbout. He's not so bad ns ho sounds; he's renlly a nice boy "Elsa Is In love with another man? Is that whnt you meun?" "Good Lord, yes! Don't you under stand English? I didn't think you'd take it so hard I was going to miiko a plnco for you hero In the ofllce, hut of course If Say I Whut tho deuce alls you?" Samuel Carter stared with amaze ment, for tho Injured victim of his daughter's fickleness hnd leaped to his feet and was slinking his hand vigor ously, ineanwhllo uttering unintelli gible sounds that seemed to signify relief, pleasure, delight anything ex cept what the old man expected. SO EASY! CORNS LIFT RIGHT OUT DOESN'T HURT AT ALL AND COSTS ONLY FEW CENTS. Magic! Just drop n little Froezono on that touchy corn, Instantly It stops aching, then you lift tho corn off with tho fingers. Truly! No humbug! Sr5 Try Freezone! Your druggist sells a tiny bottle for a few cents, sufficient to rid your feet of ovcry hard corn, soft corn, or corn between the toes, and callouses, without one particle of pain, soreness or Irritation. Freezotto Is the discovery of n noted Cincinnati genius. Adv. 11 " I Test Soldier's Brains. The psychological and brain tests to wlilch our enlisted men nro being sub jected are something new In military tactics. In other wars men were not put Into the ranks If they showed noticeable signs of mental Infirmity. Now they do not stop with asking If, he Is crazy, but they go further nnd determine by established tests whether ho Is apt to go crazy If exposed to tho strain nnd shock of bnttlc. Doctor Gor gns Instituted this new examination, nnd under It many men have been turned bnck from the path to "over there" und detailed to some phase of government service "over here." They nro not generally told why the chnngci Is made, but are expected to glvo sol- dlorly obedience to the order. To tell them would bo to set up a stnte of1-self-suspicion thnt would be very harmful. Memphis Commercial Appeal. You May Try Cutlcura Free Send today for free samples of Cutt cura Soap and Ointment and lenrn how quickly they relieve Itching, skin and scalp troubles. For free samples, address, "Cutlcura, Dept. X, Boston.' At druggists nnd by mall. Soap 25 Ointment 25 nnd !50. Adv. Sound of Drum Carries Far. At Efulen, West Africa, is a native drum, tho sound of which can be heard 20 mlle.1 away. Each African bus his own drum roll, and when he Is wanted he can bo recalled from u great distance. ?oes Nobody Knows. Betty Mamma, when the fire out, where does It go? Mamma I don't know, dear. You might Just ns well ask me where your father goes when he goes out. - To keep clenn nnd healthy tnke Dr. Plerco's Pleasant Pellets. They regit Into liver, bowels und stomuch. Adv. The pace that kills causes few de mises among the messenger hoys. Ho Is the richest man who enrlchci mankind most. O'Reilly, In New York, learns of Rosa's plight. The next In stallment tells what happened then. (TO UK CONTINUED.) First American Multimillionaire. Tho first American multimillionaire to attain International fumo on ac count of his vast wealth was Stephen Girnrd. Of the flnnnclnl dynnstles of todny only tho Astors nnd Vnnderbllts were represented In GIrnrd's time, nnd tho'fortuno of tho distinguished Phlln delphlnn exceeded that of Commodoro Cornelius Vandcrbllt or tho first John Jacob Astor. Glrard was worth $9,000, 000 at tho time of his denth. Much of this money ho left to tho city of Phila delphia for public' purposes, and $2,000,000 wero applied to tho building of n college for orphans. This Institu tion bus supported and educated tens of thousnnds of orphnns and fitted them for their battles with tho world. Glrard was a frco thinker. NERVOUS PROSTRATION May be Overcome by Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound ThU Letter Prove It Woaf PMWnlnhlA. Pa. "Durincrthe thirty years I havo been married, I havo H i. , been In bad health and had oovcral at tacks of nervous prostration until it seemed oa if the organs in my whole body wero worn out I was finally persuaded to try Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Com pound and it made a well woman of mo. I can now do nil mv houaowork and advise all ailing women to try Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetab e Com pound and I will guarantee they will derive great benefit from it" Mrs. Frank Rtzgekald, 25 N. 41ot Street, West Philadelphia, Pa, There aro thousnnds of women every where in Mrs. Fitzgerald's condition, Buffering from nervousness, backacho, headaches, and other symptoms of a functional derangement. 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