RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF u 1 I I i I ; ; VWWWVWW' ,www'vvwwww Rainbows End A NOVEL by REX BEACH Author of "THE IRON TRAIL," "THE srCIM!R.9," "HEART OF THE SUNSET," Etc. j),wvvwvvwvvwvs ESTEBAN AND HIS LITTLE BAND ARRIVE JUST IN TIME TO SAVE ROSA FROM HORRIBLE FATE. Synopsis. Don Kstebun Veronn, a Culmn planter, hides his wealth money, Jewels nnd title deeds In n well on his estate. The hiding plnce Is known only to Subastlan, n slnve. Don Kstehan's wife dies at the birth of twins, Kstolmu and Hosa. Don ICstcban marries the nvnrlclous Donna Isabel, who tries unsuccessfully to wring the secret of the hidden treasure from Sebastian, fngorqd at his refusal, she urges Don Kstebun to sell Kvnngellnn, Sebastian's daughter. Don Kstchan refuses, but In the course of n Rambling orglc, he risks Evnngcllun nt cards and loses. Crazed by the loss of his daughter, Sebastian kills Don Kstchan and Is himself killed. Many years pass and Donna Isabel Is unable to find the hidden treasure. Don Mario, rich sugar merchant, seeks to tnnrry Rosa, who has returned from school In the United States. Johnnie O'Reilly, an American, who loves Hosa, wins her promise to wait for him until he can return from New York. Donna Isabel falls to death while walking In her sleep. Esteban's connection with the Insurrectos Is discovered and he and Rosa nre compelled to flee. In New York, O'ltellly Rets a letter from Hosn tell ing of her porll and urging hjm to rescue her. O'ltellly Immediately returns to Cuba, l'aucho Cueto, faithless manager of the Verona estates, Is balked In his efforts to find tho hidden treasure nnd betrays Esteban and Hosa, leading Colonel Cobo, notorious Spanish guerilla, to their hiding place. CHAPTER IX. 7 Marauders. Tho surprise was easily effected, for Colonel Coba's men were accom plished In this sort of work. Hosa, .crouching upon her bench, heard nothing, saw nothing, until out of the shadows beside her human fortris ma terialized. She Bcreamed once, twlcoj then a palm closed over her mouth and she began to struggle like a cat. Evangellna, who had waked at the first outcry, met the marnuders as they rushed through the door. There were shouts and curses, loudly bel lowed orders, a gre'nt scullllng nnd pounding of feet upon the dirt lloor of the hut, the rickety, bark-covered walls bulged and creaked. Over all sounded the shrieks of the negrcss battling In tho pitch-black Interior like an nnlmnl In Its lair. Then some 'ons set flro to tho thatch; the flames licked up tho dead palm leaves to tho ridgepole, and the surroundings lenped Into view. Rosa saw a swarthy, thickset man in the uniform of u colonul of vol unteers, and behind him Pancho Cue to. Tearing the hand from her lips for a moment, she cried Cueto's name, but ho gave no heed. Hosa shrieked his name again; then olio heard tho officer sny: "Whero Is tho young fellow? I hear nothing but tho squeals of thnt common wench." Evungellnn's cries of rage and de fiance ceased, nnd with them tho sounds of combat. From tho blazing 8he Began to Struggle Like a Cat. bohlo ran two armed men, brushing epnrks from their clothing. A third followed, drugging Evangellnn by one naked arm. Hosa felt herself swooning, and sho know nothing of what Immediately followed. After n time she felt her self shaken, and heard tho colonel ad dressing her. "Come, come I" ho wus saying. "Where Is your precious brother and that black fellow?" Rosa could only stare dully. "It seems wo misted them," said Cueto. "More of your bungling," Cobo broke out at him, wrnthfully. "Fooll I've u mind to toss you Into thnt tire." He turned his attention onco more to Rosa, and with n Jerk that shook her Into fuller consciousness repeat ed: "Where are they? Speak to me." "Gone!" she gasped. "Gone I" Sho struggled weakly toward Cueto, Im ploring him,, "Pnncho, don't you know mo?" "Well, we've taught him a lesson," said Cueto, grinning apprehensively t Cobo. "We've accomplished some thing, anyhow, eh?" Ho nodded nt Hosa. "She's nil thut I told you. Look nt lierl" lllli mtsmtMf IB&iMl; tJsssssssV'tIIsY (Copyright, by Harper ind Rrothrrf) Colonel Cobo took time to scruti nize his prisoner. "Yes I She's n pretty little spy quite a prize, truly. Now, then I" Ills thick lips spread; he spoke to her more gently. "I want you to tell me about that brother of yours, eh? Cueto said I would find him here. Hal Still frightened, I sec. Well, I have a way with women; I dare say you'll be glad to tell me overythlng by and by." Then, seeing that his men risked n scorching in their search of the hut and wero already quarreling over the sennty plunder which It afforded, ho turned from Hosu to call thorn away. Profiting by his Inattention, Rosa wriggled out of his grasp and ran to Evangellna, who lay face down In tho dirt, her limbs sprawled loosely. She flung herself upon the prostrate body and cried the black woman's nnmo, but she could awaken no re sponse. The first pink of dawn was now flpiinnnlnp In thn anur nnil utt annn nq It had grown light enough to see to inivci VOiunui vjodo prepureu 10 re turn to his horses. Tho roof and walls of tho bohlo had fallen nway to ashes, its skeleton of poles nnd Its few pieces of crude furniture ulone were smoldering when he called his men together nnd gave tho word to go. "Come, my sweetheart." Cobo ad dressed himself to tho girl. "Leave thnt carrion for the buzzards." Hosa looked up to find him leering nt her. She brushed the tears from her eyes, crying: "Go nwayl In God's name haven't you done hnrm enough?" "Oh, but you're going with me." The girl rose; her face wns color less; she was uquiver with Indigna tion. "Leave mo I" she stormed. "Whnt hnve I done to you? Don't " "Cnrambn I A temper. And you hnve strength, too, ns I discovered. Must I bind those pretty hands or " Colonel Cobo reached forth, laugh ing, and encircled her In his power ful nnus. Hosa fought him as she had fought at the first moment of des peration, but he lifted her easily and went striding across the field behind his men. Estebnn's party made good time over the hills nnd Into the Snn .Juan, for Asenslo knew the country well. Mid-afternoon fouud them In sight of La Joyn. Cueto's cane wits thick nnd high; It wns ready for the knife or for the torch. Tho Incendlnrles dis mounted In the shelter of n wood and removed the bags which they had carried on their snddles. Insldo these bags wero several snakes, tho largest perhaps eight foot In length. To tho tall of each the negroes fastened a leather thong, and then to each thong a length of telegraph wire, the end of which had been bent Into n loop to hold n bundle of oil-soaked waste. These preliminaries accomplished, they bore the reptiles Into the cmio fields nt widely separated places and lighted tho waste. Soon tongues of flame appeared and the green tops of the cane began to shrivel nnd to wave as the steady east wind took effect. Smoke bll lowed upward and was hurried west ward before the breeze; in a dozen places tho fields burst Into flume. From somewhere came a faint shout ing, then it shot or two, nnd finally the ringing of a bell. Esteban waited only until ho saw that his work of devastation wns well under way, then he led his followers back toward tho hills. In tho shelter of n ruvine tho party took time to eat supper, their first meal since leaving home, and It was ufter dnrlc when they finished. The negroes, who were thoroughly tired, wero for spending the night here, but Kstebun, more cautious than they, would not have It so. Accordingly, tho men remounted their weary horses, though not without somo grumbling, und set out. At length they crossed the summit and worked down toward tho Yumurl, but It seemed ns If daylight would never come. F.stcbnn suddenly reined In his horse. "Look!" said he. "Yonder Is a light." "What Is Evangellna thinking about?" Asenslo muttered. "Hut seel It grows brighter." There followed u moment or two dur ing which there was no sound except tho breathing of thu horses and the creak of saddle leathers as the riders craned their necks to see over tho low tree tops before them. Then Ksteban cried : "Come! I'm afraid It's our house." Fear gripped him, hut he managed to say, calmly, "Perhaps there has been nn accident." Asenslo, muttering excitedly, was trying to crowd past him; for n few yards tho two horses brushed along side by side. The distant point of light had become a glare now; It winked bnlefully through the open ings ns the party hurried toward It. Hut It was still n long way off, and the eastern sky had grown rosy before- the dense woods of the hillside gnve way to the spurser growth of the low ground. Kstebun turned a sick, white fnco over Ills' shoulder and Jerked ont his orders; then he kicked his tired mount Into n swifter galtop. It was ho who first broke out Into tho clear ing. One glunce, nnd the story wns told. Tho hut waB but a crumbling skel eton of charred poles. Strung out across tho little field of malangas, yuccas and sweet potatoes wero sev eral hilarious volunteers, their arms filled with loot from tho cabin. He hind them strode nn ofllcer bearing Rosa struggling ugalnst his breast. Estcbnn drove his horse headlong through tho soft red earth of the garden. Ills sudden appearance seemed briefly to pnralyze the ma rauders. It was a moment before they could drop their spoils, unsllng their rifles, nnd begin to Are at him, und by thnt time he had covered half tho distance to his sister. A bullet brought his horse down nnd the boy went flying over its neck. Nothing but the looso loam saved him from Injury. Ab ho rose to his feet, brenth- less nnd covered with tho red dirt, there came a swift thudding of hoofs and Asenslo swept past him like n rocket. Esteban caught one glimpse of the negro's face, n fleeing vision of white teeth bnred to the gums, of distended yellow eyes, of flat, distort ed features; then Asenslo was fairly upon Colonel Cobo. Tho colonel, who had dropped his burden, now tried to dodge. Asenslo slashed once at him with his long, murderous machete, but the next Instant he was engaged with n trooper who had Hrcd almost In his face. Cobo'B men, led by the terrified I'an cho Cueto, turned nnd fled for cover, believing themselves In danger of an nihilation. Nor was the colonel him self In any condition to rully them, for Asenslo's blnde had cloven one full dark check to tho bone, and the shock and pain had unnerved him. The field wns small, tho Jungle wns close nt hnnd. A moment nnd the In terlopers had vanished Into it, nil but one, who lay kicking nmong the brond malnngu leaves, and over whom Asen rIo kept spurring his terrified horse, hacking downward with lnsnne fury. This was the first hand-to-hand en counter Esteban's men had hnd, and their swift victory rendered them fero cious. Flinging their guns uslde, they went crashing Into the brush on the trail of their enemies. Hosa found herself An her brother's nrms, sobbing out the story of the out rage nnd quivering at every sound of the chase. Ho was caressing her, and telling her to have no further fears; both of them were fairly hysterlcnl. Evangellna, thnnks to her thick skull, wus not dead. In the course nf time under Rosa's and Esteban's ministra tions sho regained her senses, nnd when the other men returned they found her lying sick nnd dazed, but otherwise quite whole. Then, there besldo the ruins of the hut, was a strange scene of rejoicing. Asenslo recovered now from his hurst of savagery, was tearful, compassion ute; his comrndes laughed ami chat tered and bragged ubout their prodig ious deeds of valor. Over and over they recounted their versions of the encounter, ench more fanciful than the other, until It seemed that they must have left the forest filled with corpses. Esteban sas grave. He had heard of Colonel Cobo, and, remembering that denlm-clnd figure out yonder In the trampled garden, he knew that se rious consequences would follow. The volunteers were revengeful; their colonel was not the sort of man to forgive u deep humiliation. Doubt less he would put a price upon the heads of all of them, nnd certainly he would never ullow them another en counter upon nnywhero Uko even terms. Then, too, the nnrrowness of Rosa's escupo caused tho boy'B heart to dissolve with terror. After a conference with Asenslo ho decided that tfcoy must prepare for flight, and Into that uftcrnoon they nil set out to seek n safer refuge, Evange llna in tcurs at leaving her precious garden plot. Their led horse, one of those Lorenzo had captured, carried n pitifully light burden only some tools, some pans and kettles, und n roll of charred bedclothes. Johnnie O'ltellly had no dlfllculty In locating the residence ofIguuch Alva rndo, but to communicate with him wns quite another matter, Inasmuch as his every step was dogged by that persistent shadow from Nuovltns. One evening, several days after his arrival, a sudden rain storm drove O'ltellly Indoors, and as he ascended to his room he saw that the lamp In the hallway flared and Miiokcd at ev ery gust of wind. It was very dark outside; he reasoned that the streets would be deserted. Hastily securing that book which Alvarado, the dentist, had given him, he took a position close Inside his door. When he heard the spy pass und enter the next chamber he stole out Into the hall and breathed Into the lamp chimney. A moment later he was safely through the win dow and was working his way down the shed roof, praying that his move ments had not been seen and that the tiles were firm. He nimbly scaled the wall, crossed nn lnclosure, climbed it second wall, and descended Into a dark side street. Taking advantage of the densest shadows nnd the numerous overhanging balconies, he set out at n brisk trot. A light showed through the barred windows of the Alvarado home, Indi cating thnt tho family wns In. After some fumbling O'Reilly lnld hold of the latch; then, without knocking, he opened the front door und stepped In. Ills sudden nppenranco throw the occupants Into ularni: a woman cried out sharply; n man whom O'Reilly iff Asenslo Slashed Once at Him With His Long, Murderous Machete. Identified us Ignaclo Alvnrudo himself leaped to his feet and faced him, ex claiming: "Who are you?" "I'm a friend. Don't bo nlnrmod." Johnnie summoned his most agreeable smile, then he extended the sodden package he hud carried beneath his arm. "I come from your brother Tomas. Ho nsked me to hand you this book und to sny that he Is return ing It with his thnnks." "What nre you Buying?" Plainly the spenker did not ' comprehend ; there wns nothing but apprehension In his voice. O'Reilly tore tho wet paper from the volume nnd lnld It In Alvnrndo's hnnd. "Look at It, please, and you'll under stand. I didn't take time to knock, for fear I might bo followed." Alvarado stared first nt tho book, then nt his caller. After n moment he made n sign to his wife, who left the room. Wetting his lips, he Inquired, with nn effort, "What do you want?" O'Reilly told him In n few words. Alvnrado showed relief; he even smiled. "I see, lit Cnrambn 1 You gave mo a start. And this book! Hat Tomas will have his Jokes. It Is well you took precautions, for I um under surveillance. I'll help you, yes! Hut you must not come here nguln. Return to your hotel nnd, Let me think." Senor Alvnrado frowned In deepest thought ; then he said : "I have It ! Ev ery morning at half past nine u man wearing u Punumu hat and n gray necktie with u largo gold pin will puss along the sidewalk ncross the street from tho Isln do Cuba. You will know him. One day, I cannot promise how soon, he will lift his hat thus, and wipe his face. You understand? Good. Follow him. He will give you final di rections. You know Manln, the drug gist? Well, you can tnlk to htm, and he will keep you posted ns to our prog ress. Now go before someone comes." O'Reilly wrung, the Cubun's hand. Then he stepped out Into tho night, leaving a pool of wuter on tho cleun blue tiles whero ho had stood. CHAPTER X. O'Reilly's Plans Fall. In tho dnys thut followed his call on Ignaclo Alvarado, O'Reilly behaved so openly thut the secret servlco agent dutnlled to watch him relaxed his vigi lance Manifestly this O'Reilly wus a hurmless person. Dut tho spy did not guess how frantic Johnnie was be coming at tho delay, how ho Inwardly chafed and fretted when two weeks bud rolled by and still no signal had come. Then, too, his money was run ning low. At lust, however, the dny arrived when tho man with the gray necktie raised his hut and wiped his brow ns he passed the Isln do Cuba. Johnnie could scarcely hold himself In his chair. Ry nnd by he rose, stretching ljlmself, and sauntered after the fel low. For several blocks ho kept him In sight, but without receiving uny further sign. Without u glnnco over his shoulder the man turned Into n large, walled ln closure. When Johnnie followed he found Minself In one of the old ceme teries. Ahead of him, up n shndy ave nue bordered with trees, the stranger hurried ; then he swerved to his left, und when O'Reilly came to tho point whero he had disappeared there was nobody In sight. Apprehending that ho had made some nilstnke In the sig nal, O'Reilly hastened down tho walk. Then at last, to his great relief, he heard a sibilant: "Past ! Psst !" It enmo from behind n screen of shrubbery, und there he found the Cu ban wnltlng. The luttcr began rap Idly: "Our plans are complete. Listen closely. One week from todny, at ten o'clock In the morning, you must bo In Mnnln's drug store. Directly ucross the street you will see two negroes with three horses. At fifteen minutes past ten wnlk out San Rnfnel street to the edge of the city, where the hos pital stands. The negroes will follow you. There Is n fort near by " "I know." "It commands tho rond. You will bo challenged If you pass It, so turn In nt the hospital. Hut do not enter the gntcs, for the negroes will overtake you nt thnt point. They will stop to adjust the suron of tho lend horse. That will bo your signal; mount him nnd ride fast. Now, ndlos nnd good luck." With n smile nnd a quick grip of the hand he messenger walked swiftly uwuy. O'Reilly returned to his hotel. At lust! One week, nnd this numb ing, hcurtbrcnklng dclny would end; he would bo free to take up his quest. Rut those seven dnys were more thnn a week; they were seven eternities. The hours wero like lend; O'Reilly could compose his mind to nothing; ho wnH In a fever of impatience. Tho dny of dnys duwned nt last, and Johnnie wns enrly at Manln's soda fountain, drinking Insipid beverages and anxiously wntchlng tho street. In due time the negroes nppenred, their straw snrons laden with produce which they innocently disposed of. O'Reilly began to consult his watch with such frequency thnt the druggist Joked him. Mnnln's banter wns Interrupted by a bugle call. Down the street came per haps two hundred mounted troops. They wheeled Into Snn Rnfuel street nt n gallop nnd disappeared In tho di rection of the suburbs. "Now, whnt does thnt menu?". mur mured tho druggist. "Walt here while I go to the roof, where I can see some thing." O'Reilly tried to compose himself, meanwhile becoming aware of a grow ing excitement In tho street. Then from the direction of tho fort nt tho end of Sun Rnfnel street sounded a faint rattling fuslllnde, more bugle culls, und flnully the thin, dlstnnt shouting of men. "Rebels!" someone cried. "Dlos mlo, they nro attacking tho city!" "They have audnclty, eh?" Tho roofs were black with people now. Mnnln enmo hurrying down Into the store. "Something has gone wroug," ho whispered. "They're fighting out yon der in tho woods. There bus been some treuchery." "It Is ten-fifteen," snld O'Reilly. "I must be going." Mnnln stnred ut him. "You don't understand " "Those black fellows are getting their horses ready. I'm going." The druggist tried to force Johnnie Into n chair. "Mndmnn!" ho punted. "I tell you our friends hnve been be trayed; they are retreating. Go back to your hotel quickly." For the first time during their ac quaintance Manln heard tho good natured American curse; O'Reilly's blue eyes were blazing; ho had let go of himself completely. "I'm going t" he cried, hoarsely. "All the d d Spaniards In Culm won't stop me. Lord 1 I've waited too long I should have mnde a break" "Idiot!" stormed the druggist. "You wish to die, eh?" O'Reilly ripped out another onth and fought off the other's restraining hands. "Very well, then," cried Mnnln'.'but hnve some thought of us who hnvo risked our lives for you. Suppose you should escnpe? How would our troops receive you now? Would they not think you had cunningly urrunged this trap?" A light of reason slowly reappeared In the younger man's eyes. "No!" "Manln pressed his ndvantnge. "You must wait until " Ho broke off abruptly and stepped behind his counter, for n mnn In the uniform of n Spanish lieutenant hnd entered the store. The newcomer walked directly to O'Reilly; ho was n clean-cut, nlert young fellow. After a senrchlng glance nround the plnce ho spoko In a voice audible to both men . O'Reilly finds himself blocked at every step In his efforts to find Rosa. Finally his hopes receive a crushing blow. Watch for the developments In the next Installment. (TO DE CONTINUED.) EXPERT'S TRIBUTE TO WESTERN CANADA SO Thnt there Is good renson for the wonderful crops of groin grown in Western Canada, which have mado thousands of former residents of tho United States wealthy, is not alwnys given the thought thnt It deserves is quite nppnrcnt. Hut that there must be n reason Is quite evident. Proba bly more than one but the one thnt requires emphasis Is thut the soil Is of tho nature that will produce good crops. It was not long since that tho fnrmcr selected his land in the most hnphnzard wny. He need not do so today. Ho will select It on tho soil annlysls plan. Soil from Western Cnnada wns submitted to Prof. Slov ens, soil physicist of the Stnto Collego of Wnshlngton, nt Pullmnn, Wnsh. Ills report should no doubt further encour nge settlement In Western Canada. It roads ns follows: "We hnve nnnlyzed this sample nnd find thnt It runs high In lime, very high In potnsh, phosphorus nnd In ni trogen; thnt It has n splendid supply of organic mntter nnd Is In tho best of physical condition. Thcro Is noth ing wrong with this soil from tho Btnndpolnt of crop production, nnd I nm satisfied thnt It will give splendid results wherever put under cultiva tion." It Is soil like this properly worked, and on scientific lines, ns Is tho rule todny, that gives tho opportunity to quote tho experiences of farmers who have Increased their Incomes from $500 to $30,000 In two seasons, nnd whoso story would rend ns fol lows : "I hnve threshed nltogether 7,000 bushels of No. 1 Northern whont from 200 acres, which went from 24 to CO per acre sod breaking 21, spring plowing 30, hnck sotting CO bushels the average being 35 bushels per acre.'" Tho newspaper giving nn nccount of this mnn's experience snys: "When ho disposed of his l.GOO ncrcs from north of Brooks, Altn, to four Oak Harbor men, ho was worth $30,000. Two yenra ngo ho came hero with $500 and a few horses." It Is tho soil of Western Canada, and tho knowledge of whnt It will do thnt brings to Cnnndn the hundreds of settlers thnt nre dnlly arriving nt tho border. A growing enthusiasm for the fertile prnlrle lands of Western Can nda Is sprendlng nil over the continent. This enthuslnsm Is the recognition of tho fact thnt sufficient food could be produced on these prnlrlo lands to feed the world. From tho south, enst and west, hundreds of men, too old for mllltnry service, arc pouring Into Western Cnnndn to take up land or to work on the farms. A great many of tho Incoming settlers hnve arrived nt such central points ns Calgary, Ed monton, and Lethbrldgo, Albcrtn, and at Rcglnn, Moose Jnw, nnd Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Judging from the hulk of their household effects, tho number of their horses nnd cattle, nnd the quantity of Implements they nre bring ing with them, most of tho new nr rlvals also seem well blessed with tho world's goods. Reports from North Portnl, Sas katchewan ; Coutts, Alberta, and Kings gate, British Columbia tho principal gateways Into Western Canada from the United Stntes Indlcnte thnt the present Influx of fnrmers Is In such volume ns has not been witnessed for mnny yenrs. From Vancouver, Brit ish Columbia, peoplo'nro going to tha prnlrles for summer farm work, many with tho Intention of tnking up land themselves nt tho end of tho summer. Tho Influence of this tide of fnrmei settlers on greater food production will bo -more rcndlly appreciated when It Is considered that tho average settlor takes up at least twice as much land ns ho hns hitherto been fnrmlng and land which, ncro for acre, produces bet ter and larger crops. Advertisement Nothing to Do but Wait. Jones was a raw recruit Just nrrlved. The second day of his nrmy life ho was put on the picket line grooming horses. Tho stnble sergeant, having given Hie commnnd to groom, sauntered uround to see how tho work wns pro gressing. He found Jones with nn anxious nnd expectant look on his face. "Well, Jones, have you grbomed your horse?" "Yes, sir," ho replied obediently. "Have you cleaned out his hoofs?" Jones hesitated. "No, sir bo's been standing on them sir, nnd I've waited over ten minutes for him to lie down." Judge. Soothe Itching Skins With Cutlcurn. Batho with Cutlcura Soap and hot water, dry and npply the Ointment. This usually affords relief nnd points to speedy henJracnt. For free samples nddress, "Cutlcura, Dept X, Boston." At druggists and by mnlL Soap 25, Olntmeot 25 and CO. Adv. His Medal. Tho newest private in No. 1 squad stood at n rigid attention while tho captain started down tho lino on his first weekly Inspection. Tho captain stopped. "What," ho asked, pointing to nn expensive medal on tho bulging 'bosom of tho newest prlvnte, la that?" "That," said tho newest private proudly, "Is tho medal our cow won at tho country fair last year." Stars and Stripes. 'When Your Eyes Need Care Try Murine Eye Remedy Bo 8mrtln Jnrt BfS Comfort. 60 ceou St rniiUW or mall. Writ for Free Bra Hook. aCUHlHB KTK BsUUDX CO., OUIOAUO .. V x V r Vj I V-4V ritsw4Ml 1W lmpt -"-VMssfcmrW J. 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