The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-08
VOLUME 2.

Z
lost himself among the shipping in the
harbor.
And Calevar, the revengeful. the cove
tous, the rejected lover of Isa CIntelvar,
slumbered on, never dreaming that the
dwarf who had served him SO faithfully
for twelve years, was delivering him
over to a tate, from the contemplation of
which the mind would shrink with hor-
ror.
Iiwas the night before lisa Cantelvar's
wedding.
The hour was twelve. and Havana
slept on the edge of the Gulf
Not a sound came from the old house
90 soon to resound with marriage mu-
sic, and with the groans of one doomed
to living death.
! The fair Isa, no doubt, was sleeping
away her last maiden hours, for the day
soon to dawn was to see her bride be-
fore it departed.
I The sky was covered with opaque
clouds Not star was visible, for the
Ililsy II AhCIS uOAC any "eAS o' 1AN~N So
the clouds.
Therefore, the crouching figure that
crossed the flower garden was not per-
ceived. It seemed a man, yet it had the
motion of an animal.
1t paused before low door in the
eastern wing of the Cantelvar mansion
and listened.
The wash of the waves against tn e wal |
was the only sound that came to solita-
ry being. Then it struck the door twice
and the portal opened noiselessly, and
closed again. But the night prowler
was not to be seen without; he was with |
in the mansion.
The person who had admitted him |
seemed to be a small man. The person
admitted was tall and wore mask that |
effectually concealed his features.
You can find your way now?' asked
the traitor.
yes give me the light
The dark taper was placed in his
hands.
You have the keys said the traitor.
May the Virgin speed you. 1 will be at
the wharf We sail tonight
Yes, tonight. Be there
A moment later the tall map moved
of, leaving the other watching him and
his light.
More than one long corridor the mask
ed one travelled, and the silence of death
was about him. His feet gave forth no
sound, for they we're encased in nothing
but short Cuban hose, and there were no
Obstacles in his path. Tie ornamented
butts of the pistols visible just above
his belt told that he was prepared for an
emergency, and his left hand clutched
the hilt of dagger whose blade was hid |
den in his sleeves.
At last he paused before door much
smaller than he had encountered in the |
house, and its heavy locks told that it
led to room where valuable treasure
lay.
The mask listened long time at the
door before he tried to open it. He
knew that he was underground, for the
store floor on which he stood was quite
damp, and the walls about him were
covered with icy sweat. The curiously
shaped key that he drew from his pocket
opened the little door, and the night
prowIer found himself in a small room.
Closing the door gently he soon pro-
Inhk nd ha uyIa
that suddenly dazzled his eyes almost
sent him to the floor.
A table stood in the center of the trea-
sure room. and on that table were the
treasures for which he had seemingly |
entered the Cantelvar mansion.
There were necklaces of diamonds and |
tiaras of rubies; bracelets of pearls and
pine of smeralds; head dresses of beaten
gold, studded with precious stones, and
rings whose value seemed incalculable.
He stood before lisa Cantelvar's we'd
ding gifts!
About him in the floor was the. old |
Cuban's wealth; Golfers full of doubloons, |
safes we'll stored with precious stones
The FIVE small trunks which Capt. Gale |
var had noticed on the pier were there,
but they were empty. The jewels that
had been carried across the ocean gilt
tered on the table.
For many minutes the mask stared at
the array of wealth, and then, as if to
test the reality of things, he approached
and took up costly necklace.
She shall never wear thisp he said af-
ter moments inspection, and then the
costly bauble disappeared beneath his
doublet.
A tiara of beautiful rubies followed
the necklace, and then rings, bracelets
and other rich personal ornaments dis
appeared. He discarded many rich
things with the discrimination of lapi-
dary, and when he was about to turn
away, he laughed.
Il can't take any Of your doubloons,
Senior Cantelvar,' he said. They are
very pretty, very good, but your daugh-
ter's wealth is more portable. guess
carry about four hundred thousand
doubloons worth of pebbles on my per-
son. Hal hal lisa wouldn't marry Gale
var.
: He put his hand on the door, when
the slightest of noise startled him.
ssCalevarp
Al the sound of his name he turned
quickly, and faced six men with drawn
pistols.
Had they sprung from the floor of the
treasure room?
There stood old Senior Cantelvar, and
his lips were still quiverlng with the
name just spoken.
Beside the Cuban stood the youth
who had lately landed from the ruIture.
The mask did not drop his taper and
turn for fight. On the. contrary, he
said, .Wellp and looked into the muz-
zles of the pistols without tremor.
We know you said Senior Cantelvarl