The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-05-13

DdCh LoWdIu Gue piazza. IL JN0 ALQoT1-
cans could have heard his consultation
with Old China, the bumboat woman
and character of Acapulco, they might
even now be back in their native city.
The young men retraced their steps
and found the olive skinned beauty still
in the door. They saluted. The bow
was returned
"Adelante, seniors" a pretty voice said,
and they accepted with ~alacrity the in
vitation to enter. Candles burned dimly
in a corner filled with bottles-mescal
a~suardiente and aquilla. Several other
girls, quite as pretty as the captor of
Warren's transitory affections, were
seated about, some on stools and some
on a low couch in the corner. Two had
guitars.
Here's luck, Henry" whispered War
rem, and they were soon quite at home
in the little white adobe, though to Hen
ry there seemed something uncanny
about the place. To the Americans,
used to the luxurious fittings of a met
ropolitan home, the bare walls and dirt
floors, covered with palm patates, were
a new experience.
While laughter and song came from
the little house, and the Americans were
whispering love nothings in the ears of
newly found amoreux, in another house
not far from the water more serious
words were passing between Old China
and the tall lover of Muriella. The old
dealer in green c~ocoanuts. and occult
mysteries was listening with i'll con-
cealed pleasure to the man who vas beg
cling a favor at her hands. No love
scrape about the shores of that pretty
bay ever escaped her notice. and nothing
pleased the stout old bumboat woman so
much as to be sought out by the amor
u of the upper classes to listen to such
information from her lips az is sought
from the second sight" mediums Of our
own country.
$50 you want to buy the Black Pearl?
To buy it! You fool!" shrieked Old
China when the Mexican had finished
his story. What do you know about
til"
II know what was said when the COM
andante was found dead, and that the
police were afraid to search for it. Five
hundred pesos for its use tonight-that
is all l ask"
1.-The police are fools, and you are =
fool. l know nothing about the Black
Pearl"
Come, China. A thousand pesos for
its use and the knowledge how to use it"
"A thousand pesos" muttered the old
Have you the money with
your
AYE, that I have. and I want its use
for only this one night"
China waddled into an adjoining room,
whence after much delay she brought
forth a package carefully wrapped and
sealed. You must not undo this, senior"
she said, ''or you. too. will suffer if you
see the pearl"
The laughter and song in the adobe
casita stopped at a knock on the outer
door, and Ned Warren's pretty Acapul-
can answered the summons. A neat
parcel was handed her by the messenger,
which she eagerly unfolded. with the
compliments of -" it said. but she
knew the handwriting.
How funny at this hour she thought,
but her swapping black eyes danced with
glee as she undid the parcel and found it
to contain an immense black pearl set
in beaten yellow metal of quaint work
manship. At her exclamation of delight
the Others grouped about, and the object
Of their admiring glances was laid upon
the table for inspection.
An instructive shudder passed through
Sanford as Muriella laid it under the
candle light. 1t seemed to emit a pecu-
liar light, and a queer, pricking sensa-
ton went through his veins as he viewed
the jewel-the largest of its kind he had
ever seen. AS he looked a feeling of ex-
hilaration came over him, such as he
had not felt during the evening.
THAT last drink of tequila was too
much" he thought. but the others. too.
were beginning to evince signs of liveli-
ness even greater than all the hilarity OF
the night had brought forth. A faint
blue haze seemed to cover every object
in the room. The figures Of the girls at
intervals looked far away and then near
by. while a feeling of utter recklessness
pervaded his whole being. All the phan-
tasms of the opium eater could not be
more weird than those which came into
Sanford's brain as his gaze was riveted
on the jewel lying among the candles
grouped around it on the table. In theil
dim light it seemed to grow and grow,
emitting a demoniacal glow that, but fol
the spirit of recklessness which possessed
him, would have filled his soul with