The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-11-04

drawn upon them IS the Mexican bank
of La Hamidad.
Time passed, and Casma and Chira
prospered and eventually disappeared
from the Peruvian mountains and sea-
port. Their remaining deposits had
been transferred to La Hamidad, and
in time the officials of La Hamidad were
called upon in person by their unknown
patrons, Juan Sanchez and Diego Bias,
whose funds had never been drawn
upon for debt. Juan Sanchez and Diego
Bias were introduced by resident of.
La Hamidad, q sailor on the ship that
had brought them from the Peruvian
port, and their money was duly paid;
and a fortune it was for two men of
no more expensive tastes than these
who left the bank, walked away, and
were seen no more in La Hamidad.
In reputable house in the town
where Bal Chico had been a youth and
been forgotten lived two old men to-
gether-two gray-haired, harmless
looking old men of commonplace names
that you have not heard yet, who tended
their cacti and blooming vines and the
green paroquets that hung among
them in a great cage, concocted savory
stews, and lived their simple lives large
ly in sight of their neighbors in the
outrageous garden behind their
houses, and whose only recreation
seemed to be to frequent the plaza.
From their garden they could see the
rear of the house of the high and mighty
Don Pico, which rang with laughter Of
manly sons and beautiful daughters,
but the old men were, to all appear
ances, injurious of the doings at the
great house. 1t was known at. the plaza.
where verything was known, that Don
Pico's eldest son would Shortly cele-
brate his arrival at mans estate and
that the betrothal of his eldest daugh-
ter had been announced. But the day
before the festivities in honor of the
former occasion, the son, Don Manuelo,
had sat in the plaza with Don Jose, his
sisters betrothed, who had left it, it
was easily proved, with a merry party
of grandees, Don Manuelo waving them
merry good-by. Passers-by saw him
sitting there alone, sunken down as if
resting, and there he was found some
what later, dead, evidently by strangu-
latiOn. There was the USUAL sensation
and more than the usual search for the
murderer, who had left no clew.
Three months after this event, the
little Innocencia, the four-year-old
daughter of Don Pico, was found in a
similar condition in the grounds of Don
Perez, the father of the betrothed OF
Dona Theresa. Don Pico's eldest daugh.
ter. The residence of Don Perez was
but block from that of Don Pico. Al
in the case of her brother. the police
found positively no clew.
These calamities caused the postpone.
ment for one year of the nuptials OF
Done Jose and Dona Theresa; at the enc
of which time they were celebrated
with all churchly and social ceremonies
Upon their return from the wedding
Journey, Don Jose and his beautiful
Lady took up their residence at the
house of Don Perez. Scarce fortnight
had elapsed when Dona Theresa was
found dead in her bed-aikewise he1
husbands bed. Marks upon her tender
neck showed that she had been CARROT.
ed. All drew two conclusions: Dor
Manuelo and little Innocencia had been
garroted and Don Jose was the criminal
His protestations, denials and anguish
availed nothing. He was hurried away
to prison.
An accident saved his life-the shut.
ting of window.
Dona Maria Theresa, the sorely af
flicted wife of Don Pico, had become
the victim of insomnia since these re-
peated family bereavements, and fan.
cied strange noises in their apartment
at night. Don Pico gave heed and lis