Evening star., 1898-04-02

When the work was done 1 gave the la
borers poison, and in the morning all lay
dead. God rest my soulD Ono by one
took the bodies
He took the bodies?' said Borden. lean
ing over. "An that stun is buried up in 'em
mountains?"
II took the bodies through the door in the
wall to the cliff over the underground river
and dropped them in, one by one. Then L
returned to my followers, who guarded be-
low, saying had sent the other score into
Chihuahua. And then l discharged all and
came down the mountain to the monastery,
and to the abbot said: II would repent me
of my sins!' First he answered, thou
must give all thy treasure to Mother
Church." Then 1 lied, and told him 1 had
1 said to myself that "for one who has
committed so many sins, the death of twen-
ty men and the lie to the abbot cannot add
to the burden" For from that time on.
should lead me a life of prayer, of repent
ance. So in truth have 1 tried to live save
twice year, when have visited the cave
of the river. Then have gloated over the
have come up from the river. and said:
"Accursed. accursed!" Yea, accursed is it.
May 1t curse some other as 1t has me; any
monk or man who may find it Here the
writing stops" Fenton said. But there is
one line more in another hand. The devil
has the soul of him who was known to the
world as Miguel Santos"
What a fool that old chap was any
way said Borden. With all that money
he might have had time fit for a king
without botherin' himself about HE'LL
with all that money" 1 said do YOU
suppose it's there now?'
DO you 'spose it is? 1t fairly makes my
mouth water" Borden observed.
If 1T were there" said the pale-faced
money"
No more than l." said Borden.
mo more than IT, said I.
But was watching the yellowed parch-
" don, 4
said low over the candle Black lines were
appearing there. I gasped as 1 saw them
was this that old secret? Had he written
1t on the back Of the confession? Should
We know 1T, then? Should we get the gold
with which might make my restitution?
The papers back, Fentonr" 1 cried.
Fenton turned the paper, scared, while
Borden sent the greasy pack scattering.
Read it-for GODS sake, read it! Can
you?
Fenton read in a low voice:
AS thou followest the disused road to
the silver mine thou wilt come about five
Spanish miles to a projecting rock. Going
to the western side of the rock, pace due
west fifty yards, which will bring thee
against the ciump OF bushes by the cliff
side. Under these thou wilt find the OPEN
ing Of the cave. Push the upper-hand cor
ner of the iron door and it will swing open,
and thou wilt be cursed as was Miguel
Santos"
Its gospel truth, them" said Borden.
THAT he was cursed" said Fenton, start
ing.
D. the curse" Borden replied; "that
the treasure is there"'
"Yes, it may be there" said Fenton, ris-
ing.
But the old road the fellow speaks o."
Borden said. Haven't You read O. it in
EN- papersg"
TT is the path to the left OF the monas-
terry" said Fenton.
wen go there at sunrise. tnen." said
Borden, rising. "We'n divide"
frrra
Its got to be true" borden retorted.
MY luck has got to change some time"
Fenton sat there. the sweat pouring from
his pale face.
"You poor limp fool" Borden said con-
temptuousiy. Now the first thing is for
US to 60 10 bed"
He seemed to direct us like a captain,
and we -eadiiy allowed him the leadership.
Yet / fancied something dangerous in his
eyes. and remember that after 1 was In
bed 1 arose and boited my door, What II
the dream were not q dream? Ay, what
II We should find that treasurer And then
my dreem maddened me, and tossed till
the sun. came over the mountain tSp-the
mountain. perhaps, OF the cave OF the river.
We started cut after breakfast. stealth1ly,
as II we were on some thfevish errand,
The manner OF thieves seemed to TALL to US
easily.
At frst the search promised weIi for
the old road by the, monastery was mar
veious ptece q engineering for its day
and time. Nature, 90 forceful In Mexico
mans work. 30 anxioualy We followed
that spiendid and forgotten way. which
reminded u nothing 70 much as Of an
old Roman roGd, such - you may see
along the HsdftefraneaAs or the Adriatic.
Counties trsasurs perhaps had been drag