The Mena star., 1899-04-20
[coNrrNuFD FROM LAST WEEK. l


 arm), "los Americanos generosos are {; 1t so kind was of you to think of la pobrecita's dresses. I doubt not that 1t your goodness of heart was, yet even such un hombre could not resist at the least seeing la senorita when she does wear them. And she will not them wear before the steamer shall go away, do you not see? Fl Capitan Dix did for her feel, also, but it was not he who to think tried how he la senorita might help at once-ai, but he to see her was not. long enough!"
 Well, that's pretty clever line of reasoning, mia senorita. But don't you thinlo you are giving that photo graph the credit of being a pretty strong attraction. to make me think of leaving you to Capt. Dick, and bury ing myself among those out-of-the way islands for whole three months, just to get acquainted with the orig inal?"
 f'That not is so, Enrique mio' (blush- ing warmly at this audacious familiar ity). IT am alive, and-you shall to be with me have for two of the weeks yet. I think not you would me leave for but a photograph if said you should not; have I la gran conceit?" (She looked so bewitching in the moonlight that to save my neck I couldn't avoid giving her waist gem tie squeeze). "No! you some affair in el Guajan have-though never could I guess what it may be. It something which of more worth is to you than your affairs in Manila, or you neglect them would not for so long. It some thing is which you do undertake for el Ricardito as we'll as yourself, and in which he does you trust as few men do trust each other, or your friendship I could make like a broken thread with jealousy of me. Un gran presun- cion, is it not, amigo mic? But true, not the less. Else you embrace me would not, and el capitan would look at me not with the eyes that talk, oh, so much-so much that the little shiv- CTS he does make come to me some times, and I am afraid. We'll, then, if this something stronger is than love of woman, what it can be but the love of gold-such heaps of glittering, shin AhS EOio' Att gnu tHSAS@l IS nut iii Si Guajan. else el gobernador would in Madrid be with much oft. What then it can be-"
 "Quien sabe? Perhaps the elixir of fife. But if go ashore there as you imagine, and if find anything beyond health and rest, I'll come and see you some day--or, rather, I'll come and see you and Dick. Then I'll tell you both all about it."
 ''You will come to see me and el Ricardito? But l shall in Seville be-"
 Exactly; so will Dick as soon as he can get there"
 ''Dios! qui temerariol But suppose suppose I do permit him not-?"
 Hell come all the same; I think I know Dick" (ffere she placed the palm of her hand over my mouth, as if to keep me from saying more, but her bright eyes were swimming with delight)
 "'Sh! Fl padre may you hear. It was to speak of him did wish when we on deck did come He has been of you speaking to el cura, Enrique, asking the questions all about you-whe ther you really un comerciante were in Manila and Hong-Kong-wh this voyage you were making. In some way he seems you to doubt, and he remarks upon the long talks in su camara you do have with el capitan. He nothing knows of Ia senorita's vestida, or your destination he would have suspected much sooner than did I and. surely, your object. You must so very careful be what you do say. no matter where. Everything the padres do know, and in Madrid much influence has el Se- bastino. You will remember, will you not, Enrique? And you must let him see not that of him you are suspicious. as last night yor did; do not you see how quickly did he notice. and did you make to him like in spite of yourself? Now take below me, and to el Capitan Dix explain"
 The more I thought over what she had told me, the more I felt that my soieaginous clerical friend was likely to make trouble for us sooner or later; and when we were alone I repeated the conversation for Halstead's ben eft. He and McPherson, counting upon the padres good offices, had been Inclined to doubt his mischief-making ability. though their experience Tn the