New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-19
D 9 n [ Nj | n E z
By Kathryn Jarboe

s. d
r3bc "a- found hy ucophyte right here Al the foot
oi these hills and Donna Pcrfcctas voice died
away. hut Evelyn could see that her lips were still
moving though She praying while IN
hand She held CLOSE ciaspcd the SMALL golden Cruchx
tha, hung from her ROSARY.
And then. Donna Pcrtccta'" She urged.
And then echoed the sturytcller -" why. that
ecs all the story AT least all that anyone knows
but Tor many many years who crossed these hills
late AZ night saw-ycs. he sure ne saw a figure.
the figure 81 the young padre wandering under the
trees always always AS though he searching Tor
something Aud-lud the good padres at the mis-
SION that Bcltcmpo had carried the treas
ure even across the desert that he had buried eet
the hills. and they were good 70 the bones and
gave them burial, but they searched and searched
for the silver and never found it,
And others sure prompted Evelyn.
Ah. Mees Halleck. sighed Donna !erfecta, you
VIII always have some rOruIIza. no. Now, Get was
my grandmother told me that Bcltempo had fled
from Mexico with a sweetheart. and She had heard
the very whisper that the girl lived here
Just across the desert from the Mission and that
a. III me- sacrIleIe 70 say the words
but Get was my grandmother who had heard Get
SAID that eel the padres had searched for the girl and
found her-why. they would have needed TO look no
farther the sacred vessels. But ees right
to tell such tales. Ect not right 10 hear
them and yet eel Bcltcmpo buried the treasure
all good faith and duty To- God why does hees rest
less spirit wander at all times through these hills
Ect strange. no
But does the poor young padre still wander about
looking Tor his buried treasure or his lost love-"
questioned Evelyn.
But yes" Donna Perfccta hurried to make
surance lie ha, been seen at times ever seence
and lately he has been seen more and more often
NON JIMINEZ moved rcstles,ly flung away his
~ cigarette and rose slowly 20 his feet. As told
YOU Miss Ilalleck' he said the tanagcr seeks
his Just the sun sets. II you would see her
nest YOU must 20 to the rose hedge now. / II war
rant we see ghost of Beltempo IN our garden to-
night. no, nor would We even II we walked 10 his
foothills and his trees.
Perhaps not Innints1o mic answered Donna
Pertccta, but you must not take Mees Haleck to
the hills after dark, because
But am not afraid interrupted Evelyn I'd
love to tins ghostly padre and
All but there worse things even than ghosts,
no." cried Donna Perfecta. Il have forgotten to
tell you. Donna Placida Vallejo told me only thees
morning. Twice, perhaps more times than twice, the
stage from the mine across the hills at RandS-
burg has been stopped right At the head OF the long
hill by a single man. always 10y a single man All the
gold had been taken each time. lie ees a tall man,
and all cen black, with mask and a Pccsto an old
fashioned peestol, and
But your highwayman frightens me more than
your ghost, Donna Perfecta. laughed Miss Halleck
as She stood up. I'd love to see either
Even as She spoke Don Iiminez whispered in hot
Spanish words to his mother, " If you would make
money by keeping these accused Grngos III your
house. you would do we'll not To brighten them with
past and present terrorsl Did your miracle loving
Placida tell you that ii the Fra Betempo HIM
self stealing the gold to make restitution 10 the
church," He lit another cigarette and spoke again
to Evelyn Ilallecb his slow but perfect English.
NV mother and her friends must always talk!
Shall we look for the rose tandger:
THEY walked slowly down the palm arched ave
Il nue. and the girl realized for the first time how
far she had her eyes 10 those OF Don lminez
who lowered over her by dozen inches.
The letter YOU had to-day he began suddenly,
the letter you had from this-this Randsburg
was
Don Iiminezl" The girls tone asked question