Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-07-06
The UNKNOWN GUEST
sy ANDREW c. EWING

I
Wnen Fremont "the Pathander . -
came q hero from crossing those uoonr,.
lalns winch now may be traversed n 4
pAtior car. But the route from Mexico
was open. and numbers Of Mexieana
including those newly emigrated frOn'
SPAN, were moving northward ana
building homes In what was desttn.a
70 become the Golden State. one ~
tne spaniards, Don Emilio Estillo
quilt himself a fine house in santa
barbara II was designed afteF :
Roman villa, with a court ana 4 fopn.
tain In the center.
California at that period partook AZ
the olden time. Though 4 new conn
ny, Il was inhabited by refined people
o. spanish blood. At the same time
II was infested by bandits. such A.
nave existed in Spain for centnr,ea
Ihe leader of one Of these Ranea was
Manuel Corello, a verftable Robin
hood. Like Robin. who is supposed
70 have been a nobleman. CorelIo was
gentleman, and, though he robbed
tne rich. he gave largely to the poor.
When Don Estillo's house was An
lshed he opened 1t with a grand en-
tertainment, at which all the dist,n-
guished families for miles around
Were present 1t was a brilliant scene
An the patio. or court, within a circle
OF tropical plants, was a band OF per.
formers, who sang and played while
the guests, heated by the dance, were
seeking the cool air. Spanish social
customs for the amusement Of the
guests have been adopted by the blue.
Dloods OF California. Don Estillo's
guests were provided with eggshells
hlled with silver or gold tInsel or per-
fumery, which were broken over the
heads OF ladies whom the men wished
to favor.
Among the men was one who at
tracted universal attention. He was
young, very handsome and dressed In
the picturesque Spanish costume. The
guests asked one another who he was.
but no one seemed TO know. One OF
them asked the host. but Don EstIllo
said that ne did not know the stran-
ger and supposed he must have come
with one of the guests. No one suR-
gested that he had not come in &C.
cordance with the customs regulating
invitations. for he was evidently a
polished gentleman.
Since the stranger knew no one he
was Obliged to find partners in the
dances by some pretext He was very
adroit, and the girls, instead OF re-
quiring introductions, were glad to re-
ceive his attentions without them.
Donna Inez. daughter of the host, was
the most favored and after one Of the
dances went out with the handsome
stranger into the patio. where they
took seats on a bench behind a gigan.
tic palm. There they remained so long
that the hostess. requiring her daugh-
ter's presence for some especial enter
tainment Of her guests, sought her and
led her away.
The dancing had ceased, and to
strains Of music the guests marched in
to supper. They did not stand about
eating the viands as In these days.
Each one was seated. Just as they
had all taken their seats a party of
belated guests from Los Angeles ar
rived, among them Judge Antonio Bees
tamente. They came into the supper
room. and the judge was assigned a
seat opposite to the young stranger
who had attracted so much attention
and who. had secured for his supper
Gamma pfon nanua Ina1 ES@Ftln NJ
sooner did the Judge look straight be-
fore him than his eyes became riveted
on Donna Inez's cavalier. 1t was evil
dent that Bestamente was moved by
some powerful emotion. Rising, he
called TO the host seated at the head
Of the table and said.
"Will you honor me with an intro
duction to my vis-a-visg"
Don EstIllo, not knowing the mans
name, looked confused.
The stranger rose and said: Ladies'
and gentlemen. far be IT from me to
so charming a host as Don
EstIllo. He is not responsible for my
presence here. for came on my own
He cannot introduce me,
for he does not know my name. am
COrello."
AS he uttered the last word he be-
gan to back toward the door. The mo-
ment he spoke his name many a face
whitened and every man present rose
to his feet But all were excited, none
Of them armed. and there was no lead
err CoreIlo. as imperturbable as II he
were dancing a minuet, drew a pistol
and motioned all to be seated. Not
one remained standing. Il ask pardon
Of the ladies'" he said. "fOr displaying
q weapon In their company. but it IL
There Is $4,000 on my
head, and I'm sure you win excuse the
only means have Of keeping IL"
By this time he had backed to the
door. As be slipped out Donna Inez,
with hot cheeks and flashing eyes,
threw something at him that struck
the wall and. reboundlng ratified on
the floor One Of the guests picked II
up and held It alOft II was an Inn
mense diamond set in a circle Of gold
Some Of the men rushed out after
a