The Echo register. (Echo, Umatilla County, Or.) 190?-1909, 1909-07-09
THE UNKNOWN GUEST
BY ANDREW c. EWING.

i NsAta.| 81 HS4h rum Nth~r.4% lAtSt luhuu-
tf.as which now may be traversed In a
rarlor ear. But the route from Mexico
Wis open. aud numbers Of McXicans.
including these newly cmigrated from
Spain, were moving nlrthward and
building homes I'm what WAS destined
10 become the Golden State Oac Of
( the Spaniards. Don Emilio Estillo.
built himself fine house in Santa
| Barbara. 1t was designed after a
Roman villa, with court and a foun-
tain In the center
California at that period partook OF
the ollen time Though new coun-
try, It was inhabited by refined people
of Spanish blood. At the same time
1t was infested by bandits, such as
have existed I'm Spain for centuries.
| The leader of one of these gangs was
Manuel Corello. veritable Robin
Hood Like Robin, who Is supposed
to have been Il nobleman. Corcllo was
gentleman. and, though he robbed
the rich. he gave largely TO the poor.
When Don Estillo's house was I'm
ished he opened It with grand en-
tertainment, at which all the dlstin-
guished families for miles around
We're present. Ii was a brilliant scene.
In the patio. or court, within circle
Of tropical plants. was 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
bloods Of California. Don Estillo's
guests were provided with eggshells
filed 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 ut
tractcd 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 he did not know the stran-
ger and supposed he must have come
with one Of the guests. No one sug-
gested that he had not come In ac-
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
] "A l.as ya xsaR
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 bench behind n 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 rs 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 Bes-
/ 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
companion Donna IneZ Estillo. No
sooner did the judge look straight be-
fore him than his eyes became riveted
on Donna Inez's cavalier. II 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.
"wnl you honor me with an intro
duction to my vis-a-vis?"
Don Estillo. not knowing the mans
name. looked confused.
The stranger rose and said: ladies
and gentlemen. far be II from me to
compromise so charming host as Don
Estillo. He Is not responsible for my
presence here. for ! came on my own
invitation. He cannot introduce me,
for he does not know my name. ! am
Manuel Corello."
As he uttered the last word he be-
gan to back toward the door. The mo-
ment he spoke his name many face
whitened and every man present rose
/ to his feet. But all were excited, none
Of them armed. and there was no lead
er. Corello. as imperturbable as II he
were dancing a minuet. drew n pistol
and motioned all to be seated. Not
one remained standing. II ask pardon
Of the ladies'" he said. "for displaying
weapon IN their company. but II IL
unavoidable. There Is $1,000 on my
head. and I'm sure you win excuse the
only means have OF keeping IT,"
/ BY this time he had backed TO the
door. As he slipped out Donna Inez,
with hot cheeks and flashing eyes.
threw something at him that struck
the wall and, rebounding. ratified on
the Hoor. One Of the guests picked II
up and held Il aloft II was an i'm
mense diamond set in a circle OF gold.
Some Of the men rushed out after
the bandit, but those upstairs heard
the clatter OF horses hoofs and knew
that he had gone free. Then each
guest began to tumble for his or her
valuables. but no one missed any
thing. The diamond thrown nj Corello
by Donna Inez had been slipped on
her finger In the patio behind the palm