Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-11-03
FIRST EPISODE
On Windward Island.

sun fell low, riffied the shallower chan
mel waters and struck inland to cool
the heat-baked dunes of Windward
island.
On the most westerly lip of that
island. shaded by a grove of rustling
eucalyptus trees, a man and woman
stood staring across the beryl-tinted
sea-arm to where the shores of South
Carolina lay low and dim in the dis
lance
You were not made for life like
this" said the man. speaking with that
full-voweled softness peculiar to the
Italian voice. And equally soft were
the ardent Latin eyes which rested for
a moment on the milky Wilderness of
the woman's open throat.
It's the only life I've known for
nine long years." she answered, with
out looking at him. She was still
young woman. though into her eyes.
as the man at her side had spoken,
crept some deeper and subtler trouble
unknown to mere youth. Yet she an
swered guardedly, for she stood vague
ly in fear of this soft-eyed Italian with
the hint OF iron beneath the velvet of
his voice.
And it's the only life you ever will
ness. "if you refuse to wake up to the
fact that your husband is mad. am
a physician, and know. No sane man
brings a woman to an island like this.
to an island that's only fit for clans
and seagulls, and spends the best
years Of his life-yes, and her life
looking for a nitrate mine that never
existed. and never could exist in such
q place"
But my husbands workmen have
found traces of nitrate" protested
Mrs. Golden. fixed in her determine
ton of loyalty.
Palidori. the Italian, laughed softly.
And that nitrate. dear lady, was
planted there by Golden himself For
your husband is deceiving you. He's
searching for gold. yellow gold. mil
lions of dollars worth of gold. But
that gold he will never find. for 1t
exists only in his imagination. He's
obsessed with the idea that some
where under these sands lies buried |
treasure. He was weak enough to let |
q few old maps and papers deceive
him into that belief. But after all |
these years. what has he found?"
Il cannot allow you to shake my |
faith in my husband" declared the I'M |
happy woman.
pnf hot hoc he 20
that faith? He's deceived you. along |
with his blacks" The woman drew |
back as the Italian placed hand on
her arm. And in seeking his buried |
gold he has neglected something much |
more precious"
Il cannot listen to words like that"
protested the azure-eyed wife; Il will
mott"
That's because you are afraid OF |
the truth. Why do you suppose Golden
has spent thousands and thousands in
saving his miserable island from the
ocean? Why has he put up seawalls
and dykes, and constructed a great
levee like that to keep the open At
lantic from encroaching on these
precious sand fields of his, at every
high tide? Why. except to keep the
water back from that buried treasure
Of his! And what has all this mad
ness brought to your"
Il think l regret only the day that
brought you to Windward island" she
quietly replied. as their eyes met
And l. too. shall regret that day
II It means ! must go away empty
handed"
II think my husband would kill you
X he heard you speak to me like
this!"
Paiidori shrugged a shoulders.
He Is at least watching us from the
porch Of the manor house there" an
nounced the Italian. And that l
must accept as a compliment"
Then we must 60 back" said the
~oman, visibly alarmed.
And you go back not believing in
me?" asked Palidori as he walked be-
side her.
Il cannot believe you or believe in
you! Even II what you say is true.
how should you know his maps and
papers are worthless?"
Still again the Italian laughed his
soft laugh. ITO discover that, dear
lady. first brought me to this island.
But having discovered you. I no long
" lament the loss of mere gold."
But you are taking something
worth more than gold away from me
You are robbing me OF my trust in nv 6
husband"
Only, signora, that light may bring .
you liberty! But listen; II you doubt !
me. ! merely ask that you hand me
your husbands keys. Then | will
bring to you bag Of this Chilean nj
trate that he keeps hidden away in S
his inner study. that he scatters about 7
In the plantation sands to salt his '
famous mine with. You hesitate. nat. s
nrally. But II this is not true. why
should that inner room be SO jealously t
locked and guarded!" n
1T is guarded only because the s
Golden Jewels are kept there" was {
he triumphant retort: Jewels worth
! kings ransom!" a
Yet his loveliest Jewel is not kept
,nder lock and key" murmured PAIL b
lori. He spoke more quietly as they I.
approached the manor house, knowing a
Golden was watching But a sudden Il
dangerous light leaped into his dark b
yes. Listen! You are still afraid.
am afraid Of nothing. And this is for O