The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-05
Copyright, 1916. BY Arfhar Stringer)
FIRST EPISODE.
On Windward Island.


on the most westerly lip Of that
sland, shaded by a grove OF rustling
eucalyptus trees, man and woman
stood staring across the beryi tinted
sea-arlu to where the shores Of South
Carolina lay low ana dim in the dis
lance.
You were not made for life like
this" said the man, speaking with
that fl.l-voweled softness peculiar
TO the italian voice. And equally
soft were the ardent Latin eyes which
rested for q moment in the milky
Wilderness OF the worna1's open
throat
IT'S the only life I've known for
nlne long years" she answered, with
sut looking at him. She was still
young woman. though into her eyes
as the nan at her side had spoken,
.rept some deeper and subtler trou-
ble unknown to mere youth. Yet
she answered Euardedly, for she
stood vaguely 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 know" he declared with sudden
holiness. II YOU refuse to wake UP
10 the fact that your husband Is mad
I am q physician, and ] know. No
sane man brings a woman to an
island like this, to an island that's
only fit for CLAIMS and seagulls, and
spends the best years OF his life
yes. and her Hfe-looking for nj
trate mine that never existed and
never could exist in such place.
=
And that nitrate, dear lady. was
planted there by Golden himself. For
your husband is deceiving you--de-
ceiying you the 50 me as ne deceives
that army of negro workers. That
army digs In the sand. acre by acre.
week by week and month by month,
but Golden never even expected TO
find nitrate mine"
That's not true" cried the startled
woman
Again the Italian laughed,
There's more than that is true.
This man is digging and tunneling
through these miles of empty sand
for something far different TO nj
Gates. He's searching for gold. yell
sTosmaoAd--lnillions of dollars worth
OF gold. But that gold he will never
fiud. for Il exists only in his magma
ton. He's obsessed with the ldea
that somewhere under these sands
fes buried sreasure He was weak
enough to let q few old maps and
papers deceive him into that belief.
But after all these years, what has
H. found?"
Il cannot allow you to shake my
faith i'll nay husband" declared the
uuhappy woman.
but what has he done to deserve
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 some
thing much more precious"
Il cannot listen TO words like that,
protested the azure-eyed wife Il viii
not!'
That's because you are afraid OF
the truth. Why do you suppose
Golden has spent thousands and thou,
sands in saving this miserable islanC
from the ocean? Why has he put M
seawalis and dykes. and constructed
great IeYee Ike that 10 keep tht
open Atlantic from epcroaching or
these precious sand fields of his al
every high tide? Why. except to keel
the water back from that burieC
treasure Of his? And what has al
this madness brought 10 your
II think / regret only the day thai
brought you 10 Windward Island" sh'
quietly replied as their eyes met.
And /. 100. shall regret that day 4
1t means / must go away empty
handed"
Il think my husband would kill YOU
II he heard YOU speak to me like this
Faldorl shrugged shoulder.
He is at least watching us from
the porch az the manor house there.
announced the Italian. And that
must accept as Il compliment"
Il cannot believe you or believe in
you Even il what you say is true
how should you know his maps ane
papers are worthless ?"
SIN again the Italian laughed hi,
Eaft laugh -e,i,e,- discover that, deal
lady, first brought me to this island
But having discovered you. / M
longer lament the loss of mere goid,'
But you are taking something
worth more than gold away from me
You are robbing me of nay trust Ii
my husband"
only. siEnora. that light may bring
You liberty, But. listen; II you doubt
me, J merely ask that you hand ms
your husbands keys Then ! viii
bring 70 you Il bag of this Chilean
mira te that he keeps hidden away in
his Inner study, that he scatter
about IN the pla nta;iGn sands TO salt
his famous mine with You hesitate,
naturally Ept II this is not true,
Why should that inner room be so
jealousy locked and Guarded ~
1T is guarded only because the
Golden jewels are kept there" was
the triumphant retort--"jcweIs worth
kings ranSotut"
Yet his loveiiest jewel Is not kept
under lock and key, murmured Pail
dori lie spoke more quietly dis they
approached the manor house, know
tHs Iel-itn was watching. But a
sudden dangerous light lcaped into
his dark eyes. Listen! You are still
afraid. ] am afraid If nothing. And
this is for your own happiness Tn
less you ten nae you wifi bring that
key 70 the shrubbery beyond the
manor house. ] will take you in my
arms here, under your husbands
eyes,"
She hesitated. white faced, as he
repeated the command.
Yes. she gasped as a fair haired
child OF ran lightly from the manor
house steps to meet her mother.
Paiidori. lighting a cigaret, turned
cArsieSElE away and Eal1nfered tn