Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-01-06
An Episode Of
Cuba
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

41Clldlu dud Illl1ucl Il ullluo, ollC lllC
son of a sugar planter, the other a law-
yer who hunted up cases of flaw of
title, her levied blackmail on the
holder of the property, came into COLI
sion.
Senorita Inez MADEIRA, the daughter
Of a Spanish grandee who had emf
grated from Spain many years before,
was II Of those southern beauties
whose dark eyes, over which sweep
long lashes, render them enhancing.
She and Herrara met at a ball given
by a wealthy planter, and the meeting
resulted in a love affair. At the time
Senior MADEIRA, who had sunk q fortune
in Spain before coming to Cuba and
had always since been ~impecunious,
had been approached by Manuel Fur
tado for the hand Of Scnorita Inez.
The grandee was at first disposed to
regard the application as an insult, but
when Furtado announced that he had
accumulated Il considerable fortune
and would supply the old mans wants
the latter turned a listening var.
The entrance of Hcrrara into the
play made a great difference to Eur
tado. What might probably have re-
suited without his Interference was
now impossible. But he did not real
ize this. He had been introduced to
Senorita Inez by her father. and she
had received him graciously. Then
came to the lawyer Il temptation to put
his rival out of the way. Those We're
times when persons in Cuba were very
easily put out of the way. The captain
general was an autocrat whose order
would send any man 10 prison or be
fore a firing squad.
Furtado lodged information at the
palace that Jose IIcrrara was not only
a revolutionist, hut that he was plot
ting to bring United States troops into
the island to eXpel the Spaniarls. One
evening when 1Icrrara VAS expected to
call on Senorita MADEIRA he did not ar
rive. On the way to her home he was
waylaid by order of the governor and
carried to prison. No Il knew OF his
arrest. Furtado had reported that il 1t
were known that he were u captive it
would cXasperate his friends, ana they
were sufficiently numerous to make
trouble. SO his arrest was kept secret.
Soon after this came the Spanish
American war and the landing Of Unit
cd States troops in Cuba. Hcrrara lay
i'll prison till the war ended, then came
forth, not having been heard from nor
having communicated with any II out
side his Jail during the hostilitics. He
learned that Senorira MADEIRA, suppos
ing him to be dead, was in mourning
Tor him. He knew that some one had
procured his arrest and confinement,
u did not know who that person was.
Before making himself known to any
onc he instituted inquiries as to his ac-
cuSer, and since the records We're now
open to him he soon learned that he
had been betrayed by Manuel l'urtado.
Jose determined TO punish his ira
ducer before making himself known to
the girl he loved. Either he or Manuel
must die, and if it We're Jose it was
better that he should not come to life
to be mourned a second time. He was
weak from confinement and gave him
self a brief respite before tackling his
enemy, who had turned in favor Of the
revolutionists just in time to be on the
winning side and, having given Il con-
siderable sum to the cause, was in IA
yor with the people and the American
provisional management.
Furtad0 was an occasional visitor at
the home Of Senior MADEIRA. Senorita
1nez did not like him; but, being igno-
rant of the trouble he had brought upo
her lover, to please her father she
treated him civilly. Uerrara, learning
of these visits, lay in wait for his en-
envy.
One night Furtado was stopped by
n who blocked his way. There was
no light except that of a half moon,
and Furtado did not recognize the man
he had injured.
you don't remember me-" said Her
rara.
II do not"
II am Jose Herrara, whom you in
formed against falsely and whose ar
rest on this very spot you instigated-
an appropriate spot for the settlement
OF the account between u.s."
Are you going to murder me?"
mo. Are you unarmed?"
II have not so much as i p~enknife."
Take that" Jose handed him a
cavalry saber. 81 have it's duplicate"
Il prefer to meet you with others to
see fair play replied Furtado, "and
1 prefer pistols. 1 know nothing of
the use of a saber."
Nor I. But, as to fair play, you are
not a giver of fair play and conse-
quently not entitled to it yourself. AS
to sabers, they make less noise than
pistols, and the survivor will have a
better chance to get away unnoticed.
On guard!
Within ten minutes Herrara left his
enemy dead in the road.
Senorita MADEIRA was sitting in a
dimly lighted garden beside her home
when the gate opened and Herrara
entered.
Josef" she exclaimed. Are you of
the quick Or the deadw
HI nv, 30 <lo r,,;.l-. 7 ns,,> s,.l y.rA