Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-25

There came knock at the gateway
TO the patio. Senior Ortiz started from
his chair in panic. Was this she? lie
had expected her TO be brought in the
back way by Pancho.
He FASTENED down the archcd pass
ageway. Mnbarred tho stout wooden
gates. and thrust them open.
Instead OF two. three people stood
waiting in the moonlight: and none OF
these was either Pancho or the Noodoo
woman.
Two were men-men clothed poorly
In tattercd shirts and trousers and
nothing more. showing every evidence
OF having underScne great hardships:
men resembling shlpwrecked sailors
more than auSht else, though tho ha-
cienda was many miles from the sea.
The woman with them was in
scarcely better case than they. Her
clothing. TOO. was worn and torn,
stained and disordered Her gesture
betrayed the most intense fatigue: she
seemed barely able 10 keep upon her
feet. even with the support OF the arms
OF one of her companions.
in the name OF God" Senior Ortiz
calculated in his establishment. Who
are YOU and what do YOU WANT"
Your pardon. Senior. for disturbing
YOU at this late hour" the man whose
arms were round the girl replied. In
Spanish as excellent as the planters.
But we must have food and shelter
FOR the night. We are'-he hesitated
almost NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF n
shipwreck. For two days we have
struggled inland without finding any
trace of civilization. Now-this poor
no further IL YOU refuse us. We must
sleep In the helds--and starve"'
But why should refuse your
O,tiz demanded. DO I look like one
who would turn people In such plight
from my doors"
I'VE have come great distance.
the girl intcrposed family. and have
found hut little Kindness on the way
Her voice. dulled with WEAKNESS as
II was had quality of uncommon
sweetness II was the voice OF wo-
man OF breeding and position. The
planter pcersd narrowly into her face,
and saw that she was exceedingly
beautiful. even in this extremity Of
suffering.
lie stood aside with the grand ses-
, ture OF his caste.
"Enter.' he said "My house and all
that i, contains is yours, senorita-
and yours as we'll senors'
The three passed on into the patio
The planter rebarred the gates and
followed.
II must ask YOU TO school your
Z selves to a niue patleHt'' ''c sou"
.NIy one house servant live simply
is abroad. lie will return presently
and prepare rooms for you, and fetch
. YOU food In the meantime, permit me
10 make myself known: Il am Arturo
! Ortiz
From the depths of Il wicker cna'f
tho girl bowed acknowledgements, 'hei
rested her head against IT'S PACK aho
closed her eyes, too I:red 10 SPEAK
MI, ,,,,n ,,,bo had Supported her turn.
ed 10 the planter.
} This" he said, Offering his hand
"Is INC princess Julia OF Alania. an
Philip Barr. an American. Ana 'h'S
is Juan Lopez, my friend.
: TO each in turn tho p'ah'et ooM g"
nm, before he could speak the quiet
Of the patio was shattered by Il screec'
OF unearthly terror.
The three men sprung round as one
and even the girl half -Niten from "e'
, . chair. al this alarm.
1t was the negro. ianchn, wn" IA,
uttered IT, Approaching noIse!esS"E
in his unshod feet from the rear en-.
france OF the patio. he had stopped
short. transdxed. Mt sigh OF the frih'
: cess Julia.
he gave n gesture of panic fear an'
turning ran madly from '"e c'u'
yard
A. soon As he had recovered from
his astonishment, Senior ORTIZ hasten
ed off In search OF rancho Eut ncth
I az IN m. hacienda nor anywhere abou
!, lie grounds was the negro TO be found
s / Whatever the cause OF his fright miGh
have been. It's effects had proved sui
, dcientlv potent to drive the serNan
4 into closest hiding.
|, Nor did the planter sec anythins o
the Voodoo woman. II she had. II
vi, =
panied Rancho TO the hacienda, sh'
had chosen 10 disappear simultaneous
, ~ with him
\ little angry, hut even more uneas'
ia his mind because OF the negro
incXplicabIe conduct. Senior ortiz re
turned 10 the patio. made his apologies
! and with the assistance Of Juan 10
per waited upon his unbdden guests.
! I'o4d and drink was first procure
q and Sc: before them. Then hedcham
, bers which had stood untenanted 10
= twenty years were opened and mad
habitable after Il fashion. AS soon a
6 tnnv had eaten their MI. Philip AM
e Julia were conducted W. the HiSht O
Y steps which communicated Win cal
o running round the patio and rs
q signed 10 their quarters, all of which
adjoining on" another, opened upo'
, this same sallcry--julia's room heinj
= situated between the two occupied b.
= Philip and Juan Lopez.
= within Ave minutes after thry ha
;, retired. tho ono wakcful soul In tn
hacienda was Senior Arturo Ortiz.
The more he considered II tn" NOR
rancho's behavior and disappearance
), perpleXed the planter to the verge o
: CONSERVATION.
u Assuredly ohs told HIMSELF tho me-
: gro must have discovered something
i. appalling IN tn" presence of In
: strangers
And what had happened TO IN
3 Noodou uoman" Had she. e4oo. dc
serted him? And why?
;. profoundlv disturbed. the ciantc
s presently. fer the second time left III
hacienda TO look for his servant an
his familiar
q The more drastic search which II
s now instituted in due course ran IN
e negro to earth In one OF the huts dedi
Gated % the use OF feid hands.
Dragged forth and threatened, Pan
n cho excused himself with a tale whic
d made the FOUL Of the planter 0nak
with dismay.
The Noodon woman. II seemed VIA
dead According 70 Pancho. this va
the manner OF her demise:
- That evening, at the appointed hou
II the negroes OF the n"irhborhood ha
V. been summoned hv the NOodoo drum I