Judsonia weekly advance., 1918-06-05
scspyrashs. by nsrp~ end lrssAers,

"Of gold, of jewels, of silver bars and precious ornaments" Cueto's head was thrust forward, his nostrils were dilated, his teeth gleamed. "Oh, it is somewhere about, as you very well know! Bah! Don't deny it. I'm no fool. What becomes of the money from the slave girls, eh? And the sugar crops, too? Does it go to buy arms and ammunition for the rebels? No. Don Esteban hides it, and you help him. Come," he cried, disregard i ing Sebastian's murmurs of protest, "did you ever think how fabulous that fortune must be by this time? Did you ever think that one little gem. one bag of gold would buy your freedom?'
 Don Esteban has promised to buy my freedom and the freedom of my girl"
 l "SoV The manager was plainly surprised. q didn't know that" After moment he began to laugh. And yet you pretend to know nothing about that treasure? Ha! You're q good boy. Sebastian, and so am. admire you. We're both loyal to our master eh? But now about Evangelna." | Cuetos face took on a craftier express sion. "She Is a likely girl, and when she grows up she will be worth more than you, her fnther. Don't forget that Don Esteban is before all else a busi- ness man. Be careful that some one doesn't make him so good an offer for your girl that he will forget his prom ise and-sell her."
 Sebastian uttered a hoarse, aniInai cry and the whites of his eyes showed through the gloom. He would never sell Evangelina :"
 Cueto laughed aloud once more. "Of course! He would not dare, eh? am only teasing you. But see! You have given yourself away. Everything you tell me proves that you know all about that treasure"
 'I know but one thing" the slave declared, stiffening himself slowly, "and that is to be faithful to Don Es- teban." He turned and departed. leav- ing Rancho Cueto staring after him meditatively
 In the days following the birth of his children and the death of his wife, Don Esteban Varona, as had been his custom, steered middle course in politics, in that way managing to avoid a clash with the Spanish officials who ruled the island, or an open break with his Cuban neighbors. who rebelled be- heath their wrongs. Esteban dealt Automatically with both factions and went on raising slaves and sugar to his own great profit
 The twins Esteban and Rosa, devel- Oped into healthy children and became the pride of Sebastian and his daugh- ter, into whose care they had been given. As for Evangelina, the young negress, she grew tall and strong and handsome, until she was the finest slave girl in the neighborhood.
 Then, one day, Don Esteban Varona remarked, and the Donna Isabel. who had been a famous Habana beauty. came to live at the quinta. The daugh- ter of impoverished parents, she had heard and thought much about the mysterious treasure of La Cumbre.
 Before the first fervor of his honey moon cooled the groom began to fear that he had made serious mistake. Donna Isabel, he discovered. was both vain and selfish. Not only did she crave luxury and display, but with sin gular persistence she demanded to know all about her husbands financial affairs.
 Now Don Esteban was no longer young; age had soured him with sus- picion, and when once he saw himself | fhn inff of mol mo n O0 he turned bitterly against his wife. Her curiosity he sullenly resented, and he unblushingly denied his possession of any considerable wealth. In fact, he tried with malicious ingenuity to make her believe him poor man. But Isabel was not of the sort to be readily deceived Finding her arts and CO., quetries of no avail, she flew into rage and furious quarrel ensued- the first of many. For the lady could not rest without knowing all there was to kaow about the treasure.
 She searched the quinta, of course, whenever she had chance, but she discovered nothing-with the result that the mystery began to engross her whole thought. She pried into the ob- scurest corners, she questioned the slaves, she lay awake at night listening to Esteban's breathing, in the hope of surprising his secret from his dreams. At length time came when they lived in frank enmity; when Isabel never spoke to Esteban except in reprOach or anger, and when Esteban unlocked his lips only to taunt his wife with the fact that she had been thwarted de- spite her cunning.
 It was only natural under such con-