Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-06-27

thousand men III ten thousand years
would never find the place, and nobody
knows the secret but Don Esteban and
me-"
81 believe you. I knew all the
time it was here. Well2 Where is it?"
Sebastian hesitated and said, pite-
ously, 81 am dying"
Isabel could scarcely contain herself.
"Tll give you water, but first tell me
where-where God in heavenl Can't
you see that 1, too, am perishing?"
81 must have drink"
TELL me first"
Sebastian lifted his head and, meet
ing the speakers eyes, laughed hoarse-
ly.
At the sound of his unnatural merri-
ment Isabel recoiled as if stung. She
stared at the slaves face in amazement
and then in fury She stamnered, in
coherently, "You-you have been
lyingp
"Oh no! The treasure is there, the
greatest treasure in all Cuba, but you
shall never know where it is. I'll see
to that. 1t was you who sold my girl;
it was you who brought me to this; 1T
was your hand that whipped me. Well,
I'll tell Don Esteban how you tried to
bride his secret from me! What do
you think he'll do then? Eth? You'll
feel the lash on your white back"
"You fool !" Donna Isabel looked
murder. 'Ill punish you for this; I'll
make you speak if have to rub your
wounds with salt"
But Sebastian closed his eyes
YEARLY. you can't make me suffer
more than | have suffered" he said.
"And now-I curse you. May that
| treasure be the death of you. May you
| live in torture like mine the rest of
your days; may your beauty turn to
ugliness such that men will spit at
you; may you never know peace again
until you die in poverty and want"
But Donna Isabel, being superSti-
| tious. fed with her fingers in her ears !;
nor did she undertake to make good
her barbarous threat, realizing oppor-
timely that it would only serve to be-
tray her desperate intentions and put
|
AS the sun was sinking beyond the
farther rim of the Yumuri and the val
ley was beginning to fill with shadows
Esteban Varona rode up the hill. His
temper was more evil than ever, if that
were possible, for he had drunk again
in an effort to drown the memory of his
earlier actions. With him were Pablo
Pea, and Mario de Castano, Col. Men
doza Linares, old Pedro Miron, the
advocate, and others of less conse-
Guence, whom Esteban had gathered
from the Spanish club. The host dis
mounted and lurched across the court
yard to Sebastian.
$50, my fine fellow" he began
Have you had enough of rebellion by
this timer
Sebastlan's face was working as he
turned upon his master to say: 81
would be lying if l told you that I am
sorry for what did. 1t is you who have
done wrong. Your soul is black with
this crime. Where is my girl?"
1.-THE devil! To hear you talk one
would think you were free man." The
planters eyes were bleared and he
brandished his riding whip threaten
ingly. II do as | please with my slaves
tolerate no insolence. Your girl
Well, she's in the house of Salvador
Don Pablo's cochero, where she be
longs"
Sebastian had hung sick and linn
against the grating, but at these words
he suddenly reused. He strained a
his manacles and the bars groaned un
der his weight His eyes began to roll
his lips drew back over his blue gums
Noting his expression of ferocity, Este
ban cut at his naked back with thu
riding whip, crying:
"Ho! Not subdued yet, Ell? Yol
need another 1ogging."
Curse you and all that is yours,
roared the maddened slave. May yol
, know the misery you have put upol
me. May you rot for million years ii
hell. May your children's bodies grow
, filthy with disease; may they starve
may they
Sebastian was yelling, though hi
voice was hoarse with pain. The lasl
: drew blood with every blow. Mean
while, he wrenched and tugged at hi
bonds with the fury of maniac.
t "Pablol Your machete, quick !!
painted the slaveowner. "Pll make a
end of this black fiend, once for ALL"
| Esteban Varona's guests had locke
{ on at the scene with the same mild in
terest they would display at the whiT
! ping of balky horse; and, now tina
the animal threatened to become dar
gerous, it was in their view quite tn
! proper thing to put it out of the way
Don Pablo Pea stepped toward hi
] mare to draw the machete from it
5 scabbard. But he did not hand it t
his friend. He heard shout, an
turned in time to see wonderful an
| a terrible thing.
[ Sebastian had braced his naked fee
f against the wall he had bowed hi
a hack and hpnt his massive shoulder