Evening star., 1918-01-06

ace. She wondered IL Cueto could be
feeling her out deliberately. '.Sen the
Varona % lands" she aueried. after mo-
mentary struggle with herself. Este
ban would rise from his grave. No.
1t was his wish that the plantations go
to his children intact
and his wish is sacred to you, Ell? -
Cueto nodded his approval. although
his smile was disconcerting. An ad-
mirabe sentiment! It does you honor!
But speaking Oh this subject, am re-
minded of that dispute with Jose Oroz
over the boundary to La Joya. He is
a rascal, that Oroz; he would steal the
sap out of your standing cane If he
could. i have promised TO show him
the original deed to La Joya and to
furnish him with the proofs about the
boundary line. That would be better
than q lawsuit, wouldn't it t?'
Decidedly, But viii settle with
him myself"
Cueto lifted an admonitory hand. his
face aiight with the faintest giimmer
of ironic lnirth. Il couldn't trust you
to the nlercies of that rascal he said,
piously NO l shall go on as I am.
even at a sacrifice to myself. I love
Don Don Es5ehan's at ban ssDnrs- onlaren i-ny very
Isabel knew that she must win
complete victory at once or accept fr-
retrievable defeat.
Never" she interrupted, with q tone
of inality, II can't accept your sacri-
fee. | am not worthy. Kindly arrange
10 turn over your books of account at
once. I shall make you as handsome
a present as my circumstances will per-
nit in recognition of your long and
faithful service.
Then Pancho Cueto did an unexpected
thing: he lughed shortly and shook his
head.
Dona isabel was ready to faint and
her voice Quavered as she want on:
understand me, we part the best OF
friends despite all I have heard against
you. do not believe these stories peo-
pie tell. for You probably have enemies.
Even if all they say were true / should
force myself to be 1enient because of
your affection for my husband"
The man rose. still smiling. TT is
who have been lsnient," said he.
Eh? Speak plainly"
Gladly. ] have long suspected that
Don Esteban hid the deed of his prop
erty with the rest of his valuables. and
now that you admit
Dena Isabel recoiled sharply. "Ad-
NIT! Are You mad? Deeds! What
are you talking aboutT Her eyes met
his bravely enough. but she could feel
her lips trembling loosely.
Casting aside all pretense. the over
seer exclaimed: "Por ell amor de Dios!
An eni to thisi l know why you sent
for me. You think have been robbing
you. Well. to he honest. so I have.
Why should I toll as I do while you
and those twins live here in luxury and
idleness. sGuandering money to which
you have no right?"
.fIfave I lost my reason?" gasped the
widow NO right?"
'-At least no better right than ]. Don't
those plantations! They are mine, for
I have paid the taxes out of my own
pockets now these many years.
Taxes! What DO you mean?
Il paid them. The receipts are IN my
name"
Cod Such perfidy. And you who
knew him,''
The deeds have been lost so long
e. II
to the crown had it not been for me.
You doubt that, eh? Well. appeal to
the court and you will find that it is
true. For that matter. the officials
make new laws to fit each case, and
should they learn that ,Esteban Varona
died intestate they would arrange
somehow to seize all his property and
leave you without roof over your
head. Fortunately ! can prevent that,
fer I have q title that will stand. in
want of better one"
There was a momentary silence while
the unhappy woman struggled with
herself Then:
"Yor took advantage of my ignor-
ance Of business to rob me she de-
clared. We'll, I know something about
the government officials. if they would
make a law to fit my case they will
make one to fit yours. When tell them
what you have done perhaps you viii
not fare SO well with them as you ex-
pect.@ She was fighting now with the
desperation Of one cornered.
Perhaps" Cueto shrugged. THAT is
what l want to talk to you about, il
only you viii be sensible Now then.
let us be frank. Inasrnuch as were
both in much the sarce fix, hadn't we
better continue our present arrange
inents?" He stared unbinkingly at his
listener. .'Oh. mean III Is it not bet
ter for You to be content with what
my generosity prompts me to give.
rather than to risk ruin for both of us
by grasping for too muSh?
''Merciful God. The outrage. war
rant you have grown rich through your
stealing. IsabePs voice had gone fat
with CONSERVATION.
"Rieh2 Well, not exactly, but COM
fortably well off" Cuete actually
smiled again. NO doubt my frankness
my proposition, eh? Never mind. You
will think better of 1t in time, IL you
are a sensible woman"
What a aendi Have you no senti-
lnert?'
ooh. sonora, I am all sentiment. Don
Esteban was my benefactor- ] revere
his memory. and ] feel it my duty to
see that mis- family does not want That
is why have provided for you. and will
continue to proYide--in proper meas
ure. But now. since at last we enjoy
such confidential relations. let us have
no more of these miserable suspicious
of each other. Let us entirely forget
this unpleasant misunderstanding and
be the same good friends as before"
Having said this, Paneho Cueto stood
silent a moment in polite expectancy;
then receiving no intelligibIe reply, he
bowed low and left the room.
To the avarlcieus Dona Isabel Cueto's
frank ACKNOWLEDGING of theft was
rna9dening, and the realizat tlon that
she was helpless, nay dependent upon
his charity for her living fairly cruel
fled her proud spirit.
All day she brooded, and by the time
evening came she had worked herself
into such a. state of nerves that she
could eat no dinner. Locking herself
into her room. she paced the floor. now
wringine her hands. now twisting in
agony upon her bed. now biting her
wrists in an cnGe:tvor to clear her head
and to devise some means OF outWittiHg
this treacherouS overseer. But mere
thought of the law frightened her; the
longer she Dondered her situation the
more she realized her 0Tn impotence
There wac ro doubt that the courts
were corrupt they were notoriously
venal at best. and fhis war had made
them worse. Graft was rampant every
where. To confess publicly that Esta-
han EaroHa had left no deeds, no title
70 his property, would indeed be the
shcercst folly No. CHeto had her at
his mercy.
Sometime during the course Of the
evening Il Wild idea came to Isabel
knowing that the mana ger wouId
speud the night beneath her roof, she
planned 10 Kill him At first II seemed
p simple thing to do-lnercly :. matter
OF Il dagger or q pistol. Nghfit he slep,--
but further thought revealed appalling n