The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-05-31

| open moonlight; then he sighed with
| relief: "Ah-h. Now | see! 1t IS my
Stepmothcr She IS asleep"
For moment or two they watched
! the progress Of the white-rOhed figure :;
then Esteban stirred and rose from his
seat "She's too close TO that well.
! There is" He started forward Il
pace or two. "Thcy say people who
walk at night go mad If they're awak-
ened too suddenly, and yet"
When the somnambuist's deliberate
progress toward the mouth Of the well
continued he called her name softly.
| Donna Isabel" Then he repeated II
! louder. Donna Isabel. Wake up.
The woman seemed To hear and yet
not TO hear. She turned her head TO
listen, but continued to walk.
"Dont be alarmed" he said, reas-
surngly. 1T Is only Esteban-Donna
Isabel, Stop Esteban sprang for
ward, shouting at the top of his voice,
for at the sound OF her name Isabel
had abruptly swerved to her right n
movement which brought her danger
ouSly close to the lip Of the well.
"Stop. Go back" screamed the
young man.
Above his warning there came a
shrek, shrill and agonized-a wall of
such abySmal terror as to shock the
night birds and tho insects into still
ness. Donna Isabel slipped. or stun
bled To her knees, she balanced briefly
clutchng at random while the earth
and crumbling cement gave way be
meath her; then she slid forward and
disappeared, almost cut from between
Esteban's hands. There was noisy
rattle of rock and pebble and great
splash far below; n chuckle of little
stones striking the water. then faint
stood In his tracks, sick, blind with
horror; he was swaying over the open
ing when Asensio dragged him back.
Pancho Cueto, being a heavy sleeper
was the last to be reused by Esteban's
outcries. When he had hurriedly
slipped into his clothes in response Il
the pounding on his door, the few serv
ants that the establishment supported
had been thoroughly awakened. CuetI
thought they must be out Of theii
minds until he learned what had be
fallen the mistress Of the house. Then
swift orders, with the result that by
the time he and Esteban had run I,
the well n rope and lantern were read,
for their use. Before Esteban coulC
form and fit loop for his shoulder:
there was sufficient help on hand T.
lower him into the treacherous abyss
That was a gruesome task which fel
to Esteban, for the well had been lon,
unused. Its sides were oozing slime. It
waters We're stale and black He wa
on the point of fainting when he flnall
climbed out, leaving the negroes 4
hoist the dripping, inert weight whicl
he had found at the bottom.
Old Sebastlans curse had com
true; Donna Isabel had met the fat
he had called down upon her that da
when he hung exhausted In his chain
and when the flies tormented hin
The treasure for which the woman ha
Intrigued so tirelessly had been he
death. Furthermore. as II In grin
NEST irony, she had been permitted q
the very last to find IL. Living. sh
had searched to no purpose what's,
ever: dying. she had almost graspe
II In her arms.
Once the first excitement had abate
:, and a messenger had been sent I
town. Cueto drew Esteban aside an
questioned him.
: "A shocking tragedy and most p
!. culiar," said the overseer. "Nothir
could amaze me more. Tell me, no
did you come to be there at such d
:, hour eh?'
: Esteban saw the malevolent curio
= ity I'm Cueto's face and started. ~
!. That Is my affair. Surely you don
! think"
" 'Come, come! You can trust me
The overseer winked and smiled.
ii 81 had business that took me there
: stiftiy declared the younger man.
: Exactly! And a profitable bu:
! ness 1t provedr' Cueto laughed open
I now. "Well. 1 don't mind telling "