The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1918-11-14

swift orders. With the result That by
the time he and Esteban had run to
the well rope and lantern were ready
for their use. Before Esteban could
form and fit a loop for his shoulders
there was sufficient help on hand to
lower him into the treacherous abyss,
That was gruesome task which fell
to Esteban, for the wen had been long
unused, its sides were oozing slime, its
waters were stale and black. He was
on the point of fainting when he finally
climbed out, leaving the negroes to
hoist the dripping. inert weight which
he had found at the bottom.
Old Sebastian's curse had come
true; Donna Isabel had met the fate
he had called down upon her that day
when he hung exhausted Ia his chains
and when the flies tormented him.
The treasure for which the woman had
intrigued so tirelessly had been her
death. Furthermore. as If in grim.
NEST irony, she had been permitted at
the very last to find it. Living, she
had searched to no purpose whatso-
ever; dying. she had almost grasped
1t in her arms.
Once the first excitement had abated
and messenger had been sent to
town, Cueto drew Esteban aside and
questioned him.
"a shocking tragedy and most pc
culiar,' said the overseer. Nothing
could amaze me more. Tell me, how
did you come to be there at such an
hour, eh?"
Esteban saw the malevolent curios
ity in Cueto's face and started. az
That is my affair. Surely you don't
think"
Come, comet You can trust me-"
The oyerseer winked and smiled.
II had business that took me there"
stiffiy declared the younger man.
Exactly And a profitable bust.
ness 1t provedw Cueto laughed openly
now. We'll, / don't mind telling you
Donna Isabels death is no disappoint.
ment to anyone Anybody could see
"Stopl" Esteban was turning alter.
nately red and white. "You seem ia
imply something outrageous"
Now let us be sensible. / under.
stand you perfectly, my boy. But an
officer of the Guardia Civil may arrive
at any moment and he will want te
know how you came to be with your
stepmother when she plunged into that
trap. So prepare yourself"
Young Varona was watching his In.
quIsitor now with family speculative
frown. When Cueto had finished, Es.
teban said:
'You would like me to confess tc
some black iniquity that would make
| us better friends, chr Well, 1t so hap
pens that was not alone tonight, but
that another person saw the poor WON
ans death and can bear me out In ev
erything / say. No, Pancho. you over
reach yourself. Now, then"-Estebar
was quick-tempered, and for years hi
had struggled against an instructive
| distrust and dislike of the plantation
manager-"remember that I have be
come the head Of this house. and your
employer. You viii do better to thinl
of your own affairs than of mine.
intend to have a careful reckoning
with you. think you know have {
good head for figures" Turning hi
back upon the elder man, he walked
| away.
Now ii did not occur to Cueto reall,
| to doubt the boys innocence, though
| the circumstances of Donna Isabei'i
| death were suspicious enough to rails,
question In any mind but in view
| of Esteban's threat he thought II wlst
to protect himself by setting a back
| fire.
As he sat on an old stone bench
moodlly repicturing the catastrophe as
Esteban had described 1t, his attention
fell upon an envelope at his feet. II
was sealed; Ii was unaddressed. Cue
20 idly broke 1t open and began tc
read. Before he had gone far he start
ed; then he G. furtive glance
about. But the was secluded; be
was unobserved. When he finished
reading he rose. smiling. He no Longer
feared Esteban. On the contrary. be
rather pitied the young fool; for here
between his fingers was that which
not only promised to remove the boz
from his path forever, but to place ir
his hands the entire Yarona estates
One afternoon, perhaps a week later
Don Mario de Castano came puffine
and blowing up to the quinta, demand
ing to see Rosa without a moments
delay. With dirsctness unusual ever
in him, Don Mario began:
Rosa, my dear, you and Estebar
have been discovered / was at lunch
with the commandante when l learned
the truth. Through friendship l pre-
vailed upon him to give you an hours
grace"
"What do you mean, Don Marion
inunired the girl.
Continued next week.
WHAT'S THE REASON?