Judsonia weekly advance., 1918-07-13

Que day field of Cuetos cane was burned, and his laborers reported see Ing Esteban and some negroes riding into the wood The overseer took horse within the hour aud rode pell- nell to Matanzas. In the city at this time was u certain Colonel Cobo. in command of Spanish volunteers, those execrable convict troops from the Isle of Pines whose atrocities had already marked them as wolves rather than men, and to him Pancho went with his story.
 "Ah. yes. That yarona boy. I've heard of him." Cobo remarked, when has reason to hate you, I dare say. for you robbed him. The colonel smiled disagreeably.
 Cueto murmured something to the effect that the law had placed him in his position as trustee for the crown, and should therefore protect him; but Colonel Cobo's respect for the law. it seemed, was slight. In his view there was but one law in the land. the law of force.
 "Why do you come to mel" he asked
 That fellow is a desperado," Pan- cho declared. "He should be de- stroyed.'
 Bah The country is overrun with desperadoes of his kind. and worse. Burning crops is nothing new. I'd make an end of him soon enough. but nearly all of my men.are in Cardenas. We have work enough to do."
 ."I'd make it worth while. if you could put an end to him." Pancho said. hes itatingly. Then, recalling some of those stories about Colonel Cobo. he added, "There are two of them. you know. q boy and girl"
 "Ah yes I remember"
 "l can direct you to the house of Asensio, where they live"
 "Um-m" Cobo was thoughtful. "A girl How old is she?''
 "Eighteen."s
 Ugly as an alligator, I'll warrant. :"
 "Ha. The most ravishing creature in all Matanzas. All the men were mad over her"
 Colonel Cobo, the guerrilla. licked his full, red lips and ran strong. square hand over his curly. short cropped hair You say you know where she-where they are living?"
 "Ah. perfectly! It's less than Il nights ride. There's no one except the boy to reckon with"
 stIJoyu much h1, ,,-nrtI, ,,.,. bluntly inquired the soldier, and Cueto sat down to make the best terms pos sible.
 
 Do you think he received my let ter?" Rosa asked of her brother one evening as they sat on the board bench by Asensio's door. It was familiar it many times. : "Oh. yes! he. declared. Lopez mes- senger got through to Key Vest
 Then why doesn't he come?''
 But my dear. you must be patient. Think of his difficulties"
 This subject always distressed young Varona; therefore he changed it. Come! You haven't heard of my good fortune. I captured another fine snake today, q big, sleepy fellow. Believe me. he'll wake up when I set fire to his tail. He'll go like the wind, and with every foot he goes away will go more Of Pancho' Cuetos profits"
 You intend to burn more of his fields?" absently inquired the girl Tt seems terrible to destroy our own property"
 Esteban broke out excitedly; he could not discuss Pancho Cueto with out losing control of himself. Would you permit that traitor to fatten upon the profits of our plantations? shall ruin him, as he ruined us."
 Rosa shook her dark head sadly. And we are indeed ruined. Think of our beautiful house; all our beautiful things, too! We used to consider our selves poor, but-how little we knew of real poverty. There are so many things 1 want. Have we nothing left ?"
 'T thought it best to buy those rifles" the brother murmured. dropping his eyes. ''It was one chance in mill liOn"
 No doubt 1t was. It seems those Spaniards will sell their souls"
 Exactly. We can dig food from the earth and pluck it from the trees. but good Mausers don't grow on every bush Besides. of what use would money be to us when We have no place to spend it?"
 'True!" After Il moment Rosa unused aloud: "I wonder if Cueto- found the treasure? If only we had that"
 "He didn't find it." Esteban declared.