Judsonia weekly advance., 1918-09-18

plished thief, do you think you could steal something for me?" O'Reilly in- quired. "A piece of rope"
 Roper Jacket was puzzled. Rope is only good for hanging Spanards. My friend in the fish market has a volandra, and-perhaps I can rob him of halyard." Laying aside his task, Jacket arose and made off in the direc- tion of the water front. He was back within an hour, and under his shirt he carried coil of worn but service able rope. Without waiting to explain his need for this unusual article, O'Reilly linked arms with the boy and set out to climb La Cumbre. When at last they stood Tn the unused quarry and Johnnie made known his intention to explore the old we'll, Jacket re- garded him with undisguised amaze ment.
 What do you expect to find down there?" the latter inquired.
 "To tell you the truth, I don't really expect to find anything" the man con- fessed. "Now that I'm here, Pm be- ginning to feel silly; nevertheless, Pm going to have look for the hidden treasure of the Varonas."
 "Hidden treasure !" From Jackets expression 1t was plain that he feared his friend was mildly mad Even after O'Reilly had told him. something about old Don Esteban's missing riches, he secuted the story. He peeped inquisi- fiuotu pf tho Hoty of we'll, then he shook his head. Ca ramba What an idea! Was this old man crazy, to throw his money away?"
 "He-he had more than he knew what to do with, and he wished to save it from the Spaniards," O'Reilly explained lameiy.
 "Humph! Nobody ever had more money than he wanted" The boys dis gust at such creduity was plain. This we'll looks just like any other, only deeper; you'd better look out that you don't break your neck like that fool ish old woman, that Donna Whats Her-Name."
 O'Reilly did indeed feel that he was making himself ridiculous; neverthe- less, he made the rope fast and swung himself down out of the sunlight, leav- ing Jacket to stand guard over him. Perhaps fifteen minutes later he reap peared. panting from his exertions. He was wet, simy; his clothes were streaked and stained with mud. Jacket began to laugh shrily at his appearance.
 "Ha What a big lizard is this Your beautiful garments are spoiled. And the treasure? Where is itY' The with mirth he slapped his bare legs and stamped his feet in glee.
 O'Reilly grinned good-naturedly, and replaced the blanks which had covered the orifice, then hid the rope In some nearby bushes. On their way back he endured his young friends banter absent-mindedly, but as they neared Asensio's house he startled Jacket by saying. Gan you manage to find pickax or a crowbar?"
 Jackets eyes opened; he stopped in the middle of the dusty road. "What did you see down there, compadre? Tell me-"
 "Nothing much. Just enough to make me want to see more. Do you think you can steal some sort of a tool for mel"
 q can try"
 "Please do. And remember, say nothing before Asensio or his wife"
 Rosa met O'Reilly just inside the door. and at sight of her he uttered Tn exclamation of surprise. for during his absence she had removed the stain from her face and discarded that dis figurement which Evangelina had f1t- ted to her back prior to their depart ure from the Pan de Matanzas, She stood before him now, straight and slim and graceful-the Rosa of his dreams. only very thin, very fragile. Her poor tatters only enhanced her prettiness, so he thought.
 "Rosa, dearl Do you think this is quite safc?" he ventured. doubtfully.
 Evangelina, who was bending over her husband, strengthened herself and came forward with a smile upon her black face.
 "She is beautiful. eh? Too beautiful to look at? What did I tell your"
 Rosa was in delightful confusion at O'Reilly's evident surprise and admi- ration. '"Then Pm not so altogether changed?" she asked.
 "Why, you haven't changed at all, except to grow more beautiful. Evan gelina Is right; you are too beautiful to-look at. But waiti' He drew her aside and whispered, i've been down in the we'll" Some tremor in his voice, some glint in his eyes. caused the girl to seize him eagerly, fiercely.