Mexico Missouri message., 1918-06-06

her snarp nose WOULD nave Smelleu IL
out, and now Cueto has moved the very
EARTH"
Rosa sat back disappointed. $50
that's your theoryr
"Its more than a theory" the boy
insisted. "Look at this!" From the
pocket of his cotton trousers he pro-
duced an odd-looking coin, which he
placed in Rosa's hand.
"Why, it's gold! It's a Spanish
doubloon," she said. TITS the first one
l ever saw. Where did you find it2"
you'll think I'm crazy when l tell
you-sometimes think so myself.
found 1t In Isabels hand when took
her from the wellp
Rosg was stricken speechless.
"She clutched 1t tightly" Esteban
hurried on, "but as made the rope
fast her hand relaxed and 1 saw 1t In
the lantern light. 1t was as if-well,
as II she gave 1t to me. was too
badly frightened to think much about
it, as you may imagine. 1t was hor-
rible place, all slime and foul water
was in her fngers!"
Rosa managed to say: Impossible
Then she must have had 1t when she
fell"
"No, mol I saw her hands up
stretched, her fingers open, in the
moonlight"
"It's uncanny. Perhaps"
"Yes. Perhaps some unseen hand
led her to the place so that we should
at last come into our own. Who knows?
There's no doubt that father hid his
money. He turned his slaves into gold,
he bought jewels, precious metal, any
thing he could hide. Well, perhaps
there were old coins in the lot. The
water In the well Is shallow; Isabel
must have CROPPED this piece from the
bottom. Some day shall explore the
hole and-we shall see."
Rosa flung her arms rapturOusly
about her brothers neck and kissed
him. wouldn't 1t be glorious?" she
cried. wouldn't 1t be wonderful, to
be rich, and to want for nothing; to
have fine clothes and good things to
eat once more? Good things to eat !"
Her lip quivered. "Oh-rm so hun
gry."
poor little girl ~
"Wait till O'Reilly hears about this"
Rosa was all excitement once more.
Hell be glad he came and got me,
If he does come"
Esteban caressed her. -"He1l come,
never fear. l know 1t. Every time l
leave you my heart is In my throat for
fear Of what may happen In my alb
sence-and yet can't always be at
your side"
"There! You acknowledge that /
handicap you. Except for me you would
be making a glorious name for your
SELF"
Nothing of the sort. More probably
I'd be getting myself killed. mol It's
better this way. We must be brave
and patient and-think OF what Is walt
ing for us at the bottom of that WELL"
1t was indeed a great piece of luck
which had enabled Esteban Varona to
buy half-dozen Mausers from a Span
lsh soldier. Through Asensio's ac-
quaintance he had prohted by the dis
honesty Of an enemy, and, although II
had taken all his money to effect the
purchase, Esteban considered the sac
rifice well worth while. The fire OF
| patriotism burned fiercely in him, as
| did his hatred of Pancho Cueto, and
the four trusty young negroes to whom
he had given rifles made, with Asensio
and himself, an armed party large
enough to be reckoned with. These
blacks were excitable fellows, and
| wretched marksmen, but, on the other
hand, each and every one had been
! raised with a machete at his hip and
| knew how to use It, After a few pre-
| liminary forays under Esteban's lead
| ership they had absorbed bit of dis
cipline and were beginning to feel g
military ardor.
In the Cuban field forces there were
many negroes, and few of their fel'
low patriots fought better, or endured
the hardships of guerrilla warfare
more cheerfully than they. Genera
| antonio MdceO WIS OI LHiAeu DlOOu
and yet his leadership was character
lied not only by rare judgment and
ability, but also by an exalted abandon
of personal bravery. His seyera
brothers rendered. Cuba services scarce
| ly less distinguished, and they wer'
but OF few of many dark-skinned he
roes. This struggle for independence
was no patrfclan's war; the best stool
of the island fought side by side will
field hands.
At dawn of the morning following
his talk with Rosa, when the member
of his command assembled. Estebal
was up and ready. He had made hi
preparations to destroy PanchO Cueto'
fields, and since the road over the hill
to La Joya was long he had summone'
them early.
BE careful" Rosa implored him. .
shall die Of suspense"
l - .