Judsonia weekly advance., 1918-06-26

movement which brought her danger ousiy close to the lip of the well.
 Stop! Go back" screamed the young man.
 Above his warning there came a shriek, shrili and agOnized-a wall of sueh abysmal terror ns to shock the nlght birds and the insects into stiIl- ness. Donna Isabel slipped. or stum- pied, to her knees. she balanced briefly ciutchlng at random while the earth ana crumbiing cement gave way be- meath her; then she slid forward and disappeared, almost out from between Esteban's hands. There was noisy rattle of rock and pebble and d great splash far below; chuckle of little stones striking the water, then a faint bubbling. Nothing more The stepson stood in his tracks, sick. blind with horror; he was swaying over the open ing when AsensiO dragged him back.
 Rancho Cueto, being a heavy sleeper, was the last to be reused by Esteban's outcrles. When he had hurriedly slipped into his clothes In response to the pounding on his door, the few sery- ants that the establishment supported had been thoroughly awakened. Cueto thought they must be out of their minds until he learned what had be- fallen the mistress of the house. Then. being a man of action, he too issued 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 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 we'll had been long unused, it's sides were oozing slime. it's 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 in his chains and when the flies tormented him. The treasure for which the woman had intrigued so tlrelessly 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 it 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 "Nothlng could amaze me more. Tell me, how did you come to be there at such an hour, eh?"
 Esteban saw the maleyOlent curios- ity in CuetO's face and started. 'I- That is my affair. Surely you don't think"
 Come, comet You can trust me-" The overseer wlnked and smiled.
 q had business that took me there," stiffiy declared the younger man.
 Exactly! And a profitable busi- ness it provedw Cueto laughed openly now. Well. don't mind telling you Donna Isabel's death Is no disappoint- ment to anyone. Anybody could see-'
 "Stop!" Esteban was turning alter nately red and white. You seem to imply something outrageous"
 "NOw let us be sensible. I under stand you perfectly, my boy. But an officer of the Guardia Civil may arrive at any moment and he will want to know how you came to be with your stepmother when she plunged into that trap So prepare yourself" Young Var0nn was watching his in-