The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-07-11

II that treasure had been above ground
her sharp nose would have smelled II
out, and now Cueto has moved the very
earth"
Rosa sat back disappointed. $50
that's your theoryY'
"It's more than theory the boy
insisted. Look at this!' Prom the
pocket Of his cotton trousers he pro-
duced an odd-looking coin, which he
placed In Rosa's hand.
why, it's goldl It's Spanish
doubloon," she said. "It's the first one
ever saw. Where did you find IT."
you'll think I'm crazy when / tell
you-sometimes | think so myself.
found 1t in Isabel's hand when took
her from the WE'LL"
Rosa was stricken speechless.
'She clutched 1t tightly" Esteban
hurried on, but as I made the rope
fast her hand RELAXED and / saw II in
the lantern light 1t was as if-well
as II she gave Il to me. I was too
badly frightened to think mach about
It, as you may imagine. 1t was a hor-
the rocks were slippery. But that coin
was In her fingers!"
Rosa managed to say: Impossible |
Then she must have had 1t when she
fell"
mo, no! I saw her hands up
stretched, her fingers open, in the
moonlight"
ITS uncanny. Perhaps"
Eyes. 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 groped this piece from the
bottom. Some day l shall explore the
hole and-we shall see.'
Rosa flung her arms rnpturously
about her brothers neck and kissed
him. wouldn't 1t be gloriousi" she
cried. wouldn't II 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! !"
walt till O'Reilly hears about this"
Rosa was all excitement once more
He'll be glad he came and got me-
II he does come"
Esteban caressed her. Hell come,
never fear. ! know It, Every time
leave you my heart is in my throat for
fear Of what may happen in my ab-
sence-and yet I can't always be at
your side"
"There! You acknowledge that
handicap you. Except for me you would
be making n glorious name for your
self"
Nothing Of the sort. More probably
I'd be getting myself killed. No! It's
better this way. We must be brave
and patient and-think OF what is wait
ing for us at the bottom Of that we'll"
II was indeed.a a great piece of luck
which had enabled Esteban Varona to
buy half-dozen Mausers from n Span
lsh soldier. Through Asensio's ac-
qualntance he had profted by the dis
honesty Of an enemy, and, although 1t
had taken all his money to effect the
purchase. Esteban considered the sac
rifce 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 q machete at his hip and
| knew how to use II. After a few pre-
liminary forays under Esteban's lead.
| ership they had absorbed a bit Of dis
cipline and were beginning to feel n
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. General
Antonio Maceo was Of mixed blood.
and yet his leadership was character
lied not only by rare judgment and
ability, but also by nm exalted abandon
OF personal bravery. His several
brothers rendered Cuba services scarce
ly less distinguished, aud they were
but Of few Of many dark-skinned he
roes. This struggle for independence
was no patrician's war; the best stock
Of the island fought side by side with
| field hands.
At dawn of the morning following
his talk with Rosa. when the members
Of his command assembled, Esteban
was up and ready. He had made his
Il