Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1918-11-07
Rosa was stricken speechIess.

| nurried on, but as l made the rope
fast her hand relaxed and l saw 1t in
the lantern light. 1t was as if-well,
as If she gave 1t to me. l was too
badly frightened to think much about
it, as you may imagine. 1t was a hor-
rible place, all slime and foul water;
the rocks were slippery. But that coin
was in her fingers ~
Rosa managed to say: Impossible
Then she must have had it when she
fell"
mo, mol l saw her hands up
stretched, her fingers open, In the
moonlight"
ITS uncanny. Perhaps"
eyes. Perhaps some unseen hand
ed her to the place so that we should
ut last come into our own. Who knows7
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 l shall explore the
hole and-we shall see."
Rosa flung her arms rapturously
about her brothers neck and kissed
him. wouldn't it 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 !"
/ In hmm
gry"
Poor little grill"
"Wait till O'Rellly hears about this"
Rosa was all excitement once more.
He'll be glad he came and got me,
if he does come"
Esteban caressed her. Hell come,
never fear. l know it. Every time l
leave you my heart is in my throat for
fear of what may happen in my alb
sence-and yet 1 can't always be at
your side"
"ThereI You acknowledge that 1
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. MOI 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 WELL"
1t was indeed a great piece of luck
which had enabled Esteban Varona to
buy half-dozen Mausers from a Span
ish soldier. Through Asenslo's ac-
quaintance he had profited by the dis
honesty of an enemy, and, although 1t
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 machete at his hip and
knew how to use it. After a few pre-
liminary forays under Esteban's lead
~rship they had absorbed a bit of dis
cipline and were beginning to feel
military ardor.
In the Cuban field forces there were
many negroes, and few of their fell
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 an exalted abandon
Of personal bravery. His several
brothers rendered Cuba services scarce
ly less distinguished, and they were
but Of few Of many dark-skinned he
roes. This struggle for independence
was no particulars war; the best stock
OF the island fought side by side with
] field hands.
At dawn Of the morning following
MS talk with Rosa, when the members
OF his command assembled, Esteban
was up and ready. He had made his
preparations to destroy Pancho Cueto's
fields, and since the road over the hills
10 La Joya was long he had summoned
them early.
BE CAREFUL" Rosa implored him. 81
shall die of suspense"
1T is for you to be careful" he
laughed. Keep a good watch. and
conceal yourself at the first alarm.
However, think we have taught these
bandits a lesson. AS for Cueto. he
would run to the jungle IL he saw us.
He has the heart Of a mouse" He
kissed his sister affectionately and
then rode off at the head of his tat
tered band.
Rosa waved him last farewell as
ne disappeared into the woods. then. to
occupy herself, she helped Evangelina
with what little homework there was
to do, later going with her to the gar
den patch where the viandas grew.
EvangelIna's early devotion to her
mistress had not diminished with time.
II anything, 1t had deepened. When
emancipation came she would have re-
turned to the service Of her beloved
tXias had It not been for Donna lisa.
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