The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-06-13


you foolI Donna Isabel looked
murder. "T'Il punish you for this; I'll
make you speak if I have to rub your
wounds with SALT
But Sebastian closed his eyes
YEARLY. You can't make me suffer
more than 1 have suffered" he said.
"And now-I curse you. May that
treasure be the death of you. May you
live in torture like mine the rest of
your days; may your beauty tuTp to
ugiineSS such that men will spit at
you; may you never know peace again
until you die in poverty and want"
But Donna Isabel, being supersti-
tiOus, fed with her fingers in her ears;
nor did she undertake to make good
her barbarous threat, realizing oppor-
timely that it would only serve to be-
tray her desperate intentions and put
her husband further on his guard
AS the sun was sinking beyond the
farther rim Of the Yumuri and the val
ley was beginning TO fill with shadows
Esteban Varona rode up the hill. His
temper was more evil than ever, if that
were possible, for he had drunk again
in an effort to drown the memory of his
earlier actions. With him were Pablo
Pea, and Mario de CastanO, Col. Men
doza Y Linares, old Pedro AIirOn, the
advocate, and others of less cOnse-
| quence, whom Esteban had gathered
| from the Spanish club. the host dis
mounted and Iurched across the court
| yard to Sebastian.
$50, my fine fellow" he began.
| "Have you had enough of rebellion by
| this timer"
Sebastian's face was working as he
turned upon his master to say: Il
would be lying if I told you that I am
sorry for what did. 1t is you who have
done wrong. Your soul is black with
/ this crime. Where iS'my grip
''The DEVIL To hear you talk one
would think you were a free man." The
planters eyes were bleared and he
brandished his riding-whip threaten
ingly. Il do as please with my slaves
tolerate no insolence. Your girl?
| Well, she's in the house of Salvador,
| Don PabIo's cocherO, where she be-
longs"
Sebastian had hung sick and limp
against the grating, but at these words
he suddenly reused. He strained at
his manacles and the bars grOaned I'M
der his weight. His eyes began to roll,
his lips drew back over his blue gums.
| Noting his expression of ferOcity, Este
ban cut at his naked back with the
riding-whip, crying:
''HoI Not subdued yet, Ell? You
need another fiOgging."
Curse you and all that is yours"
roared the maddened slave. May you
know the misery you have put upon
me- May you rot for a million years in
hell. May your chiIdren's bodies grow
filthy with disease; may they starve (;
may they"
Sebastian was yelling, though his
voice was hoarse with pain. The lash
drew blood with every blow, Mean
| while, he wrenched and tugged at his
bonds with the fury of a maniac.
pablo! Your machete, quick ~
painted the slaveowner. 'I'll make an
end of this black fiend, once for all"
Esteban Varona's guests had looked
on at the scene with the same mild in
terest they would display at the whip
ping of a baIky horse; and, now that
the animal threatened to become dan
gerous. it was in their view quite the
proper thing to put it out Of the way.
Don Pablo Pea stepped toward his
mare TO draw the machete from Its
scabbard. But he did not hand it to
his friend. He heard q shout, and
turned in time to see wonderful and
a terrible thing.
Sebastian had braced his naked fee
against the wall; he had bowed hi:
back and bent his massive shoulders
"a back and pair of shoulders thai
looked as bony and muscular as those
of an ox-and he was heaving Will
every ounce of strength in his enor
nous body. AS Pablo stared he saw
the heavy grating come away from it
anchorage in the solid masonry, as
shrub is uprooted from soft ground
The rods bent and twisted; there wa
a clank and rattle and clash of meta
upon the flags; and then-SebastiaI
turned upon his tormentOr, free man
I save only for the wide iron bracelet
and their connecting chain. He wa
quite insane. His face was frightful Z
behold it was apelike in its anima
rage, and he lowered above his maste
\ like some tabled creature out of tn
African jungle of his forefathers.
Sebastian'S fists alone would hav
been formidable weapons, but the
were armored and weighted with tn
old-fashiOned, hand-wrought iron
which Pancho Cueto had locked upo
them. Wrapping the chain in his fir
gers, the slave leaped at Esteban an
struck, once. The sound of the bloN
y was stckening, for the whole bon
d structure OF Esteban Varona's hea
gave way.
e There was a Mortified cry from tn
/" other white men. Don Pablo Pea IA
= forward, shouting. He swung hi
machete, but Sebastian met him befor
{. the blow could descend, and they wen
e down together upon the hard stonei
t Again Sebastian Smote, with his ma:
sive hands wrapped in the chain an
his wrists encased in steel, and thi
time it was as If Don Pabio's head ha
t been caught between hammer and a
e anvil. The negro's strength, exceptions
at all times, was multiplied tenfold; b
l. had run amuck. When he arose th
le machete was in his grasp and Do
1t Pablo'S brains were on his knuckles.
d It all haDDened in far less time tina