The Carlisle independent., 1918-05-09

tian's voice gathered strength. "Ten thousand men in ten thousand years would never find the place. and nobody knows the secret but Don Esteban and me-,
 "I believe you I knew all the time it was here Well? Where is it?"
 Sebastian hesitated and said. pite- ously, q am dying"
 Isabel could scarcely contain herself. "FH give you water. but first tell me where-where God in heaveni Can't you see that I, too. am perishing?'
 T must have drink"
 ''Tel me first"
 Sebastian lifted his head and. meet ing the speakers eyes. laughed hoarse- ly.
 At the sound of his unnatural merri- l ment Isabel recoiled as if stung. She stared at the slaves face in amaZement and then in fury. She stammered, in- coherently, "You-you have been lying!"
 "Oh mol The treasure is there, the greatest treasure in all Cuba, but you shall never know where it is. I'll see to that It was you who sold my girl; it was you who brought me to this; it was your hand that whipped me. Well, 1 I'll tell Don Esteban how you tried to bribe his secret from me! What do you think he'll do then? Eh? You'll feel the lash on your white back"
 You fool" Donna Isabel looked murder. "Tll punish you for this; I'll make you speak if l have to rub your wounds with salt"
 But Sebastian closed his eyes wearily You can't make me suffer 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 turn to ugliness 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. fled with her fingers in her ears :; nor did she undertake to make good her barbarous threat, realizing oppor- tunely that 1t would only serve to be- tray her desperate intentions and put her Husband further on his guard.
 AS the sun was sinking beyond the l 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 Peza, and Mario de Castano. Col. Men, l doza Linares, old Pedro Miron, the advocate, and others of less conse- 1 quence, whom Esteban had gathered from the Spanish club. The host dis mounted and lurched across the court yard to Sebastian.
 "So, my fine fellow" he began. Have you had enough of rebellion by l this timer"
 Sebastian's face was working as he | turned upon his master to say: q would be lying if told you that l am sorry for what I did. It is you who have done wrong. Your soul is black with this crime. Where is my girl?'
 "The devil! To hear you talk one would think you were free man" The planters eyes were bleared and he | brandished his riding-whip threaten ingly. 1T do as please with my slaves. I tolerate no insolence. Your girl? We'll, she's in the house of Salvador, Don Pablo's cochero, where she be l longs.'
  Sebastian had hung sick and limp 1 against the grating, but at these words he suddenly reused. He strained at his manacles and the bars groaned un- der his weight. His eyes began to roll, his lips drew back over his blue gums. 1 Noting his expression of ferocity, Este ban cut at his naked back with the | riding whip, crying:
 "Ho, Not subdued yet, eh? You need another flogging"
 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 children's bodies grow l 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 l bonds with the fury of maniac.
 "Pablol Your machete, quick !" panted 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 balky horse; and, now that the animal threatened to become dan | gerous. it was in their view quite the l proper thing to put it out of the way. Don Pablo Peza stepped toward his mare to draw the machete from its scabbard. But he did not hand. it to his friend. He heard shout, and turned in time to see wonderful and q terrible thing.
 I Sebas stian had braced his naked feet