The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-06-14

out, and now Cueto has moved the very
| earth"
Rosa sat back disappointed. 80
that's your theory?"
IT'S more than a theory" the boy
insisted. Look at this!" From the
pocket of his cotton trousers he pro-
duced an odd-looking coin, which he
placed In Rosas hand.
"Why, it's gold! It's a Spanish
doubloon," she said. Its the first one
| ever saw. Where did you find itY
You'll think I'm crazy when l tell
you-sometimes l think so myself.
found 1t in Isabels hand when | took
her from the WE'LL"
Rosa was stricken speechless.
"She clutched it tightly" Esteban
hurried on, but as | made the rope
fast her hand relaxed and saw il in
the lantern light. 1t was as if-well,
as II she gave 1t to me. I was too
| badly frightened to think much about
1t, as you may imagine. 1t was q 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, no! saw her hands up
stretched, her fingers open, in the
moonlight"
IT'S uncanny. Perhaps"
"Yes. 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 rapturously
about her brothers neck and kissed
him. wouldn't 1t be glorious?" she
cried. wouldn't It 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-Tm SO hun
cry"
Poor little girl"
Wait till O'Reilly hears about this"
Rosa was all excitement once more.
He'll be glad he came and got me,
IL he does come"
Esteban caressed her. He'll come
never fear. l know It. Every time
leave you my heart is in my throat for
fear Of what may happen in my alb
Sence-and yet ! can't always be at
your side"
There! You acknowledge that l
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. 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"
1t was indeed a great piece of luck
which had enabled Esteban VarOna to
buy half-dozen Mausers from n Span
sh soldier Through Asensio's ac-
qualntance he had profited by the dis
honesty of an enemy, and, although ii
had taken all his money to effect the
purchase, Esteban considered the sac
riflce 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 a machete at his hip and
knew how to use it. After a few pre-
liminary forays under Estebans lead
ershlp 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,
ana yet his leaueTSnlp WaS CIldTdCteT-
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 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
preparations to destroy Pancho Cueto's
fields, and since the road over the hills
to La Joya was long he had summoned
them early.
"Be careful ~ Rosa implored him. II
shall die Of suspense"
"Tt is for you to be careful" he
laughed keep a good watch, and
conceal yourself Mt the first alarm.
However, I think we bave taught these
bandits a lesson. As for Cueto. he
would run to the jungle II he saw us.
ua has tho hpart of A mouse" He