The Pulaskian. (Pulaski Heights [Little Rock], Ark.) 1915-1929, 1918-05-24

open moonlight; then he sighed with
relief: "Ah-h Now I see! 1t is my
stepmother. She is asleep"
For a moment or two they watched
the progress of the white-robed figure
then Esteban stirred and rose from his
seat. "She's too close to that well.
There is" He started forward
pace or two. ''They say people who
walk at night go mad if they're awak
ened too suddenly, and yet"
When the somnambulist's deliberate
progress toward the mouth of the well
continued he called her name softly.
Donna Isabel !" Then he repeated it
louder. Donna Isabel! Wake up"
The woman seemed to hear and yet
not to hear She turned her head TO
listen. but continued to walk.
Don't be alarmed" he said, reas-
suringly. 1T is only Esteban-Donna
Isabel Stop" Esteban sprang for
ward. shouting at the top of his voice,
for at the sound of her name Isabel
had abruptly swerved to her right, a
movement which brought her danger
ously close to the lip of the well.
stop Go back - screamed the
young man.
Above his warning there came Il
shrek, shrill and agonized-a vail of
such abysma terror as to shock the
night biz Is and the insects into still
ness. Donna Isabel slipped. or STUN
hled 10 her knees. she balanced briefly
cutching at random while the earth
and crumbling cement gave way be-
meath her; then she slid forward and
disappeared, almost out from between
Esteban's hands. There was Il noisy
rattle of rock and pebble and.a great
splash far below; a chucllle of little
stones striking the water, then faint
bubhling Nothing more. The stepson
stood in his tracks, sick, blind with
| horror; he was swaying over the open.
ing when Asensio dragged him back
Pancho Cueto, being heavy sleeper.
was the last to be reused by Esteban'S
outcries. When ne had hurriedly
slipped into his clothes in response to
he pounding on his door the few serv-
ants that the establishment supported
had been thoroughly awakened Cueto
thought they must be out of their
minds until he learned what had be-
fallen the mistress of the house. Then,
being a man of action, he too issued
swift orders, with the result that by
the time he and Esteban had run to
the we'll a rope and lantern were ready
for their use. Before ESteban could
form and fit loop for his shoulders
there was sufficient help on hand to
! lower him into the treacherouS abyss
That was gruesome task which fell
to Esteban, for the well had been long
unused, its sides were oozing slime. its
waters We're stale and black. He was
on the point of fainting when he finally
climbed out, leaving the negroes to
hoist the dripping, inert weight which
he had found at the bottom.
Old Sebastian's curse had come
true; Donna Isabel had met the fate
he had called down upon her that day
when he hung exhausted in his chains
and when the flies tormented him
! The treasure for which the woman had
intrigued so tirelessly had been her
death. Furthermore, as il in grim
NEST irony, she had been permitted at
the very last to find ii. Living. she
had searched to no purpose whatso-
ever; dying, she had almost grasped
it in her arms.
Once the first excitement had abated
and messenger had been sent to
town, Cueto drew Esteban aside and
questioned him.
"A shocking tragedy and most pc
culiar," said the overseer Nothing
could amaze me more. Tell me, how
did You come to be there at such an
hour eh?"
Esteban saw the malevolent eurios-
ity in Cueto's face and started. r.
That is my affair. Surely you don't
think"
Come. come! You can trust me-"
The overseer winked and smiled
81 had business that took me there. :,
stiflly declared the younger man.
Exactly And profitable. bust
ness If proved = Cueto laughed openly
now We'll. don't mind telling you
! Donna Isabefs death is no disappoint-