Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-05-16
the pounding on his door, the few serv-
ants that the establishment supported
had been thoroughly awakened. Cueto

the 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 well q rope and lantern were ready
for their use. Before Esteban could
form and fit a loop for his shoulders
there was sufficient help on hand to
lower him into the treacherous abyss.
That was a gruesome task which fell
to Esteban, for the we'll had been long
unused, it's sides were oozing slime, its
waters were 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 if in grim
NEST irony, she had been permitted at
the very last to find it. Living, she
had searched to no purpose whatso-
ever; dying, she had almost grasped
1t in her arms:
Once the first excitement had abated
!, and a messenger had been sent to
. town, Cueto drew Estehan 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 m%alevolent curios-
. lily in Cueto's face and started. CT
That is my affair. Surely you don't
t think"
"Come, come! You can trust me"
. The overseer winked and smiled.
> II had business that took me there
. stif1y declared the younger man.
Exactly! And a profitable bust.
ness it proved" Cueto laughed openly
now. "Well, I don't mind telling you
Donna Isabel's death is no disappoint'
ment to anyone. Anybody could see
"Stop!" Esteban was turning alter.
nately red and white. "You seem tt
imply something outrageous"
"Now let us be sensible. I under
stand you perfectly, my boy. But ar
officer of the Guardia Civil may arrive
at any moment and he will want tt
know how you came to be with you
stepmother when she plunged into tina
trap. So prepare yourself"
Young Varona was watching his in
quisitor now with a family speculative
frown. When ,Cueto had finished, rs
teban said: .~~-,-. y, x
\ "You would like me to confess tt
some black iniquity that would maxi
us better friends, eh? Well, it so hap
pens that I was not alone tonight, bu
that another person saw the poor wotn
ans death and can bear me out in ey
erything 1 say. No, Pancho, you over
reach yourself. Now, then"-Estebal
was quick-tempered, and for years h
had struggled against an instinctiv
distrust and dislike of the plantation
manager-"remember that I have be
come the head Of this house, and you
employer. You will do better to thin.
Of your own affairs than of mine.
intend to have a careful reckonin
with you. I think you know I have
good head for figures" Turning hi
back upon the elder man, he Wake
away. ID sar: sa.a
Now it die not occur to Cueto real1
to doubt the boys innocence, thong
: the circumstances of Donna Isabel
/, death were suspicious enough to rails
a question in any mind; but in viey
Of Esteban's threat he thought it wis
to protect himself by setting a back
fire.
d AS he sat on an old stone bench
moodily repicturing the catastrophe a
e Esteban had described 1t, his attention
h fell upon an envelope at his feet. I
y was sealed; it was unaddressed. Cue
to idly broke it open and began t.
d read. Before he had gone far he start
i: ed; then he cast q furtive glance
S about. But the place was secluded; h,
was unobserved. When he finished
reading he rose, smiling. He no longe
q feared Esteban. On the contrary, h
rather pitied the young fool; for herr
between his fingers was that which
q not only promised to remove the DO.
from his path forever, but to place IL
!, his hands the entire Varona estates
+ One afternoon, perhaps a week later
Don Mario de Castano came putting
and blowing up to the quinta, demand
q Ing to see Rosa without a moment!
delay. With a directness unusual ever
in him, Don Mario began:
q "Rosa, my dear, you and Estebar
have been d~iscoveredl l was at luncl
with the ~commandante when I learned
j the truth. Through friendship 1 pre-
a vailed upon him to give you an hours
grace"