The Ordway new era., 1918-10-11

IL that treasure had been shove ground
her sharp nose would have sInelled II
out. and now Cueto has moved the very
EARTH
Rosa sat back disappointed so
that's Jour theory?
Its more than e theory" the boy
insisted. Look at this, From the
pocket of his cotton trousers he pro-
duced an oddIooking coin which he
placed In Rosa's hand
why. it's gold, It's Spanish
doubloon,- she said. Its the first one
I ever saw Where did you find itt
You'll think I'm crazy when tell
you-sometimes think so myself
found If In Isabers hand when 1 took
her from the well -
Rosa was stricken speechless-
"She cIutched 1t tightly" Esteban
hurried on. but as | made the rope
fast her hand relaxed and / saw 1t in
the lantern light. II was as if-well.
as II she gave II to me- / was too
badly frightened TO think much about
il. as you may imagine. 1t was hor-
rible place. all slime and foul water;
the rocks were slippery. But that eoin
was in her fingers
Rosa managed TO say: Impossible
Then she must have had 1t when she
fell"
NO. no, saw her hands up
stretched. her fingers open. In the
moonlight"
IT'S uncanny. Perhaps"
Yes Perhaps some unseen hand
ed her TO the place so that we should
at last come into our own. Who knows1
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 | shall explore the
hole and-we shall see"
Rosa flung her arms rapturously
about her brothers neck and kissed
him Wouldn't II be glorlous:" 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-rm SO hun
cry"
Poor little gt,,"
walt till OR4liy 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. Hell come.
never fear I know It. Every time
leave you my heart is in my throat for
fear of what may happen in my abb
sence-and yet I can't always be at
your side
There, You acknowledge that l
handicap you. Except for me you would
be making & 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 yarona to
buy a half-dozen Mausers from Span
ish soldier. Through Asensio's ac-
quaintance he had profited by the dis
honesty OF an enemy. and. although it
had taken all his money to effect the
purchase. Esteban considered the sac
rifice 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
fa1lnygg 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 IL. After few pre-
limlnary forays under Esteban's lead
ership they had absorbed bit of dis
cipline and were beginning to feel a
military ardor.
In the Cuban field forces there were
| many negroes. and few of their fel-
| low patriots fought better, or endured
the hardships of guerrilla warfare
more cheerfuily than they. General
| Antonio Maceo was of mixed blood,
and yet his leadership was character
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 patrcian'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 I" Rosa implored him. "a