Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1919-01-09


and the jewels and everything are IN
the well at this minute Suppose some.
body finds it?" Norine was aghast at
the thought.
"Not much chance of that. The
treasure has lain there for g genera
ton. and the story itself is almost for
gotten" Esteban turned triumphantly
to O'Reilly, saying. Nov, then. do you
think I'm so crazy?"
O'Reilly didn't have II In his heart 10
say exactly what he really thought.
What he more than half suspected was
that some favored fancy had formed
Judgment In Esteban's brain.
ITS an interesting theory" he adj
mitted. Anyhow. there Is no danger
Of the treasure being uncovered very
soon. Cueto had a good look and made
himself ridiculous. You'll have ample
chance to do likewise when the war is
over"
You must help me find IT," said
Esteban. I'VE shall all share the for
tune equally. you two Rosa and ="
"We? Why should we share in it?''
Norine asked.
II owe 1t TO you. Didn't O'Reilly
you nursed me back to health? Don't
owe my life to you both?"
Nonsense l, for one. sha'n't take
f, a dollar of it."
"Oh. but you must. l insist. Nurs-
ing is poorly paid profession.
Wouldn't you like to be rich?"
profession Poorly paidT Norine
sputtered, angrily. "As If I'd take
pay"
las If | would accept great service
and forget 1t, like some miserable beg
GAR" Esteban replied stifily.
OReilly laughed out. Don't let's
quarrel over the spoil until we get 1t"
said he. THAT'S the way with all
treasure-hunters They invariably fall
out and go to fighting. To avoid blood
shed, I'll agree to sell my interest
cheap. for cash. My share of the IA
nous Varona fortune going for dol
lar!"
''ThereT He doesn't believe word
of It," Esteban said
Norine gave an impatient shrug.
Some people wouldn't believe they
were alive unless they saw their breath
on a looking-glass. Goodness How
hate sneerlng skeptic, wet blanket"
OReilly rose with one arm shielding
his face. 'In the interest OF friend
ship, l withdraw. A curse on these
buried treasures, anyhow. We shall
yet come to blows"
AS he walked away he heard Norine
say: Don't pay any attention to him.
Ven go and dig 1t up ourselves. and
ve won't wait until the war is over"
An hour later Esteban and his nurse
4 had their heads together. They
70 still talking of golden ingots and
from the Caribbean the size OF
when they looked up to see
OReilly running toward them. He was
visibly excited; he waved and shouted
at them. He was painting when he ar
rived
News From Matanzas 7" he cried.
Gomez man has arrived"
Esteban struggled to rise. but No
rine restrained him. "Rosa7 What
does he sayl Quick"
Good news She left the Pan de
Matanzas with the two negroes. She
went into the city before Cobo's raid"
Esteban collapsed Imply. He closed
his eyes, his face was very white. He
crossed himself weakly.
THE letter is definite. 1t seems they
were starving. They obeyed weyler's
bando. They're in Matanzas now"
DO you hear. EstebanT Norine !
shook her patient by the shoulder.
shes alive. Oh. can't you see that II /
always pays to believe the bestT
"Alivel Safe" Esteban WHISPERED
His eyes, when he opened them, were
swimming; he clutched Norines hand
tightly; his other hand he extended to
oheiily. "A reconcentrado In Ma
tanzasl Well, that's good. We have
friends there-they1l not let her
starve. This makes a new man of me.
See I'm strong again. I'll go to her.
you'll GOT" quickly cried Miss
Evans. you'll gol You're not strong
enough. 1t would be suicide. You.
with price upon your headl Every
oody knows you there. Mntanzas is
virtually walled city. There's sick
ness, too-yellow fever, typhus-"
Exactly. And hunger. also. I sun
pose no one has taken Rosa in? Those
concentration camps aren't nice places
for girl"
But walt! I have friends in Wash
ington. They're influentiai. They will
cable the American consul to look after
her Anyhow, you mustn't think of re-
rrning TO Matanzas." Norlne falte-ed.
aer voice caught Unexpectedly and she
urned her face away.
Ohelily nodded shortly. you're a
SICK man." he agreed. "There's no need
Tor both of us TO co."
Esteban looked up. "Then you---p
Il leave at once. The Old Man has
given me a commission to General Re.
tancourt. and III be on my way in an
nour. The moon Is young; | must
cross the trocha before
THAT trocha" Esteban was nm nm
MS elbow aQafn ano oo.oe..t a