The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1919-12-28
RAINBOW'S END
Novel by REX BEACH
Autho of
Copyright by & Brothers. Publishers)
A Novel by REX BEACH

EvanSelina, vastly bewildered at the
sight OF the coin which was forced
| into her palm. went for food and spent
most OF the day in cooking IT, The
treasure hunters alternately slept and
ate. II was not until well along to-
ward evening that Rosa and O'Reilly
felt any desire To fake stock of the
| contents OF that jewel box. but finally.
with heads together and with backs
to the door OF the bohio. they made
furitiNe examination. 1t was a task
that held them speIIbound. for there
were loose gems of many varieties.
some well. some badly cut: there were
| pieces Of antique Spanish jewelry.
valuable mainly by virtue of their
| antiquity. clumsy settings of silver
and gold containing dead. uninterest-
ing stones: others of the finest and
most delicate Workmanship. Some OF
the pieces were like glittering cob
webs enmeShing sparks of fire and
| drops OF blood. They found emeralds
and sapphires the value of which they
did not attempt to estimate: and. be-
sides these. a miscellaneous assert
| ment of semi-precious stones. There
was a fine collection of opaIs of every
size and color. among which were q
| number of huge flat black ones. in
describably gorgeous with their ever
changing peacock hues. But finest of
all the lot were the pearls. Where
old Don Esteban had secured these
| latter was a mystery. for he had not
| been a widely travelled man. They
| were splendid, unrivaled in size and
| luster. Some had the iridescence of
J soap bubbles. other ranged from pink
to deepest chocolate in color. To touch
them was like sacrilege.
O'Reilly realized vaguely that he
held in his lap a fortune greater than
his widest dreams had ever COM
| passed. These were the jewels of a
) ragged girl beside him was a regal
heiress. the possessor of a treasure
! such as kings might envy. After a
| time he realized that the mere pos
session of these gems constituted a
| new and overwhelming menace.
All that evening he and Rosa cow
cred in the darkness. whispering fur
| lively. their nerves on edge, their
! senses strained. 1t seemed to them
! that new and unsupported perils stalk
! ed abroad through the night.
| Morning found all hands more nearly
rational and feeling the first cravings
| of a healthy hunger. Even Asensio
| confessed to a quite miraculous i'm
provement. While Evangelina pre-
pared breakfast the lovers agreed upon
a story to explain the origin of that
| mysterious gold piece. and later John
ME warned Jacket for a second time
/ TO keep his tongue between his teeth.
We will have to be doubly careful
now" he told the boy. AN unguard-
ed word or an incautious move would
be the end OF u.s.
! Jacket nodded his complete compre-
| hension Sure, All Spaniards are
robbers and they'd kill US for a peso.
| Yes. and the pacificos are no better.
| tell you We need to get out of this
place"
| Il intend TO arrange it at once. but
the sight of those jewels has fright
| ened me. II We are searched-if We
are even suspected"
| oh. Rosa wouldn't have any mors
use for her pretty trinkets. Shed be
in heaven before you could scratch
your nose"
O'Reilly frowned. she isn't at all
| strong yet. I'm wondering IL she can
endure the hardships we'll encounter
when. or if. we get away"
Exactly what I was thinking. I've
been considering another plan"
| Indeed" O'ReiIly scanned the face
! of his young friend with interest. He
was beginning to have a high regard
| for Jackets capabilities. and the boys
exploit of the night before certainly
entitled him to be heard upon any
subject.
Il told YOU about my friend at the
market" the latter continued. well.
he is a miserable Spaniard. but he
| has son in the manigua."
| One of u.s." Johnnie was surprised.
Yes. The old fellow owns a volan-
dra in which he brings charcoal from
the eastward twice a month"
! There was a moment of silence
then O'Reilly said. slowly, as il hest
tating even to voice such a sugges-
! ton. You mean-he might take us
| out of here-on his schooner"
! Who knows? He's not a bad fellow
! and he likes me. But there would
| be no>place for women"
How well does he like you?"
"Oh. We are like two thieves -
! After another period Of thought
! O'ReiIly said, Take me to him, and
, remember I'm your brother Juan"
The Matanzas market did not pre-
| sent a scene Of great activity when
| the two friends skunk into it. 1t was
| midday. and what food had earlier
been offered for sale had for the most
part long since disappeared. All but
few of the stalls were empty, and
| number of emaciated reconcentrados
were searching listlessly among them
for neglected scraps, or imploring aid
from such marketmen as still fingered
| about. Like most Spanish markets,
, the building was far from clean and
housed odors unpleasant even to starv-
ing people. In the smelliest section,
at one of the fish stalls, Jacket &C.
| costed a villainous old brigand in a
rough Gallego cap, baggy blouse and
! trousers. and straw sandals.
Good day, my Captain" he cried
cheerily. ....a a..
The Spaniard raised his head, scowl-
ed ferociously, then waved a long,
thin-bladed knife in menacing fashion.
Aha! So there YOU are, robber!
Be OF now before ALT your greedy