Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-10-07

Geati. e uftneTIA0re, as IL 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
lit in her arms
Once the first excitement had abatei
and a messenger had been cent 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. ehT"
Esteban saw the malevolent curios.
ity In Cueto's face and started. II
That is my affair. Surely you don't
think"
'fCome, comet You can trust me-
The overseer winked and smiled.
II had business that teok me there. y
stiffiy declared the younger man.
Exactly! And a profitable bust.
ness it provedr Cueto laughed openly
now. "Well. don't mind telling you
Donna Isabel's death is no disappoint
ment to anyone. Anybody could sec
"Stop!' Esteban was turning alter
nately red and white. you seem tC
imply something outrageous"
"Now let US be sensible. under
stand you perfectly, my boy. But al
at any moment and he viii want Il
know how you came to be with your
stepmother when she plunged into thai
trap. So prepare yourself"
Young Varona was watching his In
quisitor now with family speculative
frown. When Cueto had finished, Els
teban said:
"You would like me to confess to
some black iniquity that would make
us better friends, eh? Well, 1t so hap
pens that was not alone tonight, but
that another person saw the poor WON
ans death and can bear me out in ev
erything / say. No. Pancho. you over
reach yourself. Now, then"-Estebar
was quick-tempered, and for years he
had struggled against an instructive
distrust and dislike of the plantation
manager-"remembe that / have be
come the head of this house, and your
employer. You will do better to think
of your own affairs than of mine.
intend TO have a careful reckoning
with you. think you know / have o
good head for figures" Turning his
back upon the elder man, he walkeC
away.
Now ii did not occur to Cueto really
to doubt the boys innocence, though
the circumstances of Donna Isabers
death were suspicious enough to raise
a question in any mind; but in view
of EStebnn's threat he thought it wise
to protect himself by setting a back
fire.
AS he sat on an old stone bench
modify repicturfng the catastrophe as
Esteban had described 1t, his attention
fell upon an envelope at his feet. II
was sealed; it was unaddressed. Cue
to idly broke it open and began tC
read. Before he had gone far he start
ed; then he cast a furtive glance
about. But the place was secluded; ht
was unobserved. When he finished
reading he rose smiling. He no longer
feared Esteban. On the contrary. hi
rather pitied the young fool; for hert
between his fingers was that which
not only promised to remove the boy
from his path forever, but to place in
his hands the entire Varona estates
One afternoon, perhaps week later
Don Mario de Castano came pufiint
and blowing up to the Quinta. demand
ing to see Rosa without moments
delay. With a 6lirectness unusual ever
in him, Don Mario begun:
"Rosa, my dear. you and Esteban
have been discovered! /, was at lunch
with the commandantew when learned
the truth. Through friendship l pre-
vailed upon him to give you an hours
grace"
"What, do you mean, Don Mario?"
inquiredfthe girl.
''Come, come !" the planter cried, I'M
patiently. Don't you see you can
trust me? Heaven! The recklessness.
the folly of young peoplel Could you
not leave this instruction TO your
elders?' Or perhaps you thought it
matter of no great Importance, an
amusing thing"
"Don Mario ~ Rose interrupted. 81
don't know what you are talking
about"
.'You don't, eh?" The callers wet
checks grew redder; he blew like
porpoise. "Then call Esteban quickly!
There is not a moment to lose" When
the brother appeared De Castano
blurted out at him accusingly: "Well
sirl A fine fix you've put yourself in.
Perhaps you viii be interested to learn
that Colonel Fernandez has issued or
ders to arrest You and your sister as
agents of the insurrect0s."
''What?" Esteban drew back. Rosa
turned white as lily and laid a fiut-
Jering hand upon her throat.
''You two will sleep tonight In San
Seyerino," grimly announced the ro-
rund visitor. "You know what that
means"