Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1919-01-30

old Don Esteban's missing riches, h,
secuted the story. He peeped inquisi
lively into the dark opening of tn,
well, then he shook his head. "Ca
rambal What an idea Was this ole
man crazy. to throw his money away?'
"He-he had more than he knew
what to do with. and he wished I,
save 1t from the Spaniards." O'Reilly
explained lamely.
"Humphl Nobody ever had NOR,
money than he wanted" The boys dis
gust at such credulity was plain. "This
well looks just like any other. only
deeper; you'd better look out that you
don't break your neck like that fool
ish old woman. that Donna What's
Her-Name"
O'Rellly did indeed feel that he was
making himself ridiculous; neverthe-
less, he made the rope fast and swung
himself down out of the sunlight. leav-
ing jacket to stand guard over him
Perhaps fifteen minutes later he reap
peared. painting from his exertions
He was wet. Shiny his clothes were
streaked and stained with MUD
Jacket began to laugh shrilly at his
appearance.
Your beautiful garments are spoiled.
And the treasure? Where is it," The
lad was delighted. He bent double
with mirth; he slapped his bare legs
and stamped his feet In glee.
OReilly grinned good-naturedly,
and replaced the planks which had
covered the orifice, then hid the rope
in some nearby bushes. On their way
back he endured his young friends
banter absent-mindedly. but as they
neared Asensio's house he startled
Jacket by saying. Can you manage
to find pickax or crowbar?'
Jackets eyes opened; he stopped In
the middle of the dusty road "What
did you see down there. compadre?
Tell me-"
Nothing much. Just enough to
make me want to see more. Do you
think you can steal some sort OF Il
tool for me?"
1T can try"
please do. And remember, say
nothing before Asensio or his wife"
Rosa met O'Reilly just inside the
door. and at sight OF her he uttered
an exclamation Of surprise. for during
his absence she had removed the stain
from her face and discarded that dis
figurement which Evangelina had fit
ted to her back prior TO their depart
ure from the Pan de Matanzas. She
stood before him now, straight and
slim and graceful-the Rosa of his
dreams. only very thin. very fragile.
Her poor tatters only enhanced her
prettiness, so he thought.
Rosa, dearl Do you think this IL
quite safer he ventured. doubtfully
Evangellna. who was bending over
her husband, Strengthened herself and
came forward with a smile upon her
black face.
'She Is beautiful. Ell? Too beautiful
to look at? What did I tell your"
Rosa was In delightful confusion at
ORellly's evident surprise and adml-
ration. "Then I'm not so altogether
changed?" she asked.
why. you haven't changed Mt all.
except to grow more beautiful Evan
gelina is right; you are too beautiful
to look at. But waltz He drew her
aside and whispered. i've been down
In the we'll" Some tremor In his
voice, some CLINT In his eyes. caused
the girl to seize him eagerly. fercely.
Il may be wrong" he said hurrIedly
there may be nothing In it-and yet
l saw something"
"Whatr'
wooden beams, timbers OF some
sort. behind the stone curbing." II
was plain Rosa did not comprehend.
30 he hurried on. AT first | noticed
nothing unusual. except that the bot.
tom Of the well is nearly dry-filled
up. you know, with debris and stun /
that has fallen In from the curblng
above, then saw that although the
well Is dug through rock, nevertheless
Il Is entirely curbed up withsetones
laid In mortar. That struck me as
lueer."
"Yesr
Il noticed, too. in ono place that
mere was wood behind-as II tImbers
nad been placed there to cover the
entrance to cave. You know this
Cuban rock is full Of caverns.-
Rosa clasped her hands, she beean
o tremble. "You have found II.
JReilly. You havel" she whIspered. 4
mo. no. I've found nothing yet. Bnt
we sent Jacket for a pick or n bar
md tonight I'm going to pull down
hose stones and see what is behind
hem"
TO night7 You must let me 20.
90. l want to help"
very well. But meanwhile Won
mustn't let your hopes rise too high.
or there Is every chance that YOU will
e disappointed. And don't mention
TO Evangelina. Now, then. I've n
ew pennies left and I'm going to buv
ONE candles"
Rosa embraced her lover ImpulsIve-
:. Something tells me II is true
Coll.