The Raymer enterprise., 1919-03-13
CHAPTER VII.
The Spanish Doubloon.

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On the whole. Pancho Cueto's plans
had worked smoothly. After denounc-
ing the varona twins a. traitors he had
managed to have himself appointed
trustee for the crown. for oil their
properties, contamination for which he
had worked from the moment he read
that letter Of Esteban's on the morn.
Ing after Donna Isabel's death. That
there was q treasure Cueto had never
doubted, and. once the place was hif
to do with ~ he chose, he began his
search.
Commencing at the lower edge Of the
grounds. be ripped them up with Z se-
ries Of deep trenches and cross-cuts.
It was a task that required the labor
Of many men for several weeks, and
when II was finished there was scarce
y q growing thing left upon the place.
Only q few Of the larger trees r.
mained. Cueto was disappointed at
finding nothing. but he was not dis
couraged. Next he tore down the old
slave barracoons and the outbuildings,
after which he completely wrecked the
residence itself. He pulled II apart bit
by bit, brick By brick. He even dug up
its foundations, but without the reward
Of 20 much a. Z single pessta. H.
nally. when the villa was but q heap
Of rubbish and the grounds Q scar
upon the slope Of La CumbrA As de-
sisted. bafiled. incrsdulous, While an
Matansas laughed at him. Having &C
rifced his choicest residence. hs ~
tired in chagrin to the plantation Of
La Joyl.
But Cueto was now q man with q
grievance. He burned With rage, and
his contempt for the boy and girl be
had wrongsd soured into hatred. In
time he began to realise also that 90
long a. they lived they would jeop-
ardlze his tenure Of their property.
Public feeling. at present, was high
there was intense bitterness against all
rebels; but the war would end some
day. What thenf Cueto asked him
self. Sympathy was ever on the side
Of the weak and oppressed. There
would come day Of reckoning.
As II to swell his discontinue and
strengthen his fears, out from the hills
At the head Of the Yunuri issued ru.
mors Of little band Of guerrilleros,
under the leadership Of a beardless
boy-a band Of blacks Who were max
Ing the upper valley unsafe for Span
ish scouting parties.
Curslng the name Of varona, Pancho
Cueto armed himself. He did not ven
ture far alone. and. like Donna Isabel
before him, he began to have bad
dreams at night.
One day a Geld Of Cueto's cane was
burned. and his laborers reported see
Ing Esteban and some negroes riding
into the wood. The overseer took
horse within the hour and rode pell.
nell to Matanzas. In the city at this
time was q certain Colonel Cobo, In
command of Spanish volunteers. those
execrable convict troops from the Isle
Of Pines whose atrocities had already
marked them a. wolves rather than
men, and to him Paneho went with
his story.
"Ah. yes! That varona boy. I've
heard Of him." Cobo remarked, when
his caller had finished his account. HE
has reason to hate you. ! dare say. fer
you robbed him" The colonel smiled
dlsagreeably.
Cueto murmured something to the
effect that the law had placed him In
his position a. trustee for the crown.
and should therefore protect him; but
Colonel Cobo's respect for the law. II
seemed. was slight In his view there
was but one law In the land. the law
Of force.
why do you come 10 msr hs asked
THAT fellow b . dssperado." Pan
cho declared. He should - a.
stroysd-"
sBahi The country b evseFuA WITH
desperadoss Of his lind anA weesa
Burning erops b nothlng new. r.
make an end q hin seoa snoagA. Vt
nearly I'll 4 NJ msa ars In CardsaaA
We have wssk enough b -