The Mena weekly star., 1919-03-13
Copyright. by Hsrp.r and Brother.
lCnntinned frnm lnat week !

 OReiiry had told him something ahoui old Don Estcbnn's missing riches. he secured the story He peeped inouisi lively into the dark opening Of ths well, then he shook his head. "Ca rambal What an ideal Was this old man crazy, to throw his money awayY"
 'He-he had more than he knew what to go with, and he wished to save it from the Spaniards," OReiliy explained namely.
 'Humph Nobody ever had more money than he wanted" The hoy,s dis gust at such crednIIty was plain. "This well looks just like any other. only deeper; you'd better look out that vou don't break your neck like that fool. ish old woman, fhat Douna Whats. Her-Nane"
 ORelllv did indeed feel fhnt he wns making himself ridiculous; nevarfhe less, he inade the rope fast and swung himself down ont of the sunlight. leaV ing Jacket 10 stand gnard over him Perhaps fifteen minutes lator he reap peared panfin1 from his exerfions He was wet. silmy; his clothes were streakad and stained with mud Jacket began to laugh shrilly at his appearance.
 'Hai What big lizard is this Your beautiful garments are spoiled. And the treasure2 Where is ftY" 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 blanks which had covered the orifce, then hid the rope in some nearby bushes. On their way back be endured his young friends banter absent-mindedly, but as they neared Asensio's house he startled Jacket by saying. ~Can you manage to find a pickax or crowbafT'
 Jackets eyes opened: he stopped in the middle of the dusty road. 'sWhat d1d you see down there. compadres Tell me"
 Nothing much. Just enough to make me want to see more. Do you think you can steal some sort of tool for mel"
 -T can try"
 Please do. And remember. say nothing before Asensio or his wife" Rosa met O'ReiIly 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 hgurement 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 6lim and graceful-the Rosa of his dreams. only very thin, very fragile Her poor tatters only enhanced her prettiness. so he thought.
 "Rosa, deari Do you think this is quite safer" he ventured. doubtfully. Evangelina, who was bending over her husband. strengthened herself and came forward with smile upon her black face.
 ~She is beautiful, ehf Too beautiful to look at7 What did tell your
 Rosa was In delightful confusion at 0Reiily's evident surprise and admi- ration. "Then I'm not so altogether ehangedr she asked.
 "Why, you haven't changed at all, except to grow more beautiful. Evan gelina is right; you are too beautiful to look at. But waitw He drew her aside and whispered. I've been down ia the we'll" Some tremor In his voice, some giint in his eyes. caused the girl to seize him eagerly, fiercely. T may be wrong" he said hurriedly {; there may be nothing in it--and yet I saw something"
 "What9"
 "Wooden beams, timbers of some sort, behind the stone curbing." 1t was plain Rosa did not comprehend. so he hurried on. At first I noticed nothing unusual, except that the bot tom of the we'll is nearly dry--alled up, you know. with debris and stun that has fallen sHs ffFre;;s ffFre;;s the the es.rh!ns above, then I saw that although the well Is dug through rock, nevertheless 1t is entirely curbed up with stones laid in mortar. That struck me as queer"
 "YesYs
 T noticed, too, in one place that there was wood behind--as if timbers had been placed there to cover the entrance to a cave. You know this Cuban rock is full of caverns."
 Rosa cIasped her hands, she began to trembIe. You have found 1t, O'Reilly. You havef'' she whispered. "No. no. I've found nothing yet But I've sent Jacket for 6 pick or q bar and tonight I'm going to pull down those stones and see what is behind then--
 TO night9 Ton nnst let me %. loo. want to help"
 ~Very well. Hnt meanwhile you mustn't let your hopes rise soo high. for there is every chance that you will ee disap1sfnted. And don't mention It to Evangeiins- Now, then. I've c few pennies left and I'm going to buy some candies"
 Rosa embraced her lover iTapulsive- V. Something tells me t Is true Something tells me you srs going to save us aIIs
 EvangeIlna sn sks fer corner of the hut agttsTegs to fer husband Ssu-iss love-birist They are like parrakeets,