The Washington herald., 1919-10-30

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minisrAdor. Psncho caeto. Is robbins her.
prompts her to send for him In stormy scene
in which Greek meets Greek he informs her that
in the absence Of deeds to Don Esteban's prop
erty. he has made It his simply By paying the
taxes. and that she and the twins live On il
only because Of his generosity. Dona Isabel
realizing the foTy Of an appeal TO the courts
plans to get nd Of Pancho Cueto.
Through morbid Interrogation Dona Isabsl has
become . confirmed sleepwalker. and her noe
turnal wanderings aru always in search Of the
lost treasure. Young Estsban 10 interested in
the cause Of the Revciutionists. and. while dis
patching q letter TO Col. Lopez via an aged
engro, Asensio. in the dead Of night. is horrified
TO SEE tho Ehostly figure Of his stepmother
walking toward an old well: before he can
restrain her, she has plunged into its black
depths.
Go On with the Story.
CHAPTER Iv.-CoNTINUED.
Pancho Cueto. being a heavy sleep
er, was the last to be reused by .4s-
teban's outcries. When he had hur-
riedly slipped into his clothes in re-
sponse to the pounding on his door.
the few servants that the establish
ment supported had been thoroughly
awakened. Esteban was shooting at
them, explaining that Dona Isabel had
met with an accident. He was calling
for a lantern, too. and stout rope.
Cueto thought that they must all be
out OF their minds until he learned
what had befallen the mistress Of the
house. Then. being a man OF action.
he, too, issued swift orders, with the
result that by the time he and Esteoan
had run to the well both rope and
lantern were ready for use. Before
Esteban could form and fit a loop for
his shoulders there was sufncient, help
on hand to lower him into the treach-
erous abyss.
1t was a commentary upon Dona
Isabers character that during the
long. slow moments of uncertainty
while Esteban was being lowered the
negroes exhibited NOR curiosity than
concern over her fate. In half-pleased
excitement they whispered and gig
gled and muttered together, while
Pancho lay prone at the edge of the
orifice. directing them how to manipu-
late the rope.
That was a gruesome task which
fell to Esteban, for the well had been
long unused, its sides were oozing
slime, its waters were stale and black.
he was on the point Of fainting when
he finally climbed out. leaving the
negroes to hoist the dripping. inert
weight which he had found at the
bottom
Old Sebastian's curse had come
true; Dona Isabel had met he fate ne
had called down upon her that day
when he hung exhausted in his chains
and when the flies tormented him. The
treasure for which the woman had
intrigued so tirelessly had been her
death. Like an ignis fatuus, II had
lured her to destruction. Furthermore,
as If in grimmest irony, she had been
permitted at the very last to find it.
Living. she had searched to no pur-
pose whatsoever; dying. she had al
most grasped it in her arms.
Once the first exr--ement had abatso
and a messenger had been sent to
town. Cueto drew Esteban aside ana
questioned him. -
"A shocking tragedy and most Pc
culiar," said the overseer. Nothing
could amaze me more"
"Exactlyi And all because OF her
sleep-walking. I'm all in a tremble."
She was asleep? You are sure?"
Have l not told you so?" Esteban
was Impatient. I
But 1t Is said that people given 70
that popularity never come to grief.
They say some sixth sense guides
Themselves them warning of pitfalls
and dangers. II can't understand"
That well was a menace to a walk
ing person. I didn't realize how near
to 1t she was; and when cried out to
her It seemed only to hasten her
steps" The young man shuddered. for
the horror Of the thing was still in
his mind.
Tell me. how did you come to be
there at such an hour. chr
Esteban saw the malevolent curios-
ity in Cueto's face and started. Z
That is my affair. Surely you don't
think
Come, come! You can trust me-"
The overseer winked and smiled.
II had business that took me there"
stiffly declared the younger man.
Exactly! And a profitable business
1t proved" Cueto laughed openly now.
We'll, I don't mind telling you. Dona
IsabePs death was no disappoint-
ment to anyone. Anybody could
"Stop" Esteban was turning alter
nately red and white. you seem TO
imply something outrageous"
Now let US be sensible I under
stand you perfectly. my boy. But an
officer Of the Guardia Civil may arrive
at any moment and he will want to
know how you came to be with your
stepmother when she plunged into
that trap. So prepare yourself. IL
only you had not given the alarm. II
only you had waited until morning.
But-fn the dead of night! Alone! He
viii think 1t queer. Suppose. too, he
learns that you and Dona Isabel quar-
relied the other day over money mat
tersT" . 4
Young Varona recovered himself
quickly. He was watching his induisi-
tor now with family speculative
frown. When Cueto had finished Este
ban said:
"Dona Isabel and I frequently quar-
relied over money matters, SO there is
nothing strange in that. YOU would
like me to confess some black iniquity
that would make us better friends,
eh? Well, 1t so happens that was not
alone tonight. but that another person