Evening star., 1935-07-14
Continued from page nine

tNhSS vi l%lttIC Sdl lOS, Itdu SuCCttutd
in saving a goodly sum. for it had not
been long before her skill and origi-
nality had enabled her greatly to
increase her earnings.
Once in a while Pedro went to see
Dolores to make sure she was still
there; but she always received him so
coldly that he made his visits short,
never dreaming she had any money,
seeing how poorly she lived.
However. for the week before the
lease on the grave was to expire, Pedro
came to the hut every evening. and
Dolores noted how greatly the year
had changed him. From robust. care
free youth, he had turned into a thin,
haggard man, nervous and irritable,
with furtive. haunted eyes.
The day before the coffin was to be
taken from its tomb was a miserable
one for Pedro. He was pestered con-
tinuously by his creditors, reminding
him of his agreement to pay them on
the morrow; some even made dire
threats should he fail.
Sunrise found him pacing impa-
tiently before the little cabin on the
hillside, and Dolores and he were
waiting at the gate of the cemetery
when it was opened.
The first man they met was carrying
a spade, and Pedro accosted him
eagerly. Tell me, who is the one
that opens grave when the lease
expires?'
why. / am" the man replied.
Taking him by the arm, Pedro led
him quickly towards the wall where
Carlos had been buried: yet as they
drew near. he suddenly stopped short.
petriied. The recess was empty -
just yawning, black cavity. Pedro
collected his wits and hastily ex-
amined the nearby inches. but he
could find no trace of Carlos.
We'll. who are you looking for?"
impatiently asked the gravedigger.
Carlos Dominguez - I'd swear
he was buried right here"
The other scratched his head a
moment in thought. then frightened.
Il remember now - Lopez told me
all about it, for it was Bit unusual.
1t seems just few days ago a relative
of the deceased - the corpse's sister,
think he said she was, though what
she looked like he couldn't say, be-
cause she was weeping. and kept her
face hidden with her reboio Well,
anyway, she came and paid to have
the body put into permanent grave.
over on that SIDE" and he pointed to
another part of the wall.
did she open the coffin?" de-
manded Pedro.
did she have the key" countered
the gravedigger.
Pedro turned sharply to Dolores.
and she. in wide-eyed blankness, held
up the key.
Abruptly Pedro hurried to the part
of the wall the man had Indicated,
where he stood, staring stupidity at
the new resting place of Carlos. After
little while Dolores led him away:
and he, dazed into dumbness. walked
by her side back to the cabin.
The girl went straight to a little
cupboard, and taking out a bottle of
teQuila, opened it. and silently held it
out to Pedro. Grabbing it with eager.
shaking hands, he drank the raw
liquor in huge gulps, stopping at last
when forced to take a breath. Only
then did Dolores speak.
What are you going to do?"
II don't know - I'm in terrible
mess. The least that can happen to
me is to be sent to Jail, and some of the
people I owe might even kill me. if I
don't pay them today" And again he
sought bravery from the bottle.
You can hide here until dark"
Dolores said, decisively, then go to
the cemetery and get the jewels
Pedro cringed. mo, not that"