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Show I ;4 SOUTH CACHE COURIER. HYRUM, UTAH jyo'Vel rvJC-Jtsy rT:V T V A T T Author of The Iron Trail," The T)T2 jLSCTLViXX Spotters," Heart of the Sunset," Etc. 'Copyrljfbt, by Harper and Brother) Hmii CHAPTER XVIII 16 I have been close to Continued. there may be nothing in It and yet were few prowlers within the lines, night at his task. Long before the I saw something. hunger having robbed the reconcentra-do- s last rock had yielded, however, he bWhat? of the spirit to venture forth, and eheld that which caused him to turn ' Wooden beams, timbers of some in consequence Spanish vigilance had strained face upward to Rosa. Theres a little door, as sure ns sort, behind the stone curbing." It relaxed; it was now confined to the m was plnin Rosa did not comprehend, girdle of Intrenchments which live, he told her. so he hurried on. The girl was beside herself with At first I noticed encircled the city. The trio encouna fantastic Idea, nevertheless nothing unusual, except that the bot- tered no one. tom of the well is nearly dry filled Yes? What else? What cltement. crest at on the guard Leaving Jacket up, you know, with debris and stuff of the hill, OReilly stationed Rosa at more do you see? that has fallen in from the curbing the mouth of the well, then lowered Nothing. It appears to be made of above, then I saw that although the himself once more into it. Lighting solid timbers, and has two huge throat to cut, and a file has good steel in it. death so long that It means little to me," she con- 1 have fessed. you. and well, with you at my side I can face the worst." Oh, we wont give up until we have to, he assured her. "If I had money It would he a simple proposition to bribe some guard to pas9 us through the lines, but I have spent all that General Betancourt lie gave me." smoothed hack Rosas dark hair and smiled reassuringly at her. Well, Ill mnnnge somehow; so dont worry your pretty head. Ill find the price, If I have to waylay old Don Mario and rob him. Dont you think I look like a bandit? The very sight of me would terrify that fat rascal. To me you are beautiful, breathed the girl. Then she lowered her eyes. Dow I spoil you I I have "La, la quite forgotten how to be ladylike. Isabel vas right when she called me a bold and forward hussy. Now, then, please turn your face aside, for I wish to think, and so long as you look nt me I cannot I make love to you brazenly. See! Now, then, that Is much better. I shall hold your hand, so. When I kiss It you may look at me again, for a moment." Drawing closer to OReilly, Rosa began thoughtfully: Before you came I more than once was on the point of appealing to some of my former friends, but they are all Spaniards and we are no longer simpatioo, you understand? Rosa paused for his answer. "Perfectly; Im In the same fix. Of all the people I used to know there Isnt one but would denounce me If I made myself known. Now that Ive been fighting with the insurrectos, I darent even go to the American consul for help if there is an American con' sul. Rosa nodded, then continued, hesitatingly: I had a vivid dream last night. Perhaps it was a portent. Who knows? It was about that stepmother of mine. You remember how she met her death? I wrote you Yes, and Esteban also told me." It was he who recovered her body from the well. One day, while we were in hiding, away up yonder in the Yumurl, he showed me an old coin ' I know, OReilly said quickly. He told me the whole story. lie thinks that doubloon is a clue to your fathers fortune, but I cant put much faith in it. In fact, I didnt believe until this moment that there was a doubloon at all." I saw It. Oh, Indeed there was There was a moment of silence during which the lovers were oblivious to all but each other, then Rosa murmured: How strange! Sometimes your eyes are blue and sometimes gray. Does that mean that your love, too, can change? Certainly not. But come, what about Esteban and that doubloon? With an effort the girl brought herself back to earth. Well, it occurred to me, in the light of that dream last night, that Esteban may have been right. Of course nobody outside of our family credits the old story, and considered a very yet my father-1- 8 rich man at one time. Pancho Cueto believed in the existence pt the treasure, and he wag in a position to know. True! after all Perhaps, OReilly frowned meditatively. Rosa lifted herself upon her elbow, her eyes sparkling. Wouldnt it be wonderful if it were true? Just think, OReilly, cases of Spanish gold, silver coins In casks, packages of gems. Oh, Ive henrd Isabel talk about It often enough. "Dont forget those pearls from the Caribbean, as large as plums, Johnny smiled. "I could never quite swallow that. A pearl the size of a currant would buy our freedom right now. After a moment he went on, more seriously : Ive a notion to look Into that old well this very afternoon. I I dare say Im foolish, but somehow the story doesnt sound so improbable as it did. Perhaps it is worth investigating" He made up his mind I Im off this very Instant. swiftly. When OReilly emerged from the hut he found Jacket industriously at work over a fragment of grindstone which he had somewhere unearthed. The boy looked up at his friends approach and held out for inspection a long, thin file, which he was slowly shaping into a 1 Jier-se- lf Since you are such an accomplished thief, do you think you could steal something for me? OReilly inA piece of rope?" quired. Rope? Jacket was puzzled. Rope Is only good for hanging Spaniards. My friend In the fish market has a volnndra, and perhaps I can rob him of a halyard. Laying aside his task, Jacket arose and made off in the direction of the water front. He was back within an hour, and under his shirt he carried a coil of worn but serviceable rope. Without waiting to explain his need for this unusual article, OReilly linked arms with the boy and set out to climb La Cumbre. When nt last they stood In the unused quarry and Johnnie made known his Intention to explore the old well, Jacket regarded him with undisguised amaze' ' ment. do What you expect to find down there? the latter inquired. To tell you the truth, I dont really expect to find anything, the man conNow that Im here, Im befessed. ginning to feel silly; nevertheless, Im going to have a look for the hidden treasure of the Varonas. Hidden treasure! From Jackets expression it was plain that he feared his friend was mildly mad. Even after OReilly had told him something about old Don Estebans missing riches, he scouted the story. He peeped inquisitively into the dark opening of the well, then he shook his head. What an idea ! Was this old man crazy, to throw his money away? He he had more than he knew what to do with, and he wished to save it from the Spaniards, OReilly explained lamely. Nobody ever had more Humph money than he wanted." The boys dis- gust at such credulity was plain. This well looks just like any other, only deeper; youd better look out that you dont break your neck like that foolish old woman, that Donna far-flun- well is dug' through rock, nevertheless It is entirely curbed up with stones laid In mortar. That struck me as queer. Yes?" I 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 clasped her hands, she began to tremble. "You have found it, OReilly.' You have!" she whispered. No, no, Ive found nothing yet. But Ive sent Jacket for a pick or a bar and tonight Im going to pull down those stones and see what Is behind them. To night? You must let me go, too. I want to help. Very well. But meanwhile you mustnt let your hopes rise too high, for there is every chance that you will be disappointed. And dont mention it to Evangelina. Now, then, Ive a few pennies left and Im going to buy some candles." Rosa embraced her lover Impulsively. Something tells me it is true! Something tells me you are going, to save us all. Evangelina in the far corner of the hut muttered to her husband: Such Ca-ram- ! ! Whats-Her-Nam- e. ' OReilly did indeed feel that he was making himself ridiculous; nevertheless, 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-- 1 peared, panting frQra his exertions'. He was wet, slimy; his clothes were streaked and 'stained with mud. Jacket began to laugh shrilly at his appearance. Ha! What a big lizard is this! 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 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 but as they neared Asenslos house he startled Jacket by saying, Can you manage to find a pickax or a crowbar? Jackets eyes opened ; he stopped In the middle of the dusty road. Whnt did you see down there, compare? Tell me. "Nothing much. Just enough to make me wont to see more. Do you ihink you can steal some sort of a tool for me? I can try. Please do. And remember, say nothing before Asensio or his wife. Rosa met OReilly 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 disfigurement which Evangelina had fitted to her bock prior to their departure 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. Ijler poor tatters only enhanced her prettiness, so he thought. Rosa, dear! Do you think this Is quite safe? he ventured, doubtfully. Evangelina, who was bending over her husband, straightened herself and came forward with a smile upon her black face. She is beautiful, eh? Too beautiful to look at? What did I tell you? Rosa was In delightful confusion at OReillys evident surprise and admiThen Im not so altogether ration. changed?" she asked. knife-bladWhy, you havent changed at all, What do you think of that? he except to grow more beautiful. EvanIt may Come in gelina Is right; you are too beautiful queried proudly. handy when we are ready to clear out to look at But wniti" He drew her aside and whispered, Ive been down pf this pesthole. in the well. Some tremor In his Where did you get It? Oh, I stole it. I steal everything I voice, some glint In his eyes, caused can Iny my hands on nowadays. One the girl to seize him eagerly, flercri.7-tan never tell when he may have a may be wrong," he said hurriedly; 1 ' ' ' good-naturedl- absent-mindedl- , e. , . I g his candle, he made a careful examination of the place, with the result that Estebans theory of the missing riches seemed even less Improbable than it had earlier in the day. The masonry work, he discovered, had been done with a painstaking thoroughness which spoke of the abundance of slave labor, and time had barely begun to affect it. Here and there a piece of the mortar had loosened and come away, but for the most part It stood as solid as the stones between which It was laid. Shoulder-higto OReilly there appeared to be a section of the curbing less smoothly fitted than the rest, and through an interstice In this he detected what seemed to be a damp wooden beam. At this point he brought his iron bar Into play. It was not loilg before he discovered that his work was cut out ' for him. The cement was like flint and his blunt makeshift implement was almost useIn the less against It. Ankle-deemuddy water, he patiently pecked and pounded and chipped, endeavoring to enlarge the crevice so as to use his bar as a lever. The sweat streamed, from him and he became dismayed at his own weakness. He was forced to rest frequently. Rosa hung over the orifice above, encouraging him, inquiring eagerly as to his progress. During his frequent breathing spells he could discern her white face dimly illumined by the candle light from below. After bo had worked for an hour or two, he made a report: It begins to look as if there really was a bulkhead or a door in there. The girl clapped her hands and laughed with delight. Do hurry, dear; Im dying of suspense. , OReilly groaned : That fellow, Sebastian, kne his business. This cement is like steel, and Im afraid of breaking my crowbar. Rosa found a leaf, folded a kiss Into That will it, and dropped it to him. give you strength, she declared. OReilly lost all count of time after a while and he was incredulous when Jacket came to warn him that daylight was less than an hour away.' Why, I havent started! he protested. He discovered, much to his surprise, that he was ready to drop from fatigue and that his hands were torn and blistered; when he had climbed the rope to the upper air he fell exhausted in the deep grass. I Im not myself at all, he apologized; nothing to eat, you know. But the work will go faster now, for Ive made a beginning. Do you still think "Rosa hesitated to voice the question which trembled on her lips. Ill know for sure tonight. He directed Jacket to replace the planks over the well ; then the three of them stole away. OReilly spent most of that day in It Begins to Look as If There Really a profound stupor of exhaustion, Was a Bulkhead. while Rosa watched anxiously over him. Jacket, it seemed, had peacefully They are like parrakeets, slumbered on picket duty, so he occuforever kissing and cooing! himself by grinding away at his Jacket returned at dusk, and with pied knife. The last scraps of food disthree-foohim he brought a rusty t Iron appeared that evening. bar, evidently part of a window gratWhen night fell and it came time to ing. The boy was tired, disgusted, and return to the top of La Cumbre, tn a vile temper. A pickax ! A crowasked himself OReilly If his strength bar! he cursed eloquently. One might would as well try to steal a cannon out of hand. prove sufficient for the task In He was spiritless, sore, weak;, San Severino. Im ready to do any- he ached in every bone and muscle, within reason, but thing and it required all his determination Why, this will do nicely; It is just to propel himself up' the hill. He wonwhat I want, OReilly told him. dered if he were wise thus to sacrifice Im to Humph! hear it, for his glad energies on a hope so forthat rod was nearly the death of me. lorn waning as this, but by now he had begun I broke my back wrenching at It and to more than half believe in the existthe villain who owned the house ence of the Varona treasure and he felt may a bad lightning spilt him! he an almost irresistible curiosity to learn ran after me until I nearly expired. what if any, was concealed besecret, If my new knife had been sharp I hind those timbers at the would have turned and sent him home bottom of the well. He realized, of with it between his ribs. Tomorrow I course, that every hour he remained shall put an edge on it. Believe me, here, now that food and money were I ran until my lungs burst gone, lessened the chances Little food remained in the hut, but, on the other hand, heof escape; reasoned barely enough for Asensio and the with equal force, that if he had indeed women, and Inasmuch as OReilly had stumbled upon the missing hoard salspent his last centavo for candles he vation for all of them was assured. and Jacket were forced to go hungry The stake, It seemed to him, was worth again. Late that evening, after the the hazard. wretched prison quarters had grown Given tempered tools to work with, quiet, the three treasure hunters stole It would have been no great undertakout of their hovel and wound up the ing to tear down that cemented wall of hill. In spite of their excitement they stones, but armed with nothing except went slowly, for none of them had the his bare hands and that soft Iron strength to hurry. Fortunately there bar, O'Reilly Bpent nearly the whole love-bird- , h p s! water-soake- d I locks. Locks! Then we have found it." Rosa closed her eyes ; she swayed Esteban was right. Locks, indeed ! That means something- to hide. Oh, If I could only help you!" Heavens! If I only had some- thing anything, to work with I" mut. tered the American as he fell to with redoubled energy. He no longer tried to conserve his strength, for the treasure seekers lust beset him. Rosa looked on, wringing her hands and urging him to greater haste. But the low, thick door was built of some hard, native wood: it was wet and tough and slippery. OReillys blows made no Impression upon it, nor upon the heavy hasps and staples with which It was secured in place. The latter were deeply rusted, to be sure, but they withstood his efforts, and he was finally forced to rest, baffled, enraged, half hysterical from weakness and fatigue. Daylight was at hand once more, but he refused to give up, and worked on stubbornly, furiously, until Rosa, in an agony, besought him to desist. Johnnie again collapsed on the grass and lay panting while the other two replaced the planks. Another hour and Id have been into it, he declared, huskily. You will skill yourself, Jacket told him. Rosa bent over him with shining eyes and parted lips. Yes, said she. Be patient. We will come back, OReilly, and tonight we shall be rich," - Colonel Cobo lit a black cigarette, leaned back in his chair, and exhaled two fierce jets of smoke through his nostrils. For a full moment he scowled forbiddingly at the sergeant who had asked to see him. Whats this you are telling me?" he inquired finally. loThe sergeant, a wbrowed man, stirred uneasily. It is Gods truth. There are spirits on La Cumbre, and I wish to see the priest about it. Spirits? What kind of spirits? The fellow shrugged. "Evil spirits spirits from hell. The men are buying . charms." Bah! I took you to be a sensible person. You dont believe me? Well, I didnt believe them when they told me about it. But I saw with my own eyes. Cobo leaned forward, mildly astonished. Of all his villainous troop, this man was the last one he had credited with imagination of this sort. What did you see? A ghost, my colonel, nothing else. La Cumbre is no place for an honest Christian." The colonel burst into a mocking An honest Christian! Ya laugh. Of all my vile ruffians, you are the vilest. Why, youre a thief, a liar, and an assassin ! You are lying to me the truth for once, before I Slv0 ' com ponte. the you As God is my judge, Im telling ? the truth, protested the soldier. me if you will rather the coinpon than another night in those trenches. You know that old quinta? gat Where Pancho Cfieto made a mean of himself? Perfectly. Do you va to .say that you saw old Esteban rona walking with his head in hands? . wno No, but I saw that neck. fell In the well and broke her Eh? When did you behold this this marvel? Two nights ago. She was there b side the well "and her face shon Ther through the night like a lantern. went was fire upon It She came and like a moth In the lamplight I teo you I repented of my sins. Somet the men laughed at me when I our them, as they had laughed at the ers. But last night two of the doubters went up there. (TO BE CONTINUED.) mean-face- d, x- - e she-dev- il Effect of Music. The meaning of song goes is there that In logical words cm A express the effect music hus on us? kind of Inarticulate, unfathomable of speech which leads us to the edge moments the infinite and lets us for gaze Into that Carlyle. deep-Wh- o |