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Show !)( III H SOUTH CACHE COURIER, HYRUM, UTAH W9S ENB EAIMBO REX BEACH Author of The Iron Trail.4 By Spoilers, 'Copyright, CHAPTER XX. 18 Morin, the Fisherman. Rosa Varona regained consciousness sufficiently to understand what had happened she proved herself l. It a person of no little was she, in fact, who first voiced the fear that Cobo,dead was scarcely less a menace than Cobo alive. "What are we going to do with him? she inquired. Jacket, too, appreciated the dangers We must get rid of of the situation. said he, for his men him quickly, are close by; he will be missed and there will be a search. I dont intend to make him a present of that treasure, O'Reilly said, When a our only salvation. But how arqwe going to hide him? One might as well Jacket inquired. try to conceal a church ; oxen couldnt grimly. Jacket nodded his'eomplete comprehension. Sure! Ail Spaniards are robbers and theyd kill us for a peso. Yes, and the paciflcos are no better. tell you we need to get out of this place, I intend to arrange It at once, but the sight of those jewels has frightened me. If we are searched if( we are even suspected: Im wondering if Rosa can endure the hardships well encoun ter when, or if, we get away. Exactly what I was thinking. Ive been considering nnother plan. I told you about my friend at the market. Well, he is a miserable Spaniard, but he has a son in the manigua. One ofis? Johnnie was surprised. "Yes. rlJe old fellow owns a volan-drin which he brings charcoal from the eastward twice a month. He might take us out of here on his schooner. IIow well does he like you? Oh. we are like two thieves. After a period of thought OReilly said, Take me to him, and remember Im your brother Juan. The Matanzas market did not present a scene of great activity when the two friends slunk into it. Like most Spanish markets, the building was far from clean and housed odors unpleasant even to starving people. In the smelliest section, at one of the fish stalls, Jacket accosted a villainous old brigand in a rough Gallego cap, baggy blouse and trousers, and straw sandals. Good day, my captain, he cried ' cheerily. The Spaniard raised his head, scowled ferociously, then waved a long, knife in menacing fashion. So there you are, robber I Be Aha off now before I slit your greedy little belly Didnt I promise to give you to the soldiers if you came back to bother me? Jacket was unabashed by this hostile reception. He grinned broadly and with an impudent eye he scanned the empty Where is my little fish? premises. he demanded. As I live, I believe you have sold it What a miser ! For the sake of another centavo you would see me starve? Theres a heart for you! Or must I lie Come, give me my fish down and (lie before your very eyes to prove my hunger? What a nuisance! grumbled the marketman. He reached into a basket and flung a mackerel upon the table. There! I saved It for you, and sent the good women of Matanzas away But it is the very last. Annoy me again and I shall open you with my knife and put salt on you." Ah! You are my good captain!" Jacket cried In triumph? possessing himself of the prize. Where would I have been but for you? Turning to OReilly, who had looked on from a distance, he said, Captain Morin, this Is that brother Juan of whom I have told you. Morin smiled at Johnnie and extendThe little fellow ed his dirty palm. can speak the truth when he wishes, it seems. I began to doubt that he had a brother. What a boy, eh?" You have a son with the insurrec-tos- ? 1 self-contro- Tt Is hoist him out of that hole. Precisely I He has made our work easy for us. We cant take more than a small part of the money with us, anyhow ; the rest will have to lie here, unWell! We shall til the war is over. leave Cobo on guard over what remains ! Jacket was Immensely pleased with this idea, once he had grasped It. What could be better? he cried. The mans spirit Is evil enough to frighten people away and we will drop stones upon him, so that he can learn the taste of his own medicine. It suits me exactly to think of Colonel Cobo standing on his head In a hole in the ground for the rest of eternity ! OReilly was by this time suffering the full reaction from the events of the past half-hou- r and he was nearer exhaustion than he dreamed, but, com quering his repugnance for his unes-capabtask, he lowered himself once more into the well. His arms were weak, however, and his fingers numb, so he fell rather than slid the length of the rope. He managed to open the door of the treasure chamber, then entered and loaded his pockets with gold, He sent up the jewel box at the end of the rope, dragged the body of Cobo Into the cave, then wedged the barricade back Into place. It required the combined strength of Rosa and Jacket to help him the last few feet of his climb. Now fetch stones, rubbish, anything and throw It in there, he gasped. The boy and the girl fell to with a will, and after a time Johnnie joined them. Slowly, laboriously, the three of them carried debris from the edge of the quarry and bricks from the ruined house; they scraped up armfuls of leaves and trash anything, in fact, le which thin-blade- d ! 1 eve-uin- con-lesse- t. mys-crio- Morin eyed the sagged speaker scornfully; It was plain that ho put no faith in such a promise, and so O'Reilly took a piece of gold from his pocket, at sight of which the fisherman started. I, too, am a poor man, but Im willing to buy freedom for my little brothers and myself, How many coins like that have : you? , more than one; enough to pay you for several cargoes of cool. For the sake of Miguelito, Jacket Carnmba Wlint a urged. father begot that boy Ura-- ! hard-hearte- d ! 'The fisherman wns scowlOReilly 'he said, "You do tempt a poor man. My brother Esteban W sick, ne is a frail little lad with a crooked back. God will reward you." Hush I ing. To wrong to Perhaps! But how much will you pay? Ten Spanish sovereigns like this nil that I have." No It is not enough." OReilly took Jacket's hand and turned away. Im sorry, he said. "I wish I might offer you more." He had taken several steps before Morin bailed 1 him. Come hack tomorrow, the fisherman cried, crossly. We will try to talk like sensible people." The brothers Villar were back at Morins fish stand on the following afternoon and they returned daily thereafter until they at last prevailed over the Spaniards fears and won his promise of assistance. That much ac compllshed, they made several cautious purchases, a coat here, a shirt there, a pair of trousers in another place, until they had assembled a complete boys outfit of clothing. At first Rosa refused absolutely to desert her two faithful negro friends, and OReilly won her consent to eon- - d. S-s- h ! ! The Etc. by Htrper and Brothers) ! would serve to raise the bottom the entrance to their enemys resting place. It was slavish work, but OReilly kept them at it until they were ready to- drop. Daylight overtook them at their task They werq weak, sick, deadly tired ; they could barely shuffle a few yards at a time when they finally reached Asensios hut; nevertheless there was hope In their hearts, for OReillys ragged clothes sagged with the weight of gold pieces and the little metal box he carried was heavy. Nor were they greatly concerned about the safety of Yes., The fisherman cast a furtive the treasure they had left behind, for over his shoulder. glance the entrance to the cavern lay deeply Why dont you go and fight by his buried, and Cobo, the guerrilla, stood Jacket demanded. side? guard over the chests of plate and the Morin flung up his forbid! God casks of coin. Im a loyal subject. hands. Evangelina, vastly bewildered at the Well, we are going back to fight. sight of the coin which was forced into are going to escape and join Gomez We ber palm, went for food and spent most once more! Jacket made the anof the day in cooking it. The treasure-hunter- s nouncement calmly. alternately slept and ate. It Morin was in a What talk was not until well g along toward nervous panic lest they be overheard. that Rosa and OReilly felt any could escape from Madesire to take stock of the contents of "As if anybody ! made you come. here if What tanzas that jewel box, but finally, with heads you are so eager to fight?" together and with backs to the door of Ill tell you. OReilly assumed dithe bohio, they made a furtive ex- rection of the conversation. There amination. They found emeralds and two we and us of brothers, are three sapphires the value of which they did was He fellow. little a pretty Esteban, ot attempt to estimate; and, besides Cobos men and driven in, these, a miscellaneous assortment of captured by we came to find him. But he is and semiprecious stones. sick dying OReilly realized vaguely that he "Of course. Theyre all dying the held in his lap a fortune greater than poor people! It la terrible. his wildest dreams had ever comWe " OReilly faltered slightly, passed. These were the jewels of a so much hung upon the manner In ajah. it seemed Incredible that this which Morin would take what he was jagged girl beside him was a regal about to say. "We want to get him out the possessor of a treasure of here we must do so, Or well lose such as kings might envy. After a time him. Will you help us? he realized that the mere possession of "I? In heavens name, how? vhese gems constituted a new and overBy taking us away In your charwhelming menace. coal schooner. Morning found all hands more nearly Youre mad! Morin cast another rational and feeling the first gnawings apprehensive look over his 6houlder. a healthy d hunger. Even Asensio Im a poor man. All I have is my two to a quite miraculous improve-men- boats, the vivero, which brings fish, While Evangelina prepared and the volandra, which sails with reakfast the lovers agreed upon a charcoal. Do you think Id forfeit them tory to explain the origin of that and my life for strangers? You say gold piece, and later Johnnie OReilly leaned closer. arned Jacket Tor a second time to youre a poor man. I will pay you eeP his tongue between Ids teeth. well. of the shaft and conceal Hart of the Sunset, ! empty-hande- & still in Ignorance of the contents of the treasure box Rosa made a bundle out of the jewels and trinkets and fastened it securely inside her coat. After a few experiments she ndjusted it to her liking, then called OReilly once more. This time he was better satisfied. An application of Evangelinas stain to darken her face, a few tatters and a liberal application of dirt to the suit, and he declared that Rosa would pass anywhere as a boy. There came a night when the three of them bade good-bto their black companions and slipped away across the city to that section known as Pueblo Nuevo, then followed the road along the water front until they found shelter within the shadows of a rickety structure which had once served as a bath house. The refugees waited a long time; they were beginning to fear that old Morins nerve had weakened at the eleventh hour, when they beheld a skiff approaching the shore. It glided closer, entered the shade of the bath house, then a voice cried: Pset! You are there? It was Morin himself. Hastily the three piled aboard. Morin bent to his oars and the skiff shot out. You were not observed? he inquired. No." Morin rowed In silence for a time. When do you sail? OReilly asked. At dawn, God permitting. You will have to remain hidden and you mustnt even breathe. He brought the skiff alongside a battered old schooner, and his passengers clambered aboard. There was a tiny cabin aft and on It, sheltered from the night dew by a loose fold of the mainsail, were two sleeping men. The newcomers followed Morin down into the evil little cabin, where he warned them In a hoarse whisper : ; - Not a sound, mind yon. If anyone comes aboard, you must shift for yourselves. Creep into the hold and hide. Of course, if we are searched He muttered something, then groped his way out on deck, and closed the hatch behind him. Now that they had actually em-- ! barked upon this enterprise and the girl Iiad given herself entirely into his hands, now that an Imminent peril encompassed them both, Johnnie felt that Rosa belonged to him more absolutely, more completely, than at any time heretofore, so he held her close. Rosa lay relaxed against her lovers shoulder and in halting murmurs, interrupted many times by caresses, she told OReilly of her need for him, and her utter happiness. It was the fullest hour y . of their lives. With daylight, Morin routed out his men. There was a sleepy muttering, the patter of bare feet upon the deck above, then the creak of blocks as the sails were raised. A few moments, then there came a hail which brought their hearts Into their throats. Morin self answered the call. him- Have you caught any of those accursed filibusters since I saw you last? So? Cayo Romano, eh? What have I aboard? Morin laughed loudly. You know very well cannon and shot for the rebels, of course. Will you look? ; . .No? . . . Then a cup of coffee perhaps? OReilly peeped through a cabin window and saw that the volandra was slipping past the stern of the Ironclad, so he withdrew bis head quickly. , Of course this was but one danger past and there were many more ahead, for Morins schooner was liable to be stopped by any of the numerous patrol boats on duty to the eastward. Nevertheless, when an anxious hour had gone by and she was well out toward the harbor mouth, the refugees told one another they were safe. Good morning, countryman I dlrt-stalne- Esteban, Ill Dear, Never, Leave You! Never sider his plan of escape only after he had put the matter squarely up to Asensio and his wife and after both had refused to enter Into It. Then, and not until then, did Rosa begin her preparations. First she made Evangelina cut her hair, a sacrilege that wrung sighs and tears and loud lamentations from the black woman, after which she altered the suit of boys clothing to fit her figure, or rather to conceal It. When at last she put It on for OReillys approval she was very shy, very and so altogether that he shook his head positively. My dear, youll never do, he told her. You are altogether too pretty. But wait until I put that hideous hump upon my back and stain my face, then you will see how ugly I can look. Perhaps, he said, doubtfully. A moment, then his frown lightened. You You give me a thought, said he. shall wear the jewels. Wear them? How?" On your back, In that very hump. It will be the safest possible way to conceal them. Rosa clapped her hands in delight "Why, of course ! It Is the very thing. Walt until I show you. Profiting by her first moment alone Evangelina and her husband being s, d tion of cheerfulness, Norine had Just told him that he was doing famously, but he smiled and shook his weary head. You "Lets be honest, he said. know and I know that I cant get well. she You mustnt be discouraged, told him, earnestly. Remember this Is a trying climate and we have nothing to do With. Even the food is wretched. Im going to take you away. Esteban stroked her hand softly. You cant do that, Miss Evans. You have been wonderful to me and I cant Nobegin to express my gratitude his retained he grasp rine stirred, but of her fingers, gaining courage from the contact to proceed. I have been trying for a long time to tell you something. Will you listen? Not now, she exclaimed, with a Dont visible lessening of color. bother to tell me now. Ive waited too long; I must speak. You have stayed on here just to nurse ! me. Isnt that true? She nodded somewhat doubtfully. Now, then, you must stop thinking about me and make your arrangements to go home. There was a moment of silence. Yes. You see, I know how tired you are of this misery, this poverty, this hopeless struggle. Youre not a Cuban and our cause isnt yours. Expeditions come from the United States every now and then and the government will see that you are put safely aboard the first ship that returns. Ill manage to get well somehow. Norines color had returned. She stood over the hammock, looking down mistily. Dont you need me, want me any more? she Inquired. Esteban turned his tired eyes away, fearing to betray in them his utter wretchedness. You have done all there Is to do. I want you to go back Into your own world and forget A sudden Impulse seized the girl. She stopped and gathered the sick man into her young, strong arms. Dont be My world Is your silly, she cried. world, Esteban dear. Ill never, never leave you. Varona Miss Evans! Norine! You tried feebly to free himself. . mustnt Norine drew him closer. Youre going to tell me that you have nothing, can offer me nothing. Youre going to do the generous, noble thing. Well ! I hate generous people. Im selfish, utterI dont proly selfish and spoiled,-anpose to be robbed of anything I want, least of all my happiness. You do love me, dont you? j Estebans cry was eloquent; he clasped his arms about her and she held him fiercely to her breast. Were quite mad, quite Insane, he told her after a while. This only makes it harder to give you up. Youre not going to give me up and youre not going to die. I shant let you. Thlnlk what you have to live for. I did wrong to surrender. It was I who surrendered. Cornel Must I say It all? Arent you going to ask me What? Why, to marry you, of course. Were going to be married, and Im going to take you out of this miserable place." he murmured. If What happiness But I wont let you , I were well marry a dying man. ! (TO BE CONTINUED.) Where Man Is Not Supreme. Physiologists tell us that the human nose Is a degenerate organ; clumsy In camparison with the noses of dogs and other lower animals If a man has run across a meadow It would be folly for you or me to try to find his tracks by smelling the grass, even half a minute after he had passed. But days afterCHAPTER XXI. ward, when perhaps the tracks of that man have been crossed by those of Three Travelers Come Home. Esteban Varona made slow progress many other men, a bloodhounds nose will pick them up and follow them intoward recovery. In the weeks folio, The noses of the lower anifrom Cubltas fallibly. O'Reillys departure his gain was steady, but beyond a cer- mals are far keener than those of men. tain point he seemed unable to go. But those of men are keener than Then he began to lose strength. Este- their fingers, their tongues, their ears ban awoke to the fact that he was los- or their eyes. ing ground, and his dismay was keen, for a wonderful thing had come Into The Yesterdays. Finish every day and be done with his life and he spent much of his time You have done what you could. In delicious contemplative day dreams It concerning it, waiting for the hour Some blunders and absurdities, no when he would dare translate those doubt, crept In; forget them as soon dreams Into realities. It seemed to him as you can. Tomorrow Is a new day; that he htfd always loved Norlne; cer- begin It well and serenely, and with tainly she had enshrined herself In his too high a spirit to be cumbered with heart long before his mind had re- your old nonsense. This day Is all gained Its clarity, for he had come out that Is good and fair. It is too dear, of his delirious wanderings with his with all its hopes and Invitations, to love full grown. waste a moment on the yesterdays. The time came finally when he could no longer permit the girl to deceive Mans great fault Is that he has so herself or him with her brave assump many small ones. Jean Paul Richter. 1 w-l- ! |