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Show THE PAYSONIAN, PAYSON, UTAH LOYAL AMERICANS By REX BEACH ENB Author of The Iron Trail, II JVo-Qe- t CRUSHING OF GERMANY CAN BB ACCOMPLISHED ONLY BY OUR FINANCIAL AID. The Heart of the Sunset, Etc. Spoilers, 'Copyright, by Harper and Brother RESPOND WWWtWWWmWWWWWWHWWWHHHWHHHHWHHHHhWHHmHHHWHHHHHHWWHWWaHWWa ,, - m FOREWORD The Cuba of the days of Weyler and Gomez and the d bands ragged, of insurrectos furnishes an admirable background for this delightful story, in which love, war and the search for a buried treasure are the principal strands that are interwoven to make a plot that is worthy of the mind of Rex Beach. The author of The Spoilers, The Barrier, and other stirring tales, has produced his most thrillina story in Rainbows End. half-starve- CHAPTER I. The Valley of Delight. In all probability your first view of the valley of the Yuimiri will be from the Hermitage of Montserrute, for It Is there t lint I lie coeheros drive you. There you overlook the fuirest sight In the loveliest valley Christendom the world, ns Humboldt called it for the Yuniurl nestles right at your feet, a vale of pure delight, a glimpse of Paradise that bewilders the eye and fills the sou! with ecstasy. Standing beside the shrine of Our Lady of Mnntserrale, you will see beyond the cleft through which the river emerges another Idll, I.h Oumbre, from which the view Is wonderful, and your driver may tell you about the splendid homes that used to grace Its slopes In the golden days when (Juba had an aristo racy. Your eochero may point nut a certain grove of orange trees, bow' little more limn a rank tangle, and tell ou about the quinta of Don Kstclmn Varona, and Its bidden treasure; about little Esteban and Itosa, the twins; and about Sebastian, the giant slave, who died In furjr, taking with him the secret of the well. The Spanish Main Is rich In tales of treasure-trove- , for when the Antilles were most nllluent they were least secure, and men were put to strange shifts to protect their fortunes. Certain hoards, like Jewels of tragic history, in time assumed a sort of evil personality, not Infrequently exercising a dire Influence over the lives of those who chanced to fall under their spells. It was ns if the money were accursed, for certainly the seekers often came to evil. Of such a character was the Varona treasure. Don Esteban himself was neither better nor worse .than other men of his time, and although pnrt of the money he hid was wrung from the toll of slaves and the tratlic In their bodies, much of It was dean enough, and In time the earth purified tt all. Since his acts made so deep an impress, and since the treasure he left played so big a part In the destinies of those who eame after him, It Is well that some account of these matters should he given. The story, please remember, Is an ld one; It has been often told, and In the telling and retelling It is but natural that a certain glamour, a certain tropical extravagance; should attach to it, therefore you should make allowance for some exaggeration, some accretions due to the lapse of time. In the main, however. It is well authenticated and runs parallel to fact. Donna Itosa Varona lived barely long enough to learu thnt she had given birth to twins. Don Esteban, whom people knew as a grltn man,, took the blow of his sudden bereavement ns became one of Ills strong liber. Leaving the priest upon bis knees and the doctor busied With the babies, he strode through the house and out Into the sunset, followed by the wails of the slave women. Don Esteban was at heart a selfish man, and now, therefore, he felt a sullen, fierce resentment mingled with his grief. What trick was this? he asked himself. What had he done to merit such misfortune? Had he not made rich gifts to the church? Had he not knelt and prayed for his wife's safe delivery and then hung his gifts npon the sacred Image, as Loyola hail bung up his weupons before that other IXm Estecounterpart of Our ban scowled at the memory, for those gems were of the finest. lie looked up from Ills unhappy d to find a gigantic Biusings Ttegro standing before him. his kinky The slave was middle-aged- ; hair was growing gray; hut he was of superb proportions, and the muscles which showed through the reuts in his cotton garments were as smooth and Ills supple as those of a stripling. black face was puckered with grief, as he began : Master, Is tt true that Donna Itosa " The fellow choked. Yes, Esteban nodded, wearily, she U dead, Sebastian. Tears came to Sebastian's eyes overflowed his cheeks ; he stood motionless, striving to voice his sympathy. At length he said Sbo was too good for this world. nil in Imre-foote- God was jealous and took here to Paradise. The widowed man cried out angrily: Paradise ! What is this but Iura-dise?- " He stured with resentful eyes at the beauty round about him. "See ! The Yuinuri ! Don Esteban Hung a long arm outward. Do you think there is a sight like that In heaven? Paradise Indeed ! 1 gave her everything. She gained nothing by dying. With a grave thoughtfulness which proved him superior to the ordinary slave, Sebastian replied : "True! She had all that any woman's heart could desire, but In return for your goodness she gave you children. You huve lost her, but you have gained an heir, and a beautiful girl baby who will grow to be another Donna Itosa. I grieved as you grieve, once upon a time, for my woman died in childbirth, too. You remember? Hut my daughter lives, and She has brought sunshine Into my old age. That is the He paused and purpose of children. shifted Ids weight uncertainly, digging his stiff black toes Into the dirt. After a time be said, slowly: Excellency! ? Now, about the well Yes. What about it? Did the Donna Itosa confide her share of the secret to anyone? Those priests and those doctors, you know She died without speaking." "Then it rests between you and me? It does, unless you have babbled. Master! Sebastian drew himself up and there was real dignity In Ids black face. "Understand, my whole fortune is there everything, even to the deeds of pntent for the plantations. If I thought there was danger of you betraying me I would have your tongue pulled out and your eyes torn from their sockets. The black man spoke with a simplicity thnt carried conviction: Times are unsettled, Don Esteban, and death comes without warning. You are known to be the richest man In this province and these government officials are robbers. Suppose I should be left alone? Wlmt then? The planter considered for a moment. Well, when my children are old enough to hold their tongues they will have ta.be told. If Im gone, you shall be the one to tell them. Now leave me; this Is no time to speak of such things. Sebastian went ns noiselessly as be had come. On bis way back to his quarters he took the path to the well the jdace where most of his time was ordinarily spent. Sebastian hnd dug this well, and with his own hands he hud beautified its surroundings until they were the loveliest on the Varona grounds. It was Sebastians tusk to keep this place green, and thither he took his way, from force of habit. Through the twilight came Paneho Cueto, the manager, a youngish man, with a narrow face and hold, close-se- t eyes. Spying Sebastian, be began : So Don Esteban has an heir at last? The slave rubbed bis eyes with the heel of his huge yellow palm and answered, respectfully: Yes, Don Paneho. Two little angels, a hoy and a girl. Ills gray brows drew together In a painful frown. Donna Itosa was a saint. No doubt there Is great rejoicing in heaven at her coming. Eh? What do you think? Um-m- ! Possibly. Don Esteban will miss her for a time aud then, I dare At the negro's say, be will remarry. exclamation Cueto said: So! And why not? Everybody knows how rich he Is. From Oriente to linar del Itlo the women have heard about his treasure. What treasure?" asked Sebastian, after an instant's pause. Cuetos dark eyes gleamed resentfully at this show of Ignorance, hut he laughed. Ho! There's a careful fellow for you! No wonder he trusts you. Put do you think I have neither eyes nor ears? My good Sebastian, you know all about that treasure; In fact, you know far more about many things than Don Estehun would care to have you tell. Come now, dont you? Sebastians face was like a mask carved from ebony. Of what does this treasure consist? he inquired. I have never heard about It, "Of gold, of Jewels, of silver bars and precious ornaments. Cueto's head was. thrust forward, his nostrils wore dilated, his teeth gleamed. "Oh, It Is somewhere about, as you very well know! Pah! Dont deny it. Im no fool. What becomes of the money from the slave girts, eh? Aud the sugar crops, too? Does it go to buy arms and ammunition for the rebels? No. Don Esteban hides It, and you help him. Come, he cried, disregarding Sebastian's murmurs of protest, did you ever think how fabulous thut fortune must be by this time? Did you ever think that one little gem, one bag of gold, would buy your freedom? Don Esteban has promised to buy my freedom aud the freedom of my girl." "So? The manager was plainly surprised. "I didnt know thnt. After a moment he began to laugh. And yet you pretend to know nothing about that treasure? Hal Youre a good boy, Sebastian, and so I ant. I admire you. Were both loyal to our master, oh? Put now about Evangellaa." , Cuetos face took on a craftier expression. She is a likely girl, and when she grows up she will be worth more than you, her father. Dont forget that Don Esteban Is before all else a business man. Pe careful that some one doesn't muke him so good an offer for your girl thut he will forget his promise and sell her." Sebastian uttered a hoarse, animal cry and the whites of his eyes showed He would never through the gloom. sell Evangelinu Cueto laughed aloud once more. Of course! He would not dare, eh? I am only teasing you. Put see I You have given yourself away. Everything you tell me proves that you know all about thnt treasure. I know but one thing, the slave declared, stiffening himself slowly, "and thnt is to be faithful to Don Esteban. He turned and departed, leaving Iancho Cueto staring after him meditatively. In the days following the birth of His children and the death of his wife, Don Esteban Varona, as had been bis custom, steered a middle course in politics, In that way managing to avoid a dash with the Spanish officials who ruled the Island, or an open break with his Cuban neighbors, who rebelled beneath their wrongs. Esteban dealt diplomatically with both factions and went on raising-slaveand sugar to his own great profit. The twins, Esteban affd Itosa, developed Into healthy children and became the pride of Sebastian and his daughter, into whose care they had been given. As for Evuugulina, the young Degress, she grew tall and strong and handsome, until she was the finest slave girl In the neighborhood. Then, one day, Don Esteban Varona remarried, and the Donria Isabel, who had been a famous llubana beauty, came to Uve at the quinta. The daughter of Impoverished parents, she had heard and thought much about the mysterious treasure of La Cumbre. Before the first fervor of his honeymoon cooled the groom began to fear that he had made a serious mistake. Donna Isabel, be discovered, was both vain and selfish. Not only did she crave luxury and display, but with singular persistence she demanded to know all about her husbands financial affairs. Now Don Esteban was no longer young; age had soured him with suspicion, and when once he saw himself as the victim of a mercenary marriage he turned bitterly against his wife. Her curiosity he sullenly resented, and he unblushingly denied his possession of any considerable wealth. In fact, he tried with malicious lngeuuity to make her believe him a poor man. But Isabel was not of the sort to be readily deceived. Finding her arts and coquetries of no avuil, she flew into a rage, and a furious quarrel ensued the first of many. For the lady could not rest without knowing nil there was to know about tile treasure. She searched the quinta, of course, whenever she hud a chance, but she discovered nothing with the result that the mystery began to engross her whole thought. She pried into the obscurest corners, she questioned the slaves, she lay awake at night listening to Esteban's breathing. In the hope of surprising bis secret from his dreams. At length a time came when they lived in frank enmity; when Isabel never spoke to Esteban except iu reproach or anger, and when Esteban unlocked his lips only to taunt his wife with the fact that she had been thwarted despite her cunning. It was only natural under such conditions that Donnu Isabel should learn to dislike her stepchildren Esteban bad told her frankly that they would Inherit whatever fortune he possessed. As may be lningiued, she found ways to vent her spile upon the twins. She widened her hatred so ns to include old Sebastian and his daughter, and even went so far as to persecute Evnnge-lina- s sweetheart, a slave named Asen-sl1 s tossed her fine, dark head. "I'm not blind ; I see what goes on ubout me. I wont have that wench in my house. Goaded to fury by his wifes senseless accusation, Esteban cried : "Your house? By what license do you call It yours ?" Am I not married to you?" Y'es as a leech is married to its victim. You suck my blood. "Your blood The woman laughed You have no blood; your shrilly. veins run vinegar. You are a miser. Miser! Miser! I grow sick of the w'ord. It Is all you find to taunt me with. Confess that you married me for my money, " he roared. Of course I did Do you think a woman of my beauty would marry you for anything else? But a fine bargain I made! Vampire Wife or vampire, I Intend to rule this house, and I refuse to be shamed African. Her nirs by a thick-lippe- d tell her story. She Is insolent to tne, but I shant endure It. She laughs at me. Well, your friends shull laugh at you. Silence! commanded Estelmn. Sell her, or " Without waiting to hear her threat Esteban tossed his arms above his head and fled from the room. Flinging himself into the saddle,. he spurred down the hill and through the town to the Casino de Espanol, where he spent the night at cards with the Spanish officials. But he did not sell Evangelina. In the days that followed many similar scenes occurred, and as Estebans home life grew more unhappy his dissipations increased. He drank and gambled heavily; he brought his friends to the quinta with him, and strove to forget domestic unpleasantness in boisterous revelry. His wife, however, found opportunities enough to weary and exasperate him with reproaches regarding the slave girl. 1 1 CHAPTER II. Spanish Gold. The twins were seven years old when Donna Isabels schemes bore their first bitter fruit, and" the" occasion was a particularly uproarious night when Don Esteban entertained a crowd of his Castilian friends. Little Rosa was awakened at a late hour by the laughter and shouts of her fathers guests. She was afraid, for there was something strange about the voices, some quality to them which was foreign to the childs experience. Creeping Into her brothers room, she awoke him, and 1 LIBERTY 1 -- jit y Your Father Has Sold Me to Him! together they listened. Rosa began to whimper, and when Esteban tried to renssure her his own voice was thin and reedy from fright. In the midst of their agitation they heard some one weeping ; there came a rush uf feet down the hallway, and the next instant Evangelina flung herself Into the room. She fell upon her knees before them. Little master! Little mistress! she sobbed. You will save me, wont you? We love each other, eh? See then, what a crime tills Is! Say that you will save me! The children were frightened, but they managed to quaver: "What has happened? Who lins harmed you? "Doh Pablo Peza, wept the negress. Your father has sold me to him lost me at cards. Oh, 1 shall die! Sebastian wont believe it He Is praying. And Asensio Rut what can they do to htlp me? You alone can save tne. You wont let Don Pablo take ! away? It would kill me. Walt!" Esteban scrambled out of, bed and stood before his dusky nurse nnd playmate. Dont cry any more, j Ill tell papa that you dont Mke Don Pablo." Rosa followed. Yes. c one along. LOAN Don Pablo to go home and leave our Appeal to All True Citizens to Help Eliminate the Diseased Tree Lying Evangelina. But will they Across the Path of True DemocMy "blessed doves listen to you? moaned the slave. racy. Pupa does whatever we ask, they assured her, gravely. If he should (By WINSTON CHURCHILL, Who growl well come back nnd hide you In Recently Returned From the War the big wardrobe where nobody will Zone.) ever find you. Then hand in hand, Germany may be likened to a great with their long nightgowns lifted to tree thnt has fallen across the path their knees, they pattered out into the of The trunk Is being democracy. hall and down toward the living room, two axes, the milwhence came the shouting and the chopped through by itary ax and the propagandist ax. laughter. If the trunk Is to be severed and Don Mario de Castano, who was fac- the obstruction removed, neither ax ing the door, stopped In the midst of a must be spared. Americans must conribald song to cry; God be praised! tribute willingly to help their allies, Whats this I see? to support their army and navy, which The others looked and then burst will he the deciding military factor In Into merriment, for across the litter of the struggle. cards and dice and empty glasses they Our American president was the saw a dimpled girl and boy, as like as first world statesman to make clear two peas. They were just out of bed ; that while a military victory Is esthey were peering through the smoke, sential, It Is not In Itself adequate. and blinking like two little owls. The great significance of this war So You awaken the household lies not on the battle lines, but behind with your songs, some one chided Don them. It Is a war for human liberty, Mario. and thnt which restricts human Two cherubs from heaven, another liberty, not only In the German emexclaimed. In America and England but also pire, But the father lurched forward, a nnd France and Italy nnd Russia frown upon his face. "What Is this, my must be abolished. We are beginning dears? he Inquired, thickly, Run to perceive that the future progress back to your beds. This Is no place of democracy depends on nntional unfor you. selfishness and International "We love Evangelina, scientifically conceived. piped the You must not let Don Pablo twins. Issued World Proclamation. have her If you please. In a series of masterly state papers Evangelina? Mr. Wilson has announced to the world We love her. , , They nodded. that America enters the war unselfishShe plays with us every day. . . ly, and hns defined the true Issue We want her to stay here.' . . . She for all the peoples of the earth even . belongs to us. for those deluded portions of the GerAccustomed as they were to prompt man population which, because of a compliance with their demands, they false system of education, have hithspoke imperiously; but they had never erto uphold the hands of the worst seen a frown like this upon their fa- enemies of liberty, the junkers. Until thers face. quite recently, one of the most disGo to your rooms, my sweethearts, quieting symptoms from the point of view of the allies was a discontent Don Esteban directed. We want Evangelina. She belongs with. If not an actual opposition to, the war of large elements among the workto us, they chorused, stubbornly. ing classes of the allied peoples. In Don Pablo shook with laughter. So She belongs to you, eh? And Im to Russia, where democracy was most be robbed of my winnings. Very well, cruelly suppressed, where conditions then, come and give me a kiss, both of for the peasant nnd the workingman were hardest, a revolution 'actually you, and Ill see what can be done. But the childreu saw that Don Pah took place a revolution that hns los face was strangely flushed, that sounded the keynote of our times. The his eyes were wild and his magnificent world service which our president is beard was wet with wine; therefore doing is that of enlisting the allegiance of those masses for the war. they hung back. You won your bet fairly, Esteban He Is convincing them that it is their war. And these are they upon whom growled at him. Pay no heed to these the evils of on outword economic sysbabies. tem have pressed hardest, nnd who Is ours, the little ones hitherto have Evangelina seen little hop that vicbravely repeated. over the Germans meant their tory Then their father exploded: The own deliverance. Mr. Wilson has Isdevil I Am I drenming? Where have sued a world of emanciproclamation you learned to oppose me? Back to pation from economic slavery. your beds, both of you. Seeing them Make Their Own Treaties. hesitate, he shouted for his wife. IIo, He not only declares thnt powerful there Isabel, my love! Come put nations shall cease to exploit little nathese Imps to rest. Or must I teach tions, but that powerful individuals them manners with my palm? A fine shall cease to exploit their fellow men. thing, truly! Are they to be allowed lie declares that henceforth no wars to roam the house at will nnd get a shall he fought for domination, and fever? that to this end secret treaties shall Mere mention of their stepmothers be abolished. The peoples through name was enough for Rosa and Este- their representatives shall make their ban ; they scuttled away as fast as own treaties. And ns national they could go, and when Donna Isabel democracy insures to the individual came to their rooms, a few moments the greatest amount of later, she found them, in their beds, of world democwith their eyes deceitfully squeezed racy shall Insure to shut. Evangelina was cowering in a (he Individual nations of the earth. In corner. Isabel had overheard the wager, order that each may he free to make and her soul was evilly alight; she Its own contribution to world democjerked the slave girl to her feet and racy. with a blow of her palm sent her to Fighting for Oppressed. her quarters. Then she turned her atIs the spirit In which America his tention to the twins. When she left them they were weeping silently, both has entered the war. We tire fighting And for themselves and for Evangelina, for the oppressed everywhere. we are equally determined that the whom they dearly loved. and inequalities that exist 111 Day was breaking when Estelmn our own government, the false standVarona bade bis guests good-bat the door of his house. As he. stood there ards of worth, the materialism, (be Sebastlnn came to him out of the luxury nnd waste shall be purged from mists of the dawn. He was half crazed our midst. We shall seize this opporfrom apprehension, and now cast him- tunity to finish up the cleaning of our self prone before his master, begging own household. To sustain our army,a" nnd navy In the struggle for such for Evangelina. cause, to uphold our president, to aid our allies who have fought so long and so bravely, these are worthy of our The secret of the hiding sacrifices. I am confident thnt the replace of the buried treasure sponse of the American people to the dies with the two men who posthird Liberty loan will be generous. sess it How this happened is told in the next Installment. Bonds Feed the Boys. Every farmer knows how his bo (TO BIS CONTINUED.) like to eat. Mothers fried chick and apple dumplings and pumpkin pi Pref-- r Musical Education. more Slusic, than the other arts I. havent a chance In the world wh the boys sit down at. table. Lots a thing apart, nnd the instinctive knowledge of it, discovered sometimes farmers boys ore in France and t farmer doesnt want them to go hu in even the youngest children where a rich musical experience is offered Is gry over there. Liberty Ponds ( past all computation by the educa- food for them. tional mind. The Jealous tutorial mind Dont Bury Your Bond. which presumes to tench music to the Whe- - yog and your neighbor ha young without allowing nnd Insuring them n rich experience of bought jour Liberty Ponds, dont ta to delay by the penurious music, nnd them h me and hide them In the eu educational bonrd. Take them to your count method, however well the honker nnd have him give you cert! childs or youths contact meaning wltn musical cates of deposit for the bonds. Yn life Is as little thrifty ns one who banker can would dam up the springs of a river take these bonds to a Fe to era! Reserve hank and borrow mon construct a meager drain pipe. for your use In case you suddenly fli yourself In need of funds. Hiding Is bond as bad as hoarding money. Ke The Alert Auditor ihe bonds and the money In cireul "Amhodv pay much attention to r tton and the country will 'no Person." lnw pull tbrom this crisis &.U right. i 1 o. It hnd not taken Donna Isabel long to guess the reason for Sebastian's many privileges, and one of her first efforts hnd been to win the old mans confidence. It was in vain, however, that she flattered and cajoled, or stormed aud threatened ; Sebastian withstood her ns a towering eeiba withstands the summer heat aud the winter hurricane. His firmness made her vindictive, and so In time she laid a scheme to estrange him from bis muster. Donnu Isabel was crafty. She began t Complain about Evangelina, but tt was only after many months that she ventured to suggest to her husband that he sell the girl. Esteban, of ; he was too course, refused point-blan- k fond of Sebastians daughter, he declared, to think of such a tiling. So, that Is It," sneered Donna Isabel. Well, she Is young and shapely and handsome, ns wenches go. I rather suspected you were fond of her With difficulty Esteban restrained an You mistake my meaning." he oath. said stiffly. "Sebastian has served me faithfully, and Evangelina plays with my childreu. She Is good to them; she Is more of a mother to them than you have ever been. Is thnt why you dress her like a Isabel lady? Bah! A likely story TO i i oil in get every word of It. |