EVENING LEDOER-PHIUADELPHIA; FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2, 1917
JTIVHB1W i
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t V i if ej "fl IJI v T
1 v i ji r i i ri s
UJr W X9JLL, L
(Coprrlfht, 1017, Publle Ltiitr
Rasputin Came Near Earning His Just Deserts
When a Woman Whom He Had Duped At
tacked Him With a Kitchen Knife She Had
Been Following the "Saint" for Years in an
I Effort to Avenge Herself for tlic Wrongs She
Had Suffered
The Wound Inflicted, Though Serious, Was Not
' Fatal, and With the Aid of the Best Surgeons
in Russia the "Black MonK' Recovered He
Said That at the Moment He Was Stabbed an
Angel Descended From Heaven to Stay the
Woman's Arm
CHAPTER V (Continued)
QNE morning, it was the 13th of July, 1914, Rasputin wits leav-
ing his house on his way to church, whither it was his custom
to repair every day. On the threshold of his dwelling a woman was
awaiting him. She had her face muffled In a shawl in spite of tho
warm weather. When she saw him sho threw herself on her knees
before him, as persons of her kind Invariably did when they met him.
The "Prophet" stopped and asked her what it was she wanted from
him. Her only reply was to plunge into his stomach a largo kitchen
knife, which she had held tho whole time hidden under her shawl.
The Attack on Rasputin
Rasputin uttered one cry and sank upon tho ground. Tho crowd
which was always following him rushed toward him and lifted him
up, while two local policemen who had been set by the authorities to
protect and guard him threw themselves upon the woman and seixed
her violently by both nrms. Sho remained perfectly quiet, declar
ing that they need not hold her as sho had not the slightest inten
tion of running away. She knew very well what she had done, and
the had meant to do It for a long time. When asked what had been
her motives, she declared that she would speak before the magis
trates, and only asked to be protected in the meanwhile against the
fury of the mob that was threatening to tear her to pieces In ita
rage. She did not seem to be In the least disturbed by what she
had dono and throughout she showed tho most extraordinary cool
ness and self-possession.
Very soon it was ascertained that she was n native of the
government of SaratofT and that her namo was Gousiewa. When
Rasputin had been preaching In SaratofF she was among the women
who hod been taken in by his speeches, and, though married, she
left her husband and family to follow the "Prophet" He very
toon proceeded to "clean her from her sins," according to his
favorlto expression. We know, of course, what this meant, and
Gouilewa, who at that time was young and pretty, only shared
the fate of so many other women, deluded by the mealy-mouthed
utterances of the "new Saviour," that it was only by means of a
RAINBOW'S END
CopvrUht, 1917. Harper & Droi.
CHAPTER IV (Continued)
CONSTANT brooding over tho treasure
had long since affected Dona Isabel's
brain, and as a consequence she often
dreamed about It. Sho dreamed about it
again tonight, and, strangely enough, her
dreamt were pleasant. Sebastian ap
peared, but (or once he neither cursed nor
threatened her, and Estaban, when he
Came, was again the lover who had
courted her In Habana. It was all very
wonderful, ery exciting, very real. Dona
Isabel found herself robed for him In her
wedding gown of white, and realized that
the was beautiful. It seemed also as If
her powers of attraction were magically
enhanced, for she exercised a potent In
fluence over him. Her senses were quick
ened a thousandfold, too. For Instance,
the could see great distances a novel
and agreeable sensation; she enjoyed
strange, unsuspected perfumes; she heard
the music of distant waterfalls and un
derstood tho whispered languago of the
brlexe. It was amazing, delightful. Este
ban and she were walking through th,
grounds of the qulnta and he was telllt.g
her about his casks of Spanish sovereigns,
ebout those boxes bound with iron, about
l the Sold ftnrt HllvAr nrHamnrit. rtt liAttVAn.
jljr beauty and the pearls as large as
Plums. As he talked, Isabel felt herself
I4 now hot and cold with anticipation; fhe
i experienced spasms of delight. She felt
that the must dance, must run, must cast
i her arms aloft In ecstasy. Never had she
, experienced so keen an intoxication of
Jey as now, while Esteban was leading
- her toward th6 treasure and wooing her
t With youthful ardor,
f Isabel's Agony
( Then of a sudden Isabel's whole dream
jt World dissolved. She awoke, or thought
fine did, at hearing her name shouted.
v But although she underwent the mental
LM the Dhvnlr-al pVinMr nf ,.lnir tort11
If from slumber, although she fejt the first
I swift fright of a person .aroused to
jttranga surroundings, she knew on the
Wnstant that she must still be asleep; for
AtterythinP hhiMt, Via.. . .41. .tartr
-O wwwMfc ig. nuD uiiu u.fu URn,
air was cold and damp, wot grass rose
hr knees, it Hashed through her mind
t she simply had been whirled from a
Pleasant dream into ono of -terror. As she
Kj.ugni with herself to throw off the
illusion of this nightmare its reality be.
rmo overwhelming. Warring, incongru
ous sensations, far too swift for her mind
m compass, were crowded into the mlnut
'fraction of time. Befpre she could
? realize her own condition she felt
,rHlt plunged into space. Now the sert
fV ,on ' falling was not strange to Isabel
S common to all sufferers from night-."-nevertheless,
she experienced the
;rS of a horror such as she had never
jTJd- Bhe heard herself scream
2ttlr. fearfully, and knew, too late,
Sii.h WM ,ndd awake. Then
-7 run chaos a sudden, blinding crash
"nta and sounds nothing morel
W l Verona at until a late hour
ffi night over a letter which required
? caro ,n lt composition. Jt
an v ' n Upon tha th,nnest of paper,
Tnen it was finished the writer in
TZrf lt ,n n envelope of the same ma
T7. teban put the letter in hla
g"V without addressing Jt. Then he
STfwa. nls light, tiptoed to the door
fck t4 . roesM, II
UM fatmfw earn to Mi
e.
ir
Company,
All rlxhta rrved.)
"The
ears, for his sister slept like a kitten.
Reassured, he stole out Into the hall. Here
he paused a moment with his ear first to
Pancho Cueto's door, and then to the door
of his stepmother's room. He could hear
tho overseer'i heavy breathing and
Isabel's senseless babbling the latter was
moaning and muttering ceasetesaly, but,
being accustomed to her restlessness,
Esteban paid no heed.
Letting himself out into the night, he
took the path that led to the old sunken
garden. Nocturnal birds were chirruping;
his way was barred with spider-webs,
heavy with dew and gleaming in the
moonlight like tiny ropes of Jewels; the
odor of gardenias was overpowering. He
passed close by the well, and Its gaping?
black mouth, only half protected by tho
broken coping, reminded him that ho had
promised Rosa to cover It with planks.
In its present condition it was a menace
to animals, if not to human beings who
were unaware of Its presence. He told
himself he would attend to it on the mor
row. The Secret Meeting
Seating himself on ono of the old stone
benches, the young mart lit a cigarette
and composed himself to wait. He sat
there for a long time, grumbling Inward,
ly, for the night was damp and he waa
sleepy; but at last a figure stole out of the
gloom and Joined him. The newcomer
was a ragged negro, dressed in the fashion
of the poorer country people.
"Well, Asensio, I thought you'd never
come. I'll get a fever from this!" Esteban
said, irritably.
"It Is a long way. Don Esteban, and
Kvangolina made me watt until dark. I
tell you we have to be careful these
days."
"What is tho news? What did you
hoar?"
Asensio sighed gratefully as he seated
himself. "One hears a great deal, but one
never knows what to believe. There
is fighting In Santa Clara, and Maceo
sweeps westward."
Taking the urtaddrested letter from his
pocket, Esteban said, "I have another
message for Colonel Loper."
"That Lbpes! He's here today and
there tomorrow; one can never find him."
"Well, you must find htm, and Imme
diately, Asensio. This letter contains im,
portant news so important, in fact"
Estebah laughed lightly "that if you find
yoiirself In danger from the Spaniards
I'd advise you to chew It up and swallow
it M quloklr as you can."
"I'll remember that," said the negro,
"for there,'f dariger enough. 81(11, I fear
these Spaniards less than the tjuerrllleroa;
they are everywhere. They call them
selves patriots, but they are nothing more
than robbers. They"
An(9 paused abruptly. He seised, his
companion; by the arm and, leaning for
ward, stared across th level garden Into
the shadows opposite. Something waa
moving there, Under the trees; tle men
could see that lt was white and formless,
and that it pursued an erratic course.
"Whafa ths,tr gaPed the negro. Ha
begah to trimble violently cnA hie breath
became audible. Esteban wm compelled
to held him down by main force- "Jesus
Crlstol It's old Don Estiban, your father.
They say he walks at midnight carrying
his head in his two hands,"
Twk Varona managed to whisper,
wW sea i4mw U oettra: "Husht Watt!
'DEVnfSAINT
'JrjJi.cfeSSRad'zivrill
complete union with himself that they could bo
Bins forgiven tO them. Tlio lmfnrtnni.1. n.numtnVT
one of many. When she had found it out an intense rage had
taken hold of her, which had been further enhanced and strength
ened by the monk Illiodore, to whom she had related her misfortune.
He had already at the time she sought him'out become the deadly
enemy of nia former friend, Rasputin. Tho miserable woman had
lost everything homo, children, husband, relatives on account of
her mad infatuation for the deceiver, who had made her forget
her duties by the fascination which he had exercised over, her
weak mind. She swore that she would revenge herself and kill
'Prophet stopped and asked her what it was she wanted from him. Her only answer was to plunge Into his stomach
large kitchen knife, which she had held the whole time hidden under her shawl."
the "Prophet," so that at least other women could be saved from
the awful fate which had be fallen her.
After Rasputin had dismissed her she had been compelled to
lead a dreadful kind of existence in order to obtain'a piece of bread.
At last she had becomo attacked by an awful disease, which had
already eaten away a part of her nose and completely disfigured her
face. This, too, she attributed to tho "Prophet." In her despair she
decided that as she had nothing to lose the best and only thing left
for her to do was to try to rid the world of the awful Impostor
who had caused so much misery and brought such abominable mis
I don't believe in ghosts." Nevertheless,
he was on the point of setting Asensio
an example of undignified (light when the
mysterious object emerged from tho
Bhadows into the open moonlight; then
he sighed with relief: "Ah-ht Now I seel
It is my stepmother. She is asleep."
A Vision
"Asleep?" Asensio waa Incredulous. He
was still so unnerved by his first fright
that Esteban dared not release him.
"Yes; her eyes are open, but she sees
nothing."
"I don't like such things," the negro
confessed in a shaky voice. "How can
sho walk if she is asleep? If her eyes
are open, how can she help seeing us?
You know she hates Evangellna and me."
"I tell you she sees nothing, knows
nothing " For a momen. or two they
watched the progress of the white-robed
figure; then Esteban stirred and rose from
his seat. "She's too close to that well.
There is" 116 started forward a pace or
two. 'They say people who walk at night
go mad if they're awakened too suddenly,
and yet"
Dona Isabel waa talking In a low,
throaty, unnatural tone. Her words were
meaningless, but the effect, at that hour
and in those surroundings, was bizarre
and fearsome. Esteban felt his scalp
prlokllng uncomfortably. This waa very
creepy.
When the somnambulist's deliberate
progress toward the mouth of the well
continued he called her name softly.
'Dona Isabel r Then he repeated It
louder. "Dona Isabel! Wake up!"
The woman seemed to hear and yet not
to hear. 8he turned her head to listen,
but continued to walk.
"Don't be alarmed," he said, reassur
ingly. "It is only Esteban Dona Isabel)
Stool" Esteban sprang forward, shouting
at the top of his voice, for at the sound of
his name Isabel had abruptly swerved to
her right, a movement whlqh brought her
dapgerously close to the Up of the well-
"Stop! do back!" screamed the young
man.
The Accident
Above his warning there came a shriek,
shrill and agonized a wail of such abys
mal terror as to shock the night birds
and the insects Into stillness. Dona Isa
bel slipped, or stumbled, to her knees, she
balanced briefly, clutching at random
whle the earth and crumbling cement
give way beneath hen then she slid for
ward and disappeared, almost out from
between Esteban'a hands. There waa a
noisy rattle of rock and, pebble and a
great splash far below; a chlekle of little
itones striking the water, then a faint
bubbling. Nothing more. The stepson
stood In his tracks, sick, blind wth hpr
ror; he was swaying over the opening
when Asensio dragged, him back.
Pancho Cueto, beng a heavy sleeper,
was the last to be roused by Esteban'a
outcries. When he had hurriedly slipped
Info his clothe In response to the pound
ing on his door the few servants that the
establishment supported had beerv thor
oughly awakened. Esteban was ahoutlng
at them, explaining that Dona. Isabel had
met with an accident. He was calling for
a lantern, too, and a stout rope, Cueto
tfcetwfct they mttet all M out of ttfutV
saved and their
V,nA nnlo k.
By REX
JtS? Author of "The
Barrier," "Heart
THE STORY THUS FAK
DON ESTEDAN VARONA, one of the wealthiest Spaniards in Cuba, has
hoarded the jewels and gold acquired through the sale of slaves and
the profits derived from his extensive sugar plantations In a secret chamber
at the bottom of a well. Rumors of his treasure have spread throughout
the land, and after the death of his first wife, the crafty, scheming Isabel
finally becomes the second Dona Varona.
SEBASTIAN, Esteban'a most trusted slave, Is the only one to share
the secret of the hoarded wealth, and Isabel vainly tries to get information
from the black. She even seeks to get at Sebastian by suggesting that
Esteban sell the slave's daughter Evangellna. This the master steadfastly
refuses to do, until one night, after he has become drunk In attempting to
escape his wife's nagging, he places Evangellna as the stake in' a game
and loses.
ROSA and ESTEDAN, the children of the distressed planter and his
first wife, leave their beds and appear in the room before their father to beg
that Evangellna, their nurse, be retained. But their prayers are to no avail.
When Sebastian pleads with his master not to let his daughter go, Don
Esteban, infuriated, turns upon the slave and for the first time in his life
has the black chained to a window grating and flogged.
Sebastian is dying from thirst and the torture of the files upon his
wounds when Isabel appears at the window and asks him again if there
is a treasure. He finally says yes. But further information sh; falls to
get. When Esteban once more attacks Sebastian the slave tears himself
free, kills his former master and several others before he is finally shot.
PAKCHO CUETO, manager of the Varona plantations, also feels certain
that there is a treasure, and he lays his plans to get it.
DON MARIO DE CAST A NO, a wealthy sugar merchant, calls upon
Isabe. to ask for the hand of Rosa. He Is fat. unattractive and well along
in years, but ': conceited enough to feel that his wealth will win the step
mother's support. But despite the latter's willingness, she holds out little
hope. Rosa loves another.
JOHNNIE O'REILLY, more commonly called THE O'REILLY, Is a
young American representing a New York firm In Cuba. He is Rosa's lover.
While the tw are talking in a secluded part of the estate Esteban joins
them and confesses that he is spy for Colonel Lopez, leader of the Cuban
insurrectionists.
Isabel, in a desperate attempt to gain information, accuses Pancho
Cueto of mismanaging the estate and of stealing the profits. The latter
admits his guilt, but defies Isabel to bring him to justice. With no deeds
left to indicate the rightful owner of the property, he has the upper hand.
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
Esteban had run to the well both rope and
lantern were ready for their use. Before
Esteban could form and fit a loop for his
shoulders there was sufficient help on
hand to lower him into the treacherous
abyss.
It waa a commentary upon Dona Isa
bel's character that during the long, slow
momenta of uncertainty while Esteban
waa being lowered the negroes exhibited
more curiosity than concern over her
fate. In half-pleased excitement they
whispered and giggled and muttered to
gether, while Pancho lay prone at the
end of the orifice, directing them how to
manipulate the rope.
Sebastian's Curse Fulfilled
That waa n. gruesome task which fell
to Esteban, for the well had been long un
used, it sides were oozing slime, lt
water were stale and black. He was on
the point of fainting when he finally
climbed out, leaving the negroe to hoist
te dripping, Inert weight which he had
found at the bottom.
Old Sebastian's curse had come true;
Dona Isabel had met the fate he had
palled down upon her that day when he
hung exhausted in his chains and when
the files tormented htm. The treasure for
which the woman had Intrigued so tire
lessly had been her death. Like an Ignis
fatuus, it had lured her to destruction.
Furthermore, a If In grimmest irony,
he had been permitted at the very last
to find It. Living, she had searched to
no purpose whatsoever; dying, she had
almost grasped It In her arms.
0o U rt excitement had abated
m4 a gmw 4 Um at to town.
"Some people saw in the attack on Rasputin an intervention of the secret police, wiW
had been told to get rid in some way or other of a man who was fast becoming a
public nuisance and embarrassment for everybody, even those who had benefited
through their acquaintance with him."
fortunes and occasioned so much distress to such a considerable
number of innocent women. She had followed Rasputin for a long
time in St. Petersburg, but had never been ablo to approach him
near enough to execute her design. But when it had come to her
knowledge that he was returning to Pokrowskoie she had taken it
as an indication that the Almighty would be with her in the deed
which she was contemplating, and she, too, started for the distant
Siberian village. There she had spent three days waiting for a
favorable opportunity until the morning when sho had at last suc
ceeded in getting close enough to him to plant in his body the knifo
which she had carried about with her for moro than two years.
BEACH
Spoiler. ," "The 4&
of the Sunset"
Cueto drew Esteban aside and questioned
him.
"A shocking tragedy and most pecu
liar," said the overseer. "Nothing could
amaze me more."
"Exactly! And all because of her sleep
walking. I'm all in a tremble."
"She was asleep? You are sure7"
"Have I not told you so?" Esteban
waa Impatient.
"But lt Is said that people given to that
peculiarity never come to grief. They
say some sixth sense guides them gives
them warning of pitfalls and dangers.
I I can't understand "
"That well was a menace to a waking
person. I didn't realize how near to it
she was; and when I cried out to her lt
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, eh?"
Esteban saw the malevolent curiosity
In Cueto's face and started. "I That
1 my affair. Surely you don't think"
"Come, cornel You can trust me."
The overseer winked and smiled.
"I had business that took me there,"
stiffly declared the younger man.
Cueto and Esteban
"Exactly! And a profitable business It
proved!" Cueto laughed openly now.
"Well, I don't mind telling you, Dona
Isabel's death Is no disappointment to
any one. Anybody could see "
"Btopl" Esteban was turning alter
nately red and white, "You ceem to
Imply aomethlng outrageous."
"Now let us be sensible. I understand
you perfectly, my boy. But an officer of
the yQuardta Civil may arrive at any mo
ment and he will want to know how you
cobm to be with your atepmother wha
i
This whole story was related by Gousiewa with tho utmost ee
posure, and without any hesitation at. all. Sho considered Rasputin
as the incarnation of the dovil, and she had thought it a good deed
to put him out of the way of committing any moro ovll. For tit
rest, she did not care what was to become of her. As It was, she
knew that sho had not long to live, and with the Illness with which
she was afflicted existence in itself was not so sweet that she should
sacrifice her revenge In order to retain It Sho had had no accom
plices, and she had consulted no one. In spite of the efforts which
were made to Induce her to say that she had acted under the direc
tions and tho inspiration of Illiodore, sho denied it absolutely, add
ing that had she spoken to him about her intention sho knew that
he would have dissuaded her from it and that he might even haVo
warned tho police so as to frustrate her design.
In the meanwhile, Rasputin had been carried back to his room
and telegrams dispatched everywhere for a doctor. The wound,
though deep, was not a serious one and it had not attacked any
vital organs. The man was in no danger, but his disciples chose
to say that It was a miracle of Providence that he had not suc
cumbed at once under tho blow which had been dealt at him. The
"Prophet," when ho had felt himself stabbed, had cried out that
some one was to "arrest that who had hit him." Then ho
caused several telegrams to bo sent to his friends in St Peters
burg In which he described tho attempt against his life as the work
of the devil, who had inspired the woman Gousiewa and Induced
her to commit her abominable action. He added that at the moment
when her weapon had touched him he had seen an angel descend
from Heaven, stop her arm, and then put a hand on his wound so as
to stop It from bleeding, and that it was only duo to this direct
Intervention of tho Almighty that he had escaped with his life. Of
course, the story was believed by tho credulous people who accepted
every one of his words as a manifestation of the will of the Lord,
and he becamo more than ever a saint, to whom one began to raiso
altars and to regard in the light of another Saviour come to redeem
mankind from the terrors of sin.
How St. Petersburg Reacted to the Attack
In St. Petersburg the news of the attempted assassination of
Rasputin had produced an immense impression, and had been com
mented upon in different ways. Some people saw in it an interven
tion of the secret police, who had been told to get rid in some way
or other of a man who was fast becoming a public nuisance and
embarrassment for everybody, even for those who had benefited
through their acquaintance with him. Others declared that It was a
just punishment for his evil deeds, and that the woman Gousiewa
had not been badly inspired when she had tried to revenge herself
on him for the terrible wrong which he hod dono to her. Every one
was anxious to learn how the news would be received in certain
quarters and among the bevy of feminine worshipers whoso exist
ence was wrapped up in that of Rasputin. Public curiosity, how
ever, was not destined to be satisfied, because nothing was heard
concerning tho feelings of these adepts of his on this remarkable
occasion.
The only thing which one learned in regard to the whole affair
was that two ladies who figured among his most prominent sup
porters had started at once for Pokrowskoie, and that a celebrated
surgeon from Kazan had also been requested to go to see him re
gardless of what his journey might cost.
(CONTINUED TOMORROW)
A novel of love, hidden treasure and rebellion in beautiful, mya
terxouo Cuba during the exciting days o the revolt against Spain.
she plunged Into that trap. So prepare
yourself. If only you had not given the
alarm. If only you had waited until
morning. But In the aead of nlghtl
Alone! Ho will think lt queer. Suppose,
too, hn learns that you and Dona Isabel
q.uarreled the other day over money mat
ters?" Young Varona recovered himself
r,ulckly. He was watching1 his inquisitor
now with a faintly speculative frown.
When Cueto had finished, Esteban said:
"Dona Isabel and I frequently quar
reled over money matters, so there Is
nothing strange In that. You would like
me to confess to some black Iniquity that
would make us better friends, eh? Well,
It so happens that I was not alone to
night, but that another person saw the
poor woman's death and can bear me out
In everything I say. No, Pancho, you
overreach yourself. Now then" Este
ban was quick-tempered and for years
ho had struggled against an instinctive
distrust and dislike of the plantation
manager "remember that I have become
the head of this house and your employer.
You will do better to think of your own
affairs than of mini. Do you understand
mo? I have long suspected that certain
matters of yours need attontlon, and at
the first opportunity I Intend to have a
careful reckoning with you. I think you
know I have a good head for figures."
Turning his back upon the elder man,
he walked away.
Now It did not occur to Cueto really to
doubt the boy's Innocence, though the
circumstances of Dona Isabel's death
were suspicious enough to raise a ques
tion in any mind; but In view of Este
ban'a threat he thought lt wise to protect
himself by setting a backfire. It waa
with some such vague idea In his head
that he turned to the sunken garden a
the first gray llht of dawn appeared.
He hoped to gain some Inspiration by
examining the place again, and, as lt
proved, he succeeded beyond his most
sanguine expectations.
Discovered
As he sat on an old stone bench, mood
ily reptcturlng the catastrophe as Este
ban had described lt, his attention fell
upon an envelope at his feet. It waa
sealed; it was unoddressed. Cuteo idly
broke it open and began to read. Before
he had gone far he started; then he cast
a furtive glance about. But the place
wis seoluded; he was unobserved. When
he had finished reading he rose, smiling.
He no longer feared Esteban. On the
contrary, he rather pitied the young fool;
for here between his fingers was that
which not only promised to remove the
boy from his path forever, but to place
In hi hands the entire Vardna estates.
Fate waa kind. After years of patient
scheming Cueto had obtained his reward.
On afternoon, perhaps a week later,'
Don Mario de Casta no came puffing and
blowing up to the qulrtta, demanding to
See Rosa without a moment's delay. The
girl appeared before her caller had man
aged to dry up the streams of perspira
tion resulting from hi exertions, with
a directness unusual even in him, Don
Mario began!
"Rosa, my dear, you and Esteban have
been discovered! I was at lunch with
Ui oomandante when I learned the truth,
Through friendship I prevailed upon hUa
to give you am bow grass."
In-
quired the girl,
"Come, come!" the plahter cried, im
patiently. "Don't you see you can trust
me? God! The recklessness, the folly
of young people! Could you not leave
this Insurrection to your elders? Or per
haps you thought lt a matter of no great
Importance, an amusing thing"
Rosa Refuses
"Don Mario!" Itosa interrupted. "I
don't know what you are talking about."
"You don't, ch7" The caller's wet
cheeks grew redder; he blew like a por
poise. "Then call Esteban quickly! There
Is not a moment to lose." When the
brother appeared De Castano blurted out
at him accusingly: "Well, slrl A fine fix
you've put yourself in. I came here to
warn you, but Rosa pretends ignorance.
Perhaps you wilt be Interested to learn
that Colonel Fernandez has Issued orders
to arrest you and your sister as agents
of the Insurrectos."
"What?" Estebah drew back. Rosa
turned white as a Illy and laid a flutter
ing hand upon her throat.
"You two will steep tonight In San
Severino," grimly announced the rotund
visitor. "You know what that means.
Cubans who enter the Castillo seldom
come out Have you noticed the big
sharks that awlm about under the walls
of It? Do you know what bait keeps
them there? Well. I'll tell you! It's the
bodies of rebel sympathizers foolish peo
ple like you, who call themselves pa
triots." P.ona uttered a smothered cry.
"Colonel rernandes," Don Mario pro
ceeded, impressively, "did me this favor,
knowing me to be a suitor for Rosa's
hand. In spite of his duty and the evi
dence he "
"Evidence? What evidence?" Esteban
asked, sharply.
"For" one thing, your own letter to
Lopes, the rebel, warning him to beware
of the trap prepared for him in Santa
Clara, and advising him of tho Govern
ment force Sabanllla. Oh, don't try to
deny ltl I read it with my own eyes, and
It means death."
At last Rosa said, faintly: "Esteban!
I warned you."
Estban(waa taken aback, but lt wai
plain that he was not in the least fright
ened. "They haven't caught me yet," he
laughed.
"You say they intend to arrest mo
also?" Rosa eyed the caller anxiously.
"Exactly!"
"BUt why?"
"Yeal Who accuses her, and of wutt?"
Esteban Indignantly demanded.
"That also I have discovered through
the courtesy of Colonel Fernandec. Y6ur
accuser Is none other than Pancho Cueto."
"Cueto"
"Yes, he ha denohnced both of you a
rebels, and the letter IS only part or hi
proof, I believe. I don't know what other
evidence he has, but, take m7 word for It,
tho Government doe not require taWch
proof these days. Suspicion I eno).
Now, then, you can guea why 2 a here.
I am not without Influence; I mm v
Rosa, but for you, E(en, I jfl
do nothing. You must look euAHftear
self. Well? What do yu JBWe')
wasting preel7U rinse M4rf W wtttt
our moitU ?"
"What do you mean, Don Mario?"
m
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