Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1918 — RAINBOW'S END A NOVEL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RAINBOW'S END A NOVEL

By REX BEACH

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SYNOPSIS. I : . ' ■_ CHAPTER I— Don Esteban Varona, a Cuban planter, possesses a gTeat treasure hoard. This wealth has been hidden in a well on the estate by Sebastian, a slave, and only he and his master know the secret cache. Don Esteban’s wife dies at the birth of twins, Esteban and Rosa. Don Esteban marries the avaricious Donna Isabel, who knows there is hidden treasure and tries to wring the secret from Sebastian. When the slave refuses she tries to hurt him by having Evangelina. his daughter, whom he loves dearly and who is the special servant of the twins, sold. CHAPTER lll—Many years Donna Isabel searched for the hidden wealth of the man she had married. A few years later •he seeks to marry Rosa to the rich Don Mario, but Rosa is promised to O’Reilly, the American, and awaits his return from New York, whence he has gone to break off his engagement to his employer’s daughter. Esteban is secretly aiding the Insurrectos. CHAPTER IV—Donna Isabel is at the mercy of Pancho Cueto, her unscrupulous administrator, who knows the deeds to the plantation are lost with the treasure. One night she walks in her sleep and meets her death in the treasure well. Esteban and Rosa are forced to flee when Cueto denounces them as rebels. CHAPTER V-Rosa writes to O’Reilly of their plight and urges him to come and save her. °

CHAPTER VI. The Quest Begins. When O’Reilly had finished his second reading of the letter there were fresh blots upon the pitifully untidy pages. “I write nicely, only the ink is poor _" “There is little of anything here at Asensio’s house—” ‘‘lt is cold before the dawn—” . . . Poor little Rosa! He had always thought of her as so proud, so high-spirited, so playful, but another Rosa had written this letter. Her appeal stirred every chord of tenderness, every impulse of chivalry in his impressionable Irish nature. “O God! Come quickly, if you love me.” He leaped to his feet; he dashed the tears from his eyes. Johnnie’s preparations were conducted with vigor and promptitude; ■within two hours his belongings were packed. He seized his hat and hastened downtown to the office of the Cuban junta. A businesslike young man inquired his errand. Johnnie made known a part of it, and then asked to see someone in authority. In consequence, perhaps, of his Irish smile or of that persuasiveness which he could render almost irresistible when he willed, it was not long before he gained admittance to the presence of Mr. Enriquez, a distinguished, scholarly Cuban of middle age. O’Reilly plunged boldly into the heart of the matter which had brought him thither. When he had finished his tale Mr. Enriquez inquired: “But how do you expect me to help you?” “I want your advice more than your help, although you might tell me where I can find Colonel Lopez.” Enriquez eyed his caller keenly. “That information would be very well worth having,” said he. “But, you un-

derstarid, we know little about what Is going on in Cuba—far less than the Spaniards themselves. I’m afraid I can’t help you.” “You don’t take me for a spy, do you?” Johnnie asked, with his friendly grin. “Ah * You don’t look like one, but we never know whom to trust. This young lady In whom you are interim ested, who is she?” “Her name is Varona; Miss Bosa Varona.’’- * - •

"SoT* Enrique 1 ! raised his brows. “Not by any chance the heiress to that famous Varona treasure?” “Exactly!——lf there is such a thing. Here! Read this. I want you to believe me.” Reverently he laid Rosa’s letter before her countryman. “I'm not in the habit of showing my letters to strangers, but —I guess that’ll convince you I’m not a spy.” He sat silently while the letter was being read ; nor was he disappointed in the result. Mr. Enriquez raised dark, compassionate eyes to his, saying: “This is a touching letter, sir. I thank you for allowing me to see it. No, I don’t doubt you now. Poor Cuba i Her sons must be brave, her daughters patient.” “Well! You understand why I must go quickly, and why I can’t chance delay by going either to Matanzas or to Havana. I want to land somewhere farther east, and I want you to help me to find Colonel Lopez.” Mr. Enriquez frowned thoughtfully. “What I just told you is literally true,” he said at last. “We work in the dark up here, and we don’t know the whereabouts of our troops.' But —I have a thought.” He excused himself and left the room. When he returned he explained : “I don’t have to tell you that we are watched all the time, and that for us to assist you openly would be liable to defeat your purpose. But I have just telephoned to a man I can trust, and I have told him your story. He has relatives in Cuba and he agrees to help you if he can. His name is Alvarado.” Writing an address upon a card, he handed it to O’Reilly. "Go to him, tell him what you have told me, and do as he directs. Another thing, don’t return here unless it is necessary ; otherwise when you land in Cuba you may have cause to regret it.” Doctor Alvarado, a high type of the Cuban professional man, was expecting O’Reilly. He listened patiently to his caller’s somewhat breathless recital.

“You °do well to avoid the cities where you are known,” he agreed. “But just how to reach the insurrectos —” “If you’d merely give me a letter saying I’m a friend —” The doctor promptly negatived this suggestion. “Surely you don’t think it can be done as easily as that?” he inquired. “In the first place, wherever you land, you will be watched and probably searched. Such a letter, if discovered, would not only end your chances, but it would bring certain disaster upon those to whom it was written. My two brothers, Tomas and Ignacio, reside in Cuba, and we all Awk for the cause of independence in our own ways. I am fortunately situated, but they are surrounded by dangers, and I must ask you to be extremely careful in communicating with them, for I am placing their lives in your hands and—l love them dearly.” “I shall do exactly as you say.” “Very well, then! Go to Neuvitas, where Tomas lives —there Is a steamer leaving in three or four days, and you can arrange passage on her. He is a dentist. Meet him, somehow, and make yourself know by repeating this sentence: ‘I come from Felipe. He told me how you whipped him to keep him from going to the Ten Years’ war!’ That will be enough; he will ask yoil who you are and what you want. You won’t need to say anything more. No living soul, except Tomas and I, knQws that he thrashed me, but It is true. He will understand from the message that I trust you, and he will help you to reach the rebels, if such a thing is possible. Come and see me when you get back, and bring me news of Tomas. Now, adios, compadre.” “Adios, senor! I am’ deeply grateful !”

O’Reilly had no difficulty in securing passage direct to Neuvitas on the English steamer Dunham Castle, and a few days later he saw the Atlantic highlands dissolve into the mists of a winter afternoon as the ship headed outward into a nasty running sea. Cuba, when it came fairly into sight, lay bathed in golden sunshine, all warmth and welcome, like a bride upon an azure couch. The moist breath from her fragrant shores swept over the steamer’s decks and Johnnie O’Reilly sniffed it joyfully. Although there were but a few passengers on the Dunham Castle, they were subjected'to a long delay, during which suspicious customs men searched their baggage and questioned them. Finally, however, O’Reilly found himself free to go ashore. El Gran Hotel Europea, Neuvitas’ leading hostelry, belied Its name. It was far from large, and certainly it was anything but European, except, perhaps, in its proprietor’s extravagant and un-American desire to please, at any cost. But it was the best hotel the place afforded, and Senor Carbajal .was the most attentive of hosts. He evinced an unusual interest In the affairs of his American guest, and soon developed a babit of popping into

the latter’s room at unexpected moments, ostensibly to see that all was as it should be. When, for the third time, he appeared without knocking. O’Reilly suspected something. “You have everything, eh?” Mr. Carbajal teetered upon the balls of his feet while his small black eye* roved Inquisitively. “Everything in abundance." “You are a pleasure traveler? You see the sights, is that it? Well, Cuba Is beautiful.” “I’m not a tourist. I travel for my health,” said O'Reilly. “You— Health—!” Carbajal’s frame began to heave; his bulging ab- | domen oscillated as if shaken by some hidden hand. “Good! Ha I There's another joke ior x you.” “I’m a sick man," O’Reilly insisted, hollowly. “You don’t look sick,” mumbled Carbajal. “Not like the other American." “What other American?” “A peculiar fellow. He went on to Puerto Principe. What a cough 1 And he was as thin as a wire. He bled at the mouth, too. all the time, when he was not reviling my hotel. You’ll see him if you go there, provided he hasn't come apart with his coughing. I believe he writes for newspapers. Well, iit Is my pleasure to serve you. CoraJ inand me at any hour.” Mr. Carbajal I rose reluctantly and went wheezing j downstairs to his grimy tables and the flies. (TO BE CONTINUED.) #

He Sat Silently While the Letter Was Being Read.