Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1918 — RAINBOW'S END A NOVEL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RAINBOW'S END A NOVEL

By REX BEACH

W/W7S4/Z " *77f£<sPQ/LEJ3<§'‘ "/fEATT (F 77t£ COPCZTO&HT; by harper, and brothers . _

SYNOPSIS. . ijt CHAPTER I—Don Esteban Varona, a Cuba* planter, possesses a great treasure BOard. This wealth has been hidden in a wen on the estate by Sebastian, a slave, end 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 laughter, whom he loves dearly and who Uth. special servant of the twins, sold. CHAPTER ll—Through Donna Isabel’s Scheming Don Esteban risks Evangelina at cards and loses. Crazed by the loss of his daughter, Sebastian kills Don Esteban and himself. CHAPTER Hl—Many years Donna Isabel searched for the hidden wealth of the Ban she had married. A few years later she seeks to marry Rosa to the rich Don Mario, but Rosa is promised to O'Reilly, {he American, and awaits his return from Rew York, whence he has gone to break off bis engagement to his employer’s daughter. Esteban is secretly aiding the Insurrectos. CHAPTER IV—Donna Isabel Is at the tnercv 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 Vl—O’Reilly soon lands in Cuba, but finds he will have hard work to reach Rosa, as communication with the Insurrectos is difficult and dangerous. CHAPTER Vll—O’Reilly meets Leslie Branch, newspaper man. who is, a victim of tuberculosis, and they plan a way to Join the Insurrectos together.

CHAPTER IX. Marauders. The surprise was easily effected, for Colonel Cobo’s men were accomplished in this sdrt of work. Rosa, crouching upon her bench, heard nothing, saw nothing, until out of the

shadows beside her human forms materialized. She screamed once, twice; then a palm closed over her mouth and she began to struggle like a cat. Evangelina, who had waked at the first outcry, met the marauders as they rushed through the door. There were shouts and curses, loudly bellowed orders, a great scuffling and -pounding of feet upon the dirt floor of the hut. the rickety, bark-covered walls bulged and creaked. Over all sounded the shrieks of the negress battling in the pitch-black interior like an animal in its lair. Then someope set fire to the thatch; the flames licked up the dead palm leaves to the ridgepole, and the surroundings leaped into view. Rosa saw a swarthy, thickset man In the uniform of. a colonel of volunteers. and behind him Pancho Cueto. Tearing the hand from her lips for a moment, she cried Cueto’s name, but he gave no heed. Rosa shrieked his name again; then she heard the officer Say: “Where is the young fellow? I hear nothing hut the squeals of that common wench.” Evangelina's cries of rage and defiance ceased, and with them the sounds of combat. From the blazing bohio ran two armed men, brushing sparks from their clothing. A third followed, dragging Evangelina by one naked arm. Rosa felt herself swooning, and she knew nothing of what immediately followed. After a time she felt herself shaken, and heard the colonel addressing her. “Come, come!” he was saying. “Where is your precious brother and ,that black fellow?” Rosa could only stare dully. “It seems we missed them,” said Cueto. “More of your , bungling,” Cobo

Qroke out at hini, wrathfully. “Fooll I've a mind to toss you into that fire.” He turned his attention once more to Rosa, and with a jerk that shook her into fuller consciousness ed: “Where are they? Speak to me.” “Gone!” she gasped. “Gone!" She struggled weakly toward Cueto; imploring him, “Pancho, don’t you know -well, we’ve taught him a lesson,” said Cueto, grinning apprehensively at Coho' “We’ve accomplished something, anyhow, eh?” He nodded at Rosa. “She’s all that I (told you. Look at her!” » Colonel Cobo took time to scrutinize his prisoner. “Yes! She’s a pretty little spy—quite a prize, truly. Now, then!” His thick lips spread; he spoke to her more gently. “I want you to tell me about that brother of yours, eh? Cueto said I would find him here. Ua! Still frightened, I see. Well, I have a, way with women; I dare say you’ll be glad to tell me everything by and by.” Then, seeing that his men risked a scorching In their search of the hut and were already quarreling over the scanty plunder which it afforded, he turned from Rosw to call them away. Profiting by his inattention, Rosa wriggled out of his grasp and ran to Evangelina, who lay face down in the dirt, her limbs sprawled loosely. She flung herself upon the prostrate body and cried the black woman’s name, but she could awaken no response. The first pink, of dawn was now deepening in the east, and as soon as it had grown light enough to see to travel Colonel Cobo prepared to return to his horses. The roof and walls of the bohio had fallen away to ashes, its skeleton of poles and its few pieces of crude furniture alone were smoldering when he called his men together and gave the word to go. “Come, my sweetheart.” Cobo addressed himself to the girl. “Leave that carrion for the buzzards.” Rosa looked up to find him leering at her. She brushed the tears from her eyes, crying: “Go away! In God’s name haven’t you done harm enough?” “Oh, but you’re going with me.” The girl rose; her face was colorless; she was aquiver "with indigna-. tion. “Leave me!” she stormed. “What have I done to you? Don’t —”, “Caramba! A temper. And you have strength, too, as I discovered. Must I bind those pretty hands or—” Colonel Cobo reached forth, laughing, and encircled her in his powerful arms. Rosa fought him as she had fought at the first moment of desperation. but he lifted her easily and went striding across the field behind his men.

Esteban’s party made good time over the hills and into the San Juan, for Asensio knew the country well. Mid-afternoon found them in sight of La Joya. Cueto’s cane was thick and high; it was ready for-the knife or for the torch. The incendiaries dismounted in the shelter of a wood and removed the bags which they had carried on their saddles. Inside these bags were several snakes, the largest perhaps eight feet in length. To the tail of each the fastened a leather thong, and then to each thong a length of telegraph wire, the end of which had been bent into a loop to hold a bundle of oil-soaked waste. These preliminaries accomplished? they bore the reptiles into the cane fields at widely separated places and lighted the waste. Soon tongues of flame appeared and the green tops of the cane bdgan to shrivel and to wave as the steady east wind took effect. Smoke billowed upward and was hurried westward before the breeze; in a dozen places the fields burst into flame. From somewhere came a faint shouting, then a shot or two, and finally the ringing of a bell. Esteban waited only until he saw that his work of devastation was well under way, then he led his followers back toward the hills. In the shelter of a ravine the party took time to eat supper,- their first meal since leaving home, and it was after dark when they finished. The negroes, who were thoroughly tired, were for spending the night here, but Esteban, more cautious than they, would not have It so. Accordingly, 'the men remounted their weary horses, though not without some grumbling, add set out. At length they crossed the summit and worked down toward the Yumuri, but it seemed as if daylight would never come. Esteban suddenly reined in his horse. “Look!” said he. “Yonder is a light.” “What is Evangelina thinking about?” Asensio muttered. “But see! It grows brichtw.”

There followed a moment or two during which there was no sound except the breathing of the horses and the creak of saddle leathers as the riders craned their necks to see over the low tree tops before them. Then Esteban cried: “Come! I’m —afraid it’s our house.” Fear gripped him, but he managed to say, calmly, “Perhaps there has been an —accident.” Asensio, muttering excitedly, was trying to crowd past him; for a few yards the two horses brushed along side by side. The distant point of light had become a glare now; it winked balefully through the openings as the party hurried toward it. But it was still a long way off, and the eastern sky had grown rosy before the dense woods of the hillside gave way to the sparser growth of the low ground. Esteban turned a sick, white .face over his Shoulder and jerked out his orders; then he kicked his tired mount into a swifter gallop. It was he who first broke out Into the clearing. One glance, and the story was told.

The hut was but a crumbling skeleton of charred poles. Strung out across the little field of malangas, yuccas and sweet potatoes were several hilarious volunteers, their arms filled with loot from the cabin. Behind them strode an officer bearing Rosa struggling against his breast. Esteban drove his horse headlong through the soft .red earth of the garden. His sudden appearance seemed briefly to paralyze the marauders. It was a moment before they could drop their spoils, unsling their rifles, and begin to fire at him, and by that time he had covered half the distance to his sister. A bullet brought his horse down and the boy went flying over its neck. Nothing but the loose loam saved him from injury. As he rose to his feet, breathless and covered with the red dirt, there came a swift thudding of hoofs and Asensio swept past him like a rocket. Esteban caught one glimpse of the negro’s, face, a fleeing vision of white teeth bared to the gums, of

distended yellow eyes, of flat, distorted features; then Asensio was fairly upon Colonel Cobo. The colonel, who had dropped his bufden, now tried to dodge. Asensio slashed once at him with his long, murderous machete, but the next instant he was engaged with a trooper who had fired almost in his face. » ? *. Cobo’s men, led by the terrified Pancho Cueto, turned and fled for cover, ■believing themselves in danger of annihilation. Nor was the colonel himself in any condition to rally them, for Asensio’s blade had cloven one full dark cheek to the bone, and the shock and pain had unnerved him. The field was small, the jungle was close at hand. A moment and the interlopers had vanished into it, all but one, who lay kicking among the broad malanga leaves, and over whom Asensio kept spurring his terrified horse, hacking downward with insane fury. This was the first hand-to-hand encounter Esteban’s men had had, and their swift victory rendered them ferocious. Flinging their guns aside, they went crashing into the brush on the trail of their enemies. Rosa found herself in her brother s arms, sobbing out the story of the outrage and quivering at every sound of the chase. He was caressing her, and telling her to have no further fears; both of them were fairly hysterical. Evangelina, thanks to her thick skull, was not' dead. In the course of time under Rosa’s and Esteban’s ministrations she regained her senses, and when the other men returned they found her lying sick and dazed, but otherwise quite whole. Then, there beside the ruins of the hut, was a strange scene of rejoicing. Asensio recovered now from his burst of savagery, was tearful, compassionate; his comrades laughed and chat- • tered and bragged about their prodigious deeds of valor. Over and over they recounted their versions of the encounter, each more fanciful than the other, until it seemed that they must have left the forest filled with corpses. Esteban was grave. He had heard of Colonel Cobo, and, remembering that denim-clad figure out yonder in

the trampled garden, he knew that serious consequences would follow. The volunteers were revengeful; their colonel was not the sort of man to forgive a deep humiliation. Doubtless he would put a price upon the heads of all of them, and certainly he would never allow them another encounter upon anywhere like even terms. Then, too, the narrowness of Rosa’s escape caused the boy’s heart to dissolve with terror. After a conference with Asensio he decided that they must prepare for flight, and late that afternoon they all set out to seek a safer refuge, Evangelina in tears at leaving her precious garden plot. Their led horse, one of those Lorenzo had captured, carried a pitifully light burden —only some tools, some pans and kettles, and a roll of charred bedclothes. I S ♦ * * * *.. * Johnnie O’Reilly had no difficulty in locating the residence of Ignacio Alvarado, but to communicate with him was quite another matter, inasmuch as his every step was dogged by that persistent shadow from Nuevltas. | One evening, several days after his 'arrival, a sudden rain storm drove [ O’Reilly indoors, and as he ascended to his room he saw that the lamp In the hallway flared and smoked at every gust of wind. It was very dark outside; he reasoned that the streets would be deserted. Hastily securing that book which Alvarado, the dentist, had given him, he took a position close inside his door. When he heard the spy pass and enter the next chamber he stole out into the hall and breathed into the lamp chimney. A moment later he was safely through the window and was working his way down the shed roof, praying that his movements had not been seen and that the tiles were firm. He nimbly scaled the wall, crossed an inclosure, climbed a second wall, and descended into a dark side street. Taking advantage of the densest shadows and the numerous overhanging balconies, he set out at a brisk trot. A light showed through the-barred windows of the Alvarado home, indicating that the family was in. After some fumbling O’Reilly laid hold of

tne latch; then, without he opened the front door and stepped i*His sudden appearance threw the occupants into alarm: a woman cried out sharply; a man whom ■ OTMMI. Identified as Ignacio Alvarado himsrif leaped to his feet and faced him. exclaiming: . “Who are you?" “I’m a friend. Don’t be .!*»■<* Johnnie summoned his most sgreetble smile, then he extended the sodden package he had carried beneath tea arm. “I come from your breaker Tomas. He asked m‘. to hand y-a this book and to say that he Is resttIng it with his thanks.” “What are you saying?" Plainly the speaker did not comprehend; there was nothing but' apprehension in Mb voice. K O’Reilly tore the wet paper Oom the volume and laid it in Alvarado’s hand. “Look at it, please, and you'll understand. I didn’t take time to knock. f« fear I might be followed.” Alvarado stared first at the hook, then at his caller. After a moment he made a sign to his wife, who left the room. Wetting his lips, be Inquired, with an effort, “What do you want?” O’Reilly told him in a few words. Alvarado showed relief; be even smiled. “I see. but—Caramba ' Yoc gave me a start. And this book ’ Ha ’ Tomas will have his jokes. It is well you took precautions, for I am wnder surveillance. I’ll help you. yes! Bal you must not come here again. Retain to your hotel and— Let me thunk. Senor Alvarado frowned in deepest thought; then he said: "I have it? Brery morning at half past nine a man wearing a Panama hat and a gray necktie with a large gold pin will pass along the sidewalk across the street from the Isla de Cuba. You w® know him. One day, I cannot j.romfe* how soon, he will lift his hat thus, and wipe his face. You understand? G<wd. Follow him. He will give you final directions. You know Mairini the dreg* gist? Well, you can talk to him. and he will keep you posted as to our progress. Now go before someone cwmes.” O’Reilly wrung the Cuban's hand. Then he stepped out into the night.

| ■ - . . bearing a pool of water on th< caeaa Mae Tiles where he had stood, £TO BE CONTI NT? ED.) LEE ■ Helen Rishling took Sunday ditp* nar with Cora Noland. Mast everyone from here spent the Fourth at Monticello. j. H. Culp and wife spent last Sunday at Frank Eldridge’s. f Mr# Ethel Otterburg of Barkley wwitshipi visited her parents, G. Av Sacks and wife, Tuesday. Mfcss Ethel Webb of near Auburn, Indiana, eame last Saturday for a weeks' visit with relatives. Mr. and Mr*. Steve Freeman ami daughter »f Barkley township spent Monday afternoon with Harrj Rlsh- '- . .-a Rishling returned home ’-iooday afternoon after a two weeks’ - t »-th h-r grandparents in Barkley/-, township. Mrs C. A. Holeman went to Moatseeilo Tuesday evening to visit Mrs. stelta Holeman and children over the Fourth. Lew Anderson of Atlanta, Georxra. who was here a tew weefca risttitg his brother, H. C. family, returned to hia home ’ last ’week.

She Began to Struggle Like a Cat.

Asensio Slashed Once at Him With His Long, Murderous Machete.