Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1918 — RAINBOW'S END A NOVEL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RAINBOW'S END A NOVEL

By REX BEACH

■author. w COPVRJ&HT, W HARPER. AND BROTHEOB. _

SYNOPSIS. I CHAPTER X—Don Esteban Varona, a Cuban planter, possesses a great treasure Board. This wealth has been hidden In A well on the estate by Sebastian, a slave, end only he and his master know the se» Tot cache. Don Esteban’s wife dies at he birth of twins, Esteban and Rosa, ton Esteban marries the avaricious Donna sabel, who knows there Is hidden treasure and tries to wring the secret from Be- ■■ Men When the slave refuses she tries 0 hurt him by having Evangelina, his laughter, whom he loves dearly and who I the special servant of the twins, sold. CHAPTER ll—Through Donna Isabel’s earning Don Esteban risks Evangelina cards and loses, erased by the loss of daughter, Sebastian kills Don Estet and himself. BR Hl—Many years Donna Isa-' id for the hidden wealth of the ad married. A few years later to marry Rosa to the rich Don Rosa Is promised to O’ReHJra an, and awaits his return from whence he has gone to break igagement to his e Esteban is secretly aiding the i. i CHAPTER TV—Donna Isabel Is at the mercy of Pancho Cueto, her unscropuEus administrator, who knows the deeds {n the plantation are lost with the treasure. One night she walks In her deep and meets het death In the treasure welt Esteban and Rosa are forced to flee when Sueto denounces them as rebels. L CHAPTER V—Rosa writes to M their plight and urges him to come Kid save her. g-»HAPTER VI— O’Reilly soon lands In uTbut finds he will have hard work reach Rosa, as communication with Insurrectos Is difficult and dangerL'CHAPTER VII— O’Reilly meets Lesli® branch, newspaper man, who is a rictlm pf tuberculosis, and they plan a way to feta the Insurrectos together. i CHAPTER VIII—In the meantime Cueto Mans to lead Cobo, a Spanish colonel of Volunteers, execrated for his cruelty, to she hiding place of Esteban and Rosa. , CHAPTER IX—Cobo and his men capture Rosa, but she Is Immediately resteued hy Esteban, and Cobo Is Injured In the fight. O’Reilly plans to reach the InSurreotos by the aid of Doctor Alvarado, |a friend of the Cuban cause. CHAPTER X—O’Reilly is about to [reach the Insurrectos, but his plans misfoarry. He and Leslie Branch are arrested and sent back to America. EsteS>an tells Rosa of the coming of General fWeyler to “pacify" the Island.

I CHAPTER Xl—Esteban raids Cueto s (home and kills him, but Spanish troops icome up and Esteban escapes badly grounded. He does not reach home, with Esteban missing, Rosa, Evangelina and Ser husband, Asensio, with whom Rosa Kias been staying, give up hope and go (into a Spanish concentration camp. CHAPTER XII—In New York O’Reilly 'plans a filibustering expedition to Cuba and Is offered assistance by Norlne Evans, a wealthy girl, who Insists- on financing the venture and going along as a nurse. Soon the expedition starts for ICuba in a small tramp steamer. CHAPTER XIII—The filibusters land In ICuba and O’Reilly learns of Esteban and 'Rosa. Norine begins her duties as nurse. ! Rose, in Matanzas, visits her old home, (which is In ruins. CHAPTER XIV—In a raid Esteban, (dangerously ill, is rescued from a Spanish Iprison by O’Reilly and the Cubans. i CHAPTER XV—Esteban tells O’Reilly the believes the treasure is hidden In the 'well on the plantation. O’Reilly learns ♦the town in which Rosa Is held prisoner And determines to go to her. chapter XVi-Wlth Jacket, a Cuban fboy, O’Reilly starts out determined to leave Rosa- After many trials they enIter Matanzas, the City of Death. , CHAPTER XVll—After a long searen O’Reilly finds Rosa, ill and but a shadow iof her former self. He tells her Esteban rts not dead, and she partially recovers Sier health. O’Reilly determines to search [for the treasure in the well on the old [plantation. : CHAPTER XVIH— O’Reilly finds in the iwell indications that he is on the right (track, but is handicapped by weakness fiue to lack of food. Colonel Cobo learns someone is looking for the treasure, and (resolves to Investigate. I CHAPTER XlX—O’Reilly finds the treasure at the moment Cobo reaches the scene. Cobo endeavors to kill O’Reilly, but is himself slain by Jacket and falls into the well. CHAPTER XX—O’Reilly takes as much !of the gold and jewels as can be carried, land conceals Coho’s body In the well. He 'bribes Morin, with whom Jacket has acquaintance, to aid his escape 'with Rosa and Jacket, and they get away (safely. It so happened that the president end well-nigh the entire provisional (cabinet were in Cubltas. Leslie and [Norlne went directly to the former. He [promptly sent for the minister of justice, who in turn gallantly put himself Rt Norine’s disposal. In no time the pews had spread and there was sut>idued excitement throughout the camp. fJorlne waft between tears and laughter [when she ran panting Into Esteban’s icabin, leavlng-Branch to wait outside. At sight of her Esteban uttered a low cry of happiness. “Dearest 1 I’ve Ibeen lying in a stupor of delight The world has become bright I hear people laughing. What a change I’* •Tve arranged everything I The president and his cabinet are coming to [witness the ceremony.” Esteban poised upon his elbow, his ■face was a study. “What have you arranged?* he managed to Inquire. “Sh-h I” Norlne laid a finger upon bls lips. “The guest of the republic is to be married today.” “Norlne! Oh, my dear —” quavered the sick man. “I can’t let you do this ■nad thing. Think! Tm ready for the grave— ■” "This will make you well. We’re going away when the very next expedition arrives.” “I haven’t the strength to refuse,” Esteban murmured. “And yet, how can I leave Cuba? What right have I to accept happiness and leave Rosa —” This was a subject which Norlne dreaded, a question to which she knew pp answer. She was not In a mood tF

discuss it, and made no attempt to ao so. Instead, she laid the invalid upon his pillow, saying: “Leslie Is waiting to wish you joy and a quick recovery. May I ask him In?” She stepped to the door, only to behold her late companion making off down the village street In great haste and evident excitement. Approaching between the drunken rows of grass huts was a little knot of people. Even as Norlne watched It grew Into a considerable crowd, for men and women and children came hurrying from their tasks. There were three figures in the lead, a man and two boys, and they walked slowly, ploddingly, as if weary from a long march. “Esteban!” Norlne cried in a voice she scarcely recognized. She retreated Into the doorway with one hand upon her leaping heart. "Esteban! Look! They’re coming—here 1 Yes! It’s —It’s O’Reillyl” Young Varona struggled from his hammock. “Rosa!” he called, loudly, “Rosa!” There came a shadow, then in the doorway the figure of a man, a tattered scarecrow of a man whose feet were

bare and whose brown calves were exposed through flapping rags. His breast was naked where thorns had tried to stay him; his beard, even his hair, were matted and unkempt, and the mud of many trails lay caked upon his garments. It was O’Reilly ! Dumb with amazement, blind with tears, Norine found herself staring upward into his face, and heard him saying : “I told you I would bring her home.” The next instant she lay upon his breast and sobs of Joy were tearing at her. The story of Rosa’s rescue came slowly and in fragments, for the news of O’Reilly’s return caused a sensation. His recital was Interrupted many times. “As a matter of fact, our getaway was ridiculously easy," he said, “for we had luck at every turn —regular Irish luck. I made Morin independent for life, but it wasn’t the money, It was Jacket who Induced him to bring us clear to Turiguano. He landed us one night, this side of the Moron trocha. Since then we’ve waded swamps to our armpits, we’ve fought the Jungle and chewed bark —but we’re here.” Johnnie heaved a deep sigh of relief. “Where did you get the money to hire schooners and corrupt captains?” Branch inquired. O’Reilly hesitated; he lowered his voice to a whisper. “We found the Varona treasure.” Norine uttered a cry. “Not Don -Esteban’s treasure?” “Exactly. It was In the well where young Esteban told us it was.” Johnnie produced from his pocket a handful of coins. Branch’s eyes bulged, he touched a gold piece respectfully, weighed it carefully, then pressed it to his lips. He rubbed it against his cheeks and in his hair; he placed it between his teeth and bit it “It’s real!” he cried. “Now let me look at the Jewels.” “Rosa has them. She’s wearing them on her back. Hunched backs are lucky, you know; hers is worth a fortune." “Why, this beats . the ‘Arabian Nights I’ ” Norlne gasped. “It beats—” Branch paused, then -wagged his head wanUngiy at the glrL

■I don’t believe’a word of it and £bu mustn't.” Then Johnnie told the story. When he had finished there was a long moment of silence. Then Norlne qu»> vered tremulously: “That boy! That blessed boy!” • < “It’s all too weirdly improbable," O’Reilly smiled, "but ask Rosa or Jacket —the boy Is bursting to tell some one. He nearly died because he couldn’t brag about It to Captain Morin, and there won’t be any holding him now. Tm afraid he’ll tip off the news about that treasure In spite of all my warnings. (Those jewels are a temptation; I won’t rest easy until they’re safely locked up In some good vault. Now then, I’ve told you everything, but I’m dying for news. Tell me about yourselves, about Esteban. I expected to find him well. What alls him?” “Oh, Johnnie!” Norine began. “He’s very ill. He Isn't getting well. Help me, Johnnie! Help me to get him home —” “Of course I will. We’ll take him and Rosa away where they can forget Cuba and -all the misery it has caused them. We’ll make him well —don’t worry.” O’Reilly saw little of hfs sweetheart that day, for Norlne promptly bore the girl off to her own quarters and there attended to her needs, the most pressing of which was clothing. While O'Reilly was similarly engaged In making himself presentable, he and Branch talked earnestly, with the result that they repaired later to General Gomez. O’Reilly concluded by saying: “I’ve done what I came to do, sir, but Miss Varona Is badly shaken by all she has been through. She’s very nervous and far from well. Esteban, too, Isn’t recovering.” General Gomez nodded. “Miss Evans declares he must have a change, and we have arranged to send him out of the country. His sister, poor child, should go, too.” “They should go at once,” O’Reilly said, positively. “That’s why we came to see you. Let us—Branch and me—take all three of them to the United States.” “But how? How can you take two women and a sick man —” “We’ll manage somehow,” O’Reilly declared: “It isn’t far across to the Bahama Banks. I’ll agree to come back If you so desire.” Gomez shook his white head. “No! You came to find and save your fiancee, and you volunteered to serve with us while you were doing so. We have no desire to keep any man against his will. Some one must escort Miss Evans, who in our guest. Why not you two? “I was looking forward to an interesting ceremony this afternoon,” Gomez went on. “Has your arrival changed the plans?” “Oh no, sir!” O’Reilly said, quickly. ‘Td like to make it doubly interesting, If Miss Varona will consent to such short notice." “Bravo! You have a way of doing the unexpected. Why not? I don’t think Miss Varona will have It In her heart to refuse you anything.” The old soldier was right. Rosa did not gainsay her lover, and toward sundown the city among the leaves witnessed an unaccustomed scene.

Rosa, very dainty in her borrowed nurse’s uniform, was round-eyed, timid; she evoked much admiration, but when she was addressed as Senora O’Reilly she blushed to the roots of her hair and shrank close to her husband’s side. Branch proved to be a happy choice as Esteban’s proxy, for he relieved Norine’s anxiety and smothered her apprehensions. When Rosa and O’Reilly returned to Esteban’s cabin, they found Norlne ahead of them. She was kneeling beside the sick man’s hammock, and through the doorway came the low, Intimate murmur of their voices. Rosa drew her husband away, whispering, happily: “He will get well. God and that wonderful girl won’t let him die.” (TO BE CONTINUED.)

It Was O'Reilly!