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.A NOVEU
AUTHSU.
CHAPTER IV.
Retribution.
Although for a long time Donna Isa
bel had been sure in her own mind that
Pancho Cueto, her administrador, was
robbing her, she had never mastered
courage to call him to reckoning.
Nevertheless, Oe Castano's blunt accu
sation, coupled with her own urgent
needs, served to fix her resolution, and
on the day after the merchant's visit
she sent for the overseer, who at the
time was living on one of the plan
tations. Cueto was plainly curious to learn j
why he had been sent for, but since
he asked no questions, his employer
was forced to open the subject her-
self. Through dry, white lips she be- j
pan: , I
"My dear Pancho, times are hard. The '
plantations are falling, and so" Pan
cho Cneto's eyes were set close to his
nose, bis face was long and thin and
harsh; he regarded the speaker with
ueh sinister, unblinking stare that
she could scarcely finish : " and so
I can no longer afford to retain you
as administrador." ' j
"Times will Improve," he said. j
"Impossible! I tell you I'm bank
rupt" "Sol Then the remedy Is simple
. ... ,. I
Although this suggestion came natu-
L rv, ,MM(n,M
and felt her smile stiffen Into a gri-
mace. She wondered If Cueto could be
feeling her out deliberately. "Sell the
Varona lands?" she queried, after a
momentary struggle with herself. "Es-
teban would rise from his grave. No.
It was his wish that the plantations
go to his children Intact" !
"And his wish is sacred to you, eh?" ;
Cueto nodded his approval, although
his smile was disconcerting. "An ad-1
mirable sentiment ! It does yoo honor ! "
P.ut speaking on this subject I am re- J
minded of that dispute with Jose Oroi 1
over the boundary to La Joya. I have
promised to show him the original,
deed to La Joya and to furnish him;
with the proofs about the boundary j
line. ' That would be better than a i
lawsuit, wouldn't itt -j
"Decidedly! But I will settle with
him myself."
Cueto lifted an admonitory hand, his
face alight with the faintest glimmer
of Ironic mirth. "I couldn't trust you
to the mercies of that rascal," he said
piously. "No, I shall go on as I am,
even at a sacrifice to myself. I love
Don Esteban's children as my very
own; and you, senora "
Isabel knew that she must win a
complete victory at once or accept Ir
retrievable defeat
"Never !" she Interrupted, with a
tone of finality. "I can't accept your
sacrifice. I am not worthy. Kindly
arrange to turn over your books of ac
count at once,"
Then Pancho Cueto did an unex
pected thing: he laughed shortly and
shook his head.
Donna Isabel was ready to faint and
her voice quavered as she went on:
"Understand me, we part the best of
friends despite all I have heard against
you. I do not believe these stories
i people tell, for you probably have en
emies. Even If all they said were
true, I should force myself to be leni
ent because of your affection for my
husband."
' The man rose, still smiling. "It Is I
! who have been lenient" said he.
i "Eh? Speak plainly."
"Gladly. I have leng suspected that
Don Esteban hid the deeds of his prop
erty with the rest of his valuables, and
now that you admit"
Donna Isabel recoiled sharply. "Ad
mit! Are yon mad? Deeds! What
are you talking about V Her eyes met
his bravely enough, but she could feel
her lips trembling loosely.
Casting aside all pretense, the over
seer exclaimed : "Por el amor de Dios !
An end to this ! I know why you sent
for me. Ton think I have been rob
bing you. Well, to be honest, so I
have. Why should I toll as I do while
you and those twins live here in lux
ury and idleness, squandering money
to which you have no right?" !
"Have I lost my reason?" gasped the
widow. "No right?" :
"At least no better right than L
Don't you understand? You have no
title to these plantations! They are
mine, for I have paid the taxes out of
tny own pockets now these many
years."
"Taxes! What do you mean?"
"I paid them. The receipts are in
my name."
"Heaven t Such perfidy! And you
who knew himl"
"The deeds have been lost for so
long that the property would have re
verted to the crown had It not been
for me. You doubt that eh? Well, ap
peal to the court and you will find that
It la true. Now, then, let tjs be frank.
Inasmuch as we're both In much the
ame fix, hadn't we better continue
our present arrangements?" He stared
unbllnklngly at his listener. "Oh, I
mean it! Is it not better for you to
be content with what my generosity j
prompts me to give, rather than to i
risk ruin for both by grasping for too
much?"
"The outrage! I warrant you have
grown rich through your stealing."
Isabel's voice bad gone flat with con
sternation. '
"Rich? Well, not exactly, but com
fortably well off." Cueto actually
(smiled again. "No doubt my frankness
la a shock to you. You are angry at
cay proposition, eh? Never mind. Tou
will think better of It in time, if you
are a sensible woman. But now, since
at Jast we enjoy such confidential re-
OP-
V KAfiPta AND FdOTHECUf.
falTotis. Tel us Tinvc "Bo "Snore" o? Tliese
miserable suspicions of each other.
Let us entirely forget this unpleasant
misunderstanding and be the same
good friends as before."
Having said this, Pancho Cueto stood
silent a moment in polite expectancy ;
then receiving no Intelligible reply, he
bowed low and left the room.
To the avaricious Donna Isabel Cue
to's frank acknowledgment of theft
was maddening, and the reallaatlon
that she was helpless, nay, dependent
upon his charity for her living, fairly
crucified her proud spirit
All day she brooded, and by the time
evening came she bad worked herself
Into such a state of nerves that she
could eat no dinner. Some time during
the course of the evening a wild idea
came to Isabel. Knowing that the man
ager would spend the night beneath
her roof, she planned to kill him. At
first It seemed a simple thing to do
merely a matter of a dagger or a pis
tol, while he slept but further thought
revealed appalling risks and difficul
ties, and she decided to wait Poison
was far safer.
Constant brooding over the treasure
had long since affected Donna Isabel's
brain, and as a consequence she often
dreamed about it She dreamed about
it again tonight and, strangely enough,
her dreams were pleasant Sebastian
appeared, but for once he neither
' ' . . . . , .
"rsed nor threatened her; and Este-
ban, when he came, was again the
lover who had courted her In Ha
bana. It was amazing, delightful.
Esteban and she were walking through
the. grounds of the qulnta and he was
telling her about his casks of Spanish
sovereigns, about those boxes bound
with iron, about the gold and silver or
naments of heavenly beauty and the
pearls as large as plums. As he talked
Isabel felt herself grow hot and cold
with anticipation ; she experienced
spasms of delight
Then of a sudden Isabel's whole
dream-world dissolved. She awoke, or
thought she did, at hearing her name
shouted. But although she underwent
the mental and the physical shock of
being startled from slumber, although
she felt the first swift fright of a per
son aroused to strange surroundings,
she knew on the instant that she must
still be asleep; for everything about
her was dim and dark, the air was cold
and damp, wet grass rose to her knees.
Before she could half realize her con
dition she felt herself plunged Into
space. She heard herself scream
hoarsely, fearfully, and knew, too late,
that she was Indeed awake. Then
whirling chaos A sudden, blinding
crash of lights and sounds Nothing
more!
Esteban Varona sat until a late hour
that night over a letter which required
the utmost care in its composition. It
was written upon the thinnest of pa
per, and when it was finished the
writer inclosed it in an envelope of the
same material. Esteban put the letter
in his pocket without addressing it
Letting himself out into the night he
took the path that led to the old
sunken garden. He passed close by
the well, and its gaping mouth, only
half protected by the broken coping,
reminded him that he 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.
Seating himself on one of the old
stone benches, the young man lit a
cigarette and composed himself to
wait He sat there for a long time,
grumbling inwardly, for the night was
damp and he was sleepy; but at last
a figure stole out of the gloom and
joined him. The newcomer was a rag
ged negro, dressed In the fashion of
the poorer country people.
"Well, Asenslo, I thought you'd
never come. Ill get a fever from this 1"
Esteban said Irritably.
IT. I. - 1 1" T" .. . 1 1
ii ib k uug way, iwu E-sceoaa, ana ,
Evangellna made me wait until dark.
I tell you we have to be careful these
days."
"What 1 the news What did you
hearr
Aseasto sighed gratefully as he seat
ed himself. "One hear a great deal,
but one never knows what to believe.
There is fighting in Santa Clara, and
Maceo sweeps westward."
Taking the unaddressed letter from
his pocket Esteban said, "I have an
other message for Colonel Lopez."
"That Lopez 1 He's here today and
there tomorrow; one can never find
him."
"Well, you must find him, and im
mediately, Asenslo. This letter con
tains important news so Important, in
fact" Esteban laughed lightly "that
if you find yourself in danger from the
Spaniards I'd advise you to chew it up
and swallow it as quickly as you can."
"I'll remember that" said the negro,
"for there's danger enough. Still, I
fear these Spaniards less than the
guerrllleros : they are everywhere.
They call themselves patriots, but they
are nothing more than robbers.
They"
Asenslo paused abruptly. He seized
his companion by the arm and, lean
ing forward, stared across the level
garden Into the shadows opposite.
Something was moving there, under
the trees; the men could see that It
was white and formless, and that it
pursued an erratic course.
"What's that?" gasped the negro. He
began to tremble violently and his
breath became audible. Esteban was
compelled to hold him down by main
force. "It's old Don Esteban. your fa
i tier. They say he walks at midnight,
carrying his head in his two hands."
Young Varona managed to whisper,
wlth8qme showjif courage: 'llush!
j WaTlTlTottTraievTFgTJiv"-
ertheless, he was on tne point or set
ting Asenslo an example of undignified
(light when the mysterious object
emerged from the shadows Into the
opru uTHtuufchtrTheu ue sighed wTCfi
relief: "Ah-h! Now I seel It Is niy
stepmother. She Is asleep."
For a moment 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" He started forward
pace or two. "They say people who
walk at night go mnd If they're awak
ened too suddenly, and yet"
When the somnambulist' deliberate
progress toward the mouth of the well
contluued' he called her name softly.
"Donna Isabel !" Then ho repeated it
louder. "Donna Isabel! Wake up."
The woman seemed to hear and yet
not to hear. She turned her head to
listen, but continued to watk.
"Dont be alarmed," he said, reas
suringly, "It is only Esteban Donna
Isabel ! Stop !" Esteban sprang for
ward, shouting at the top of his voice,
for at the sound of her name Isabel
had abruptly swerved to her right, a
movement which brought her danger
ously close to the Hp of the well.
"Stop! Go back!" screamed the
young man.
Above his warning there came a
shriek, shrill and agonised a wall of
such abysmal terror as to shock the
night birds and the insects Into still
ness. Donna Isabel slipped, or stum
bled, to her knees, she balanced briefly,
clutching at random while the earth
and crumbling cement gnve way be
neath her; then she slid forward and
disappeared, almost out from between
Esteban's hands. There was a noisy
rattle of rock and pebble and a great
splash far below; a chuckle of little
stones striking the water, then a faint
bubbling. Nothing more, The stepson
stood in his tracks, sick, blind with
horror; he was swaying over the open
ing when Asenslo dragged him back.
Pancho Cueto, being a heavy sleeper,
was the last to be roused by Esteban's
outcries. When he had hurriedly
slipped into his clothes in respouse to
the pounding on his door, the few serv
ants that the establishment supported
had been thoroughly awakened, Cueto
l'IIJI Ml
"What's Thatr Gasped ths Negro.
thought they must be out of their
minds until be learned what had be
fallen the mistress of the house. Then,
being a man of action, be too lssned
swift orders, with the result that by
the time he and Esteban had run to
the well a rope and lantern were ready
for their ose. Before Esteban could
form and fit a loop for his shodlder
there was sufficient help on hand to
lower him Into the treacherous abyss.
That was a gruesome task which fell
to Esteban, for the well had been long
unused, its sides were oozing slime, it
waters were stale and black. He was
on the point of fainting when be finally
climbed out leaving the negroes to
hoist the dripping, inert weight which
he had found at the bottom.
Old Sebastian's curse had come
true; Donna Isabel had met the fate
he had called down upon her that day
when he hung exhausted in ids chains
and when the flies tormented him.
The treasure for which the woman had
intrigued so tirelessly had been her
death. Furthermore, as if In grim
mest irony, she had been permitted at
tha n nt tn flnrf it r ii h
had 8earChed to no purpose whatso
ever; dying, she had almost grasped
it in her arms.
(Continued in next issue).
LEAGUE CHANGES
ARE OUTLINED
BY C. E. HUGHES
NEW YORK, March 26. Several
amendments to the league of nations
covenant intended primarily by their
author to insure the American conti
nent against European aggression, to
protect thf United States from en
forced administration of foreign ter
ritory and to revoke the "trouble
breeding" guaranty of the existing
political independence of member
nations, were proposed here tonight
by Charles E. Hughes.
Minor suggestions of the former
republican presidential candidate
were that definite limitation be plac
ed upon the league's field of inquiry,
reserving to the several nations ex
clusive control of immigration, tariffs
and other internal problems and that
provision be made for the withdraw
al of states from the organization.
8TRIKE NOT LIKELY
TACOMA, March 29. espite
vote among shipyard workers on
proposed strike on the Pacific coast
among metal trades on April 1, the
developments today indicate that Ta
coma snipyardg will not shut down
Tuesday next.
AMERICAN SOLDIERS
01
WASHINGTON1, April t, Pros!
dent Wilson has informed other
members of the American delegation
to the peace conference that no
American soldiers HhouUl be used in
any trouble in eastern or southeast
ern Europe, a Central Nw dis
patch from Paris say.
PARIS, April l.What Is constru
ed as a warning that the world could
not long countenance further delay
In the adjustment of peace was de
livered to the allied premiers ana
military representatives of the assoc
iated powers by President Wilson
yesterday. ,
U. S. SECRETARY
IS CERTAIN OF
LOAN SUCCESS
Washington. April i. confidence-
In the financial condition ot
the country and its ability to float
the forthcoming victory liberty loau
was expressed today by Secretary
Glass in replying to tha suggestion ot
Senator Calder of New York that a
special session of congress should be
called to stop depreciation in the
market of liberty bonds.
Far from agreeing that the dectine
In outstanding bonds might Jeopard
ise the popular campaign for flou
tlon of the victory Issue this month,
thereby tlelng up credits by forcln
the banks to take the new bonds, Mr.
Glass declared that he was assured
the treasury' efforts to solve the fi
nancial problems of the country
would have the support of "a unlteo
and victorious people."
JTOFNEWCONaiCTS
PREPARATIONS
MADE BY BOGIE
FOR RESISTANCE
PARIS, March 28. News waa re
ceived here today that the Germans
are Inervaslnir the garrisons at Dan
xtg. This is taken a Indicating an In'
tentlou to resist whatever dtsposl
tlon the peace conference may make
of the port
COPENHAGEN, March 28. The
government at Weimar ha received
from the allied high command a de
mand for permission for Polish
troops to land at Dnitxlg and to
march through Gorman terrltotry to
Poland, according to a dispatch re
ceived here from Weimar,
Fight to Start
On Prohibition
CinCAtO, March 28. A "well
planned legal fight to lost the con
stltutlonatlty of the dry amendment"
will be put Into operations today by
representatives ot tne largest distil
lerioa In the United States, who, at
the same time, will sock appropriate
relief from congress.
AUTO DRIVER HELD
PORT! AND, March St. Peter
Westberg of Colton, driver of the au
tomobile which ran down 7-year-old
Dorothea Mueller Sunday, Inflicting
injuries from which the girl died at
4 o'clock this morning, Is In th coun
ty Jail charged with Involuntary man
slaughter, on a warrent iworn to by
the child' father, Pall was fixed at
12500.
The Gasoline Problem
of Supply and Demand
The second of a series of three statements
The war directed attention to the need of pctroledm conservation. Speaking on
this subject, Mark L. Requa, General Director, Oil Division, United States Fuel
Administration, recently said:
"The.disproportion between the supply of "and demand for gasoline is enormous
and constitutes a critical problem.
"Projected at the percentage of increase, 1904-1914, we should require in 1927
something like 700,000,000 barrels of petroleum. In 1918 our total production waa
only 350,000,000 barrels."
To meet this situation both the petroleum and au
tomobile industries have for several years been mak
ing every effort The problem has been approached
from every angle:
(a) The oil producers are constantly prospecting
for new fields. They have sunk many wells
and are doing everything possible, to increase
petroleum production. ;
(b) The oil refiners, with the help of their chemi
cal engineers, are ever devising new and im-
' proved processes of refining by which they
squeeze every possible drop of gasoline out of
each barrel of petroleum.
(c) The automotive engineers have aided much
in gasoline conservation by their constant
improvement of automobile engines and
( methods of carburizntlcn, .Their efforts are
to secure the operation of automcbi'sa on
gradc3 of gasoline that permit the mar.i.Tiurn
production of this motor fuel from ev:'.i bar
rel of crude oil end which, zt the same time,
will give the greatest power and mileage
from each unit of gasoline consumed.
All these methods are succ :?!;" to a marked de
gree, and yet casoline consumption is increasing
much faster than production.
Facing these bald facts last summer, it became
evident to President Wilson and the United States
Fuel Administration that there va3 virtually as great
need for gasoline conservation as for food conserva
tion. In consequence the United 3tr.tes Fuel Adminis
tration requested Eastern states to discontinue en
tirely all non-essential use of passenger automobiles,
and for a time this request was so extended that
only automobiles in Government, emergency or war
service were in use on Sunday. These limitations
were not extended to the Western states, because at
the time there was enough gasoline being produced
in California for Pacific Coast needs and its distri
bution did not require the use of transcontinental
transportation facilities needed for war.
It was part "of this same campaign to conserve
gasoline that led President Wilson to appoint a Gov
ernment committee to determine and adopt standard
STANDARD OIL COMPANY
(California)
WANTED 4
' " -
New ot Interest such a oci- $
ely Items, visitors In the city,
thosa visiting out of the oily, or
In fact, activities of any nature
will ba appreciated by the En-
terprlse if tboy are sent in or 4
phoned. $
Parties, entertainments, dano r
es, meetings, deaths, births, are
Item ot Interest aud should bo
given to the public through the
newspapers,
4
PAQFICCOAST
BOYS ARRIVE
IN NEW YORK
NEW YORK, March 31, Aboard
the transport Slboney, which arrived
hero today, were tha flrat troops from
the 91st (Pacific coast) division, It
was the first dotachment ot that di
vision to return, and Inoludwd a total
ot 30".0 men from the Pacific sea
board. The Pacific coast troopers arrived
In France during the first week In
July. Theys were in tha big drive In
St. Mlhlel salient and they also play
ed their part on tha Mcusa and In the
which the Americans cleaned up the
Argonne. They took 2300 prisoners
and considerable war material.
The regiment lost about ltfiO of
ficers and men killnd. and about
5ooo wounded. After fighting In the
Argonne they were ordered to Han
dera by General Foch, where they
were under command of King Albert
of Uelglum. When the armistice was
signed original order directed these
troop to Join the Army of Occupa
tion and they had almost reached
German sol! when they received or
der to turn back and set out for
home.
specifications for gaaolir.e and other petroleum prod
ucts. This committee consisted of the United State
Fuel Administration and re;)re:ienutives of the War
snd Navy Departments, the United Stite Shipping
Boir l.the Director General of Railroads, the Bureau
of Mines and the Bureau of Sund-rds.
The committee was assisted and advised by tech
nical experts from each of these departments and
bodies.
After extended discussio:i exhaustive tests and
experimentation, this Government committee adop
ted standard specifications for gasoline, not only for
aviation purposes, but also for general motor use on
land and sex
These United States Government specification
were drawn up with a view to providing a grade of
gasoline that would meet every practical require
ment and yet allow minimum production. They deal
with the problem on the bsr.la of the best utilization
of our pe'.rolcum rcsei-.rces, and the maintenance of
reasonable prices to the consumer.
Drafted as they were by impartial Government ex
perts, these United States Government gasoline
specifications are today being generally considered
as the most practical standard for gasoline. They
insure an efficient and satisfactory gasoline and at
the same time have due renard for the necessity ol
petroleum conservation.
The gasoline being furnished today is more pow
erful and gives greater mileage than the gasoline of
ten years ago. Its use is made possible by the im
provements in automobile engines and methods of
carburiation. To go back to the gasoline of ten
years ago would be to ccccpt a more highly volatile
but less powerful gasoline giving less mileage. It
would also result in decreasing the production and
Increasing the cost of gasoline.
All Red Crown gasoline now being supplied In the
Pacific Coaift states i3 refined to conform with tho
United States Government standard specifications.
It has the full, uniform chain of boiling points nec
essary for full-powered, dependable gasoline: Low
boiling points for easy starting, medium boiling
points for quick, smooth acceleration, and high boil
ing points for power and mileage.
U. S. WANTS REPORT ON
ACTIVITY OF JAPAN
WASHINGTON, March 81. Th
American embassy at Mexico Clly
was Instructed todny to make Inquir
ies concerning the report that Urn
Muxlcun government hni granted ag
ricultural concensloii to Japanese In
lower California and to report thn
facts a quickly as ponsllile. No of
ficial Information has reached thn de
partment about tha concession and
urprlsa was occasioned by the dis
patch from Mexico City yesterday
quoting General Aniudo Agulrlra, un
der secretary of developmwnt and ag
riculture, a saying they had been
granted.
Ths American government la in
terested both because of the appar
ent success of Japanese in obtaining
a long sought foothodl in Ixiwor Cali
fornia and because tha tract of land
Involved wa developed aud Is claim
ed by an American company, whose
rights were declared forfeited by thn
Mexican government In 1917.
Telgraph Rates
Up 20 Per Cent
WASHINGTON, March S9, In
crease of 20 per cent In domestic tele
graph rates, effective Aprlll, were
announced today by Postmaster Gen
eral Hurleson.
The Increase was agreed upon at
a meeting of tha federal wire board
and was made necessary, Mr. Purla
oii't announcement said, to meet the
"Increased coat of operation occa
sioned J)f wags Increase now in ef
fect, made during tha pt mr.M
mn
tali,
Jwlte