Evening Star Newspaper, July 14, 1935, Page 87

Magazine Section one of his eyes slowly and grinned broadly. But now Pedro was not so easily put off, and said, reproachfully: “‘Surely you would not keep the secret of your good fortune from me, your best friend, who has just stood by your side at .your wedding?'’ Mellowed by the day’s happiness — as well as too much tequila — Carlos lost all discre- tion, and putting his arm affectionately around his friend’s shoulder, whispered: ‘“To you, only, amigo, I will tell. I've found buried treasure, and as yet have touched only a hundredth part of it." Pedro's sulky eyes glinted avidly as he replied, in a wheedling voice: ‘‘Surely then, you'll share it with me."’ “Why so? I found it."” Pedro’s manner changed, and his tone be- came menacing. ‘‘You'll be wise, amigo, to give me at least half, or I might be tempted to report you to the authorities." “Oh, so that's the kind of a friend you are? Go ahead, they’'ll find nothing,” and Carlos turned abruptly away. “Wait!" In his eagerness Pedro grabbed the other roughly by the arm, swinging him about. Carlos. mistaking the action for an attack, struck out wildly, and they fell into each other's arms. For a moment they swayed drunkenly, each seeking an advantage; then they crashed to the ground, with Carlos on top. Suddenly his fingers found Pedro's throat, and he began choking him with all his strength. In vain Pedro strove to break the clutch that seemed slowly stealing his life. Then, in the panic of desperation, he drew his dagger, and sank it to the hilt in the - other's side. The fingers { weakened, and with a moan ! Carlos slumped forward, his body going limp. With an effort Pedro squirmed from underneath, and struggled to his knees. He shook Carlos, and called him by name, but Carlos only lay very still. Pedro rose slowly to his feet, and stood staring down stupidly. At last, with a quick shrug of his shoulders, he leaned over and carefully wiped his dagger clean on the other's shirt ; then, circling the ruins, he merged into the crowd of merrymakers. It was not long, however, before Dolores was looking for her husband; as he did not answer to her calling, some of the guests went in search of him. They returned later carry- ing Carlos, and laid him on his mat in the hut. It was easily seen that he was dead, and the wedding feast became a mourning. A little later a youth came panting up the hill and called out 2 warning. ‘‘The rurales!"’ Men, women and children melted quietly away into the darkness, for the Federal Police of that district were greatly feared by the peons. It was rumored that they seldom bothered to bring in their prisoners alive, and were not overparticular in finding the guilty one when a crime had been committed, just so they had a victim to show. Dolores did not even know she had been left alone until a sergeant and one of his men noisily entered the hut, and a gruff voice broke the stillness. *‘It has been reported to us that Carlos Dominguez was stabbed to death.” The girl glanced up, then pointed mutely to the body beside her. “Do you know who did it >’ The voice was more gentle now; for even in her sorrow, Dolores was very beautiful. “I only know that this is the way he was brought back to me,’’ and she turned again to her grieving. The men exchanged THIS WEEK glances; then, after a casual look at the body, departed. Early in the morning, Dolores gathered all the money that was left, and going to the cemetery made arrangements for the burial of her husband. When the coffin was brought and the body of Carlos placed inside, she lit the candles, then sat alone to mourn. Shortly after midday Pedro came sneaking to the cabin, and entered when he saw there was no one with Dolores. ‘“‘Please go away,” she said, dully. But he had come with a single purpose; and, moreover, was in a mean mood, for he had been drinking heavily since the murder. “I'll go when you tell me where the treasure is hidden.” For a moment the girl stared at him, lips tight pressed; then slowly shook her head. “Don’t be a fool!" he snapped. ‘‘Now that Carlos is dead, I'm willing to take his place and look after you. I'll even give you a share of the fortune." Dolores eyes blazed as she pointed to the door, crying, “Get out!" Pedro hesitated, torn between his lust for the woman and his desire for the treasure. Then the hate he read on the face of Dolores decided him, and he grimly demanded: “Tell me where it is."” In sudden rage, he rasped: “You will — if I have to choke it out of you!” Springing forward he grasped her by the throat before she could avoid his rush, and his fingers sank cruelly into her.tender flesh. For herself Dolores did not care, yet she wanted to live because of Carlitos; so she tried to nod her head in surrender. Pedro finally under- stood the gesture and released her. “There — behind that green stone,” she gasped, pointing. Hastily jerking the block away, Pedro snatched up the little leather bag, and nearly broke the strings in his eagerness to look inside. His bloodshot eyes flamed greedily when he saw the sparkling gems; but there was something else in them when he turned to the girl — a sinister glint that meant death. Dolores saw it, and suddenly the truth flashed into her mind. ““You murdered Carlos,” she declared with cold conviction. “No, I didn't! I killed him in self-defense!" he was startled into confessing. “You'll have to prove that to the police.” Pedrorecovered control of himself, and cun- ning came to his aid with a plan far better than putting Dolores out of the way. “You won't tell anyone, because from now on you're going to be my woman. If you refuse, you'll lose everything.” “How so?" *‘Should you betray me, I'll swear you planned the deed with me to get the jewels for ourselves —and we'll both be hanged.” Then he added, shrewdly, ‘‘And that means Little Carlos will also die.” Dolores stood aghast. She knew paught of the law, except as something to be greatly feared. It was preposterous to think that she might be killed for the murder of her lover; yet if Pedro made such accusations, how could she prove them untrue? So tensely absorbed were the two that they did not hear footsteps outside, until the 9 rurales who had been there the night before were at the open door. Pedro, who feared that they might discover the precious jewels on him, just had time to push the little bag inside the open coffin, as they entered the cabin; only ‘Dolores saw. ““Who are you?"” the sergeant asked him sharply. “‘I was the best friend of Carlos,” he replied quickly, before Dolores might answer for him. The rural turned to the girl. ‘‘We've been looking over the scene of the murder, hoping to find the weapon, or some other clue — but there’s nothing. Don't you even suspect anyone?’’ Pedro watched Dolores with every nerve and muscle taut, for he was sure that if she did not speak now, she never would. The girl threw hima quick, fearful glance, then shook her head; his relief was so intense he felt his whole body trembling. Just as the rurales were leaving, the mgn engaged by Dolores to carry the body to the burial ground arrived. Pedro dared not try to retrieve the bag of gems, and in consterna- tion he was forced to watch them put down the lid -of the coffin, pick it up, and start away. There was nothing left for him to do but follow. At the cemetery he stood by helpessly while the coffin was locked and the key given to Dolores. Then the coffin was carried across the vast courtyard to the huge surrounding wall which was honeycombed with thousands of compartments for the dead, and slid into the hole reserved for it. He saw the men seal up the niche with a block of cement, on which . (Continued on page 12) One day Pedro returned singing more gaily than ever, because on his burro rode the run-away Dolores P