Evening Star Newspaper, July 5, 1936, Page 70

12 Magazine Section had visited the finca and he was fear- ful of missing the lane. When Nadito found it, Pepe let go a quivering sigh as if of regret. He shrank back into the seat, his head fallen, and began to sob. *What's it about, Nadito?” Trent asked sharply. **Why is Pepe crying? What's the mystery?” “You might as well know now,” said Nadito. *'If we don’t break down, I expect to catch up with Catuca in- side half an hour.” *Great; tut why should he cry about that?” **He isn’t. He's crying because Paca 1s with her and Paca is our sister.” “You mean — " began Trent and stopped. “You've guessed it, or perhaps you haven’t. Anyway it's a good time to warn you to leave this game to me. Make a single move on your own, and vou may find yourself in the same pit with Catuca.” *“I know I'm in your debt,” said Trent angrily, ‘‘but not to the tune of being your trained poodle. I'll do what I please, act as I think I ought to act.” “Try it,” said Nadito shortly. He went into second gear for the long climb to the finca. Unseen, Pepe was having another desperate strug- gle, his conscience against his given word. But he had given his word twice! As they approached the level vale he reached over, clamped his palm on the button and sounded the horn again and again before Nadito could strike a blow that almost broke his wrist. ‘“‘Hold him, Trent! Hold him ”* At that moment the roar of a start- ing engine came to their ears, and the long shafts of headlights poured out at right angles to their course. The beam swerved left and rushed upward into the night. Nadito fastened his eyes on the red bull's-eye of the tail- light and gave chase. From far ahead came a fantastic echo — the frenzied beat of a horse’s hoofs and a wild whinny. Nadito gave the car gas. It leaped from bump to bump, lurched through ruts, groaned but kept on, gaining speed as the road surface changed from loam to shale. *“Trent!” he shouted. *“What?” *Reach over. Take the gun from under my left arm. Inside, dumb-bell!” ‘“What shall I do with it?” “It they hit a down grade, they might get away. When we get close, pick a rear tire and puncture it.” *Is Kathie in the motor ahead?” shouted Trent. “Yes,” yelled Nadito. *“Where does this road go?” “Over the mountains to a town called Christ. Shut up and let me drive.” Trent made up his mind; not for worlds would he or anybody else shoot at the risk of hitting Kathie. He thrust the gun into his pocket. As it happened, however, at the top of a rise, the car in front came to so sudden a halt Nadito couldn’t believe it had actually stopped. Instead of slowing, he raced on until his headlights warned him he was probably in for a rear-end collision. Only both brakes combined with the upgrade saved him. The occupants of the other motor car weren't even looking back; three of them — all but the driver — were on their feet, star- ing ahead at a riderless horse sil- houetted against the sky line. Now they turned to face the glare behind them — a girl and two men. “I told you nobody was on him!” one of them was crying excitedly. Pepe shrank still deeper into the seat, as if trying to hide. Nadito stepped out, followed by Trent. He stared at the girl. This wasn’t Kathie; Kathie was blonde as a Norse maid, alien to the scene. This girl wore mid- night in Mer hair and stood erect amid the exotic palms by right of birth. His heart missed a beat. Paca stood upright and still as a statue in the full glare of the roadster’s headlights. Her face was like a cameo carved in mother-of-pearl by a master hand. Expressionless, it was, yet eloquent. Her eyes blazed fixedly, as though intent on a vision. Even when Nadito called her name, she did not move. Drawing near, he passed his arm around her, lifted her out and set her on her feet. “Where is Catuca?” “*Catuca?”’ she asked vaguely; then her eyes swept his face wonderingly. “Nadito! Where did you come from? Of course. You were expected last night. That's why we had to hurry our plans.” “You ought to go on your knees and give thanks I got here in time. Where is the girl?"” ‘‘We thought she was on the horse, but she wasn’t. She must be at the finca.”” “‘Is she all right?”’ interjected Trent sharply. As Paca turned her head to look at him, a strange feeling swept over Trent. There was a pulse in the bril- liance of her eyes, in the blackness of her hair, the pallor of her cheeks. She glanced questioningly at Nadito. “It’s Trent Kilgallen,” he explained, ““Catuca’s novio.” “Oh. Yes, she’s all right. Nobody has hurt her yet.”” Her eyes, passing Trent, discovered Pepe's crouching figure. ‘‘Pepe! You?” Pepe scrambled out and rushed to- ward her. He knelt at her feet and clutched her skirt. ‘“Oh, Paca, Pan- chita mia’ 1 didn’t tell them — I didn’t! Nadito played a trick. They told me your car had been wrecked and you were dying. Believe me!” “*Of course I believe you, Pepe,” she murmured and the sudden softness of her voice struck Trent with the shock of a bullet. As she spoke, Carinegro slipped quietly from the other side of the car and started back down the road. ‘‘Stand up, Pepe; give me your hand.” ‘“Who's that?”” asked Nadito. ‘“Who was your driver?”” Paca turned to glance at the empty seat. “‘But where is he?”” The Carib had begun to run, leaping from the roadway and crashing through the brush. “Carinegro!” Paca called sharply. ““Carinegro!” gasped Nadito. “'I gave you and Pepe credit for playing with powder, but not dynamite! Trent! Give me that gun.” “What for?"” asked Trent. THIS WEEK “Catuca” Continved from page six “Wake up! If you want to see Catuca alive, give me the gun.” Trent handed over the revolver. “‘Now for heaven'’s sake turn the roadster, if you can, and come after me.” Nadito started off at a run, shouting back over his shoulder, ‘‘Help him, all of you — help him or the lot of you will rot in jail.” Backing and filling, with a boulder moved from behind and another placed in front tor a snubber, Trent at last succeeded in turning the car. Paca and Pepe joined him in the front seat, Antonico and Geromo climbed into the rumble. Trent had no need to look to know who sat next to him; it was Paca. Already he feared and hated her. What right had she to absorb the whole field of vision, blot- ting out Kathie, the only person in the world who mattered? He clenched his teeth and drove like a madman. Nadito was no match for the Carib's speed or cunning. Carinegro, familiar with the terrain, took a short cut across every curve and arrived at the Jinca well in the lead. Looking down from the last elevation, his small eyes had noted the black hole in the roof through which Tony had made his escape. His brain needed no further prodding. Still on the run, he gathered fronds fallen from the nearby palms and paused to bind them with his belt. He slung the bundle over his shoulder. Holding the end of the strap in his teeth, he had both hands free to clamber up one of the iron grilles to the roof and had just dragged himself over its edge when the roadster, Nadito on the running board, reached the oval driveway. *‘Hold it!” cried Nadito as the veer- ing headlights focused full on the house. Trent stopped the car. Carinegro was crouching over the bundle of palm leaves, the pale flame of a match glowing in his cupped hand. Nadito steadied himself and fired, but the bullet went high and wide. Carinegro merely flattened into safety and lit another match. Paca pushed past Pepe, sprang from the car and raced to the front door. She was pounding on it with hard little fists when Trent caught up with her. “Tony!” she screamed. Open! Open the door!” “I will not!”” answered Tony. Paca turned to Trent. *‘Quick! Call to her. Tell her it’s all right.” ‘‘Kathie!” shouted Trent. *‘Kathie, are you there?”’ “Yes; I'm here,” called Kathleen. Then added: *‘It’s Trent, Tony. Let him in.” *““No. Why should Paca, isn't he?”’ “Catuca!” shouted Nadito. *‘Open the door! Carinegro's on the roof, setting fire to the house.” The key turned. Trent, Paca and Nadito, closely followed by Antoiiico, Geromo and Pepe, all but tumbled in to face Tony, holding Kathleen be- hind him. Trent started forward as if to brush him aside but at that instant there came the splintering of a rafter and a rain of tiles as the roof gave way under Carinegro. They seemed to see his plunge, and heard a dull thud as he landed on the sheaf of palm fronds, already alight. Promptly came the cracking of flames, and an acrid odor crept out into the hall. Pepe stared at Kathleen, the girl he had condemned to die, and a stricken look dimmed his eyes. But Paca had already seized Tony’s shoulders and was shaking them. *“Unlock the door! Hurry, Tony."” ““How can I? Carinegro's got the key.” “‘Carinegro!”’ shouted Paca, ‘‘did you hear? The key —it’s in your pocket! Open!” The Carib laughed — a strange laugh more sinister than words. Promptly “Tony! 1? He's with Decoration by G. de Zayas Beauty Brevities Ny gay bauble you add to your cos- tume is a beauty accent these days. Jean Arthur leads the parade of originality. The collar-lacings of her smart sports dress are finished with tiny wooden ornaments shaped like musical notes. A glistening buckle, one-half a red enamel heart, the other a silver arrow, clasps to- gether the cape of a cocktail dress Wendy by MARTHA LEAVITT But they must be worn in a new way, accord- ing to Betty Grable. Instead of the old “cowboy” style, knot them under the chin with the knot in front. With a filmy ruffled dance dress of printed starched organza, the young Miss Grable adds an old-fashioned touch to her outfit by banding her throat with a narrow velvet ribbon fastened with a little coral enameled flower. N Barrie likes to wear. Dorothy Lee has a dress which fastens down the front with wooden buttons shaped like arrows. The novelty is that the ends are made of bright colored feathers. As the sole ornament of a shimmering black gown, Ann Harding puts a cluster of gar- denias at her throat. But these gardenias are different — they’re made of clear cellophane — and sparkle like real crystal. Three-cornered scarfs are again the vogue. Jane Pickens, a member of the popular trio of Pickens sisters, likes ‘““amusing” hats. She has one that she describes as “resembling a bunch of red silk violets being served up on a small black saucer.” European peasants come into their own when Louise Latimer carries her new evening handbag, which is merely a square kerchief with the corners tied together. She has dif- ferent ones to match her evening gowns. These are experimental days in fashions. July 5, 1936 Nadito hurled his weight against the door. Tony was the first to back him, then Trent and finally Antonico and Geromo. The five of them forming themselves into a flying wedge, ripped * the bolts from their sockets, and the two leaves tlew open. They plunged into the weirdly illumined room and stopped, arrested by the sight of the Carib’s towering figure against the far wall. Shoulders braced and head high, he stood with one hand outstretched, flattened back, and the other hidden behind him. Froth was on his lips and the pupils of his eyes were like two shining pin points of jet. i ““Murderers!” he half screamed. . “All of you! Spaniards, Cubans, Americans — thieves and interlopers! So the homb won’t burst? I'll show you!” He whipped the hand from behind his back and hurled the heavy sheath knife Kathleen had seen once before. She saw it coming, yet was powerless to move — but not Pepe. He cast his « body in the path of the hurt!ing blade, received it in his arm and fell head- * long. Almost before Pepe struck the floor, Carinegro crumpled at the knees and sank forward, shot through the heart. Trent was the first to reach Pepe. - He grasped the handle of the knife and gave it a quick pull. Blood fol- lowed the extraction in a steady flow, causing him to gasp with relief, as- sured no artery had been severed. Paca took the boy's head in her lap. She had uttered no cry, but her face was paper white and tears were rolling down her cheeks. Tony had not been idle. Seizing one corner of a heavy floor rug, he ran with it toward the heap of palm fronds and plowed through the flames, dragging the rug behind him. Turning, he began stamping on it and was soon joined by Antonico and Geromo. In the sudden darkness Kathleen groped along the wall, found the light and switched it on. & Nadito sank on the nearest chair. ““How about it, Trent? Is it a bad wound?” he asked in a low voice. At that moment Pepe opened his eyes, looked up into Paca’s face and smiled. ‘‘Paca,” he murmured. *‘Pepe,” she answered softly, touch- ing his hair with the tips of her fingers. “‘Pepito mio! My own little brother, it's all my fault — cuipa mia, mia culpa!” The fire out, Tony ran to kneel at the boy’s side. “Where’s my knife, Kate?” he asked. Kathleen stared in dismay, then re- * membered, plunged her hands in her breeches pockets and came forward with the knife. ‘‘Here it is, Tony.” Quickly he slit the seams at the armhole and drew off the sleeves of both jacket and shirt. *‘It’s only a flesh wound,” he announced presently. “Pick him up. We'll carry him into my room.” Trent lifted Pepe as gently as he could, Tony helping. They started down the hall, Paca beside them. Kate followed, then stopped abruptly, her eyes wide with the fright of a sudden thought. She hurried forward and touched Paca’s arm. *“The key!” she gasped. ‘“The key to the room.” ‘“Where is it?”" asked Paca. “‘In Carinegro’s pocket.” “I see,” said Paca; “you fear to- touch him.” She turned, hurried back down the hall, but reappeared before the men with their burden had reached the bedroom door. She pro- duced two keys. “'It’s one of these.” Kathleen glanced at her face, so still, denying the furnace of emotion within, and felt a twinge of envy. ““Paca,” she breathed, *‘I'm ashamed — ashamed I let you do that.” *‘It was for Pepe,’’ said Paca simply .. A moment later she was kneeling beside the bed, with Pepe’s head pil- lowed against her breast. Tony and Kathleen hurried to fetch hot water, but Trent remained behind. His eyes, fastened on Paca, were both startled and rebellious. Something was hap- pening to him, something for which he had no name. How could the first sight of this girl have swept him off his feet? Trent heard, rather than saw Kath- leen and Tony return. He forced him- -« self to look at Kathleen as she bathed Pepe’s arm and bandaged it. Wasn't she lovelier than ever, with a softness (Continved on page 15) £ - Ay A