The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-08
PART /.

'You have been in Cuba before,
think"
1t was the editor of the Universe who
spoke, as he half turned his pivot char
and looked me over with a critical stare
of inquiry. The question was natural
enough as | had come to him with q
special recommendation for that very
reason, and yet I felt the blood
bound more rapidly through my
veins at the simple inquiry. Been
in Cuba before? | should think so.
How many times I had made the asser-
tion during the last few months, 1
wonder? And why was it that the ques-
tion so quietly asked by the stout. COM
fortable-loolling man with the gray hair
and bushy gray eyebrows. under which
lurked those keen inquiring eyes should
have effected me 50 much?
1t was like the sudden flash of a lime
light through a magic lantern, for, as
he spoke, there arose before me again
the bay of Havana, sparkling in the sun,
with its white houses and it's green
trees, and, above all, one particular
house. standing alone, and just visible
as it nestled in its bower of tropical to-
liage. Had | been there, indeed? Rath-
er he might have asked where else had
| been that was 50 well remembered, or
came back so often to my mind? Fool
ish, you will say, of course? l sup
pose it was. Consider that | was only
twenty-four years old, and that there
was warm southern blood in my veins.
Yes, sir" l said, for the vision had
been only momentary; Il was there for
nearly eighteen months"
you know something of the place
= l,.,, 4 M NpntI
speak English?"
the soft liquid sounds of a sweet
voice that seemed to ring family like
a far-off echo in my ear as l replied:
Yes, / speak the language fairly well,
/ believed"
The editor glanced at the letter which
lay open on the table before him. "Col.
Walker tells me you would be willing
to take q trip to the island again, on a
special mission. You have friends
among the revolutionary party, he
says"
"A good many, understand, as well
as in the capital itself"
The editor looked me over once more,
as If finally making up his mind as to
my suitability; he glanced once more at
the letter before him, and then, as if he
had decided, he turned to me with a
different expression on his face as he
said: well, l guess you ought to be
what he colonel says of you, l fancy
you're the sort Of man we want tC
do it,
The result of it was that, after an
hours interview, left the office of the
Universe under an engagement to pro-
ceed to Cuba on board a small steamer
that was privately chartered for the
conveyance of warlike stores to the rev.
olutionary party in the island-in Other
words, a flibuster. l could have
wished for nothing better at the mo-
ment. AS 1 have said already, 1 was
young, and, as l have admitted, was
a little hot blooded. The expedition
had all the charms of novelty and ad
venture to recommend it. was to be
we'll paid for undertaking it, and i
would at least give me chance of pos
sibly being once more in Havana, ant
of paying another visit to the whit,
house which in imagination had seer
gistening among the trees.
AS / left the Office that afternoon,
seemed to myself to walk on air Th'
day CHANGED to be dull one, yet I fel
the warmth of a tropical sunshine il
my blood. l had really no time 70
dreaming, however, as the opportunit.
was one that might not soon occu
again, and | had to be ready to sail tina
very night. Fortunately my own af
fairs required but little arranging. T,
collect and pack q few necessares o
my own, and to purchase a few tha
We're likely to be needed on such an eX
pedition, could easily be accomplished
even in the short time at my disposal