Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-05-23

ISM oH1Cer named EDUARDO felt!ai WI"
fairly haunted my footsteps. He a
very insistent and made the most VIC
lent love ever SAW. The American
fleet was outside the Earbor mouth
blockading The city. and | knew ] must
reach the ships in order to get away.
one day at luncheon arranged win
jose. my waiter friend TO be on me
wharf about . O'Clock that night. l-e
was to have another man with him.
] would walk down there with Beltran
and when the time was ripe they were
to bind II gag Beltran and then row
me out To the fleet. 1t worked beauti-
fully. Reltran came. as usual n
was as sweet as could be. | proposed
the walk and he accepted. The town
was very gay. and laughing and chat
ting we passed through the crowds to
he dock. AT just the right
Jose and his friend appeared. In an
instant FL Teniente Beltran was bound
and gagged and a helpless prisoner.
The boat was there and we climbed in.
Jose brought Beltr.im along. too. be-
cause he saw If he didn't. and they re-
turned % Havana. their lives would
pay the forfeit. 1t was Il good idea 20
capture a prisoner of war"
Cheney was absorbed in the narra-
tive. and Miss Dodge's bright eyes were
dancing with excitement rs she re-
sumed her story.
"The harbor was pretty we'll lighted
up by the constant play of the search
lights on the MORO and CabanaS. Sew
eral ships IN the harbor also threw their
lights around the shore line. About
three miles out Was the United States
fleet. and that was our objective. Care
fully we rowed along the shore with
mlfiled oars. ana almost under the lee
OF Cabanas we put out to sea. All was
we'll so far. When we We're out about
tnrpG-ull1r ri prC of "A mile tho I1rhT
from Cabanas picked is up. They
turned loose two big guns on us and
for a moment my heart stood still. /
was afraid. colonel. awfully afraid. But
those two men rowed all the harder.
and as Spanish craftsmanship is pro-
verbally bad We escaped Mr.. Beltran
was in the bottom of the boat. bound
but not gagged. and how he did swear!
The Eagle was on the blockading line
nearest to us. and she was working
her searchlight. She had heard the
firing and knew someone or something
WAS coming out. Finally she picked us
up. | WAS sitting in the prov of the
boat. waving "A small American flag.
and presently ! heard, Alloy. there
Jose answered the hail and soon we
We're alongside. Tho first thing the of
ficer OF the deck said, When he saw me,
WAS, MY God. IT'S Il woman.' Strange,
colonel. how men say that when a
woman suddenly appears in unexpected
places"
We'll" continued Miss Dodge. smil.
ing. there's not much more to tell.
The Eagle signaled the flagship and she
was directed TO take us to Key West.
beitran was as sour as Il lemon when
he was kept on board ii prisoner. Jose
and his friend returned to Havana. The
next day we We're in Fey West. Reltran
was transferred to the barracks and.
after nI1fsnhp ci,,- tt,ncA ~,
clothes. came here. That's all. col.
onel; have / earned the $500"
You surely have. Miss Dodge. and
tomorrow morning YOU shall have your
draft. You are wonderful-wonder.
full
No. colonel. I'm not wonderful. I'm
Just Il
That night Colonel Cheney reported
all these facts to the president over the
telegraph wire which ran from his Of
flee direct to the Whit House. The
president was delighted and directed
Miss Dodge's reward to be doubled.
AT = o'cloc the next morning COL
onel Cheney gave Miss Dodge "a sub
treasury warrant for 81, 1000.
Her eyes sparllled as she took the
warrant and she said: Colonel Cheney.
before i left for Havana / told YOU
the truth in every particular but one.
l said my mother and father We're dead.
MY Iather is. but mother is alive and
lives with me in Il little place up on the
Hudson. I bought the place myself
and still owe 81, 200 on it. 1t wa such
slow work on the newspaper that I
determined to try for something big.
My managing editor wrote me a letter
TO the secretary of war and Their I came
mere. Now. you see what this 81, COG
means to me-"
But if you had failed, Miss DODGE"
1.-THE great Pjrhnlia,, ca;I -. ~.
bright lexicon of youth. there is no such
word as fail and I'm still "A youth,
Colonel Cheney"
The long. dark lashes were wet with
tears OF joy; the woman was now APP
parent.
TN glad you did not fail. Miss
Dodge, more than glad"