The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-04-12

#VCIyI Gay t6uC, Laughing 6UU CudCIluSss
we passed through the crowds to the.
dock. At just the right moment Jose
and his friend appeared. In an in
slant Ell Teniente Beltran was bound
and gagged and helpless prisoner.
The boat was there and we climbed
in. Jose brought Beltran along, too,
because he saw if he didn't, and they
returned to Havana, their lives would
pay the forfeit. It was good idea to
capture prisoner of war"
Cheney was absorbed in the nara
tive, and Miss Dodge's bright eyes
were dancing with excitement as she
resumed her story.
"The harbor was pretty well lighted
up by the constant play of the search
lights on the Moro and Cabanas.
Several 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. Carefully we rowed along
the shore with muffled oars, and al
most under the lee of Cabanas we put
out to sea. All was we'll so far. When
we were out about three-quarters of
a mile the light from Cabanas picked
us up. They turned loose two big
guns on us and for moment my
heart stood still. I was afraid, Col
onel, awfully afraid. But those two
men rowed all the harder, and as
Spanish craftsmanship is proverbial-
ly 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
her searchlight. She had heard the
firing and knew some one or some
thing was coming out. Finally she
picked us up. 1 was sitting in the
Prov of the boat waving small
American flag, and presently I heard,
Alloy, there!' Jose answered the
hail and soon we were alongside. The
first thing the officer of the deck said,
when he saw me, was, MY God, it's a
! woman Strange, Colonel, how men
say that when woman suddenly ap-
pears in unexpected Places
"Well," 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. Beltran was as sour as a
lemon when he was kept on board a
prisoner. Jose and his friend re-
turned to Havana. The next day we
were in Key West, Beltran was trans.
ferred to the barracks and, after pur-
chasing these more becoming clothes,
came here. That's all, Colonel;
have I earned the $2,5OO?'
"You surely have, Miss Dodge, and
tomorrow morning you shall have
your draft. You are wonderful-won,
derful!"
mo, Colonel, I'm not wonderful
Unjust woman
That night Col. Cheney reported all
these facts to the president over the
telegraph wire which ran from his Of
flee direct to the White House. The
president was delighted and directed
Miss Dodge's reward to be doubled.
At nine o'clock the next morning
Col. Cheney gave Miss Dodge sub
treasury warrant for $4,000.
Her eyes sparkled as she took the
warrant and she said: "Col. Cheney
before left for Havana I told you
the truth in every particular but one
I said my mother and father were
dead. My father is, but mother is
alive and lives with me in little
place up on the Hudson. I bought
the place myself and still owe $1,000
on it. It was such slow work on the
newspaper that I determined to try
for something big. My managing edi
tor wrote me letter to the secretary
of war and then I came here. Now
just see what this $4,000 means to
me-"
But if you had failed, Miss
Dodge?"
"The great Richelieu said, In the
bright lexicon of youth, there is nc
such word as fall and I'm still a
youth, Col. Cheney"
The long, dark lashes were wet
with tears of joy; the woman was
now apparent.
I'm glad you did not fail, Miss
Dodge, more than glad.''
Copyright, by W. G. Chapman)