Bisbee daily review., 1913-09-10

some men in uniform. drinking and smoking. The figures were. of course, | indistinct. and although Hoiton could catch the sound Of their voices, he could not make out what was being said.
 As he crouched thus under the win 1 dov-ledge the front door opened, and a figure passed out and walked to one end of the long veranda. Here the man emitted low whistle, which was not answered. With a muttered excla' l nation, the stranger retraced his steps, and, walking directly past HoF ton in the other direction. leaned over the railing and whistled again.
 Holton never afterward knew what possessed him, but he noticed that the man had left the front door slightly aiar. Acting upon quick thought. heI suddenly leaned down. unlaced his shoes, and then, with quick glance at the fellow still leaning over thei railing and cursing under his breath he stole from his position, made for the open door, and slipped hastily and noiselessly into the hall.
 A light with deep red shade was burning here, and the shadows 1t cast were heavy. The door of the room iD- t, which he had been peering was half osen, and across the hall, directly op- posite, was a corresponding room, the interior of which was not lighted. Into this apartment. scarcely breath ing. Holton stole, standing inside the jamb and listening with strained ears. Before he could adjust himself to the sense of what was being said. the man who had emerged from the door when Holton was on the veranda returned into the hall, closed the door and en- tered the lighted room. He wEs at tired in the uniform of a captain in the navy, and his entrance seemed toi quiet somewhat the ardor of the argu- ment
 Tt is agreed, then gentlemen, that the city cannot long endure siege?" The voice was deep and authoritative. Holton, in an ecstasy of eagerness, craned his head forward.
 T for one deny it." was the angry response.
 ~But aside from you, general" was the rejoinder, I've seem unanimous. Do we not?"
 There was a chorus of assent. Then Hoilton heard a voice that he recognized; a voice that sent thrills down his spine and caused him to loosen his revolver in it's holster. "Shafter's army alone would not suf- fee. But 1 know that General Miles with endorsements will soon be here, and 1 know, also, that while General Shafter would prefer to abandon his present position, he will not do so. can inform you, too, that the lines Of our army will not be attacked by charge on the morrow, and that 6 long ! siege will be entered upon. The Amer 1 jeans are in excellent health, and they will starye us to submission"
 It was the voice of the waiter of the [ New Willard.
 But, Senor Cesnola," inteFposed the ] first speaker, you have led us to be lieve that within a week, at least, your 1 Cuban rebels will turn upon the Amer 1 icans." 1 They will when give the word" | Then why not give it?"
 l Because the time is not ripe. They | would be wiped out of existence. That | time must come when the fever has ! begun it's work and the army is be- : ginning to be demoralized. Two l three-five more days in the trenches on the hillsides under this hot sun. will do our work for us" "Geutlemen," went on the first speaker, my mind is made up. To- morrow is the 2nd of July. We shall make no move then. But l warn you, ,. if on the morning of July the situa- ton is still unchanged the feet will ] leave Santiago harbor. Orders from Blanco are getting imperative. If we survive the attempt and reach Havana we shall be safe; it cannot be taken, believe, in a years siege. Here the successful storming of our lines means the end of our navy and the unsuceess- ful close of this war;
 So this is your decisionT' inquired another voice.
 Those are my orders. and they are final"
 Holton, trembling like a leaf, his
 mouth hanging open, drank in the
 words as a drowning man drinks in
 his last breath of air. He could hard ly credit his senses.
 Here, after night of aimless
 stumbling through the blackness and
 through the rain, he had chanced upon
 the very place of all places where in.
 formation most valuable to his coun-
 try's success was to be obtained.
 The voices had fallen to a hum and
 strain his ears as he would, he could
 catch no more than frsgmentary sen
 tences. Some one went out at the
 dOcr. and presently the sound of
 horses hoofs was heard on the shell
 driveway. Three men departed. and
 then Holton heard the scraping ot
 chairs and the rattle of glasses, as
 though those that remained were pre-
 pairing to spend some further time in
 their present quarters.
 Holton having put on his shoes, was