Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1914-01-23

some men IN UNIFORM, drlnKlnB anu
smoking The figures were, Of course,
indistinct, and although Fiolton could
catch the sound of their voices, he
could not make out what was being
said
AS he crouched thus under the win
dow-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 muttered excla-
nation, the stranger retraced his
steps, and, walking directly past Hol-
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
ajar. Acting upon quick thought, ne
suddenly leaned down, unlaced his
shoes, and then, with quick glance
at the fellow still leaning over the
railing and cursing under his breath,
be stole from his position, made for
the open door, and slipped hastily and
nolselessly into the hall
A light with deep red shade was
burning here, and the shadows it cast
were heavy. The door of the room In
to which he had been peering was hair
open, and across the hall, directly OPP
posite, was a sponding room, the
interior of which was not lighted.
Into this apartment, scarcely breath
inc Hnlfnn sto1a Sfan6jn1 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 was at
tired in the uniform of captain In
the navy, and his entrance seemed to
quiet somewhat the ardor Of the argu-
ment.
1T is agreed, then gentlemen, that
the city cannot long endure a siege?"
The voice was deep and authoritative.
Holton, In an ecstasy of eagerness.
craned his head forward
Il for one deny It," was the angry
| response.
But aside from you, general was
the rejoinder, "weseem unanimous. Do
We not?"
| There was q chorus Of assent.
Then Hoilton he lrd voice that he
recognized; voice that sent thrills
down his spine and caused him to
| loosen his revolver in its holster.
Skaters army alone would not suf-
| fee. But | know that General Miles
with reinforcements will soon be here,
and | know, also, that while General
| Shafter would prefer to abandon his
present position, he will not do SO. l
can inform you, too, that the lines Of
our army will not be attacked by
charge on the morrow, and that long
siege will be entered upon. The Amer
leans are in excellent health, and they
will starve us to submission"
1t was the voice Of the waiter OF the
New Willard.
| But, Senior Cesnola," interposed the
first speaker, you have led us to be-
lieve that within a week, az least, your
| Cuban rebels will turn upon the Amer
| leans"
They will when l give the word"
Then why not give it,"
Because the time is not ripe They
would be wiped out of existence. That
time must come when the fever has
begun its work and the army is be-
ginning to be demoralized. Two
three-five more days in the trenches
on the hillsides under this hot sun,
will do our work for us.
Gentlemen" went on the first
speaker, my mind is made up. To-
morrow Is the 2sd Of July. We shall
make no move then. But l warn you,
il on the morning of July 3 the situa-
ton is still unchanged the fleet will
leave Santiago harbor. Orders from
Blanco are getting imperative II we
survive the attempt and reach Havana
we shall be safe; 1t cannot be taken, |
believe, In years siege. Here the
successful storming of our lines means
the end of our navy and the unsuccess-
full close of this war"
| 90 tulS IL your ucCISlOul 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 a night Of .aimless
stumbling through the blackness and
through the rain, he had CHANGED 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 hum and
strain his ears as he would, he could
catch no more than fragmentary sen
fences. Some one went out at the
door. and presently the sound OF
horses hoofs was heard on the shell
driveway. Three men departed and
then Holton heard tho scraping OF
chairs and tho rattls OF glasses. ss
though those that Remained vera mTa