davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-04
Ef1E AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A PENNSYLVANIA
a go BY Samuel WRMypoChor Ss. 81 y1
fsrreNaeeNzzaS Rm0yVtumoS Aosf zeatus @sssW%3
g. Sssa4Ag 80 and Eaer5eHc Governor ~
and EaeTSetlc Governor


lacking in the eadine which comes from cool Judgment
men in the world possibilities of
the development of relations with China, toward
moving and conce on for the con-
general and that him opinion
no Practical value and urged him to cndeavo n co to
to be Ma Ke Chang who
Ii Hung Chang with retinue Philadelphia Psychoog
cay the intense Barker quick to speak
and and full of beat against
he Chinese who there smooth and polished but mper
,urbab They probably knew the just they
to do and what they unwilling do required days
prolonged and chatting delay get from
thought and in the end the expression doubtful meaning
However, Barker the nanciers with Dissto,
Samuel Shpey president of the Proydent Life
pany parsonage, and they had sufficient
and the basis of this concession organized
capital of $2O,oOO,OoO
lawyer much of the tragedy existence wears
after admission to the bar retained by belonging
the respectable country families of Bucks
County Pa His boy about eighteen years age
employment as clerk IN one OF the large insurance of
the city. One day the directors held meeting
In the OF the meeting president
outer office and TO this boy the bank book with about $780,
take the bank of deposit The meeting prolonged
ard when adjourned late in the afternoon the president inquired
for the boy that not returned INQUIRY and
tanned he had reached the
pany held the theory that he had stolen the money and ev en-
poyed detectives confidently declared captured
within few days. At this juncture his relatives distress
Their view he had been by oopads
who knew he had large money they
for sending him out with it, However, the father who could
much cash. mortgage
the settlement and proposition
sci of the Information from their
cas of having both the boy and the money days
and they declined the proposition Days and
then they wanted to have renewed but the meantime the
clients had extent been evd they had grown
accustomed the situation and they twenty years
mystery disclosed boy
home He had so money!
the opportunity fortune his hand; yielded the
termination and stole the money nst;nctiyev m trnc
home He the depot the North Pennsylvania Railroad
Company and bought ticket for his native village Then
denly occurred to him that could not be safe there and he turned
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-04
END n

Then why have you come all this way
came to find her and to fetch her to
her brother"
"But-you don't understand. She is
actually inside the lines, in MatanzaS--a
prisoner"
'EXac:!y, I intend to 60 into Matonzas
General Eetancourt drew back aston
:shed Ny dear man. he exclaimed are
,ORellly smiled family. quite probably.
All lovers are mildly mad. l believe"
"Ah Lovers | begin 10 see. But-hnw
possible undertaking."
You told me just now that could pass
Rt He lest u0G II once s gel IN into ' the city shall
manage somehow TO get out again and
bring her with me"
speculativeiy. "No doubt you can get in
ii is not 80 difficult to enter, l believe, ana
especially. TO one who speaks the language
like "a native But the return-I fear you
VIII find that another matter. Matanzas Is
place OF pestilence hunger, despair No
one goes there from choice any more, and
no one ever comes out"
so should imagine" The speakers
careless tone added to General Betancourts 5
establishment BLESS me-" he exclaimed.
What an extraordinary young man Is it
terrible conditions?'" A sudden thought
struck him and he inquired, quickly: Tell
they call I'll Demonio? have heard that
he is indeed demon, No? Very well
You say you wish to visit Matanzas. and
am instructed to help YOU How can
do SOP
O'Reiiiy hesitated All instant, For one
thing J need money. IL haven't single
peseta..
You ARE welcome I'd the few dollars
possess L.,
Johnnie expressed his gratitude for this
ready assistance. "One thing more said
he. 'NWill you give my boy, Jacket, n new
pair of trousers and send him back TO the
Orient at the first opportunityY
"Of course. Ii Is done" The general
laid friendly hand upon o'Reilly,s shoul-
der. saying, gravely: 1T would relieve me
intensely 10 send YOU back with him, for
have fears for the success OF the venture
Matanzas is aihell; 1t has swallowed up
thousands of Our good countrymen thou
sands have died there. I'm afraid you do
not realize what risks you are taking"
O'Reilly did not allow this well-meant
warning TO influence him. nor did he listen
10 the admonitions of those other Cubans
who tried to argue him out of his purpose
once IL became generally known On the
contrary. he proceeded with his prepara-
tions and spent that afternoon In satisfying
himself that Rosa had indeed left the Pan
de Matanzas before Cobo's raid.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-04
By REX. BEACH

clared, the one person in all Cuba in every
respect qualified to share O'Reillys perils.
To begin with, he was not afraid of Span
iards, or anything else, for that matter--he
dismissed the subject of personal courage
with ContemptuouS shrug. AS for cum
ming, Sagaclty. prudence, resource. all
around worth, he was, without doubt. un-
equaled in any country. He was n verltablc
spartan, too, when ii came to hardship
privation and suffering were almost TO his
liking. He was discreet-dscretion was
something he had inherited he was a diplo-
unique accomplishments, As for this talk
about hunger. O'Reily need not concern
himself in the least on that score. for
Jacket was small eater and he could grow
fat on diet Of dead leaves, Disease? Bah
1t made him laugh. His experience with
sickness was wider than most tisicos and
lie was better nurse than Miss Evans
would ever be Jacket did not wish to
appear in the least b-astful. ON the con-
trary. he was actually too modest, az his
friends could attest, but truth compelled
him to admit that he was just the man for
O'Reilly: He found It impossible 10, recon-
mend himself too highly TO save his soul
he could think of no qualification in which
lie was lacking, and could see no reason
why his benefactor would not greatly profit
by the free use OF his amazing talents, The
enterprise was difficult; II would certainly
fail without him.
Johnnie remained carefully attentive
during this adjuration. He felt no desire
even to smile, for the boys earnestness was
touching and it caused the elder mans
throat TO tighten uncomfortably. Johnnie
become of this quaint youngster. And so,
when the little fellow paused hopefully,
OReilly put an arm around nin,
I'm sure you are everything you say you
are, Jacket and more, too, but you cant
go!"
With that Jacket flung off the embrace
and. talking away, seated himself. He took
n half-smoked cigar from the pocket Of his
shirt and lit it, scowing the while at his
friend, More than once daring the evening
O'Re,lly detected his sullen, angry eyes upon
him.
General BeuancouIt and several memoirs
of his staff were up early the following
morning to bid their visitor good-by, In
spite of their efforts to make lne parting
cheerful II was plain that they had little
hope of ever ,ag lin seeing this foolhardy
American.
Johnnie's spirits were not In the least af-
fected by this ill-concealed pessimism, for,
as he told himself, he had money In his
pockets and Matanzas was not many miles
away. But when he came to part from
Jacket he experienced Il genuine disappolnt-
ment
The boy, strangely enough, was almost
sndifferent to his leaving he merely ca
tended a limp and dirty hand ana replied 10
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-04

depressing to OReilly, and more, for there
was something nenacing and threatening
about IL all.
Toward noon the breeze lcssened and it
became insufrerahly hot \ bank of clouds
in the clsT promised cooling shower. 50
Johnnie sought the nearest shade TO wait
for il, and took advantage of the delay to
eat his slender lunch, He was meditatively
munching a sweet potato when a sound at
his back caused him to leap to his feet in
alarm He whirled, then uttered AN exca-
marion Of amazement. Seated not fifty feet
away was a bareiegged boy, similarly en-
gagged in eating n sweet potato, It was
Jacket His brown eyes were distended his
bright, inuuisittVe eyes wcr" fixed upon
o'lieilly from beneath II defiant scowl
Jacket :, cried the man. What the devil
You Eoin' to let me come along?" chal-
lenged the intruder.
so Nou followed me after | said
didn't want YOU" OReiily spoke reproach-
fully, but reproaches had no effect upon the
lad. With mild eNpietiye,' Jacket signi-
fled his contempt for such weak form of
persuasion.
See here now" ,oReily stepped closer,
Lets he sensible about this"
But jacket scrambled to his feet and re-
treated warly. stufiing the uneaten portion
of the sweet potato into his mouth. II was
plain that he had no confidence in oReillys
intentions Muttering something in n muf-
fled voice, he armed himself with stout
stick.
Come here commanded the American.
The two parleyed briefly. Then when
satisfied that no violence was intended him.
the boy sat down to listen. But. as before,
neither argument nor appeal had the slight
est effect upon him. He denied that he had
followed his benefactor He declared that
he was u free agent and at liberty TO go
where he wllled. If II 80 chanced that his
fancy took him to the city of Matanzas at
the same time u'Reilly happened to be trav-
cling thither the circumstance might be
put down to the long arm of coincidence.
II his company were distasteful 10 the elder
man, O'Reilly was free to wait and follow
later. II was "A matter OF complete indif-
ference to Jacket. He had business In
Matanzas and he proposed TO attend to it
The boy lied gravely unblushingly Never
theless, he kept n watchful eye upon his
hearer.
Very WELL" oRelliy told film finally.
II give in"
Jackets face instantly lit up. He ra-
dated good humor; he htched his body
closer
"By -! l get my own way, don't I?'
he laughed,
Indeed you do" o'Reilly laid hand
fondy upon his loyal follower. And 1
don't mind telling you that I'm more than
half glad of It, IL was getting lonesome
| didn't know how much / could miss you
But now we must make some plans; we
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-04

Among Bctancourts troops WIS man
who had been living in the hills at the
time Asensio and his family had abandoned
their struggle for existence. and to him
oReilly went, This fellow, it seemed, had
some, time after Asensio's departure. 1t
was from him that O'Reily heard his first
authentic report of. the atrocities perpc-
trated by Cobo'S Volunteers. This man
had lost his wife, his little SON and all the
scanty belongings he possessed. With shak-
ing hands upstretched 10 heaven. the fellow
cursed the author Of his misfortunes, Isl ,,-n,,,
To meet that monster, and 70 butcher
him. as he butchers women and children"
Jacket Protests
O'Reilly purposely left his most unpleas-
ant task TO the last. When his arrange
inents had been completed and he had ac-
quainted himself as far as possible with
took Jacket aside and broke the news to
him that on the following morning they
must part, As he had expected. the boy
refused to listen to him OReilly remained
firm and Jacket adopted those tactics which
had proved SO potent with General Gomez.
lie began to weep copiously. lie worked
himself up to hysterical crescendo which
threatened sto arouse the entire encamp-
ment But O'Reilly was unmoyed.
BE quiet" he told the boy. Il won't
let you go with me- and that ends ds,, IT." Aha
youngster. II got no friend but YOU
1T will be hard enough for one man to
SID through TWO would DE sure 10 ldll
Those Spaniards will kill you Jacket
walled.
80 much the more reason for you to stay
here"
At this the boy uttered louder cry. He
stamped his bare feet in a frenzy OF dis lp-
pointment. you dassent leave me-you
dassent."
Listen, people are starving in Matsnzas
they are sick; they are dying In the
streets"
Il don't eat much
When Johnnie shook his head stubbornly
Jacket launched himself into a torrent or
profanity, the violence of which dried his
tears, His vocabulary was surprising, He
reviled tte spaniards OReilly, himself.
everybody aud everything; he leveled
anathemas at that woman who had come
between him and, his beloved benefactor
The latter listened good-naturedly.
You're a tough KID" he laughed, when
Jacket = first rage had worn itself out. II
like you, and I'd take you II could. But
this isn't am enterprise for boy, and 1t
won't get you anything to keep up this
racket"
Jacket next tried the power Of argument
lie attempted to prove that in IL hazardous
undertaking OF this sort his assistance
would be invaluable, He was, so he de-
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-04
Copyright 1917, Harper e. Bros.
CHAPTER XIII Continued

NEITHER the lizards nor the rats were
~ quite as bad as they looked or sounded
the meat of the former was tender and
white. while the latter. though strong was
not unpalatable. To hungry men both were
the boys rst sxperence With such Was die, ,.1
having campaigned before in the West. he
was accustomed to the taste Of juita. and
lie told O'Reilly how his troop had once
lived so long upon these rats that it became
impossible to surprise q Spanish enemy, eH.
cept by approaching up the wind as
sured his friend that the Spanlards could
smell him and his brother patriots from a
the way, which the American by this time
was :eady to believe.
Safe in Camp
Fortunately there was, no shortage Of
necessity Of numerous detours, the. party
made good timA They crossed into
through sweeping savannas. past empty
clearings and deserted villages, to their
journeys end fortunate encounter With
a rebel partida from General Betancourts
army enabled them to reach headquarters
without loss of time, and one afternoon.
worn, ragged and hungry they, dismounte1
General Betancourt read the letter which
o'Reilly handed him. then looked up with
$50. You are one OF Gomez's Americans
eh? Well. ! Would never have known q to
look at you the sun and the wind have
made you into a very good Cuban. And your
clothes! one might almost mistake you
for a Cuban cabinet officer"
o'Reilly Joined n the laughter evoked
as the poores: of Betancourt's commos
soldiers: lis shoes were broken and dis
reputa bic his cotton trousers, snagged by
barbed wire and brambles. and soiled by
days in the saddle and nights In the grass,
were In despera need os attention. His
beArd had grown, too. and his skin. where
II was exposed. WAS purnt 40 Y mahoeans
brown. Certain thert was nothing about his
appearance to besleak his nationality.
The general continued: "L am directed
in this letter to help you In some enter
prise. Command me. sir"
As briefly possible Johnnie made
known the object OF his journey. The OFF,
Ger nodded ,iis comprehension, but as he
aid SO a pL4zled expression crossed his
face ,
gone into the city took some aims 10 find
out. 10 you have reason TO doubt"
f"Not IN the least, sir.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-04
:ss:; ::.,ss. s.s:s;.:'B:.<:,>z.5ssz!' 8 zs! .5sz! s.

his the Pennsylvania Railroad
for the far West No cnnngy devised plan
such this impuve action The
the North Penn depot and there learned for which
he had bought ticket Then in their wisdom they knew that his
relatives hiding him in Bucks watched
ngy watched the company getting
the Inside Of three months he had
money Then he went to work in powder MILL where the danger
and the high he learned
binding prospered and became the head establishment He
had changed his married had family children
rch and at last he wrote home off the old with
tercSt
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-04
novel of love, hidden and rebellion in beautiful.
erous Cuba during exciting days of the revolt against Spain

must have an understanding and decide
who we are, Let me see, your real name is
'Narcisco VilIar."
Well. then. | shall be Juan Villar, your
brother. Henceforth We shall speak moth
ing but Spanish. Tell me now, what was
our fathers name, where was our home
and what are We doing together
During the breathless interval before the
shower The two sat with their heads to-
gether, talking earnestly. AS the wind came
and the cooling rain began TO rattle on
dies and set out, The big drops drenched
them quiGkly. Their thin garments clung
10 them and water streamed down their
rent by vivid streaks of fire, but they
plodded onward cheerfuly.
Jacket was himself again. lie bent his
weight against the tempest and heightened
his short strides to O'Rely's He tried to
whistle, but his teeth ,chattered and the
wind interfered. So he hummed song to
drive the chill out of his bones and TO
hearten his benefactor Now that he was
at last accepted as full partner in this
enterprise it became his duty not only1to
share its perls. but TO lessen its hardshiDs
and to yield diversion.
The Goal in Sight
The rain was cold, the briers beside the
scratched the boys bare legs cruelty. His
stomach clamored for a companion to that
s9aTy rGee sTeet po1%5p TOO ept n his breast
himself n fortunate persona very fortu-
n lte person. indeed Had he not found a
brother. and did not that brother love him?
There was no doubt about the latter, for
OReillys eyes, when he looked down. were
kind and smiling, his voice was friendly
and intimate. Here was a man to die FOR.
The downpour lasted but Il short time.
then the sun came out and dried the mems
clothes on the whole, IL had been refresh
ing. When evening came the Nllar broth
ers sought refuge IN an old sugar mill, or
rather IN q part of IL still standing. They
were on the main calzada now, the paved
wi he W. In ri .,f flx.
island, and b. the following noon their
dest nation was In sight.
Ore lly felt sudden excitement when
Matanzas came into view From this dis
tance the city looked quite as. 1t did when
he had left II. except that the blue harbor
was almost empty ,,of shipping. while the
familiar range of hills that h d the Yumuri
that valley OF del ght so closely linked
In his thoughts with Rosa Varona---seemed
to smile at him IKE an old friend. For
the. thousandth ti9e he asked himself if
he had come I'm tI ye to find her. or IL fatem
maddening delayyhad proved his own and
the girls undoing. ~
CONTINUED TOMORROW
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-04
CHAPTER Y (COntinued)

WHEN married Virginia Earl Broomal 90
making from $500 to $4,000 AT that time had moved
my office to 209 South Sixth had myself
When went tackled card the
lunch down to the office in walked from my
home at POOP North Marvine Fifteenth
street. settled the affairs of uncle Samuel A. Whitaker
who owned twenyrs the Company
became his administrator the administrator the
of aunt Sarah Ann Whitaker who left about SO0O0
grandfather leaving of made his
executors Among my clients Foch Whitaker
William H. Whitaker coal merchants; the
hipbuder; George H. Sellers brother of William Sellers Whal
ton Barker the banker and William Wilson in his day the lead
ing tile merchant Of the city, Wilson employed by The and
paid annual salary of $780, For him fought
body Of in the city, including the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company Adams Express Company the Drexe He
combined methodical with abnormal
took exception of twenty-five cents for sub
without direct authority and the matter had be left
arbitration He kept boo which recorded details
conversation in preparation lawsuits Once trial he
this book much found
had said him with The information thence
forth careful Sydney Bdde brought bill equity
him behalf Colonel William Mooreead the
taken before Richard s. Hunter and then
the CUSTOM written without stcnographe The case
progressed until Wilson the and Bddle undertook
crossexamine him. Bidde, fluent and verbose asked
question long, Wilson had clothes basket full of
which the and taking
them and his book covering twenty Bddes
efforts shorten the simply called forth further
panaons So it continued until the fell of its weight
1t reached decision and will Almost needless add
Wilson finally encountered financial disaster The last time heard
Perfectly upright and WE'LL
exactness and detail.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-04

9@,,EGNlEn,s parting words with careless
In hurt surprise the former inquired,
Don't we part good frends?'
sure" Jacket shrugged then turned
Jacket was a lkable youngster; his de-
Notion was thoroughly unselnsh II had
not been easy 10 wound HIM With kecner
regrets than he cared to acknowledge
O'Reilly set out upon his journey, following
the guide whom General Betanc"urt had
provided.
II was lovely morning. sufficiently warm
to promise "A hot midday the air was moist
and fresh from Ii recent shower. This being
the rainy season, the trails were soft and
where the rich red Cuban soil was exposed
the travellers sank into It as into wet putty.
Crossing y rocky ridge, OReilly and his
guide at last emerged upon an open slope,
palms, those queer, distorted trees whose
trunks are swollen into the likeness of
earthen water Jars. Scattered here and
there over the meadows were the dead or
fallen trunks of another variety. the cab
tage palm. the green heart of which had
long formed a staple article Of diet for the
lnsurrectos. Spanish axes had been at work
here, and not single tree remained alive.
The green floor OF the valley farther down
vas dotted with the other, the royal kind.
that monarch of tropic vegetation which
lends to the cuban landscape its peculiar
and distinctive beauty.
'Yonder is the canine" said the country
man, rotating into the valley; 1T will lead
you to the main road and there"-'hc
turned to the northward-"is Matanzas. 60
with God and don't drink the well water,
which Is polluted with the rains" With a
smile and "a wave of the hand the man
turned back and plunged into the jungle.
The Surprise
As OReilly descended the slope he real
ICED keenly that he was alone and In a hos
tile territory. The hills and the woods from
Pinar del Rio to Oriente were Cuban, or, at
most they were disputed ground. But here
III the plains and valleys near the cities
Spain was supreme. From this moment on
O'Reilly knew he must rely entirely upon
himself, The success Of his enterprise-his
Yery life--hinged upon his caution, his pow
ers OF dissirpulatlon, his ability to pass as a
harmless. helpless pacihco. 1t gave him an
unaccustomed thrill by no means pleasant
The road. when he came to IL, proved to
be a deep gutter winding between, red clay
banks cut , by the high wheels OF clumsy
cane carts. lnasmuch as no crops whatever
had been moved over the road during the
last season. II was now little more than an
oozy. sticky rut. Not n roof. not chimney
was in sight: the valley was deserted
Here was q fertile farming country-and yet
no living thing, no sound of bells. no voices,
no Growing cocks, no lowing cattle. 1t was