Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-11-14


lies.
It was a strange seat Of govern
ment-no nation ever had a stranger
for the state buildings were huts of
bark and leaves. the army was uni
formed In rags. Cook fires smoldered
in the open glades; cavalry horses
gTazed In the grassy streets, and wood
smoke drifted over them.
The second evening brought O'Reilly
and Miss Evans safely through, and at
news Of the expeditions success a
pack train was made ready to go to
its assistance Norine's letter from the
New York junta was read, and the
young woman was warmly welcomed.
One Of the better huts was vacated for
her use, and the officers Of the pro-
visional government called to pay their
respects.
There were other Americans in Gu
bitas, as O'Reilly soon discovered. Dur
ing his first inspection of the village
he heard himself hailed In his own Ian
! guage, and a young man in dirty
white trousers and jacket strobe
! toward him.
"Welcome to our ethyl" the stranger
cried. "I'm Judson. captain of artil-
j lery, DEPARTMENT. del Oriente; and
you're the fellow who came with the
quinine lady. aren't your
O'Reilly acknowledged his identity,
and Judson grinned. "Have you met
the old man." he inquired-"General
1 Gomez7"
mo; I'd like to meet him."
"Come along, then; I'll introduce
you"
Gen. Maxine Gomez, father of pa
triots, bulwark of me Cuban cause,
was seated in hammock, reading
some letters; O'Reilly recognized him
instantly from the many pictures he
had seen. He looked up at Judson's
salute and then turned pair of bril-
liant eyes. as hard as glass, upon
O'Reilly. His was an irascible, brood
ing face 1t had In 1t something Of the
sternness, the exalted detachment, Of
the eagle, and O'Reilly gained hint Of
the personality behind 1t. Maxine
Gomez was counted one of the worlds
ablest guerrilla leaders; and indeed
} 1t had required the quenchless enthu-
J siasm of a real military genius to fuse
! into a homogeneous fighting force the
, il-assorted rabble of nondeseriptS
! whom Gomez led, to school them to
! privation and to render them sufficient
ly mobile to defy successfully ten
! times their number of trained troops
| This, however, was precisely what tn,
: old Porto Rican had done, and in doinG
1t he had won the admiration of mill
tary students.
With bluntness not unklnd hC
asked O'Relly what had brought hin
to Cuba
When O'Reilly explained the reason
for his presence the old fighter nod
ded.
$50? You wish to go west, ehY
Eyes. sir. I want to find Colone
Lopez"
: Lopez? Miguel lopez" the gen
! eral inquired quickly. "Well, you won
q have to look far for him" Genera
Gomez leathery countenance lightene'
: into a smile Gle happens to be RICH
. here In Cubitas. Calling Judson t,
| him, he said: amigo take Mr.. O'Reill,
: to Colonel Lopez; you will find hin
9 somewhere about. am sorry we ar,
not to have this young fellow for
soldier; he looks like real man and
quite equal to five quintos, eh?'
It was the habit Of the Cubans t
refer to their enemies as quintos-
the fifth part of man! With a wav
+ Of his hand Gomez returned to hi
: reading.
Col. Miguel Lopez, a handsome, ami
mated fellow, took O'Reilly's hand Il
hearty clasp when they were intro
duced; but moment later his smil
gave way to frown and his broy
darkened.
$50! You are that O'Reilly iron
+; Matanzas," said he. Il know you now
/ butt never expected we would meet.
"Esteban Varona told you about me
f did he not?"
v The colonel inclined his head.
'T'm here at last, after the devil
It own time. I've been trying every wa
$ to get through. The Spaniards stoppe
n me at Puerto Principe-they sent m
$ back home, you know. I've been pei
" fectIy crazy. T. You" O'Reill
d swallowed hard. 'You know wher
$ Esteban is? Tell me-"
e "Have you heard nothing?"
u Nothing whatever. That is, notf
e ing since Rosa, his sister You III
derstand, she and / are-engaged-
II Eyes, yes Esteban told me all abou
y you.'
e Something in the Cuban's gravity Q
r manner gave O'Reilly warning. A sue
a den fear assailed him. His voice shoe
s as he asked:
h "What is it? Not bad newsT
d There was no need for the office
: to answer. In his ayerted gaz
O'Reilly read confirmation of his sicl
n est apprehensions.
a "Tell me! Which one" he whis
1t pered.
.Roth y,