Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-09-05

Can eAuure the narQSnlpS We'll encOun-
ter when, or if, we get away"
Exactly what I was thinking. I've
been considering another plan. I told
you about my friend at the market.
Well, he is a miserable Spaniard, but
he has a son in the manigua."
lone of u.s." Johnnie was surprised. |
eyes. The old fellow owns a volan-
dra in which he brings charcoal from
the eastward twice q month. He might
take us out of here-on his schooner"
"How we'll does he like you?"
"Oh, we are like two thieves"
After a period Of thought O'Reilly
said, "Take me to him, and remember
I'm your brother JUAN
The MatanZaS market did not pre-
sent a scene of great activity when the
two friends skunk into it. Like most
Spanish markets, the building was far
from clean and housed odors unpleas-
ant even to starving people. In the
smellfest section, at n of the fish
stalls, Jacket accosted q villainous old
brigand in a rough Gallego cap, baggy
blouse and trousers, and straw san
dals.
"Good day, my captain" he cried,
cheerily.
The Spaniard raised his head,
scowled fe%rociously, then waved a long,
thin-bladed knife in menacing fashion.
"Aha! So there you are, robber! Be
off now before 1 slit your greedy little
belly! Didn't I promise to give you to
the soldiers if you came back to bother
met"
Jacket was unabashed by this hostile
reception. He grinned broadly and with
an impudent eye he scanned the empty
premises. "Where is my little fsh?"
he demanded. GAS I live, I believe you
have sold it! What a miser! For the
sake Of another centavo you would see
me starve? There's a heart for you
Come, give me my fish! Or must 1 lie
down and die before your very eyes tc
prove my hunger?"
"What a %nuisance!" grumbled the
marketman. He reached into a basket
and flung a mackerel upon the table
"There! I saved it for you, and sent
the good women Of Matanzas away
empty-handed. But it is the very last
Annoy me again and I shall open yor
with my knife and put salt on you"
"Ah! You are my good captain y
Jacket cried in triumph, possessing
himself Of the prize. "Where would
have been but for your Turning tc
O'Reilly, who had looked on from a dis
lance, he said, Captain NORM, this Is
that brother Juan Of whom I have tolt
you"
NORM smiled at Johnnie and extend
ed his dirty palm. 1.-THE little fellow
can speak the truth when he wishes, i
seems. I began to doubt that he had {
brother. What a boy, eh?"
"You have a son with the insurrec
tosY" ..~-~"-...
Eyes" The fisherman cast a furtiv'
glance over his shoulder.
"Why don't you go and fight by hi
side?" Jacket demanded.
God Forbid" NORM flung up hi
hands. Tn a loyal subject"
swell, we are going back to fight
We are going to escape and join Come:
once more!" Jacket made the an
nouncement calmly. /.
"'S-sh! What talk" NORM was in
nervous panic lest they be overheard
GAS if anybody could escape from Ma
tanzas! What made you come here i
you are so eager to fght?"
"Ill tell you" O'Reilly assumed di
rection of the conversation. "Ther,
are three Of us brothers, we two ant
Esteban, a pretty little fellow. He wa
captured by Cobo's men and driven in
and we came to find him. But he /
sick-dying-"
"Of course. They're all dying-th'
poor people! 1t is terrible"
Eve" O'Reilly faltered slightly
so much hung upon the manner ii
which Norm would take what he wa
about to say. "We want to get him gu
Of here-we must do so, or We'll los,
him. Will you help us?"
II? In heavens name, how?"
"By taking us away in your char
coal schooner"
you're mad!" NORM cast another
,apprehensive look over his shoulder
"I'm a poor man. All I have is m two
boats, the vivero, which brings fish
and the volandra, which sails witt
charcoal. Do you think I'd forfeit then
and my life for st%rangers?"
i O'Reilly leaned closer. "You say
you're a poor a I will pay you
WELL"
t NORM eyed the ragged speaker scorn.
fully it was plain that he put no faith
in such a promise, and so O'Reilly took
a piece of gold from his pocket, at
sight of which the fisherman started.
II, too, am a poor man, but I'm will.
ing to buy freedom for my little broth
ers and myself"
"How many coins like that have
you"
"Um-m-more than one; enough to
pay you for several cargoes of coal"
'For the sake Of Miguelito," Jacket
uprn6 HCoromhn Whot n how'd boA,A