Evening star., 1918-02-10

changed. he relaxed and lay back in
his hammock. ''Oh, well. you're about
the only man can't hate"
Jealous, are you? I didn't know you
were in so deep"
The other shook his head. 'Oh. I'm
dany. D'you think shed have me?'
Not chance"
Hey? Why not? I'm a good big
husky-ru get government Job when
the war Is over and"
That's just the trouble. She'll fall
for some poor, sickly unfortunate, with
one leg. She's the sort that always
does. She's the sort that has to have
something to mother Lord. I'd give
a good deal to see her safely back in
New York;
Judson. it seemed. had a better un-
derstanding Of artillery than OF women:
he pondered OReilly's statement seri-
Some sickly fellow. Some fellow
like Branch, chr After moment he
continued. more hopefully: We'll. It
won't be him; he'll soon be dead.
There's some consolation in that I
o'Reilly motioned for silence. for at
that moment Branch himself ap-
preached. his long face set in lines of
discomfort, even deeper than usual.
He had been wandering about the camp
in one OF his restless fits, and now he
began,
say: what do you think I've been
i dunno. Capt Jud.on answered.
morosely. Cheering the sick and
wounded; shedding smiles and sunshine
as usual, / suppose?"
"Hunh! You're funny guy, aren't
you?-about as comical as chloro-
form cone. You make me laugh. you
do-just like broken leg. Well. I've
Evans. and I can't find any"
Cant find any?"
Nothing fit for her to eat. You
don't expect her to live on this in
fernal eternal and internal beef stew"
Branch shuddered and gagged slightly.
1--WE eatei parts of animals that were
never intended to be eaten. This rebel
grub is killing me. What'll it do to
herr?
"Didn't Maj. Ramos bring anything
alongT O'Reilly asked.
He says there's famine at Cubi-
tas"
Wed better look into this" Judson
exclaimed, and, finding that his clothes
were dry, he hurriedly began to dress
himself.
Together. the three men made an in
vestigation of the camps resources,
only to discover that Branch was right
There was, indeed. but little food Of
any kind, and that little was of the
coarsest. Ordinarily, such condition
Of affairs would have occasioned them
no surprise. for the men were becom-
ing accustomed to a more or less
chronic scarcity Of provisions; but the
presence of Norine Evans put quite a
different complexion upon the matter.
They were still discussing the situations
when Miss Evans, having finished her
afternoon nap. threw open the flaps OF
her tent and stepped out.
When she had listened to the ac-
count apologetica1ly submitted by her
three friends. she drew her brows to-
gether. saying. plaintively: "oh dear!
We've been going short for a week,
and Maj Ramos told me we'd fare bet
ter when we got here. l had my mouth
all set for a banquet Couldn't you
even find a poor dog a bone?"
Norine was thinner and browner than
when she had come to Cuba. but she
in no way showed the effect of any
serious or continued lack of nourish-
ment. In fact. a simple diet and an
outdoor life had agreed with her amaz-
ingly.
I'm afraid the cupboard is bare"
O'Reilly acknowledged.
They're getting ready to slaughter
another guttapercha OK" Branch said,
gloomily. Hes a veteran of the Ten
Years War. That means stew again!
and q bushel of sweet potatoes for four
hundred men!"
do you know what want for din
nerr" Norine inquired. Lamb chops
with green peas. some nice white bread,
salad and coffee"
iously. Judson stirred uneasily.
That's what want don't expect
to get It."
WITH ! sigh Of relief the captain ex-
claimed, Il thought you were giving
Goodness. nor with . laugh the
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