Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-08-23
REX
BEACH
Continued from last week

probably. All lovers are mildly mad,
7 believe"
"Ahl Lovers! I begin to see. But
how do you mean to 60 about this
Ithis-impossible undertakings
'You told me just now that 1 could
pass for a Cuban. Well, I am going
to put it to the test. If once get into
the city I shall manage somehow to
get out again, and bring her with me"
"Um-m!" The general appraised
O'Reilly speculatively. "No doubt you
can get init is not so difficult to en-
ter, I believe, and especially to one
who speaks the language like native.
But the return fear you will 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"
$50 I should imagine" The speak
er's careless tone added to General Be
tancourt's establishment. ''Bless me-"
he exclaimed. "What an eXtraordi-
nary young man! Is it possible that
you do not comprehend the terrible
conditions?" A sudden thought struck
him and he inquired quickly: 'Tell me,
you are not by any chance that hero
they call Ell Demonio? have heard
that he Is indeed demon. No? Very
WE'LL You say you wish to visit Ma
Itanzas, and / am instructed to help
you. How can do SOP
O'Reilly hesitated an instant. For
one thing, l need money. II haven't
single peSeta."
"You are welcome to the few dol
lars possess"
Johnnie expressed his gratitude for
this ready assistance. "One thing
more" said he. "Will you give my
boy, Jacket, a new pair Of trousers
and send him back to the Orient at the
first opportunity"
"Of course. It is DONE" The gen.
,eral laid a friendly hand upon O'Reil-
lly's shoulder, saying gravely: ut
would relieve me intensely to send you
back with him, for I have fears for
the success of your venture. Matanzas
is a hell; it has swallowed up thou
sands of our good countrymen; thou.
sands have died there. Tn afraid You
do not realize what risks you are TAX
ing"
O'Reilly did not allow this WELL
meant warning to influence him, nor
did he listen to the admonitions Of
those other Cubans who tried to argue
with him out Of his purpose, once 1t
became known. On the contrary, he
proceeded with his preparations and
spent that afternoon in satisfying him.
self that Rosa had indeed left the Pan
de Matanzas before CobO's raid.
Among Betancourt's troops was q
man who had been living In the hills
at the time AsensiO and his family
had abandoned their struggle for ex-
istence, and to him O'Reilly went. This
fellow, 1t seemed, had remained with
his family in the mountains some time
after Asensio's departure. 1t was
from him that O'Reilly heard his first
authentic report Of the atrocities per-
petrated by Cobo's volunteers. This
man had lost his wife, his little son,
and all the scanty belongings he pos
sessed. With shaking hands up
stretched to heaven, the fellow cursed
the author of his misfortunes.
81 live for one thing!" he cried
shrilly-"to meet that monster, and te
butcher him, as he butchers women
and children"
O'Reilly purposely left his most un.
pheasant task to the last. When his
arrangements had been completed and
he had acquainted himself as far as
possible with the hazards he was likely
to encounter he took Jacket aside and
broke the news to him that on the fol.
lowing morning they must part. AS
he had expected. the boy refused to
listen to him. O'Reilly remained firm
and Jacket began to weep copiously
He worked himself up to hysterical
crescendo which threatened to arouse
the entire encampment. But O'Reilly
was unmoved.
"Be quiet" he told the boy. " 81
won't let you go with me, and that
ends it. 1t will be hard enough for one
man to- slip through: two would be
sure to fail"
"Those Spaniards will skill your
Jacket walled.
$50 much the more reason for you
to stay here"
At this the boy uttered louder
cry. He stamped his bare feet in
frenzy of disappointment. "You das'
sent leave me-you dassentp
"Listen, people are starving in Ma
tanzas; they are sick; they are dying
in the streets"
81 don't eat much"
When Johnnie shook his head stub
bornly Jacket launched himself into 6
torrent of profanity the violence Of