Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-07-18
together; then they invited judi

heads together; then they invited JUDI
to join their council.
When O'Reilly Joined Judson for
supper the latter met him with a broad
grin on his face. "Well," said he, "You
can get ready to saddle up when the
DOR rises"
"What do you mean?"
"Ihe colonel took Miss Evans at her
word. We're going to raid San Antonio
de los Banos-two hundred of us-to
get her some pickles, and jam, and
candy, and tooth-powder."
Il =
Certain histories Of the Cuban Wal
for independence speak of "The Bat
tie of San Antonio de los Banos." 1t
Is quite a stirring story to read and it
has but one fault, a fault, by the way,
not uncommon in histories-it is main
ly untrue.
In the first place, the engagement
was in no sense a battle, but merely a
raid. The number Of troops engaged
was, perhaps, one-ffth of the generous
total ascribed by the historians, and
as a military maneuver it served no
purpose whatsoever. Nevertheless,
since the affair had 4 direct bearing
upon the fortunes of several people
connected with this story, it is, per-
haps, worth relating.
Lopez and his troop approached the
town in the early morning. AS they
deployed for the attack the colonel is
sued private instructions to certain
members of his command.
"O'Reilly, you and Senior Branch will
enter n grocery store after another.
You will purchase that jam, those sar-
dimes, and whatever else you think
Miss Evans would like. Captain Jud-
son, you and Major Ramos will go to
the apothecary shop-I understand
there is a very good one-and look for
tooth-powder and candy and the like. l
shall see that the streets are cleared,
then l shall endeavor to discover some
pickles; but as God Is my Judge, I
doubt if there is such a thing this sida
Of Habana."
Leslie Branch, whose temper had not
Improved with the long night ride, in
CURED, caustically: "Do you expect US
to buy the groceries? Well, I'm broke,
and so is OReilly. If you don't give us
some change, colonel, We'll have to
open a charge account in your name."
"Caramba !" muttered Lopez. II in
tended to borrow from you gentlemen.
Well, never mind-we'll commander
what we wish in the name of the re-
public"
Lopez attack proved a complete
surprise, both to the citizens and to the
garrison of the town. The rebel bugle
gave the first warning Of what was
afoot, and before the Castilian troops
who We're lettering off duty could re-
gain their quarters, before the citizens
could take cover or the shopkeepers
close and bar their heavy wooden shut
tiers, two hundred ragged horsemen
We're yelling down the streets.
There followed a typical Cuban en-
gagement-ten shouts to one shot.
There was a mac charge on the heels
of the scurrying populace, a scattering
poE-pop Of rifles, cheers, cries, shrieks
of defiance and far-fung insults direct.
cd at the fortinas.
OReilly, with Branch and Jacket
close at his heels, whirled his horse
into the first bodega he came to. The
store was stocked with general mer-
%chandise, but it's owner, evidently a
Spaniard, did not tarry to set a price
upon any of it. AS the three horsemen
came Gathering in at the front he vert
flying out at the rear, and, although
O1ieilly called reassuringly after him,
his only answer was the slamming of a
back door, followed by swiftly dimin-
ishing cries of fright. a
There was no time to waste. John
ME dismounted and, walking to the
shelves whore orl imported canned
goods were displayed, he began to Sc
lcct those d%elicacies for which he had
been sent. The devoted Jacket was at