Mexico Missouri message., 1918-07-04

thinking of the girl, he said doubt
fully:
I'm afraid Miss Evans isn't equal
to the trip"
''Nonsensei I'm equal to anything"
Norine declared. And indeed she looked
capable enough as she stood there in
her short walking suit and stout boots.
Branch alone declined the invitation,
vowing that he was too weak to bulge.
If there was the faintest prospect of
riding to the interior he infinitely pre-
ferred to await the opportunity, he
said, even at the risk of an attack by
Spanish soldiers In the meantime.
1t took OReilly but short time to
collect the few articles necessary for
the trip; indeed, his bundle was so
small that Norine was dlsmayed.
Cant take any clothes" she in
quired in a panic. II can't live with
out change"
'It is something you'll have to
learn" he told her. "An insurrecto
with two shirts is wealthy. Some of
them haven't any,"
"Isn't it likely to rain on us?"
''It's almost sure to-"
Miss Evans pondered this prospect /;
then she laughed. at must feel fun
n.y." she said.
There were three other members of
the travelling party, men who knew
something of the country round about !;
| they we're good fighters, doubtless, but
in spits of their shiny new weapons
they esembled soldiers even less than
did their major. All were dressed as
they had been when they left New
York; one even wore a derby hat and
pointed patent-leather shoes. Never
theless Norine Evans thought the little
cavalcade presented quite a martial
appearance as it fled away into the
| jungle.
The first few miles were trying, for
the coast was swampy and thickly
grown up to underbrush; but in time
the jungle gave place to higher timber
and to open savannas deep in guinea
grass. Soon after noon the travellers
came to a farm, the owner of which
was known to one of the guides, and
here a stop was made in order to Sc
cure horses and food.
Johnnie, who was badly tagged from
the previous nights work, found a
shady spot and stretched himself out
for nap.
The shade was grateful. O'Reilly
enjoyed his sleep.
The party had penetrated to the foot
hills Of the Sierra de Cubitas, and as
they ascended, the scenery changed.
Rarely is the Cuban landscape any
thing but pleasing. It is a smiling
island. 1t has been said, too, that ev-
erything in 1t is friendly to man: the
people are amiable, warm-hearted; the
very animals and insects are harmless.
But here In the Cubitas range all was
different. The land was stern and for
bidding: canyons deep and damp
raised dripping walls to the sky; bride
paths skirted lodges that were bold
and fearsome, or lost themselves in
gloomy jungies as noisome as Spanish
dungeons. Hidden away In these fast
nesses, the rebel government had es-
tablished its capital. Here, safe from
surprise, the soldiers of Gomez and
Maceo and Garcia rested between at
tacks, nursing their wounded and re-
cruiting their strength for further sal
lies.
It was a strange seat Of govern
ment--nO nation ever had 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
grazed In the grassy streets, and wood
smoke drifted over them.
The second evening brought O'Reilly
and Miss Evans safely through, and al
news Of the expeditions success a
pack train was made ready to go tc
it's assistance. Norine's letter from the
New York. junta was read, and thC
young woman was warmly welcomed
One of the better huts was vacated fol
her use, and the officers Of the pro
visional government called to pay theil
respects.
There were other Americans in Gu
bitas, as o'Reilly soon discovered. Dur
ing his first inspection Of the viIlag,
he heard himself hailed In his own Ian
guage, and a young man in dirt,
white trousers and jacket strod'
toward him. a~s
welcome to our cltyr the strange
cried. 'Tm Judson, captain of artiI
lery, DEPARTMENT. del Orlente; AM
you're the fellow who came with tn
quinlne lady, aren't your
III O'ReIlly acknowledged his identity
. and Judson grlnned. shave you me
: the old man." he inquired Genera
, Gomezs"
"No; I'd like to meet him."
"Come along, then; I'll intrOduc
Q you"
Gen. Maxine Gomez, father of pl
q triots, bulwark Of the Cuban causl
e was seated in a hammock, readin
o some letters; O'Reilly recognized hi
instantly from the many pictures b
had seen. He looked up at hudson
q uolrxko onO fhoF.i Ss.rnoa a nof. 80 t,,,f