Meade County news., 1918-07-11

to General. Gomez headquarters, ask
ing him tS:send asp4ck train and az
escort for these supplies. There Il
danger here; perhaps you would like
ttO go on with the couriers.'S -
-O'Reilly accepted eagerly: ther
thinking Of the girl, he said doubt
fullE;. =.
~f'% afraid Miss Evans isn't equal
to- the trip ~
"Nonsensei I'm equalSkO anything
I'Norihe declared. And indeed she looked
capable enough as she stood there in
herrshert 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 O'Reilly but a short time to
collect the few articles necessary for
the trip; indeed, his bundle was SO
small that NOrine was dismayed.
"Can't I take any clothes?" she In
quired in panic. II can't live with
out q change"
"It is something you'll have to
learn" he told her. "An insurrecto
with two shirts 10 wealthy. Some of
them haven't any,"
"Isn't 1t likely to rain on usf"
'It's almost sure to-"
Miss Evans pondered this prospect ;
then she laughed. ut 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 spit, 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 derby hat and
pointed patent-leather Shoes Never
theless Norine Evans thought the little
cavalcade presented quite martial
appearance as It filed away into the
Jungle.
The first few miles we're 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 saTannas 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.
5 Johnnie, who was badly tagged from
the previous nights work, found a
shady spot and stretched himself out
for nap. ,S,, M
The shade was grateful: O'Rellly
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. 1t Is a smiling
island. It has been said, too, that ev-
erything in 1t is friendly to man: the
people are amiable,, warm+hearted the
very animals AND, tpseNt1S are harmless.
But here in sFUHBitas range all was
different. ThaiAnti was stern and for
bidding Il. eapydkss deep and damp
;;i;sssSJ lFippJns walls To- the sky; bride
paH &yekfrted lodges that were bold
andE fearsomeis-bf. lost themselves in
glH9sGy jungles as nois0ne, as Spanish
Dungeons. Hidden awayin these fast
,deskasc the rebel government had es-
.tqbIlBhed Its capital. Heresssafe from
surprise, the $soddiers sof,! Gomez and
Maceo and Garcia rested between at
-tacks, nursing their wounded and re-
crHttiAg their strength for further sal
1ieB.4F
IT. was a strange seat of govern
1nent-no nation ever had a 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 ut
news Of the expeditions success ia
pack train was made. ready to go to
its assistance. Norine's letter from the
New York junta was read, and the
young woman was warmly welcomed.
One Of the better huts was vacated for
her use, and the officers Of the pro-
visional government called to pay their
respects.
There were other Americans in Gu
bitas, as O'Reilly soon discovered. Dur
Ing his first inspection Of the village
he heard himself hailed in his own lam
guage, and a young man In dirty
white trousers and jacket strode
toward him. "
welcome to our cityi" the stranger
cried. "I'm Judson, captain Of artil-
lery, departments del Oriente; and
you're the fellow who came with the
qulnine lady, aren't your"
0'Reilly acknowledged his identity,
and Judson grinned. "Have you met
the old man." he inQuired-"General
Gomez2"
"No; I'd like to meet him."
"Come along, then; I'll introduce
you"
Gen. Maxine Gomez, father Of pa
triots, bulwark of the Cuban cause,
was seated In a hammock, reading