The Pulaskian., 1918-08-02
CHAPTER xvi-continued.

were broken and disreputable: his cot
ton trousers, snagged by barbed wire
and brambles, and soiled by days in
the saddle and nights in the grass,
were in desperate need of attention.
His beard had grown, too, and his skin,
where it was exposed, was burnt to
a mahogany brown. Certainly there
was nothing about his appearance to
bespeak his nationality.
The general continued: 81 am direct
ed in this letter to help you In some
enterprise. Command me, sir"
AS briefly as possible Johnnie made
known the object of his journey. The
officer nodded his comprehension. but
as he did so a puzzled expression
crossed his face.
"Yes / reported that Miss Varona
had gone into the city took some
pains to find out. Do you have reason
to doubt"
mot the leact, sir"
"Then-why have you come all this
wayY
81 came to find her and to fetch her
to her brother"
'But-you don't understand. She is
actually inside the lines, in Matan-
zas--a prisoner"
Exactly. intend to go into Matan-
zas and bring her out"
General Betaneourt drew back, as
tonished. my dear mani" he ex-
claimed. "Are you mad2"
nspofIIy spnffad foiDfIv stnr;4o
probably. ALI lovers are mildly mad,
believe"
"Ahl Lovers! I begin to see. But
how do you mean to go about this
this-impossible undertakings"
''You told me just now that I could
pass for a Cuban. Well, I am going
to put it to the test. If once get into
the city 1 shall manage somehow to
get out again, and bring her with me-"
"Um-m!' The general appraised
0Reilly speculatively. mo doubt you
can get init is not so difficult to en-
ter, believe, and especially to one
who speaks the language like native.
But the return-I fear you will find
that another matter. Matanzas is a
place of pestilenee, 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 mani 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 Ri Demonio? 1 have heard
that he is indeed a demon. No? Very
well You say you wish to visit Ma
tanzas, and 1 am instructed to help
you. How can do so?''
0'Reilly hesitated an instant For
one thing, 1 need money. IL haven't
single peseta."
''You are welcome to the few dol
lars possess"
Johnnie expressed his gratitude for
this ready assistance. zone thing
more" said he. "Will you give my
boy, Jacket, a new pair of trousers
and send him back to the Orient at the
nrst opportunity"
"Of course. It is DONE" The gen.
eral laid friendly hand upon O'Reil-
ys shoulder, saying, gravely: ut
would relieve me intensely to send you
Dack with him, for l have fears for
me success of your venture. Matanzas
Is he'll; it has swallowed up thou
sands of our good countrymen; thou
sands have died there. I'm afraid you
90 not realize what risks you are TAX
ing"
oReilly did not allow this we'll
meant warning to influence him, nor
uu he listen to the admonitions of
those other Cubans who tried to argue
win him out of his purpose, once it
became known. On the contrary, he
proceeded with his preparations and
spent that afternoon in satisfying him.
sen that Rosa had indeed left the Pan
ue Matanzas before Cobo's raid.
Among Betancourt's troops was a
man who had been living in the hills
al the time Asensio and his family
nau abandoned their struggle for ex-
lSteAce, and to him O'Reilly went. This
Fellow, it seemed, had remained with
MS family in the mountains some time
AFTER Asensio's departure. 1t was
iroln him that O'Reilly heard his first
authentic report of the atrocities per-
petrated by Cobo's volunteers. This
niah mad lost his wife, his little son,
anu all the scanty belongings he pos
SeSSed. With shaking hands up
stretched to heaven, the fellow cursed
Tue author of his misfortunes.
live for one thing!" he cried
Snrlly-"to meet that monster, and to
Outcher him, as he butchers women
and children"
ohellly purposely left his most I'M
peasant task to the last. When his
arrangements had been completed and
nc mad acquainted himself as far as
possible with the hazards he was likely
nfnt h. i Il