Mexico Missouri message., 1918-08-29


tened 1t securely inside her coat. After
few experiments she adjusted it to
her liking, then called o'Reilly once
more. This time he was better satis-
fed. An application Of Evangelina's
stain to darken her face, few tatters
and liberal application of dirt to the
suit, and he declared that Rosa would
pass anywhere as boy.
There came night when the three
Of them bade good-by to their black
companions and slipped away across
the city to that section known as Pueb-
10 Nuevo, then followed the road along
the water front until they found shell
ter within the shadows of a rickety
structure which had once served as a
bath house.
The refugees waited a long time
they were beginning to fear that old
Morin's nerve had weakened at the
eleventh hour, when they beheld a sklff
approaching the shore. 1t gllded closer,
entered the shade Of the bath house,
then a voice cried:
"Psetl You are there?" 1t was Mo-
rim himself.
Hastily the three piled aboard. NORM
bent to his oars and the skiff shot out.
You were not observed?" he inquired.
mo"
Norm rowed in silence for time.
"When do you sail?" O'Reilly asked.
"At dawn, God permitting. You will
have to remain hidden and you mustn't
even breathe"
He brought the skiff alongside bat
tered old schooner, and his passengers
clambered aboard. There was a tiny
cabin aft and ON 1t, sheltered from the
night dew by loose fold of the main.
sail, were two sleeping men. The new.
comers followed Norm down into the
evil little cabin, where he warned them
in hoarse whisper:
"Not sound, mind you. IF anyone
comes aboard, you must shift for your
selves. Creep into the hold and hide
OF course, if we are searched" He
muttered something. then groped his
way out on deck, and closed the hatcl
behind him.
Now that they had actually EN-
barked upon this enterprise and thu
girl had given herself entirely into his
hands, now that an imminent peril en-
compassed them both, Johnnie felt tina
Rosa belonged to him more absolutely
more completely, than at any tlm'
heretofore, so he held her close. Ros;
lay relaxed against her lovers shoul
der and in hating murmurs, interrupt
ed many times by caresses, she toll
OReilly Of her need for him, and he
utter happiness. 1t was the fullest hou
of their lives. =,
With daylight, Norm routed out hi
men. There was a sleepy mutterine
the patter of bare feet upon the dec
above, then the creak OF blocks as tn
sails were raised. A few moments, the
there came hail which brought thei
hearts into their throats. NORM him
self answered the call.
"Good morning, countrymani Hav
you caught any Of those accursed Ill
busters since saw you last2 So? Cay
Romano, Ell? What have I aboard
Norm laughed loudly. "You know yer
well-cannon and shot for the rebels
of course. VIII you look2 No
Then cup Of coffee perhapsP'
OReilly peeped through a dir
stained cabin window and saw that th
volandra was slipping past the stern G
the ironclad, SO he withdrew his hea
quickly.
III OF course this was but one DANCE
past and there were many more ahea'
for Morin's schooner was liable to b
stopped by any Of the numerous patr'
boats on duty to the eastward. Neve
theless, when an anxious hour had gon
by and she was well out toward til
harbor mouth, the refugees told or
another they were safe.
CHAPTER xxi.