Mexico Missouri message., 1918-07-18

the skirmish when he saw Colonel I,o-
pee ride to the crest Of a knoll, rise in
his stirrups and, lifting his cupped
hands to his lips, direct loud shout
back toward the town. Lopez was fol-
lowed by several of his men, who like
wise began to yell and to wave their
arms excitedly.
Johnnie turned to discover that Les
lie Branch had Jagged far behind, and
now, as IL to cap his fantastic perform
ances, had dismounted and was de-
| scending the river bank to q place
where large washing had been spread
upon the stones to dry. He was quite
exposed, and splteful crnckle from the
nearest blockhouse showed that the
| Spanlards were determined to bring
him down. Mauser bullets ricocheted
among the rocks-even from this dis
tance their sharp explosions were audi
ble-others broke the surface of the
stream into little geysers, as IL a school
Of fish were leaping.
When johnnie looked on in breath
less apprehension Branch appropriated
several suits that promised to At him; 1;
then he climbed up the bank, remount-
ed his horse, and ambled slowly out Of
range.
Now this was precisely the sort Of
harebrained exploit which delights q
Cuban audience. When Leslie re-
Joined his comrades, therefore, he was
greeted with shouts and cheers.
"Caramba He would risk his life
for clean shirt. There's fell
low for you'll He enjoys the hum Of
these Spanish bees! Bravo
Tell us what the bullets said to you"
they cried, crowding around him in an
admiring circle.
O'Reilly, unable to contain himself,
burst forth In a rage: LOPEZ ought to
court-martlal you"
Infuriated, he rode over to where
Captain Judson was engaged In max
ing litter upon which to carry the
sick prisoner they had rescued from
the Jail. "This chap here Is ALI in,"
said Judson. "rm afraid we aren't go
ing to get him through"
Following Judson's glance, O'Reilly
beheld an emaciated figure lying in the
shade Of a nearbyOguava bush. The
man was clad in filthy rags, his face
was dirty and overgrown with a
months beard; pair of restless eyes
stared unbllnkingly at the brazen sky.
His lips were moving; from them Is
sued steady patter of words, but 9TH
erwise he showed no sign Of life.
"You said he was starving" Johnnie
dismounted and lent Judson a hand
with his task.
'That's what 1 thought at first, but
he's sick. I suppose it's that internal
dungeon fever. We can swing him be-
tween our horses, and"
Judson looked up to discover that
Johnnie was poised rigidly, his mouth
open, his hands halted in midair. The
sick mans voice had risen, and O'Reil-
ly, with a peculiar expression of
amazement upon his face, was strain
ing his ears to hear what he said.
"Eh? What's the matter?" Judson
inquired.
For a moment O'Reilly remained
frozen in his attitude, then without a
word he strobe to the sufferer. He bent
forward, ctaring into the vacant, up
turned face. A cry burst from his
throat, cry that was like sob, and,
kneeling, he gathered the frail, filthy
figure into his arms.
'Estebanl" he cried. "Esteban! This
is O'Reilly. O'Rail-ye Don't you know
me? O'Reilly, your friend, your broth
err! For Gods sake, tell me what
they've done to youl Look at me, Es-
teban! Look at mel Look at me 4! oh,
Esteban!"
Such eagerNess, such thankfulness,
such passionate pity were in his
friends hoarse voice that Judson drew
closer. He noticed that the falntest
fame of reason flickered for an instant
in the sick mans hollow eyes; then
they began to rove again, and the same
rustling whisper recommended. O'Reil-
ly held the boy tenderly In his arms
tears rolled down his cheeks as he i'm
plored Esteban to hear and to heed
him.
"Try to hear me! TryT There was
fierce agony in the cry. "Where is
Rosa? Rosa? You're
safe now; you can tell me.
You're safe with O'Rellly.
came back I came back for you
and Rosa. Where is she?
Is she-deadT
Other men were assembling now
The column was ready to move, but
Judson signaled to Colonel Lopez and
made known the identity Of the sick
stranger. The colonel came forward
swiftly and laid hand upon O'Reil
ly's shoulder, saying:
$50! You were right, after all. Els
teban Varona didn't die. God mus
have sent us to San Antonio to deliver
him."
"He's sick, sickW O'Reilly said
husklly. "Those Spaniards Lool
what they've done to him." His yoic'
changed. He cried, fiercely: swell
| TIM late AGAIN I'm alWayR inst n Iittil