Judsonia weekly advance., 1918-08-07

some incredible number. But they were human-they could not defent n regiment. It seems that only one or two of them escaped"
 "Esteban? Did he"
 Colonel Lopez nodded; then he said gravely: "Cobo takes no prisoners. I was in the Rubi hills at the time, fight ing hard, and it was six weeks before I got back into MatanZas. Naturally, when I heard what happened, tried to find the girl, but Weyler was con- centrating the pacifcos by the time, and there was nobody left in the Yu- muri; it was a desert"
 "Then you don't know positively that she that she"
 Wait. There is no doubt that the boy was killed, but of Rosa's fate [ can only form my own opinion. How ever, one of Esteban's men joined my troops later, and I not only learned something about the girl, but also why Esteban had been so relentlessly pur- sued It was all Cobo's dongs. You. have heard of the fellow? No? Well. you will" The speakers tone was eio- quent of hatred "He is worse than the worst of them--a monsterl He had seen Miss Varona. She was a beautiful girl.
 "Go on! !" whispered the lover.
 II discovered that she didn't at first obey Weyler's edict She and the two negroes-they were former slaves of her father, 1 believe-took refuge in the Pan de Matanzas Later on, Co., bo's men made q raid and-killed a great many Some few escaped into the high ravines, but Miss Varona vas not one of them. Out of regard for Esteban l made careful search, but I could find no trace of her"
 And yet you don't know what hap penedY O'Reilly ventured You're not sure?"
 "No, but I tell you again Cobo's men take no prisoners. When heard about that raid 1 gave up looking for her"
 "This-Cobo, o,"-the Americans voice shook in spite of his effort to hold it steady-'I shall hope to meet him some time"
 The sudden fury that filled Colonel Lopez face was almost hidden by the gloom. "Yes. Oh, yesi" he cried, quickly, land you are but one of h0n- dred; am another. In my command there Is standing order to spare nei- ther Cobo nor any of his assasSlnss they neither expect nor receive guar ter from us. Now, companero''-the Cuban dropped hand on OReiffy's bowed head-"I am sorry that had to .li,N l,a,tx men-and this is war"
 "No no! It isn't war-it's mereiiess savagery! To murder children and to outrage wOmen--why, that violates al1= the ethics of warfare"
 "Ethics !" the colonel cried harshly- "Ethics? Hell Is without ethics. Why look for ethics in war? Violence injustice - insanity - chaos - that IS war. It is mans agony-weman's de spair. Hsls defiance of God. WaE Is without mercy, without law; it is well, it Is the absence of all law, all good"
 It was some time before O'Reilly spoke then he said, quietly: T aml not going back. I am going to stay here and look for Rosa"
 "So!" exclaimed the colonel. Well, why not? So long as we do not know precisely what has happened to her. we can at least hope. But, if were you, I would rather think of her as dead than as a prisoner In some con centration camp. You don't know what those camps are like, nay friend but do. Now shall leave you. One needs to be alone at such an hour eh?" With a pressure of his hand, Colonel Lopez walked away into tho darkness.
 Judson and his adventurous country man did not see O'Reilly that night. nor, In fact, did anyone But the next morning he appeared before General Gomez He was haggard, sick. list less. The old Porto Rican had heard from Lopez in the meantime; he was sympathetic.
 'T am sorry you came all the way to hear such bad news," he said. "War is sad, hopeless business"
 "But haven't given up hope, O'Reilly said q want to stay here and-and fight" }