The Monticellonian., 1918-08-16

frenzy of disappointment. You das- sent leave me-you dassent! v
 "Jisten, people are starving in Ma tanzas; they are sick; they are dying in the streets"
 "I don't eat much"
 When Johnnie shook his head stub bornly Jacket launched himself into torrent of profanity the violence of which dried his tears. His vocabu- lary was surprising. He reviled the Spaniards, O'Reilly, himself, everybody and everything; he leveled anathemas at that woman who had come between him and his beloved benefactor. The latter listened good-naturedly.
 You're a tough kid" he laughed, when Jackets first rage had worn it. self out. "I like you, and I'd take you If I could. But this isn't an enterprise for boy. and it won't get you any thing to keep up this racket
 Jacket next tried the power of ar gument. He attempted to prove that in a hazardous undertaking of this sort his assistance would be invalu- able. He was, so he declared, the one person in all Cuba in every respect qualified to share OReilly's perils. To begin with, he was not afraid of Span iards, or anything else, for that mat ter-he dismissed the subject of per sonal courage with a contemptuous shrug. As for cunning, sagacity, pru- dence, resource, all-around worth, he was, without doubt, unequaled in any country. He was q veritable Spartan, too, when it came to hardShip-priva- tion and suffering were almost to his liking. He was discreet-discretion was something he had inherited; he was a diplomat-diplomac being one of his most unique accomplishments. As for this talk about hunger, O'Reilly need not concern himself in the least on that score, for Jacket was a small eater and could grow fat on a diet of dried leaves. Disease? Bahi It made him laugh. His experience with sick ness was wider than most fisicos. and he was a better nurse than Miss Ey- ans would ever be. Jacket did not wish to appear in the least bOastful. On the contrary he was actually too mod est, as his friends could attest, but truth compelled him to admit that he was just the man for OReilly. He found 1t impossible to recommend him self too highly; to save his soul he could think of no qualification in which he was lacking and could see no req son why his benefactor would not greatly profit by the free use of his t.fsz xxras difficult, it would certainly fail with out him.
 Johnnie remained carefully atten- tive during this adjuration. He felt no desire even to smile, for the boys ear nestness was touching and It caused the elder mans throat to tighten un- comfortably. Johnnie had not realized before how fond he had become of this quaint youngster. And so, when the little fellow paused hopefully, O'Reilly put an arm around him.
 I'm sure you are everything you say you are, Jacket, and more, too, but you can't go!'
 With that Jacket flung off the em- brace and, stalking away seated him
 
 from the pocket of his shirt and lit it, scowling the while at his friend. More than once during the evening 0'Reilly detected his sullen, angry eyes upon him.
 General Betancourt and several mem bers of his staff were up early the fol- lowing morning to bic their visitor good-by. In spite of their efforts to make the parting cheerful if was plain that they had but little hope of ever again seeing this foolhardy American.
 Johnnie's spirits were not in the least affected by this ill-cencealed pes simsm, for, as he told himself he had money in his pockets and Matanzas was not many miles away. But when he came to part from Jacket he expert eneed a genuine disappointment. The boy strangely enough. was almost in- different to his leaving; he merely eX- tended limp, dirty ham, and replied to OReilly's parting words with q careless "Adios :"
 In hurt surprise the former inquired, Don't We part good friends?"
 Sure - Jacket shrugged then turned away.
 Jacket was q likable yeungster; his devotion was thoroughly unsefiSh; it had not been easy to wound him. With keener regrets than he cared to ac- knowledge OReilly set out upon his journey, following the guide whom General Betancourt had provided Ii was a lovely morning, sufficiently warm to promise a hot midday; the air WAS moist and fresh from recent shower This being the rainy season. the trails were soft, and where the rich red Cuban soil was exposed the tray- elers sank into it as into wet putty
 Crossing rocky ridge 0Reilly and his guide at last emerged upon an } open slope, knee-high in grass and l grown up to bottle palms. those queer. : len into the likeness of earthen water ! Jars Scattered here and there over l the meadows were the dead or fallen trunks of another variety. the cabbage : palm, the green heart of which had long formed staple article of diet for the inSurrectos. Spanish axes had 5 been at work here and not single , tree remained alive. The green floor ] of the valley farther down was dotted with the other the royal kind, that l monarch of tropic vegetation which 5 lends to the Cuban handsome its De-