Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-10-18
CHAPTER xvl-cOntinued.

ton trousers, snagged by barbed wire
and brambles. and soiled by days in
the sable and nights in the grass,
we're in desperate need Of attention.
His beard had grown, too, and his skin,
qrhere it was exposed. was burnt to
mahogany brown. Certainly there
was nothing about his appearance to
Aespeak 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.
Eyes, / reported that Miss Varona
had gone into the city took some
pains to find out. Do you have reason
70 doubt
mot the least, sir"
-Then-why have you come all this
wayY'
II came to find her and to fetch her
to her brother"
"But-you don't understand. She is
sctually inside the lines, in Matan-
gas--a prisoner"
Exactly. intend to go into Matan-
gas and bring her out"
General Betancourt drew back, as
tonlshed. my dear manp he ex-
claimed. "Are you mad?"
OReilly smiled family. "Quite
probably. All lovers are mildly mad,
I believe"
"AhI Loversl begin to see. But
how do you mean to go about this
this-impossible undertaking.
'You told me just now that I could
pass for . Cuban. Well, / am going
to put 1t to the test. If / once get into
the city shall manage somehow to
get out again, and bring her with me-"
"Um-m!'' The general appraised
0'Reilly 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 fiI4d
that another matter. Matanzas is a
place of pestilence, hunge' despair.
No one goes there from choice any
more, and no one ever comes out"
$50 should imagine" The speak
er's careless tone added to General Be
tancourt's establishment. "Bless me I"
ne exclaimed. "What an extraordi-
nary young mani Is 1t possible that
you do not comprehend the terrible
conditiors9" A sudden thought struck
him and he inquired quickly: Tell me,
you are not by any chance that hero
they call El Demonio? have heard
that he is indeed a demon. No? Very
well You say you wish to visit Ma
tanzas, and am instructed to help
gou. How can / do 500"
OReilly hesitated an instant. "For
one thing, l need money. IL haven't
single peseta."
'You are welcome to the few dol
lars l possess"
Johnnie expressed his gratitude for
this ready assistance. "One 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. 1t is DONE" The gen.
eral laid friendly hand upon O'Reil-
tys shoulder, saying, gravely: ut
would relieve me intensely to send you
oack with him, for have fears for
the success of your venture. MatanZas
Is hell; 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
ting"
o'Reilly did not allow this we'll
meant warning to influence hir, nor
Uu he listen to the admonitions of
uose other Cubans who tried to argue
with him out Of his purpose, once 1t
oecame known On the contrary, he
proceeded with his preparations ano
spent that afternoon In satisfying him
sen that Rosa had indeed left the Pan
Ns MatanZas before Cobo's raid.
among Betancourt's troops was
man who had been living in the hills
. the time Asenslo and his family
au abandoned their struggle for ex-
ss.ehce, and to him 0'Reilly went. This
,euow, 1t seemed, had remained with
MS family in the mountains some time
el'ef Asensio's departure. 1t was
rom him that O'Reilly heard his first
outhentic report of the atrocities per-
perated by Cobo's volunteers. This
.nah had lost his wife, his little son,
aAu all the scanty belongings he pos
Used. With shaking hands up
stetched to heaven, the fellow cursed
e author of his misfortunes.
1 live for one thing!" he cried
s ulliiy--'to meet that monster, and TO
s suscner him, as he butchers women
and children"
~, Oheilly purposely left his most I'M
s.eaSant task TO the last. When his
1 \. had been completed and
nag acquainted himself as far as
= with the hazards he was likely
49, encounter, he took Jacket aside and