Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-09-27
CHAPTER XIV.
That Sex Man from San Antonio.

| Dy the cuban leaders to divide their
forces into separate columns for the
purpose of raiding the smaller Spanish
garrisons and harassing the troops. sent
to their relief, reassembling these
hands only when and where some tell
ing blow was to be struck.
When O'Reilly and Branch enlisted
1 In the Army of the Orient they were
assigned to the command of Col. Mig
uel Lopez, and it was under his leader
ship that they made their first ac-
quaintance with the peculiar methods
of Cuban warfare.
There had been, at first, some doubt
of Branch's fitness to take the field at
all-he had suffered severe hemor-
rhage shortly after his arrival at Cubi-
tas-and it was only after a hysterical
| demonstration on bis part that he had
been accepted as a soldier. lie simply
would not be left behind. At first the
Cubans regarded him with mingled
contempt and pity, for certainly no
! iISs promising volunteer had ever
taken service with them. But upon
the occasion of the very first fight al
ill-will disappeared as If by magic, for,
although Branch deliberately disobeyed
orders, he nevertheless displayed such
amazing audacity in the face of the
enemy. such a theatrical contempt for
bullets, as to stupefy every one. More
over, he lived up to his reputation; he
continued to be insanely daring, vary
ing his exploits to correspond with his
moods, with the result that he attained
a popularity which was unique, nay,
| sensational.
O'Rellly alone understood the reason
for the fellows morbid irritability, his
suicidal recklessness but when he pri-
vately demonstrated he was grufTly told
to mind his own business. Branch fiat
" refused to modify his conduct; he
seemed really bent upon cheating the
disease that made his life misery.
But, as usual, fate was perverse ;
she refused to humor the sick mans
hope. When, after blindly inviting
death, Leslie had emerged from sew
eral engagements unscathed, his sur
prise-and perhaps natural relief at
finding himself whole-became tinged
with a certain apprehension lest he
survive those deliberately courted dam
gers only to succumb to the Ills and
privatiOns of camp life. The fellows
tongue grew ever sharper; his society
became intolerable, his gloom oppres-
sive and irresistibly contagious. When,
after several weeks of campaigning,
the column went into camp for a short
rest, O'Reilly decided that he would
try to throw off the burden of Leslie's
overwhelming detection, and If pos.
sible, shift a portion of 1t upon the
shoulders of Captain Judson.
On the day after their arrival O'Reil-
ly and the big artilleryman took advan-
tage Of a pleasant stream to battle and
wash their clothes; then, while they
lay in their hammOcks, enjoying the
luxury of a tattered oil-cloth shelter
and waiting for the sun to dry their
garments, O'Reilly spoke what was in
his mind.
I'm getting about fed up on Leslie"
he declared. Hes the worlds cham
pion crepe-hanger, and he's painted the
whole world such deep. respondent
blue that I'm completely dismal. You've
got to take him off my hands"
0'Reilly's youthful assistant who at
the moment was painstaklngly manu-
featuring a huge, black cigar for him
self out of some purloined tobacco,
pricked I'd his ears at the mention of
Branch's name and now edged closer,
exclaiming:
VCarambal There's a hero for you.
Meester Branch is the bravest man I
ever seen. Our people call him 'El
Demonio' 70
O'Reilly jerked his head toward the
Cuban. "You see? He's made the hit
of his life, and yet he resents 1t. My
nerves are frayed out. I've argued my
self hoarse, but he misconstrues every
thing say. wish you'd convince him
| that he has a chance to get we'll; 1t
might alter his disposition. If some
thing doesn't alter 1t I'll be court-mar-
| tailed for shooting man In his sleep
and I'll hit him right In the middle, no
matter how slim he Is" O'Reilly COM
pressed his lips firmly.
The assistant, who had finished roll
ing his cigar, now lighted 1t and re-
peated: eyes, sir, Meester Branch is
the brayest man / ever seen. You re-
member that first battle, eh1 Those
! Spaniards seen him comm and threw
down their guns and beat It. / laugh
to skill myself that day"
Jacket" was at once the youngest
and the most profane member Of Colo
mel Lopez's entire command. The most
shocking oaths fell from his beard
less lips whenever he opened them to
speak English, and OReilly's efforts to
break the boy Of the habit proved quite
unavailing.
This Camagueyan boy was a char
acter. He was perhaps sixteen, and
small for his age-a mere child, In
fact. Nevertheless, he was a seasoned
veteran, and his American camp-mates
had grown exceedingly fond of him. He
vr.or ,,-nk4.- .~ro oof,,l hts