Evening star., 1918-02-24
Bv REX BEACH
Copyright, 1915, by Harper q Bros }


'ished. My dear man." he exclaimed.
Are you mady"
o'ReilIy smiled family. quite prob
ably. All lovers are mildly mad. be-
lieve."
"Ah. Lovers. I begin to see. But
how do you mean to go about this
this-impossible undertaking.
You told me just now that could
pass for Cuban. Well. am going to
put it to the test. If I once get into
get out again. and bring her with me-"
'Um-m." The general appraised
O'Reilly speculatively. NO doubt you
can get init is not SO difficult to
enter. I believe. and especially to one
who speaks the language like a native.
But the return-I fear you will find
that another matter. Matanzas is a
place of pestilence. hunger. despair.
No one goes there from choice any
more, and no one ever comes out"
$50 I should imagine" The speakers
careless tone added to Gen. Betan-
courts astonishment. Bless me- he
exclaimed. What an extraordinary
young man.! Is it possible that you
tions?" A sudden thought struck him
and he inquired, quickly: Tell me.
you are not by any chance that hero
they call Ell Demonio? 1 have heard
well! You say you wish to visit Ma
tanzas. and I am instructed to help
you. How can 1 do so?''
OReilly hesitated for an instant.
For one thing 1 need money. Il
haven't single peseta-"
you are welcome to the few dollars
I possess"
Johnnie expressed his gratitude for
more" said he. will you give my boy.
Jacket. a new pair of trousers and
send him back to the orient at the first
opportunity?"
''Of course 1t is done" The general
laid a friendly hand upon O'Reilly' S
relieve me intensely to send you back
with him. for I have fears for the sue
cess Of your venture. Matanzas is a
hell; it has swallowed up thousands
have died there. I'm afraid you do not
realize what risks you are taking"
OReilly did not allow this well
meant warning to influence him. nor
did he listen to the admonitions of
those other Cubans who tried to argue
him out of his purpose. once it became
generally known. On the contrary, he
proceeded with his preparations and
spent that afternoon in satisfying him
self that Rosa had indeed left the Pan
de Matanzas before Cobos raid.
Among Betapcourt's troops was a
man who had been living in the hills at
the time Asensio and his family had
abandoned their struggle for existence,
and to him O'Reilly went. This fellow;
it seemed. had remained with his fam
lily in the mountains some time after
Asensio's departure. 1t was from him
that O'Reilly heard his first authentic
Cobo's volunteers. This man had lost
his wife, his little son and all the
scanty belongings he possessed. With
shaking hands upstretched to heaven,
the fellow cursed the author OF his
misfortunes.
"I live for one thing" he cried,
shrilly. ITO meet that monster and to
butcher him, as he butchers women and
children"
O'Reiliy purposely left his most un-
pleasant task-to the last When his ar
rangements had been completed and he
had acquainted himself as far as pos
sibIe with the hazards he was likely to
encounter, he took Jacket aside and
broke the news to him that on the fol-
lowing morning they must part. AS he
had expected, the boy refused to listen
to him. O'Reilly remained firm and
Jacket adopted those tactics which had
proved so potent with Gen. Gomez. He
began to weep copiously. He worked
himself up to hysterical crescendo
which threatened to arouse the entire
encampment. But O'Reilly was un-
moved.
BE quiet" he told the boy. It won't
let you go with me and that ends it,
You dassent leave me-" sobbed the
youngster. Il got no friend but you"
1T will be hard enough for one man
to slip through; two would be sure to
fail"
Those spaniards win kill you"'
Jacket walled.
so much the more reason for you to
stay here"
At this the boy uttered a louder cry
He stamped his bare feet in a frenzy of
disappointment. You daSsent leave me
you dassent"'
Listen, people are starvinga in Ma