Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-18
BY REX BEACH
Copyrights. b, H.rp.. and Brother.
The Iron Trsil." The Spoilefa"
Heart Of the Sunset. etc.

General Antuna sighed. 'sThen I
see endorsements ahead for both Of
u.s."
more arrestsT
mot necessarily. Understand me,
speak as one gentleman to another,
but-you must nave noticed that Amer
leans are unpopular with our troops.
Eth? They are impulsive, these troop
ers; accidents cannot be prevented.
Suppose something should happen to
you? There is the trouble. You came
to Cuba to enjoy it's climate; you can
not be expected to remain indoors. OF
course not. Well Among our SOL
diers are many new recruits, patriotic,
enthusiastic young fellows, but-care-
less They are wretchedly unproicient
marksmen, and they haven't learned
the danger Of promiscuous rifle fire.
They are forever shooting at things,
merely to score q hit. Would you be-
lieve, it, Oh. have to discipline them
frequently. To think Of you being
abroad through the streets, therefore,
worries me intensely. Suppose you
should be found dead some day. I'M
agins my. feelings" The speakers
!. tone and expression were eloquent Of
concern. "How could fix the respon-
sibility7"
by having me followed, as usual,
I dare say" O'Reilly said bitterly.
"Oh, you will of course be Swallowed
day and night; In fact, to be quite sure
Of your-er-safety shall ask you to
permit one Of my men to accompany
you everywhere and even to share your
room. We shall try never to lose sight
you, depend upon it. I wish you
find another climate equally ben
Il TO your rheumatism. 1t would
/ great load from my mind" The
speaker paused hopefully; that same
sardonic flicker was on his lips.
Johnnie could not summon an an
swering smile, for his heart was like
lead. He realized now the utter fulfil
ity Of resistance; he knew that to
remain in Puerto Principe after this
thinly yelled warning would be to
court destruction-and destruction Of
u shocking character against which it
would be impossible to guard. After
q moment of thought he said gravely:
IT appreciate the delicacy of your
consideration, sir, and-I shall 60"
General Antuna 1eaped to his feet,
his grim face alight >striding to
.O'Reilly, he pressed his hands-he
seemed upon the point Of embracing
him. II thank you!" he cried. "You
render me q supreme service. See,
breathe easy. Permit me to offer you
refreshment-one of our famous Span
fish wines. No? Then the best cigar
in all Cuba!'
,O'Reilly was escorted to the railway
station Mt daylight. He and Branch
took their seats and their guards filed
in behind them. He cursed savagely :.
the memory Of these wasted weeks,
the narrow margin Of his failure; filed
him, with sick feeling. of dismay and
impotence.
In marked contrast to the difficulties
Of entering Cuba was the ease of leav-
ing 1t. A ship was sailing from Neuvi-
tas on, the very afternoon when the
IWO faIuSIlSduS a. L1NCu, ihu tASS "SA z
hurried aboard. Not until the anchor
was up did their military escort de-
part from them.
With angry. brooding eyes O'Reilly
watched the white houses along the
water front dwindle away, the man
grove swamps slip past, and the hills
rise out Of their purple haze. When
! the salt breath Of the trades came to
His nostrils he turned into his state
room, and, taking the crate of coco
nuts with which General Antuna had
thoughtfully provided him, he bore it
10 the rail and dropped it overheard.
"Rheumatism was fool disease,
anyhow" he muttered.
"Great news :" Esteban varona an
nounced one day as he dismounted
after a foraging trip into the Yumuri.
"We met some of Lacret's men and
they told us that Spain has recalled
Captain General Campos. What do
you say to that?"
"Does that mean the end Of the
war7" Rosa eagerly inquired.
''Oh, no. They have seEt new man
he's in Havana nova dark little
old fellow who never smiles. He has
long nose and q big chin; he dresses