Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-02

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mel Lopez's entire comm md. The most
shocking oaths fell from his beard
less lips whenever he opened them to
speak English, and O'Reilly's efforts to
break the boy Of Che hdbit proved quite
unavailing.
This Camagueyan boy was = char
acter. He was perhaps sixteen, and
small for his age-a mere lid. in
fact. Nevertheless, he was q soned
veteran, and his American cid mates
had grown exceedingly fond 4 MN. He
was pretty. graceful youngster; hts
eyes were large and soft anil dark; his
face was rs sensitive and mobile as
that of a girl; and yet, despite his
youth, he had won q reputation for
daring and ferocity quite AZ notable In
its way as was the renowr Of Leslie
Branch.
IN order to expand his knowledge Of
English-of which. by the way, he was
Unfortunately proud--Jacket had volun:.
teered to serve az O'Reilly's striker,
and the result had been fast friend
ship. It was O'Reilly who had given
the boy his nickname-a name
prompted by 4 marked eccentricity, for
although jacket possessed the two gar
ments which constituted the ordinary
insurrecto uniform, he made prac-
tice Of wearing only one. On chilly
nights, or on formal occasions, he
wore BOTH waistcpat and trousers, but
at other times he dispensed entirely
with the latter, and his legs went
naked. They were naked now. as. with
the modesty Of complete unconscious
ness. he sQuatted in the shade, pufing
thoughtfuily at bis giant cheroot.
Once Jackets mind was fastened
upon any subject, 1t remained there,
and after time he continued:
ibid told you ABOUT that battle Of
Elmo bravo? Ehfr He Turned his big
brown eyes upward to O'ReillH "Cris-
tol skill more'n dozen men that
day!"
ut was hot scrimmage," hudson at
tested. .Some Of Luque's l,iggers, those
tall. lean, hungry fellows from santi-
ago. managed to hack their way
through a wire fence and get behind a
detachment Of the enemy who had
made stand under . hill. They
charged, and for a wonder they got
close enough TO use their machetes. It
was bloody work--the kind you read
about-no quarter. Somehow Jacket
managed to be right In the middle Of
the butchery. He's q bravo kid, all
right. Muy malo!"
At that moment Branch approached.
his long face set in lines of discomfort,
even deeper than usual. He had been
wandering about the camp in one Of
his restless fits, and now he began:
"Say. what do you think I've been
doing7 I've been looking up some grub
for Miss Evans, and ] emit find any"
"Can't ind anyr'
Nothing at for her to eat. You
don't expect her to live on this infer
nal, eternal beef stew"
didn't Major Ramos bring anything
alongf" O'Reilly asked.
! HE says there's famine at Cubi-
tas."
.We'd better look into this" hudson
exclaimed, and, finding that his clothes
wers dry, he hurrisdly began to dress
himself.
Together, the three men made an in
vestgation Of the camps resources.
only to discover that Branch was right.
There was, indeed, but little food Of
any kind, and that, little. was Of the
coarsest. Ordinarily, such condition
OF Affairs would have occasioned them
no surprise, for the men were becoming
accustomed to a more or less chronic
scarcity Of provisions: but the pres
ence Of Norine Evans put quite asdif-
ferent complexion upon the matter.
They were still discussing the situation
when Miss Evans, having finished her
afternoon nap. threw open the flaps Of
her tent and stepped out.
When she had listened to the ac-,
count apologetically submitted by her
three friends, she drew her brows to-
gether, saying, plaintively: ooh dear 4.
We've been going short for a week,
and Major Ramos told me we'd fare!
oSssSA "AASA We 6OI ACACs Auu Ivy +,
mouth all set for banquet. Couldn't
you even find the poor dog bone?"
I'm afraid the cupboard is BARE.
O'Reilly acknowledged.
'Do you know what want for dim
nerT" Norlne inquired. Lamb chops
with green peas, some nice white bread,
q salad, and coffee"
The three men looked at her anxious
". Judson stirred uneasily.
That's what I want. I don't expect
to get It"
With a sigh Of relief the captain ex-
claimed, Il thought you were giving
your order"
Goodness, nor With a laugh the
girl seated herself upon her one camp
chair, inviting her callers to dispose
themselves on the ground about her.
III you can stand the food, dare say l
can. Now then. tell me what you've
been doing since you left Cubitas. I've
been frightened to death that some Of
you would be hurt That's one reason