The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-09-13

these were nccl0ns: only misery, d.
spair, and pain were real. But II had
been . glorious dream, at any rate-a
dream which Rosa vowed to cherish II.
W1yA
CHAPTER XIV.
That Sick Man From oan Aneonlo.
Il ~ part of the strateU praeueed
b. the Cuban leaders % divide the1r
forces into separate columns for the
purpose Of raidine the smaller Spaniah
garrisons and harassing the troops sent
to their relied. reassembling these
bands only when and where some tell
Ing blow was 70 b struck.
When O'Reflly ana Branch enlisted
in the Army Of the Orient they were
assigned to the command Of Col Mig
uel Lopez, and 1t was under his leader
ship that they made their first ac-
quaintance with the peculiar methods
Of Cuban warfare.
There had been, at frst 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 1t was only after . hysterical
demonstration on his part that he had
been accepted ~ . soldier. He simply
would not b left behind. At nrst the
Cubans regarded him With mingled
contempt and pity. for certainly no
less promising volunteer had ever
taken service With them. But upon
the occasion Of the very FIRST tight III
iIl-wil disappeared - II By magic. for.
although Branch deliberately disobeyed
orders, he nevertheless displayed such
amazing audacity In the face Of the
enemy, such . theatrical contempt for
bullets, as to stupefy every one. More
over. he lived mp to his reputation: he
continued to be lnsanely daring. vary-
Ing his exploits to correspond with his
moods. with the result that he attained
a popularity which was unique, nay.
sensational.
O'Reilly alone u~nderstood the reason
for the fellows morbid irrltAbilfty, his
suicidal recklessness but when he pri-
vately reconstructed hs was grufly told
to mind his own business. Branch nat
" refused to modify his conduct; he
seemed really bent upon cheating the
disease that made his Life 4 misery.
But, - usual, fxte was perverse:
she refused to humor the dck mans
hope. When, after blindly inviting
death, Leslie had emerged from sew
eral engagements unscathod, his sur.
prise-and perhaps . natural relief at
finding himself whole-became tinged
with Q certain apprehenGion lest he
survive those deliberately courted dam
gers only to succumb % IL ms and
privat1ons Of camp Life The fellows
tongue grew ever sharper: his society
became intoleFabla. his gloom oppres-
sive and irresisubly cooAag1ouA When,
after several weeks q campaigning,
the column went into camp for Z short
rest OrReilly decided that hs would
try to throw OF the harden o6 Lealieio
overwhelming detection. and, II pos
dble. shift porton q It upon the
shoulders Of Captain Judsoo.
On the day after their arrival ORen.
II and the big artilleryman took advan-
tage Of . pleasant stream 70 hattie and
wash their clothes: thea. while they
lay In their hammockA enjoy1ng tho
luxury Of . tattered oil-cloth shelter
and waiting for me sun to dry their
garments, OReiIly spoke what va In
his mind.
I'm getting about Ted up On Leslie,"
he declared. Hes the worlds cham
plon crepe-hanser, and he's painted the
whole world such . deep. despondent
blue that I'm completely dismal You've
got 70 take him on my banda"
0eReilly's youthful assistant Who &C
the moment vas painstakingiy manu-
featuring . huge, black cigar for him
self ont Of some purlcined tobacco,
pricked up his ears at the mention Of
Branch's name and now edged closer.
exclaiming:
sCarambal Theeoio Q heeo for you.
4eestsr Branch y he bravest man I
ever SEQ. Our people can him m
Dsmeaio'ls
O,Reilly 3srksd hin lad toward the
Cuban. ~Yes see3 Hes made the hit
e ~ life. and yse - reeents Il. NJ
nerves m fEayed ont. I've argued ny.
Ell hoarsa, bot ~ ntscoostrues Gvsry.
thing ! say. 1wish yesia coovince hin
that ~ has . chance - ut ven: e
might alter his disposition. r some.
thing 0osanft alter & IN b eourt-mar.
tialed for s1ooeing . man q hls Gleep-
and IN hit hin night q the middle, no
matter how sllm ~ IL OeRe11Y con-
uEssso0 his lps firmly.
The asslseank wAo I'D 6nlahsd ron
iAg his elgaR. new ligAtsd 4 and -
peated: Yea els. NeeGeee Draneh -
~ beavsst man I sve9 80. Ycu -
member that 1sse batt1A ~ Thooo
0peAiafds seso him eeGlnf ana threw
down their g1ne and bet - IlAugh
to G1tll myDel1 Tat day
sJacksts was o onee ~ younease
ana the mose pEofane member q Cole
nj Lopes's entire command The moGk
shocking oatho TN iron Ais beard
leso 1ipe whenevee he opened them %