Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-07-23

them put me in there with the other
dead. They pile the bodies high" "A
weak shudder convulsed her.
O'Reilly bent lower. and in strong.
determined voice cried: You are not
going to die. l have money for food.
Rouse yourself. Rosa, rouse yourself"
"She prayed for you every night,
the negress volunteered "Such faith
Such trust She never doubted that
you would come and find her. Some
times she cried, but that was because
of her brother. Esteban, you know, is
dead. Yes, dead, like all the rest"
"Esteban is not Dead" O'Reilly as
serted. He Is alive. Rosa, do you
hear that? Esteban is alive and well.
left him with Gomez in the Orient.
have come to take you to him?"
"Esteban alive? Hal You are fool
Ing u.s." Eyangelina wagged her head
wisely. "We know better than that"
I tell you he is alive" O'Reilly in
sisted. He heard Jacket calling to him
at that moment, so he hallooed to the
boy; then when the latter had arrived,
he explained briefly, without allowing
Jacket time In which to express his
amazement:
"Our search Is over; we have found
them. But they won't believe that
Esteban is alive. Tell them the truth"
"Yes, he is alive. We found him
rotting in prison and we rescued
him." Jacket corroborated. He stared
curiously at the recumbent Figure on
the bench, then at O'Reilly. He puck
cred his lips and gave vent to low
whistle of amazement $50. This is
your pretty one, Ell? L She Well,
j don't think much of her. But then,
you are not so handsome yourself, are
your"
Evangelina seemed to be stupid, a
trife touched, perhaps, from suffering
for she laid skinny claw upon O'Reil-
ly's shoulder and warned him earnest
ly: Look out for Cobo. You have
heard about him, Ell? Well, he is the
cause Of all our misery. He hunted us
from place to place, and it was for him
that put that hump on her back. On
derstand me, she is straight-straight
and pretty CROUCH for any American.
Her skin Is like milk, too, and her
hair-she used to put flowers in it for
you, and then we would play games.
But you never came. You will make
allowances for her looks, win you not?'
"Poor Rosa! You two poor crea-
lures ~ O'Reilly choked; he hid his
face upon his sweetheart's breast.
Rosa responded; her fingers caressed
him and she sighed contentedly.
O'Reilly's ascent of the hill had been
slow, but his descent was infinitely
slower, for Rosa was so feeble that
she could help herself but little and
he lacked the strength to carry her
far at a time. Finally, however, they
reached the wretched howell where
Asensio lay, then leaving her there,
Johnnie sped on alone into the city.
He returned soon with several small
| bundles concealed about his person,
and with Evangelina's help he set
| about preparing food.
Neither Rosa nor the two negroes
had any appetite hunger had
| long since passed the point at which
they were conscious of it-and O'Reilly
was compelled TO force them to eat.
When he had given them all that he
dared he offered what food was left
| to Jacket
The boy moistened his lips and his
fingers twitched, but he shook his head.
ooh, I'm not so hungry he declared,
indifferently. 81 have a friend in the
market place; will go down there
and steal a fish from him."
O'Reilly patted him on the shoulder,
saying: "You are a good kid, and you
understand, don't you? These sick
people need more food than we can
buy for them, so we will have to draw
our belts tight"
"Of course Eating is a habit, any
how, and we men know how to get
along without 1t. l will manage to find
something for you and me, for I'm a
prodigious thief. can steal the hair
from mans head when l try With
a nod he set off to find his benefac-
tors supper.