Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-08-01

jacket proceeded further IN praise or
himself, only to break off with a word
less cry OF dismay.
"What's the matter2" Johnnie in
quired.
"Look! Behold mel" walled the
hero. II have left the half of my beau
tiful trousers on that barbed wire!"
Antonio swung a leg over his saddle,
saying: "Come along, amigos; we have
fifty leagues ahead of us. The war
will be over while we stand here gos-
siping."
O'Reilly's' adventures on his swift
ride through Las Villas have no part IN
this story. 1t is only necessary to
say that they were numerous and va
ried, that O'Reilly experienced excite
ment a-plenty, and that upon more than
one occasion he was forced to think
and to act quickly in order to avoid a
clash with some rowing guerrilla band.
Food became a problem Immediate
ly after the travellers had crossed the
trocha. Such apprehensive families as
still lurkede lin the woods were liberal
enough-Antonio, by the way, knew all
Of them-but they had little to give,
and, In consequence, O'Reilly's party
learned the taste of wild fruits, ber-
ries and palmetto hearts. Once they
managed to kill a small pig, the sole
survivor Of some obscure country trag-
edy, but the rest Of the time their
meat when there was any, consisted
of iguanas-those big, repulsive liz
ards-and jutias, the Cuban field rats.
: Fortunately there was no shortage
of food for the horses, and so, despite
the necessity of numerous detours, the
party made good time. They crossed
into Matanzas, pushed on over rolling
hills, through sweeping savannas, past
empty clearings and deserted villages,
to their journeys end. A fortunate
encounter with a rebel partida from
General Betancourt's army enabled
them to reach headquarters without
loss Of time, and one afternoon, worn,
haggard and hungry, they dismounted
In front of that gallant officers hut.
0cucld1 DSIuuCOulI 1CdO Xix ASISSA
4 which O'Reilly handed him, then
a looked up with a smile.
h $50! You are one of Gomez Ameri-
cans, Ell? Well, I would never have
known it, to look at you; the sun and
j the wind have made you into a very
4 good Cuban. And your clothes One
] might almost mistake you for q Cuban
cabinet officer"
O'Reilly joined In the laughter
evoked by this remark. He was quite
4 as tattered as the poorest Of Betan
| courts common soldiers; his shoes
I were broken and disreputable; his cot
ton trousers, snagged by barbed wire
and brambles, and soiled by days II
the saddle and nights in the grass
i were in desperate need Of attention
His beard had grown, too, and his skin
where it was exposed, was burnt t.
la mahogany brown. Certainly Their
. was nothing about his appearance t.
. bespeak his nationality.
The general continued: II am direct
. ed in this letter to help you in SOM
enterprise. Command me, sir"
- AS briefly as possible Johnnie mad
n known the object of his journey. TIL
officer nodded his comprehension, bu
8 as he did so a puzzled expression
crossed his face.
Eyes, I reported that Miss varon'
had gone into the city took som
pains to find out. Do you have reason
to doubt" -"">~xss,P RI rs. I isg''~
mot the least, sir"
IL "Then-why have you come all thi
wayY"
al II came to find her and to fetch he
~ to her brother"
u. Il "But-you don't understand. She /
~ actually inside the lines, in Matar
- zas-a prisoner"
J" Exactly. 1 intend to go into Matan
q zas and bring her out"
General Betancourt drew back, as
tonished. my dear man| he es
u claimed. "Are you madF
>, O'Reilly smiled e family. "Quit
~ probably. All lovers are mildly mao
- ! believe"
Ia "Ah! Loyersl I begin to see. But
how do You mean to go about this
this-impossible undertakings"
"You told me just now that I coul
~ pass for a Cuban. Well, I am goin
~ to put it to the test. If I once get int
- the city I shall manage somehow t
~ get out again, and bring her with me.
~ "Um-m!" The general appraise
OReilly speculatively. mo doubt 20
y car get init is not so difficult to en-
t. ter, I believe, and especially to on
10 who speaks the language like a native
- But the return-I fear you will fin
v, that another matter. Matanzas is
~ place Of pestilence, hunger, despair
~ No n goes there from choice an,
more, and no one ever comes out"
Z" $50 I should imagine" The speak
er's careless tone added tn General Be