Meade County news., 1918-07-25
CHAPTER xIV-contInued.

CHAPTER NIV-Contlnueo'
--12-
We've been talking about food"
Leslie Branch advised his commanding
officer. "Niiss Evans isn't q burning
patriot like the rest Of us, and so of
course she can't share our ravenous ap-
petite for beef cooked and eaten on the
hoof."
1907" Lopez's handsome face cloud
ed. "You are hungry, then?"
Norine confessed that she was. I'm
etarving" said she. II haven't had
decent meal for week."
"God be praised know where there
IS q goat. not two leagues away" said
the colonel.
"But I don't want goat" Norlne
complained. II want-well, pickles,
and jam, and sardines, and-candy,
nd-tooth-powder Real boarding
house luxuries. I'd just like to rob
general store"
Lopez furrowed his brows and lost
himself In thought Later, while the
others were talking, he drew Ramos
aside and for a while they kept their
heads together; then they invited Jud-
son to join their council.
When O'Reilly Joined Judson for
supper the latter met him with broad
grin on his face. "Well" said he, "You
can get ready to saddle up when the
moon RISES"
"What do you mean"
fgTNI.o NryoV1 ot hoF
word. We're going to raid San Antonio
de los Banos-two hundred Of us-to
get her some pickles, and jam, and
candy, and tooth-powder."
Certain histories Of the Cuban War
for Independence speak Of "The Bat
tie Of San Antonio de los Banos." 1t
is quite stirring story to read and 1t
has but one fault, fault, by the way,
not uncommon in historIes-it Is main
ly untrue.
In the first place, the engagement
was in no sense battle, but merely a
raid. The number of troops engaged
was, perhaps, one-ffth Of the generous
total ascribed by the historians, and
as q military maneuver 1t served no
purpose whatsoever. Nevertheless,
since the affair had direct bearing
upon the fortunes of several people
connected with this story, 1t Is, per-
haps, worth relating.
Lopez and his troop approached the
town in the early morning. AS they
deployed for the attack the colonel Is
sued private instructions to certain
members of his command.
"O'Reilly, you and Senor Branch will
enter one grocery store after another.
You will purchase that jam, those sar-
dimes, and whatever else you think
Miss Evans would like. Captain Jud-
son, you and Major Ramos will go to
the apothecary shop-I understand
there is a very good one-and look for
tooth-powder and candy and the like. I
shall see that the streets are cleared,
then l shall endeavor to discover some
pickles; but as God is my judge. I
doubt If there Is such thing this side
Of Habana."
Leslie Branch, whose temper had not
improved with the long night ride, In
quired, caustlcally: "Do you expect us
to buy the groceries? Well, I'm broke,
and so is O'Reilly. If you don't give us
some change, colonel, We'll have to
open a charge account in your name."
"Caramba !" muttered Lopez. II In
tended to borrow from you gentlemen
Well, never mind-we'll commander
what we wish in the name of the re.
public"
Lopez attack proved a complete
surprise, both to the citizens and to the
garrison of the town. The rebel bugle
gave the first warning Of what was
afoot, and before the Castllian troops
who were lettering off duty could re
gain their quarters, before the citizens
could take cover or the shopkeeper'
close and bar their heavy wooden shut
ters, two hundred ragged horsemer
were yelling down the streets.
There followed a typical Cuban en-
gagement-ten shouts to one shot
There was a mad charge on the heel
of the scurrying populace, scattering
pop-pop Of rifles, cheers, cries, shrieki
Of defiance and far-hung insults direct
ed at the fortinaS.
O'Reilly. with Branch and JACKIE
close at his heels, whirled his hors'
into the first bodega he came to. Th
store was stocked with general mer
chandise, but its owner, evidently I
Spaniard, did not tarry to set pric
upon any Of 1t. As the three horsemel
came Gathering In at the front he wen
flying out at the rear, and, although
O'Reilly called reassuringly after him
his only answer was the slamming Of
back door, followed by swiftly dimin
ishing cries Of fright.
There was no time to waste. John
ME dismounted and, walking to tn
shelves where some imported canne
goods were displayed, he began to sc
lect those delicacies for which he ha
been sent. The devoted Jacket was a
his side. The little Cuban exercised n
restraint; he seized whatever was mos
handy, meanwhile cursing ferociousl,