Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1918-11-28


however"-the speaker eyed O'Reilly
with disconcertlng expresslon-"I
would like to warn you. You are
bright fellow and you have way with
you-there's no denying it. Under
other conditions it would be a pleas
ure to know you betGr. 1t grieves me,
therefore, to warn you that your fur
Their stay In Cuba will not be-pleas-
ant. l almost regret that there Is no
conclusive evidence against you; 1t
would so simplify matters. Come. now.
hadn't you better acknowledge that /
have guessed your secret?'
O'Reilly's perplexity was changing
to dismay. for 1t seemed to him he
was being played with; nevertheless.
he shook his head. 81 would only be
deceiving you. sir" he said.
General Antuna sighed. "Then
see embarrassments ahead for both of
u.s."
more arrests?"
Not necessarily. Understand me,
speak as one gentleman to another,
but-you must have noticed that Amer
leans are unpopular with our troops.
ers; accidents cannot be prevented.
Suppose something should happen to
you? There is the trouble. You came
to Cuba to enjoy its climate; you cam
not be expected to remain indoors. OF
course not. Well! Among our sol
diers are many new recruits, patriotic,
enthusiastic young fellows, but-care-
less. They are wretchedly unproficient
marksmen. and they haven't learned
the danger of promiscuous rifle fire.
They are forever shooting at things.
merely to score hit. Would you be-
lieve it? Oh, have to discipline them
frequently. To think of you being
abroad through the streets, therefore
worries me intensely. Suppose you
should be found dead some day I'm
agine my feelings" The speakers
tone and expression were eloquent of
concern. 'How could 1 fix the respon-
sibilityT
by having me followed, as usual.
l dare say" O'Reilly said bitterly.
'Oh, you will of course be Swallowed
day and night; in fact, to be quite sure
of your-er-safety. shall ask you to
permit one of my men to accompany
you everywhere and even to share your
room. We shall try never to lose sight
Of you, depend upon 1t. l wish you
could find another climate equally ben
ef1cial to your rheumatism. 1t would
lift a great load from my mind" The
speaker paused hopefully; that same
sardonic flicker was on his lips.
Il
swering smile. for his heart was like
lead. He realized now the utter fulfil
ity of resistance; he knew that to
remain In Puerto Principe after this
thinly yelled warning would be to
court destruction-and destruction OF
shocking character against which II
would be impossible to guard After
moment of thought he said graveIy
II appreciate the delicacy of your
consideration. sir. and-I shall CO."
General Antuna leaped to his feet,
his grim face alight; striding to
O'Reilly, he pressed his hands-he
seemed upon the point of embracing
him. II thank you % he cried. you
render me a supreme service. See,
breathe easy. Permit me to offer you
refreshment-one Of our famous Span
ish wines. No? Then the best cigar
In all Cuba !"
O'Reilly was escorted to the railway
station at daylight. He and Branch
took their seats and their guards filed
in behind them. He cursed savagely
the memory Of these wasted weeks
the narrow margin of his failure, filled
him with a sick feeling Of dismay anC
impotence. :
In marked contrast to the difficulties
Of entering Cuba was the ease of leav
ing it. ship was sailing from Neuvi
tas on the very afternoon when tn,
two Americans arrived, and they wer,
hurried aboard. Not until the anchor
was up did their military escort de
part from them.
With angry, broodlng eyes O'Reill,
watched the white houses along tn,
water front dwindle away, the man
grove swamps slip past, and the hill.
rise out Of their purple haze. whel
the salt breath of the trades came I,
his nostrils he turned into his state
room, and, taking the crate Of coco
nuts with which General Antuna hat
thoughtfully provided him, he bore 1
to the rail and dropped it overheard.
rheumatism was a fool disease
anyhow" he muttered.
"Great newsl" Esteban varona ar
nounced one day as he dismounte,
after foraging trip into the Yumurl
1--WE met some of Lacret's men an
they told us that Spain has recalle
Captain General Campos. What d
you say to thatT
; Does that mean the end of tn
war" Rosa eagerly inquired.
"Oh, no. They have sent a new ma
he's In Havana nova dark littI
old fellow who never smiles. He has
long nose and big chin; he dresse
all In black-a very '1ew-bird' In ar
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