Evening star., 1918-01-27
O O RAINBOW'S END

CONTINUED FROM LAST Sunday
It was that fnhuman order OF con-
centration. the result OF which proved
to be without parallel in military his
tory-an order which gave Its savage
author the name Of being the arch
nend OF n nation reputed peculiarly
cruel Neither Esteban nor Rosa, how
ever. gras,ed the full significance OF
the proclamation; no one could have
done So No eye could have foreseen
tho merciless butchery of non-combat-
ants, the starvation and death by dis
ease of hordes of helpless men. women
and children herded into the cities.
-Four hundred thousand Cubans driven
from their homes into shelterless prison
camps; more than 100000 dead from
hunger and disease; fruitful land laid
bare of all that could serve as food and
changed to an ash-gray desolation:
Eaunt famine from Criente to Pinar Gel
Rio-that was the sequel 10 those
printed words of "Weyler the Butcher
which Esteban read.
Eight days! When Is the time upF
Rosa inquired.
BLESS you. this is already two weeks
old,'' her brother told her.
why, then, 1t means that we1l be
shot If we're caught"
"Exactlyl But we shan't be caught.
eh? Let the timid ones take fright at
the squeaks of this old black bird Let
them go into the cities; we shall nave
the more to eat. Esteban crumpled
the paper in his hand and dropped it.
Meanwhile I shall proceed toward my
settlement with Pancho Cueto. HIS
very careless confidence gave Rosa
courage
WHEN THE WORLD RAN BACK
WARD.
Esteban went about his plan OF de-
stroying Pancho Cueto with youthlul
energy and zest First he secured, at
some pains. a half stick of dynamite
cap and fuse and gallon or more OF
kerosene; then he assembled his 1oi-
lowers and led them once again into
the San Juan.
This time the ride to La Joya was
longer than before, and since every
member of the little band was pro-
scribed. Esteban insisted upon the
greatest caution But there was little
need of especial care, for the country
was already depopulated as result OF
weylers proclamation Fields were
empty. houses silent; no living crea-
lures stirred. except in the tree tops'
and the very birds seemed frightened
subdred- 1t struck young VaIoha
oueerly, It was as If the whole land
was In mourning; he saw nothing put
blackbirds, somber-hued vultures, as
NAL Judea-birds with their EBONY plu
mage and yellow beaks- Far up the
valley a funereal pail OF smoke huns
Standards were burning the houses ..
those too slow In obeying the oroer oi
concentration.
La Joya however, was sun eenanteu
when early in the evening its rigndu!
owner arrived; the house and some OF
its outbuildings showed lights. Este
han concealed his men. w hiAe ti9
horses cropped and the negroes festeo
he fitted fuse and cap TO ms .,las's psoio1 hs
niece of dynamite, 1t was hkeiy' ne
thought, that Cueto had provided nlHlssn .s.I
with a body-guard. and kno"ihs oie
plantation house as he did. ne hao no
intention Of batterng weakly eia oa1ry ms ry took
fright and slipped away. .a
Now while Esteban was thus Dusaeo'
Pancho Cueto was entertaining an un-
welcome guest In the late afternoon ne
had been surprised by the visit OF a
dozen or more volunteers, and inasmucn
as his relations with their coionei nao
been none Of the friendilest since lnas
had felt a chill Of apprehension on seeing
the redouStable Cobo himself at tnei
head.
returning from a trip up the San Juan.
taken for the purpose OF rounoing up
those Inhabitants who had been diiatory
In obeying the new orders from Havana
That smoke to the southwark was from
dres Of his kindling; he had burned
good many crops and houses and pun
ished a good many people, and since tniS
was exactly the sort OF TASK ne naea s no
manded of Cueto lodging for hlmSeH ana
his troop. announcing that a part OF MS
command was somewhere oehind ana
would reioin him later in the night.
Cueto had welcomed his visitor in all
humility; he put up the soldiers In the
bate of the sugar mill, and then installed
Cobo in his best room, after whlch ne
rausacked the house for food and drink
and tobacco.
Later he and the colonel sat long over
their supper. for the latter's exultant hu-
NOR continued. Cobo, 1t transpired, was
delighted with the new captain general,
a man Of blood and iron, a man after his
own heart. This Weyler, he predicted.
would put an end to the insurrection;
there would be no more of Campos' weak,
merciful methods. which were. In reality,
nothing less than encouragement to re-
volt. Cueto, Of course, agreed
ssWe're sweeping the country as with
a broom. and already Matanzas is bulg-
ing with refugees" the officer told him.
'"They call themselves pacificos. but they
carry information and aid our enemies.
Wen have no more of that"
'sWill It not be great expense to feed
10 many people?" Cueto ventured.
LET them feed themselves. Is It our
fault that they make such measures
necessary? By no means. Once we
have them safe. we shall exterminate all
whom we encounter in the country" The
speaker drank deeply of Cueto's good
wine and snacked his lips. Its the
kind of work ! like. determination!
They have had their warning From
now on We shall spare neither man.
woman nor child. The men are traitors.
the women breed. and the children grow
up"
Cueto nodded his complete approval of
this program "Oh, decidedly said he.
''This spirit of violence must be stamped
out or none of us will he safe Let me
tell you I myself live In constant dread
of that young villain. Varona. Hope
you haven't forgotten him
Forgotten him." Col Cobo fingered
lately healed scar which further dis
figured his ugly face. then he cursed
frightfully. ITS by Gods mercy alone
that Tn alive tonight. And 7 haven't
forgotten the girl, either. She'll have to
come in. along with the others. The boy