Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-09-20

seems. began to doubt that he had
brother. What boy, eh?'
'sYou have son with the insurrec-
tos?''
eyes" The fisherman cast furtive
glance over his shoulder.
'sWhy don't you go and fight by his
side?" Jacket demanded.
'God forbid!'' NORM flung up his
hands. I'm a loyal subject"
We'll, we are going back to fight.
We are going to escape and join Gomez
once more!'' Jacket made the an
nouncement calmly.
"'S-sh! What talk !" NORM was in
nervous panic lest they be overheard.
Gas if anybody could escape from Ma
tanzas! What made you come here II
you are so eager to fight?"
.I'll tell you" O'Reilly assumed di-
rection of the conversation. There
are three of us brothers, we two and
Esteban, pretty little fellow. He was
captured by Cobo's men and driven In,
and we came to find him. But he Is
Sick-dying-
''Of course. They're all dying the
poor people! 1t is terrible
We @O'Reilly faItered slightly,
so much hung upon the manner in
which NORM would take what he was
about to say. "We want to get him out
of here-we must do SO, or We'll lose
hip, WIFI xo,, holm nc ~
ST? In heavens name, hOw?"
"By taking us away in your char
coal schooner"
you're mad" NORM cast another
apprehensive look over his shoulder.
I'm poor man. All have is my two
boats, the vivero, which brings fish,
md the volandra, which sails with
charcoal. Do you think To forfeit them
and my life for strangers"
O'Reilly leaned closer. "You say
you're a poor man. will pay you
Well.''
NORM eyed the ragged speaker scorn-
fully; it was plain that he put no faith
In such proraise, and SO O'Reilly took
q piece of gold from his pocket, at
sight of which the fisherman started.
II, too, am poor man, but I'm will
ing to buy freedom for ny little broth
ers ard myself
"How many coins like that have
your?
''Um-,n-rnore than one; enough to
pay you for several cargOeS of coal"
'sFor the sake of Miguelito," Jacket
urged. "Caramba What hard-heart-
ed father begot that boy!"
flush % The fisherman was scowl-
ing. To O'Reilly he said, you do
wrong to tempt poor man."
my brother Esteban is sick. He is
a frail little lad with crooked back.
God will reward you"
perhaps! But how much will you
pay?"
"Ten Spanish sovereigns like this
all that have" :.
"No! 1t is not enough"
O'Reilly took Jackets hand and
turned away. "1'm sorry" he said. u
wish I might offer you more" He had
taken several steps before NORM hailed
him.
"Come back tomorrow" the fisher
man cried, GROSSLY. "We will try to talk
like sensible people"
The brothers Villar were back at
Morin's fish stand on the following
afternoon and they returned daily
thereafter until they at last prevailed
over the Spaniard's fears and won his
promise of assistance. That much ac-
complished, they made several cautious
purchases, a coat here, shirt there, a
pair Of trousers in another place, until
they had assembled complete boys
outfit Of clothing.
At first Rosa refused absolutely to
desert her two faithful negro friends,
and O'Reilly won her consent to con-
slider his plan of escape only after he
had put the matter squarely up to
Asensio and his wife and after both
had refused to enter into it.
Then, and not until then, did Rosa
begin her preparations. First she made
Evangelina cut her hair, sacrilege
lHdl WTuHS SlSLS anu LcdIS anu Iouu
lamentations from the black woman,
after which she altered the suit Of
boys clothing to fit her figure, or rath-
er to conceal 1t.
When at last she put it on for O'Reil-
ly's approval she was very shy, very
self-conscious, ana SO altogether I'M
boylike that he shook his head posi-
lively.
"My dear, you'll never do" he told