Evening star., 1918-01-13
CONTINUED FROM LAST SUNDAY
CHAPTER VI.
THE QUEST BEGINS.


blots upon the pitifully untidy pages y
uri,e nicely, only the ink is poor
s.Tbere is little of anything here al
Asensio's house 1T Is coiu peiois
tho aawn-" Poor little Rosa! He
had always thought of her as SO proud SC
hish-spirited, so playful, but anothei
Rosa had written this letter. Her appeal
stirred every chord of tenderness, every
impulse of chivalry in his impressionaOie
Irish nature. She doubted him; she rear
ed he would not come TO her. Well he
would set her doubts at rest. - dou
Come quickly. if you love me lie
leaned TO his feet: he dashed the 1eaFs
from his eyes.
Mr. Slack looked up astonished at the
.apparition which burst in upon nm. ne
was accustomed to o'Reilly's hlsa heau
of steam and disapproved of il, but ne
had never seen the fellow So surchaFseo
as now lie was positively 3uhlpS' MS
voice WAS sharp; his hands were unsteady
his ewes were bright and blue and hard.
II want my salary, quick johnnie be-
gan.
1Jr Slack resented emotion. he abom-
anated haste; he had cultivated what ne
considered to be thorough commercial
Geliberation-
My dear man. he said, I'D ADVISE
~ don't want advice; l want money,
sr,nnad The other "1've quit. resigned.
skipped, fed
indeed When does your resignation
..I,,,sd;ate1v- and if you don't move
AXE Iightniug it will take effect upon
your person :,
Bother Mr. Carter. Now stiffen your
enins long enough to write my check. II
ynn don't-,' O'Reilly compressed ms
lips and breathed ominously through ms
nostrils He laid a heavy and persnasNe
Hump yourself. old peliyfish!,,' -
There was queer. wild light in
C'Reiliy's eye and for once Mr. SLACK took
orders from an underhng- ne hoihpe"
himself. ,o,
Iohnnie's other preparations were con-
Quoted with equal vigor and promputuoe.
within two hours his belongings were
packed. But for all his haste ms rhIiia ,,at
was working clearly Rosa's warning not
TO come to MatanZas was no doubt war
ranted and his own unpleasant eAperi-
ences with the customs men at havana
were still fresh enoaen 10 oe sioru. o,,s ~ nj
Epaniards were intensely suspicious OF an
Americans, especially incoming ones as
he had reason to know, and since ne was
nearly as well acquainted in the one
s--~
nart of wisdom to slip into the country
through a side door. The seat Of war
was in the east. The rebels held that
part of the island Once there there, ana ne IN IN
siidicuIt task to evade the local authorl-
ties and join Col. Lopez.
O'Reifly pondered these thoughts BRIEF
ly. then seized his hat and has.eneo
junta-
At this time the newspapers of the
United States were devotins much space
10 the iasular uprising; the hrst stor'es
of Spanish atrocities later. alas. destined
to become all too familiar. were gaining
public attention. and there were Few
seaders who did not know something about
The activities Of that body of patrtots who
made their headquarters at Sc New street.
1t was from this place that the revolu-
zion was largely financed. so the papers
said 1t was there that the flibustering
Expeditions supplying arms and ammu.
nition originated To 56 New street
O'Reilly went
There was nothing martial about the
atmosphere of the junta's Offices; there
were no war maps on the walls. no stands
of arms nor recruiting officers In eyf-
Eence-not even hint of intrigue or con-
spiracy- The place was rather meaniy
commonplace A business-like young
man inquired o'Reilly's errand.
Johnnie made known part of it. and
then asked to see some one in authority
smile or of that persuasiveness which he
could render almost irresistible when he
wi1led. it was not long before he gained
Rdmittance to the presence OF MI Enrt-
0ucZ a distinguished, scholarly Cuban OF
middle age.
"You say you have important business
vita me-" the latter inquired, speaking
an nlnrsd ei bey ato the heart
The matter which had brought hin,
tnither When he had finished his tale
NJ. Enriquez inquired
But how do you expect me to help
Il want your advice more than your
help, although you might tell me where
can find Col. Lopez"
Enriquez eyed his caller keenly.. That
Snfo-rlation would be very well worth
having" said he. But, YOU understand
we know little about what is going on in
Cuba-fsr less than the Spaniards them
selves. I'm afraid ! can't help you
You don't take me for spy, do you?''
Johnnie asked. with his friendly grin.
"Ah; You don't 10 look Kill, like one me; but we
lady in whom you are interested, who is
she?"
"He- name is varona; Miss Rosa Va
roma
"So?" Enriquez raised his brows. "No,
b. any chance the heiress to that famous
Tarona treasurer"
.Exactly-if there is such a thing
There ensued a pause while the Cuban
drumnled softly upon his desk with his
finger tips. Her brother Esteban told
me that he was working for your cause
warned him to be careful. but
O'Reillys voice grew suddenly husky
'.Kere, Read this. I want You to be-
Geve me- Reverently he laid Rosa's let
ter before her countryrnan. I'm not In
the habit OF showing my letters tc
strangers. butt guess that'n convince
you I'm not spy"
He sat silently while the letter was be.
ing read: nor was he disappointed in tbs
result. Mr.. Enriquez raised dark, com.
passionate eyes to his. saying:
''This is a touching letter. sir. I thanh
you for allowing me to gee it. No. dom
doubt you now. Poor Cuba. Her son:
must be brave, her daughters patient
well! You understand why I must gt
quickly, and why ] can't chance delay
by going either to Matanzas or to Ha,
vsna. l want to land somewhere farther
east, and want you to help me to fint
Col Lopez"
Mr. Enriquez frowned thoughtfully
eWhat / just told you is literally true
no said at last. I'VE work in the dark III
here. and we don't know the where.
Abouts Of osF troops. We are suspicion.
pf strAngef1, too. as We have reason d
BE- But-I have thought" He ex.
eused himself and Left tho room. Wher