The Mena weekly star., 1918-12-19

Tonight, at Midnight, You VIII Be Ar
rested"
young fellow. After a searching glance
around the place he spoke in a voice
audible TO both men:
"Senor, you are In danger. Tonight
at midnight, you will be arrested.
beg of you TO see that there is nothing
discriminating In your possession"
O'Reilly's face betrayed his amaze
inent. Arrested? What for7 On
what charge"
The stranger shrugged. 81 don't
know. That newspaper man will be
arrested at the same moment, so you
had better warn him. But be careful
where and how you do so, for all his
movements are watched, all his words
are overheard"
"Why do you tell me this-you? Is
1t some scheme toto incriminate
met" O'Reilly inquired.
MANN was leaning over the counter
his face drawn with anxiety, his lips
framing the same question.
"No" The lieutenant shook his
head. Il am friend-a Cuban, In
spite of this uniform. If you repeat
my words / shall be shot within the
hour. imnlore yoI"--his voice be-
came more urgent--"to heed my warn
Ing. Remember - midnightY He
bowed, turned to the door, and was
gone.
IN tho cfro1rn Of MID LII.
was arrested. After a thorough search
of his person and his premises he was
escorted to government headquarters,
where he found Leslie Branch.
The invalid looked taller. thinner,
more bloodless than ever, and his air
of settled gloom admirably became the
situation.
"Hello. What luck?" Johnnie flashed
at him
An officer sharply commanded him
to be silent.
The prisoners were ordered to stand
side by side, facing their accusers.
Then each in turn was subjected to
rigorous examination. Owing to his
acquaintance with Spanish, O'Reilly
was able to defend himself without the
aid Of an interpreter.
1t was evident from the first that
Branch's case was hopeless. He read
lily acknowledged himself TO be news
paper writer, and admitted having sent
articles for publication through the
mails. This was quite enough; from
the attitude of the military men 1t
promised to go hard with him. Judg-
ment for the moment was suspended,
and the two prisoners were led away.
At last O'Reilly was recalled; but
when he re-entered the big room he
found General Antuna awaiting him,
alone.
The general spoke with force and
gravity: Mr.. O'Reilly, / believe you
to be far greater menace to the In
terests Of my country than-well,. than
a score of dynamite experts. believe
you are writer"
The American smiled. "Are writer's
such dangerous peoplef'
'That altogether depends upon cir
cumstances. The United States is in
clined to recognize the belligerency of
these Cuban rebels, and her relations
with Spain are becoming daily more
strained; ill-feeling grows, and all be-
cause Of the exaggerations, the men,
dacities, that have gone forth from
here to your newspapers. We are de-
termined to put down this uprising
In our own way; we viii tolerate no
foreign interference. War is never a
pleasant thing, but you journalists
have magnified its horrors and mis-
represented the cause of Spain until
you threaten TO bring on another and
a more horrible combat. Now, then,
you understand what / mean when |
say that you are more dangerous than
a powder expert; that your pen can
do more injury. can canse the death
of more Spanish troops than could
regiment of Americans with dynamite
Your English friend makes no secret
of his business, so we shall escort him
to Neuvitas and see him safely out of
the country, once for ALL"
Sand yet you permit me to remain?s
Johnnie was surprised.
'For the present. yes That is my
official message to you. Privately,
however'-the speaker eyed O'Reilly
with disconcerting expression-'1
would like to warn you. You are a
bright fellow, and you have way with
you-there's no denying 1t. Under
other conditions 1t would be pleas
IRE to know you better. It grieves me.
therefore, to warn you that your fur
Their stay in Cuba will not be-plees-
int. almost regret that there is no
conclusive evidence against you; It
would so simplify matters. Come, now.
hadn't you better acknowledge that I
lave guessed your secret7"
Continued next week.)