Evening star., 1918-01-13

knew the insurrectos were in camp. That
was his goal: it seemed almost within
his grasp. He was tempted to abandon
discovered that the city was well guarded.
One needed pass to enter or to leave
Puerto Principe, and, moreover, the city
had no suburbs. no scattered residences
outside its boundaries; when one came to
the end of street one found oneself in
an open field faced by a barbed-wire bar
rier. and on every road leading from the
town stood a fortuna. a little fort Of
brick or logs, in which were stationed
Spanish soldiers. The streets were alive
with uniformed men, patrols were every
where. and martial law prevailed. For
the first time O'Reilly began to perceive
held the island so tightly. Judging from
the preparations here. one must conclude
that Spain had no intention of relinquish-
ing her last New World possession.
After stroll through the city. during
which he carefully used his eyes, Johnnie
asked himself how the ill-drilled, ILL
equipped. loosely organized insurrectos
could hope to overthrow SO solid power
as this, backed as it seemed to be by
unlimited means and unlimited armies Of
trained troops. 1t looked like hopeless
undertaking. No seaport, no city. scarce
ly a hamlet. in fact. SO far as O'Reiily
knew. was held by the rebels; they lurk-
ed in the woods or rode the savannas in
row. To aid or comfort them was trea-
son. They appeared out of the jung1es
at unexpected moments: they faded like
the mists of the dawn. Theirs was an
apparitional warfare, and even their big
gest victories were signals for retreat.
How could they think to win?
1t seemed impossible that such resist
ance as they offered could wear down and
conquer the resources Of Spain. yet the
very numbers and alertness of the Span
1.
able opposition. Did it not also argue
an all-pervading restlessness which
might some day escape control? O'Reilly.
Of course. had no part in this quarrel: but
stroy, to ravage and to slay when set
tlement was 80 easy. The motive behind
this prodigal extravaRance of blood and
gold was nothing but foolish resistance of
a principle A little yielding, little
dininution of harshness. little compass
sion on the part of the mother country.
and these men who were killing one an
other would embrace and proclaim their
blood brotherhood.
Pondering such thoughts as these,
o'Reilly returned to his hotel. AS he
sat in the cafe. slipping an orangeade, he
heard some one speaking in atrociouS
Spanish. and looked up to see that an
other American had entered. The stran-
ger was tall, funereal young man. with
pallid cheeks and hollow. burning eyes; he
was asking for ice water. but what he
salu reSenb!ed anything except the Ian
guage of the country.
''Hey. George!" he cried "Try gimme
a vasso Of agwa con yellow" He pro-
nounced the words with elaborate pains.
MAKE it long one"
A waiter eyed him tolerantly. but with
no faintest sign of understanding
"Agwa con yellow-agwa with ice. Ice!
lce!' the man repeated loudly. Still fail
ing OF response. he shouted, Don't you
know what ice is?' He wrapped his
I,
cred. Gold! Icie. Freezum! Br-r-r!
Savvy?"
Inspiration came to the waiter: smile
irradiated his countenance. and with a
murmured apology for his studidity he
hurried away.
O'Reily stepped over to the strangers
table and introduced himself 1.-THE hotel
keeper in Neuvitas told me I'd find you
here he said Your name is"
said you'd find me here. eh? oh, the
greasy little liar. He didn't believe it.
He thought his cooking would have killed
me. long ago. and it nearly did" This
time Mr.. Branch's bony frame under
went a genuine shudder and his face was
convulsed with loathing. "Did you try
his butter? Made in Denmark during
the early Victorian period. hate an
tiques-can't eat anything oily Car
hajal's in the secret service. Nice fat lit
tie spy
80 I suspected
Mr.. -Branch's beverage appeared at
this moment. With flourish the waiter
placed small glass and a bottle of dark
liquid before him. Branch stared at it.
then rolled a fiercely smoldering eye up
ward.
what's that?" he inquired.
O'Reilly read the label. Its bitters."
said he.
"Bitters! And I asked for .yellow'-a
glass Of agwa with yellow Branch's
voice shook. I'm dying of a fever. and
this ivory-b billed toucan brings me
quart Of poison. Bullets!" 1t was impos-
family with which the speaker colored
this innocuous expletive Weak as I
am. shall gnaw his windpipe" He
barred his teeth suggestively and raised
two talonlike hands.
The waiter was puzzled, but not
alarmed. He embraced himself as his
customer had done, and shuddered; then