The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-06-06

Rosa nodded soberiy. and O'Reilly.
suppress,ng some light reply that had
sprung 10 his lips. inquired. curiously.
what do you mean by thatT
Brother and sister Joined in explain
ing that Donna Isabel was given TO Pc
culiar actions, especially after periods
Of excitement or anger. and that one OF
her eccentricities had taken the form
Of somnambulistic wanderings. "Oh.
she's crazy enough Esteban con-
ciuded. Il believe it's her evil con-
science"
O'Reilly scanned the speaker silent
ly for moment; then he said, with
gravity unusual In him. II wonder II
you know that you're suspected Of
working for the insurrecto cause"
Indeed? didn't know"
swell. it's a fact" o'Reiliy heard
Rosa gasp family. is It uuef" he
asked.
II am n Cuban"
"Cubanl Your people were Span
ish."
True. But no Spaniard ever raised
a Spanish child In Cuba. We are Gu
bans. Rosa and I. go everywhere. and
the Spanish officers talk plainly be-
fore me. Somebody must be the eyes
and the ears for Colonel Lopez"
Colonel Lopez!" exclaimed O'Rcilly.
Esteban nodded.
Rosa's face, as she looked at the two
men. was white and worried. For a
time the three Of them sat silent; then
the American said. slowly. you'll be
shot II you're caught"
"Some one must run chances" Este
ban averred. "We're fighting tyranny I;
all Cuba Is ablaze. must do my part"
"But sooner or later you'll be dis
covered-then whatT persisted O'Reil-
ly.
Esteban shrugged. "who knowsf
There'll be time enough when"
"What Of Rosaf"
At this question the brother stirred
uneasily and dropped his eyes. O'Reil-
ly laid q hand upon his arm. You
have no right to jeopardize her safety.
Without you. to whom could she turn"
The girl flashed her admirer n grateful
glance.
"Senor. you for one would see that
| She"
"But-pm going away" O'2eilly
felt rather than saw Rosa start. for
his face was averted. II came here to
tell you both good-by. may be gone
for some time. IL don't know when
l can get back"
"Tm sorry" Esteban. told him, with
genuine regret "we have grown very
fond of you. But you will come back
before long. ehf You're one Of US. In
the meantime I'll remember what you
say. and at least I'll be careful" BY
no means wanting in tact. Esteban rose
briskly and. after shaking hands with
O'Reilly, left the two lovers to say fare
well rs best suited them.
But for once O'Reilly's ready tongue
was silent. The laughter was gone
| from his blue eyes when he turned to
the girl at his side.
"You say you are going away7" Rosa
inquired. breathlessly. But whyr
"rm going partly because Of this
war and partly because of--something
else. tried 20 tell you yesterday, but
I couldn't. When the revolution start
ed everybody thought 1t was merely
local uprising, and I wrote my COM
pany TO that effect: but. bless you, II
has spread like fire, and now the whole
eastern end Of the island Is ablaze.
Business has stopped. and my employ
ers have ordered me home to find out
what's happened to their profits"
"You said there was something
else"
O'Reilly's hesitation became an en-
barrassed silence. He tried to laugh
II of.
"There is; otherwise I'd stay right
here and tell my penurious friends to
whistle for their profits. II seems I'm
cursed with a fatal beauty. You may
have noticed 1T No7 Well, perhaps
it's a magnificent business ability that
I have. Anyhow. the president Of my
company has notion that I'd make
him a good son-in-law."
I- Obi" cried Rosa.
And at her tone O'Reilly hurried on
"These rich men have the most alb
surd Ideas. suppose I'll have to-
"Then you are In love. sencrf"
The young man nodded vigorously.
Indeed I am-with the sweetest girl
In Cuba. That's the whole trouble,
That's why I'm hurryIng home to re-
sign before I'm fred" Not daring to
look too long or too deeply into Rosa
varona's eyes until she had taken In
the whole truth, he waited. staring a,
his feet. I'm sort Of glad II has come
to showdown and l can speak out
I'm hoping she'll miss me-" After a
moment he ventured. "Will sheer
will you, Rcsaf"
~? Miss your" Rosa lifted her
brows In pretended amazement. "You
are amusing. Of course, butt won't
have much time to think about you
for am so soon to be married"
"Marriedf What7 Nonsense 1"