Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-11-21
RAINBow's END
BY Rex Beach.
CHAPTER XIV.
That Sick Man From San Antonio.

That Sick Man From San Antonio.
/ 1t was part of the strategy practieed
by the Cuban feeders to divide their
forces into separate columns for the
purpose of raiding the smaller Spanish
garrisons and harassing the troops sent
ito their relief, reassembling these
bands only when and where some tell
ing blow was to be struck.
When O'Reilly and Branch enlisted
in the Army of the Orient they were
assigned to the command of Col. Mig
ship that they made their first ac-
quaintance with the peculiar methods
Of Cuban warfare.
There had been, at first, some doubt
of Branch's fitness to take the field at
aH-he had suffered severe hemor-
image shortly after his arrival at Cubi-
tas--and it was only after hysterical
Been accepted as soldier. He simply
wcnld not be left behind. At first the
18buns regarded him with mingled
eDmtempt and pity, for certainly no
4aW promising volunteer had ever
t1kn service with them. But upon
- occasion Of the very first fight all
Twill disappeared as If By magic. for,
a1lAough Branch deliberately disobeyed
ssders, he nevertheless displayed such
amazing nudacity in the face of the
eA1ny, such a theatrical contempt for
bullets, as to stupefy every one. More
ever, he lived up to his reputation he
aentinued to be insanely daring, vary,
ing his exploits to correspond with his
moods, with the result that he attained
a popularity which was unique, nay,
sensational
O'Reilly alone understood the reason
for the fellows morbid irritability, his
suicidal recklessness but when he pri-
vately demonstrated he was gruffly told
to mind his own business. Branch fiat
~ refused to modify his conduct; he
seemed really bent upon cheating the
disease that made his life misery.
But, as usual, fate was perverse;
she refused to humor the sick mans
hope. When, after blindly inviting
death, Leslie had emerged from sew
eral engagements unscathed, his sur
prise-and perhaps natural relief at
finding himself whole-became tinged
with a certain apprehension lest he
survive those deliberately courted dam
gers only to succumb to the ills and
privations of camp life. The fellows
tongue grew ever sharper; his society
became intolerable, his gloom oppres-
sive and irresistibly contagious. When,
after several weeks of campaigning,
the column went into camp for short
rest, O'Reilly decided that he would
try to throw off the burden of Leslie's
overwhelming detection, and, If pos
sible, shift portion of it upon the
shoulders Of Captain Judson.
On the day after their arrival OReil-
ly and the big artilleryman took advan-
tage of a pleasant stream to battle and
wash their clothes; then, while they
lay in their hammocks, enjoying the
luxury of a tattered oil-cloth shelter
and waiting for the sun to dry their
garments, O'Reilly spoke what was in
his mind.
I'm getting about fed up on Leslie"
he declared. Hes the worlds cham
pion crepe-hanger, and he's painted the
whole world such a deep, respondent
blue that I'm completely dismal. You've
got to take him off my hands,"
O'Reilly's youthful assistant, who at
the moment was painstakingly manu-
featuring huge, black cigar for him.
self out of some purloined tobacco.