Evening star., 1918-01-20

uniforms. a row of grim faces and hos
tile eyes, which the two Americans be-
held. Spread out upon a table in front
of the officers were the personal be-
longings of both men.
The prisoners were ordered to stand
side by side, facing their accusers.
Then each in turn was subjected to a
rigorous examination. Owing to his
was able to defend himself without the
aid of an Interpreter. He began by
asserting that he had come to Cuba
for his health. and declared that he
had endeavored at all times since his
arrival to conduct himself in strict
conformity with local regulations. If
in any way he had offended. he had not
done so Intentionally. He denied hav-
ing the remotest connection with the
rebels. and demanded an explanation of
his arrest.
But his plausible words did not in
the least affect his hearers. Gen.
Antuna. the commandante. square
faced man with the airs of a courtier,
but with the bold. hard eyes of fight
er. leaned forward, saying:
$50 you suffer fromNll health, senor?'
II do, severely. rheumatism
The general nodded. Three days
ago you were overtaken by a rain
storm while walking through the city
Yes. sir
When the rain had passed, you re-
turned to your hotel. AT the junction
of San Rafael and Estralla streets a
pool of water had gathered and you
leaped it. Am l right?"
NO doubt"
Gen. Antuna consulted report be-
fore him. That pool measured six feet
four inches in width. Do you ask me
to believe that a person suffering from
rheumatism could do that?"
Leslie Branch shifted his weight and
wet his lips, but O'Reilly only shrug-
ged impatiently. My dear general"
said he, did you never experience a
neuralgia? Well then, was the pain
continuous? In this climate my affiic-
tion troubles me very little. That is
why ] remain here"
From among the articles in front Of
him the general selected solitary A.
caliber revolver cartridge, holding it up.
said:
What do you say to this?''
II don't know what to say. Where
did it come from ??
TT was found in the cloth pocket Of
your valise."
O'Reilly frowned then light of un-
derstanding irradiated his frank coun-
tenance. 1T must have lain there ever
since l left Matanzas. three months
ago"
"Ha. Matanzas!' fiercely calculated
a colonel. What were you doing in
Matanzas?'
1t was unnecessary to prevaricate
now Johnnie told of his earlier con-
nection with the Carter Importing
Company. gave names, dates and facts
to bear out his statements, and chal-
lenged his accusers to verify them.
Undoubtedly some of his hearers
were impressed. but they were by no
means convinced of the innocence of
his present purpose, and, in fact. the
feroclous coionei seemed to regard
past residence in Cuba as proof con-
elusive of present connection with
the rebels. Johnnie gathered that he
was suspected of being one of those
American engineers who were report
ed to have been engaged to instruct the
enemy in the use of explosives: his in
quisitors did their best to wiring such
an admission from him or to entrap
him into the use of some technical
phrase, some slip of the tongue which
would verify their suspicious. They
even examined his hands with minutest
care, as if to find some telltale callous
or chemical discoloration which would
convict him. Then finally. to give
him the lie absolute. the aggressive
colonel seized a nickel-plated atomizer
from the table and brandished it
triumphantly before the young mans
eyes.
Enough of this pretensew he cried.
What is this instrument, eh?'
1T is evidently an atomizer. nasal
syringe. I never saw it before"
ITS mine," said Leslie Branch; but
the colonel did not heed the Interrupt
tion.
"Ha! And pray explain its use.''
Johnnie undertook to do so. but it
was plain that his words carried no
conviction, for his mocking inquisitor
quently to his commander. There you
have it!' he declared, proudly. This
lmpostor betrays himself"
The other officers were eying the un-
familiar article curiously; one of them
ventured gingerly to handle it; they
eXChanRAd WhiaD0r6.