Judsonia weekly advance., 1918-09-04
k NOVEL by REX BEA(
Author of 1.-THE IRON TRAIL" 1.-THE SPOILl HEART OF THE SUNSET" Etc.

l was not many miles away. But when he came to part from Jacket he experi- -Ienced genuine disappointment. The boy, strangely enough, was almost in- l different to his leaving; he merely ex- tended a limp. dirty hand. and replied to O'Rellys parting words with careless "Adios!"
 In hurt surprise the former inquired. Don't we part good friends?"
 "Sure!" Jacket shrugged. then l turned away.
 Jacket was a likable youngster; his devotion was thoroughly unselfish; 1t had not been easy to wound him. With keener regrets than he cared to ac- knowledge O'Reilly set out upon his journey, following the guide whom General Betancourt had provided
 It was lovely morning, sufficiently warm to promise a hot midday; the air was moist and fresh from q recent shower. This being the rainy season, the trails were soft, and where the rich red Cuban soil was exposed the trav- elers sank into it as into wet putty
 Crossing a rocky ridge, OReilly and his guide at last emerged upon an l open slope, knee-high in grass and grown up to bottle palms, those queer distorted trees whose trunks are swol- len into the likeness of earthen water jars. Scattered here and there over the meadows were the dead or fallen trunks of another variety, the cabbage palm the green heart of which had long formed a staple article of diet for the insurrectos. Spanish axes had been at work here and not single tree remained alive. The green floor of the valley farther down was dotted with the other, the royal kind, that monarch of tropic vegetation which lends to the Cuban landscape it's pe- cuiar and distinctive beauty. "Yonder is the camino.' said the countryman, pointing into the valley; 'it will lead you to the main road; and there"-he turned to the north ward-'is Matanzas. Go with God, and don't drink the well water. which is polluted from the rains." With smile and wave of the hand the man turned back and plunged into the jungle.
 AS O'Reilly descended the slope he realized keenly that he was alone and in hostile territory. The hills and the woods from Pinar del Rio to Oriente I were Cuban, or, at most, they were | disputed ground. But here in the plains and valleys near the cities Spain was supreme From this moment on O'Reilly knew he must rely entirely upon himself. The success of his en- terprise-his very life-hinged upon his caution, his powers of dissimua tion, his ability to pass as harmless, helpless pacifico. It gave him an un- accustomed thrill, by no means pleas ant.
 The road, when he came to it, proved to be deep gutter winding between red clay banks cut by the high wheels of clumsy cane carts. Inasmuch as no crops whatever had been moved over | the road during the past season, it was now little more than an oozy, sticky rut. Not roof, not a chimney was in sight the valley was deserted. Here was fertile farming country-and yet no living thing, no sound of bells, no voices, no growing cocks, no lowing cattle. It was depressing to O'Reily, and more, for there was something menacing and threatening about 1t all.
 Toward noon the breeze lessened and it became insufferably hot. A bank of clouds in the east promised a cooling shower, so Johnnie sought the nearest shade to wait for 1t, and took ! advantage of the delay to eat his slen- der lunch. He was meditat!vely munch- ing a sweet potato when sound at his back caused him to leap to his feet in alarm. He whirled then uttered an exclamation of amazement. Seated not fifty feet away was a bare-legged boy. similarly engaged in eating a sweet potato. It was Jacket. His brown cheeks were distended. his bright inquisitive eyes were fixed upon O'Reilly from beneath defiant scowl
 "Jacket!'' cried the man. "What the devil are you doing hereT
 "You goin' to let me come along?" challenged the intruder.
 "So! You followed me, after I said | I didn't want you? O'Reilly spoke re- proachfully; but reproaches had no effect upon the lad. With a mild ex- pletive, Jacket signifled his contempt | for such a weak form of persuasion.
 "See here, now." O'Reilly stepped | closer. Let's be sensible about this"
 But Jacket scrambled to his feet and retreated warily. stuffing the uneaten portion of the sweet potato into his mouth It was plain that he had no confidence in O'Reilly's intentions. Muttering something in a muf1led voice, he armed himself with a stout