Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-06-18

formed IN rags. COOK 0reS SmOIQereu
in the open glades; cavalry horses
grazed in the grassy streets, and wood
smoke drifted over them.
The second evening brought O'Reilly
and Miss Evans safely through, and at
news of the expeditions success a
pack train was made ready to go to
its assistance. Norine's letter from the
New York junta was read, and the
young woman was warmly welcomed.
One of the better huts was vacated for
her use, and the officers of the pro-
visional government called to pay their
respects.
There were other Americans in Gu
bitas, as O'Reilly soon discovered. Dur
ing his first inspection of the village
he heard himself hailed in his own Ian
guage, and a young man in dirty
white trousers and jacket strobe
toward him.
welcome to our city!" the stranger
cried I'm Judson, captain of artil-
lery, departments del Oriente; and
you're the fellow who came with the
quinine lady, aren't your"
O'Reilly acknowledged his identity,
and Judson grinned. "Have you met
the old man." he inquired-"General
GomezT
mo; I'd like to meet him.
"Come along, then; I'll introduce
you"
Gen. Maxine Gomez, father of pa
triots, bulwark of the Cuban cause,
some letters; O'Reilly recognized him
instantly from the many pictures he
had seen. He looked up at Judson's
salute and then turned pair of bril-
liant eyes, as hard as glass, upon
O'Reilly. His was an irascible, brood
sternness, the exalted detachment, of
the eagle, and O'Reilly gained hint of
the personality behind it. Maxine
Gomez was counted one of the worlds
ablest guerrilla leaders; and indeed
it had required the Quenchless enthu-
siasm Of a real military genius to fuse
into a homogeneous fighting force the
ill-assorted rabble of nOndescripts
whom Gomez led, to school them to
privation and to render them sufficient
ly mobile to defy successfully ten
times their number of trained troops.
This, however, was precisely what the
old Porto Rican had done, and in doing
it he had won the admiration of mill
tary students.
With a bluntness not unkind he
asked O'Reilly what had brought him
to Cuba.
When O'Reilly explained the reason
for his presence the old fighter nod
ded.
$50? You wish to go west, eh?"
'Yes, sir. 1 want to find Colonel
Lopez"
Lopez? Miguel lopez" the gen.
eral inquired quickly. .Well you won't
have to look far for him." General
Gomez leathery countenance lightened
into smile. "He happens to be right
here in Cubitas" Calling Judson to
him, he said: amigo, take Mr.. O'Reilly
to Colonel Lopez; you will find him
somewhere about. 1 am sorry we are
not to have this young fellow for a
soldier; he looks ike real man and
quite equal to five quintos, eh?"
1t was the habit of the Cubans to
refer TO their enemies as quintos--
the fifth part of q man! With a wave
of his hand Gomez returned to his
reading.
Col. Miguel Lopez, a handsome, ami
mated fellow, took O'Reilly's hand In
a hearty clasp when they were intro
duced; but moment later his smile
gave way to a frown and his brow
darkened.
"Soi You are that O'Reilly from
Matanzas," said he. 81 know you now,
butt never expected we would meet"
"Esteban Varona told you about me,
did he not7"
The colonel inclined his head.
I'm here at last, after the DEVILS
own time. I've been trying every way
to get through. The Spaniards stopped
me at Puerto Principe-they sent me
back home, you know. I've been per-
fectly crazy. L You" O'Reilly
swallowed hard. "You know where
Esteban is? Tell me"
Have you heard nothing?"
Nothing whatever. That is, moth
ing since Rosa, his sister You I'M
derstand, she and 1 are-engaged-"
"Yes, yes; Esteban told me all about
you"
Something in the Cuban's gravity of
manner gave O'Reilly warning. A sud-
den fear assailed him. His voice shook
as he asked:
"What is it? Not bad news?"
There was no need for the officer
to answer. In his averted gaze
O'Reilly read confirmation of his sick
est apprehensions.
"Tell me! Which one" he whis-
pered.
BOTH"
o'Reilly recoiled; spasm distorted
his chaIky face. He began to shake
weakly, and his fingers plucked aim
leSSly at each other.
Lopez took him by the arm. "Try to
control yourself" said he. "Sit here
while 1 try to tell you what little I
know Or would it not be better TO
wait awhile, until you are calmerT'
AS the young man made no answer. ex-
cept TO stare at him in white agony
of suspense. he sighed:
II will tell you all / know-which
isn't much. Esteban Varona came to
me soon after he and his sister had
fed from their home; he wanted TO
join my forces. but We were harassed