Evening star., 1918-01-13

bly, to see that all was as it should be
Now there was very little in the room
to need attention-only bed with a
cheese-c1oth mosQufto-net, wash
press of Spanish architecture. which
looked as II it might have a dark and
sinister history. When, for the third
time, he appeared without knocking
o'Rsilly suspected something;
bajal teetered upon the balls of his
feet while his small black eyes roved
inQuisitively.
Everything in abundance"
There is water. eh?" The proprietor
peered dutifully into the pitcher, Incl
dentally taking stock of O'Reilly's toilet
articles.
"A veritable ocean Of it."
"One never knows. These servants
your trunk?''
II have no trunk"
80? took you to be a great trav-
e1er
Selling goods. eh:'
Indeed? Then you are a pleasure
traveller? You see the sights, is that
it? Well, Cuba is beautiful"
I have seen"
Mr. carbajal wagged. pudgy fore
finger at his guest. 41ut. Tut. You
know Cuba. You speak the language
bet better s,v than ans,:. native; You cant fool
and winked both eyes. 1t was an In
vitation to further confidence. and he
was disappointed when it passed un-
noticed. Well, you Americans are a
brave people" he continued, with an
obvious effort to keep the conversation
going. ''you like to be where the fight
ing is"
Not ]. I'm a timid man"
~, "Ho! Ha! Ha" the proprietor cackled
nothing here at Neuvitas to interest a
tourist-e1cept the war" ::
I'm not a tourist"
Indeed? Now that is interesting
Mr.. Carbajal seated himself on the edge
OReilly's travelling bag. Not tour
ist, not travelling man. Now what
could possibly bring you to Cuba?"
oReilly eyed his inquisitor grave1y:
agreeable countenance. Il travel for
YOU Health"!' t carbajars frame
began to heave: his bulging abdomen
hand. Good. Ha! There's another
joke for you"
I'm a sick man." O'Reilly insisted
hollowly.
Prom what malady do you suffer-
inquired the hotel keeper.
rheumatism
"Rheumatism? That is no more than
a pain in the joints. a stiffness"
There! ] knew it," OReilIy ex-
claimed in triumph. Rising, he seized
violently. You give me courage! You
make a new man of me. These doctors
enjoy a fellows agony: they'd like to
bury him. They'd never recommend
you say. stiffness That proves the
abominable affiiction is practically un-
known here. l thank you. sir"
You don't look sick" mumbled Car
bajal. Not like the other American.
What other American"
"A peculiar fellow. He went on to
Puerto Principe. What a cough And
he was as thin as a wire. He bled at the
mouth. too, all the time, when he was
not reviling my hotel. You'll see him II
you go there. provided he hasn't come
apart with his coughing. l believe he
writes for newspapers. Well. it is my
pleasure to serve you. Command me
at any hour" Mr.. CarbajaI rose re-
stairs to his grimy tables and the flies
OReilly was not in the least de-
ceived: it was plain to him that the
hotel was in close touch with the
feel the need of some better excuse
some valid business reason. for being here
such as would allay suspicion once for all.
But he could think of nothing better
than his rheumatism, and to that he
determined to cling.
VII.
THE MAN WHO WOULD KNOW LIFE.
Later that day O'Reilly set out to
reconnoiter the city of Neuvitas He
was followed. of course-he had ex-
pected as much. and the circumstances
amused rather than alarmed him. But
when he returned to his hotel and
found that his room had been visited
during his absence he felt a hint OF
uneasiness. Evidently. as DIR. Alvarado
had forecast, the authorities were in
terested in him: and he had further
evidence Of the fact when he learned
that the room next to him was occu-