The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-08-22
CHAPTER xIv-continued.

NWe've been talking about food, u
Leslie Branch advised his commanding
officer. Miss Evans isn't a burning
patriot like the rest of us, and so of
course she can't share our ravenous ap-
petite for beef cooked and eaten on the
hoof''
'-So?" Lopezs handsome face cloud
ed. you are hungry, then?'
Norine confessed that she was. 'Tm
starving" said she. 81 haven't had a
decent meal for a week"
GOD be praised know where there
Is goat. not two leagues awayr said
Ehescolonel.
''But 1 don't want a goat" Norine
complained. 81 want-weT, pickles,
and jam, and sardines, and-candy,
aHd-tooth-powderI Real boarding
house Injuries. I'd just like to rob a
general store''
Lopez furrowed his brows and lost
himself in thought. Later, while the
others were talking. he drew Ramos
aside and for a while they kept their
heads together; then they invited Jud-
son 70 join their council.
When O'Reilly joined Judson for
grin on his face. well" said he, "You
can get ready to saddle up when the
moon rises"
what do you mean?"
'NThe colonel took Miss Evans at her
word. We're going to raid San Antonio
de les BanOs-two hundred of us-to
get her some pickles, and jam, and
candy, and tOOth-powder''
Certain histories of the Cuban War
for independence speak of ''The Bat
tie of San Antonio de los Banos." 1t
is quite stirring story to read and it
has but one fault, a fault, by the way,
not uncommon in hiStorieS-it is main
iy untrue.
In the first place, the engagement
was in no sense a battle, but merely a
raid. The number of troops engaged
was. perhaps, one-fifth of the generous
total ascribed by the historians. and
as a military maneuver it served no
purpose whatsoever. Nevertheless,
since the affair had a direct bearing
upon the fortunes of several people
connected with this story, it is, per-
haps, worth relating.
Lopez and his troop approached the
town In the early morning. AS they
depiOyed for the attack the colonel is
sued private instructions to certain
anembers of his command.
'tO'Reilly, you and Senior Branch will
enter one grocery store after another.
You will purchase that jam, those sar-
dimes. and whatever else you think
Miss Evans would like Captain judi
son. you and Major Ramos will go to
the apothecary shopII understand
there is very good one-and look for
tooth-pOwder and candy and the like 1
shall see that the streets are cleared,
then shall endeavor to discover some
pickles; but as God is my Judge, 1
doubt If there is such thing this side
of Habana."
leslie Branch, whose temper had not
improved with the long night ride, in
quired, caustically: do you expect US
10 buy the groceries? Well, I'm broke,
and SO is O'Reilly. If you don't give US
some change, colonel, we'll have to
open a charge account in your name"
1@Caramba !" muttered Lopez. 81 in
tended TO borrow from you gentlemen.
Weu. never mind-we'H commanders
what we wish in the name of the re-
public"
Lopez attack proved a complete
surprise, both to the citizens and to the
garrison of the town. The rebel bugle
gave the first warning of what was
afoot, and before the Castilian troops
who were lettering off duty could re-
gain their quarters, before the citizens
could take cover or the shopkeepers
close and bar their heavy wooden shut
ters, two hundred ragged horsemen
were yelling down the streets.
There followed q typical Cuban en-
gagement-ten shouts to one shot
There was mad charge on the heels
OF the scurrying populace, a scattering
pop-pop of rifles, cheers, cries, shrieks
of defiance and far-f1ung insults direct
ed at the fortinas.
O'Reilly, with Branch and jacket
close at his heels, whirled his horse
into the first bOdega he came to. The
store was stocked with general mer
chandise, but it's owner, evidently &
Spaniard, did not tarry to set q price
upon any Of it. AS the three horsemeI
came gathering In at the front he wen
AStuS Out at the rear, anu, aItHOOSI
O'Reilly called reassuringly after him
his only answer was the slamming of
back door. followed by swiftly dimin
fishing cries of fright,
There was no time to waste John
ME dismounted and, walking to tn
shelves where some imported came,
goods were displayed, he began to Sc
lect those delicacies for which he ha,
been sent. The devoted Jacket was q
his side. The little Cuban exercised n
restraint he seized whatever was mos
mandy. meanwhile cursing ferociousIy
as befitted a bloodthirsty bandit Boy
are natural robbers. and at this oppol
tunity. for loot Jackets soul flame
savagely and he swept the shelves bar
as he went.
'eHey, Lesliei Get something to carr
this stuff in," O'Reilly directed owe
his shoulder.
Spurred by O'Reilly's tone and by
lively rattle of rif1e-shots outside, LIE.
lie disappeared into the living-QuarteI
at the back OF the store. A momeE
later he emerged with a huge armf.
OF bedclothes, evidently snatched 6
eaudou TRAILING behind him like