Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-09-13
CHAPTER xVI-continued.

Is tattered as the poorest Of Betan-
courts common soldiers; his shoes
were broken and d~isreputable; his cot
ton trousers, snagged by barbed wire
and brambles, and soiled by days in
the saddle and nights in the grass,
were in desperate need of attention.
His beard had grown, too, and his skin.
where it was exposed, was burnt to
a mahogany brown. Certainly there
was nothing about his appearance to
bespeak his nationality.
: The general continued: II am direct
ed in this letter to help you in some
enterprise. Command me, sir"
AS briefly as possible Johnnie made
known the object of his Journey. The
officer nodded his comprehension, but
as he did so a puzzled expression
p crossed his face. #
ayes, I reported that Miss Varona
: had gone into the city, took some
+ pains to find out. Do you have reason
to doubt"
"Not the least, sir"
"Then-why have you come all this
wayY
IT came to find her and to fetch her
10 her brother"
"But-you don't understand. She Is
actually inside the lines, in Matan-
Z Eas-a prisoner"
Exactly. I intend to go into Matan-
gas and bring her out"
: General Betancourt drew back, as
tonished. my dear mani" he ex-
claimed. "Are you madT'
O'ReilIy smiled family. "Quite
probably. All lovers are mildly mad,
I believe"
"Ah! Loversl I begin to see. But
how do you mean to go about this
this-impossible undertakings
"You told me just now that I could
pass for a Cuban. Well, / am going
to put 1t to the test. If I nee get into
the city I shall manage somehow to
get out again, and bring her with me-"
"Um-mr" The general appraised
O'Reilly speculatively. mo doubt you
can get init is not so difficult to en-
ter, I believe, and especially to one
who speaks the language like a native.
But the return-I feaf you will find
that another matter. Matanzas is a
place Of pestilence, hunger, despair.
No n goes there from choice any
more, and no one ever comes out"
$50 I should imagine" The speak
er's careless tone added to General Be-
%tancourt's establishment. "Bless me |"
he exclaimed. "Whet an extraordi-
nary young man! Is 1t possible that
you do not comprehend the terrible
conditioner A sudden thought struck
him and he inquired quickly: 'Tell me,
you r no: by any chance that hero
they cali 81 Demonio7 I have heard
that he Is indeed a demon. No? Very
WE'LL You say you wish to visit Ma
tanzas, and I am instructed to help
you. How can I do 500"
OReilly hesitated an instant. "For
one thing, I need money. IL haven't
a single peseta."
"You are welcome to the few dol
lars I possess" .
Johnnie expressed his gratitude for
this ready assistance. "One thing
more" said he. "Will you give my
boy, Jacket, a new pair Of trousers
and send him back to the Orient at the
6rst opportunity
"Of course. It Is DONE" The gen.
eral laid a friendly hand upon O'Reil-
ey's shoulder, saying, gravely: ut
would relieve me intensely to send you
back with him, for I have fears for
the success Of your venture. Matanzas
e q hell 1t has swallowed up thou
sands Of our good countrymen; thou
sands have died there. I'm afraid you
do not realize what risks you are TAX
sng."
OReilly did not allow this we'll
meant warning to influence him, nor
did he listen to the admonitions Of
those other Cubans who tried to argue
with him out Of his purpose, once 1t
became known. On the contrary, he
proceeded with his preparations and
spent that afternoon in satisfying him
self that Rosa had indeed left the Pan
de Matanzas before Cobo's raid.
Among B%etancourts troops was a
man who had been living In the hills
ut the time Asensio and his family
had abandoned their struggle for ex-
astence, and to him O'Reilly went. This
fellow, 1t seemed, had remained with
his family in the mountains some time
after Asenslo's departure. 1t was
from him that O'Reilly heard his first
authentic report Of the atrocities per-
petrated by Cobo's volunteers. This
man had lost his wife, his little son,
and all the scanty belongings he pos
sessed. With shaking hands up
stretched to heaven, the fellow cursed
the author Of his misfortunes.
II live for one thing!" he cried
~ehrilly-'to meet that monster, and to
butcher him. as he butchers women
and children"
O'Reilly purposely left his most I'm
pleasant task to the last. When his
arrangements had been completed and
he he'd acquainted himself as far as
possible with the hazards he was likely