Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-09-27
1t Was o'ReiIIyl

it was ~ nelIiyi
bare and whose brown calves were ex-
posed through tapping rags. His breast
was naked where thorns had tried to
stay him; his beard, even his hair,
were matted and unkempt, and the
mud of many trails lay caked upon his
garments.
1t was O'Reilly!
Dumb with amazement, blind with
tears, Norine found herself staring up
ward into his face, and heard him say
ing:
II told you would bring her home"
The next instant she lay upon his
breast and sobs of joy were tearing at
her.
The story of Rosa's rescue came
slowly and in fragments, for the news
Of O'Reilly's return caused a sensa-
ton. His recital was interrupted many
times. GAS matter of fact, our get
away was ridiculously easy" he said,
''for we had luck at every turn-regu-
lar Irish luck. I made Norm indie
pendent for life, but it wasn't the
money, it was Jacket who induced him
to bring us clear to Turiguano. He
landed us one night, this side of the
Moron trocha. Since then we've waded
swamps to our armpits, we've fought
the jungle and chewed bark-but we're
here" Johnnie heaved a deep sigh of
relief.
ssWhere did you get the money to
hire schooners and corrupt captainsY
Branch inquired.
O'Reilly hesitated; he lowered his
voice to a whisper. "We found the
Varona treasure"
Norine uttered cry. "Not Don Els
TEXANS treasurer"
Exactly. It was in the well where
young Esteban told us it was"
Johnnie produced from his pocket
handful of coins.
Branch's eyes bulged, he touched
gold piece respectfully, weighed it care
fully, then pressed it to his lips. He
rubbed it against his cheeks and in his
hair; he placed it between his teeth
and bit it.
Its real!" he cried. "Ncw let me
look at the jewels
"Rosa has them. She's wearing them
on her back. launched backs are lucky,
you know; hers is worth n.fortune"
"Why, this beats the Arabian
Nights =" Nori-1e gasped.
.Tt BEATS Branch paused, then
wagsed his head warningly at the girl.
81 don't believe word Of it and you
mustn't"
Then Johnnie told the story. When
he had finished there was a long mo
ment OF silence. Then Norine qua
vercd TREMENDOUSLY: "That boy! That
blessed boy!"
cts all too weirdly improbable"
OReilly smiled, "but ask Rosa or
Jacket-the boy is bursting to tell
some one. He nearly died because he
couldn't brag about it to Captain. Mo-
rim, and there won't be any holding
him now. I'm afraid he'll tip off the
news about that treasure in spite of all
my warnings. Those jewels are a
temptation; I won't rest easy until
they're safely locked up in some good
vault. Now then, I've told you every.
thing, but I'm dying for news. Tell me
about yourselves, about Esteban. ex-
pected to find him well. What ails
him?''
"Oh, Johnnie!' Norine began. Hes
very i'll. He isn't getting well. Help
me, Johnnie! Help me to get him
home"
"Of course I will. Well take him
and Rosa away where they can forget
Cuba and all the misery it has caused
them. Well make him well-don't
worry
O'Reilly saw little of his sweetheart
that day, for Norine promptly bore the
girl off to her own quarters and there
attended to her needs, the most press
ing of which was clothing.
While O'Reilly was similarly en-
gagged in making himself presentable,
he and Branch talked earnestly, with
the result that they repaired later to
General Gomez. O'Reilly concluded by
saying:
1--WE done what came to do, sir, but
Miss Varona is badly shaken by all she