Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-07-26


himself, and ssuntered after the Eel.
low. For several blocks he kept him
in sight. but without receiving AM
further sign.
Without a glance over his shoulder
the man turned into a large. walled In
closure. When Johnnie followed he
found himself In one OF the old ceme-
terles, Ahead Of him, up q shady ave
nue. bordered with trees the stranger
hurried; then he swerved to his left.
and when O'Reilly came to the point
where he had disappeared there was
nobody in sight. A~pprehending that
he had made some mistake in the sig
nal, 0'Reilly fastened down the walk.
Then at last, to his great relief, he
heard a sihilant:
"Psst! Psstw
1t came from behind a screen Of
shrubbery. and there he found the Gu.
ban waiting. The latter began rap
idly:
"Our plans are complete. Listen
closely. One week from today, at ten
o'clock in the morning, you must be
In Manin's drug store. Directly across
the street you will see two negroes
with three horses. At fifteen minutes
past ten walk out San Rafael street to
the edge OF the city, where the hos
pital stands. The negroes will follow
you. There Is a fort near by"
II know"
at commands the road. You will be
challenged IL you pass It, so turn In
at the hospital. But do not enter the
gates, for the negroes will overtake
you at that point. They will stop to
adjust the saron of' the lead horse.
That will be your signal; mount him
and ride fast. Now, adios and good
luck"
With a smile and a quick grip of the
hand the messenger walked swiftly
away. O'Reilly returned to his hotel.
At lastl One week, ard this numb
Ing, h~eartbreaking delay would end;
he would be free to take up his quest.
But those seven days were more than
a week they were wen eternitles.
The hours were like lead; O'Reilly
could compose his mind to nothing he
was in a fever Of impatIence,
The day of days dawned at last, and
Johnnie was early at Manin's soda
fountain, drinking insipid beverages
and ~anxiously watching the street. In
due time the negroes appeared, their
straw sarons laden with produce which
they innocently disposed Of. O'Reilly
began to consult his watch with such
frequency that the druggist joked him.
Manin's banter was interrupted by a
bugle call. Down the street came per.
haps two hundred mounted troops.
They wheeled into San Rafael street
at q sullcp and disappeared In the di-
rection Of the suburbs.
"Now, what does that mean?" mur
INJURED the druggist. "Wait here while
| go to the roof, where l can see some-
thing"
O'ReilIy tried to compose himself,
meanwhile becoming aware of q grow
Ing excitement In the street. Then
from the direction of the fort at the
end of San Rafael street sounded o
faint rafting fuslllade, more bugle
calls, and finally the thin, distant
shouting Of men.
"Rebels !" someone cried.
"Dios milo, they are attacking the
city"
"They have audacity, chi"
The roofs were black with people
10Y MANN came hurrying down into
the store.
Something has gone wrong" he
whispered. They're fighting out yoD-
der In the woods. There has been
some treachery."
ut Is ten-ffteen," said O'Rellly. ~
must be going"
MANN stared at him. "You dont
understand"
"Those black fellows are getting
their horses ready. I'm going"
The druggist tried to force Johnnie
into a chair. "Madman!" he painted.
II tell you our friends have been be
trayed; they are retreating. Go back
to your hotel quickly"
For the first time during their &C
quaintance MANN heard the good.
natured American curse; OReilly'a
blue eyes were blazing; he had let 60
of himself completely.
"Tm going!" he cried, hoarsely. "All
the ID Spaniards In Cuba won't
stop me. Lord I've waited too long
l should have made a break"
'Idiot!" stormed the druggist "You
wish to die, ehT
O'Reilly ripped out another oath
and fought off the others restraining
hands.
every well, then" cried MANN, "but
have some thought of us who have
risked our lives for you. Suppose you
should escape? How would our troops
receive you now? Would they not
think you had cunnIngly arranged this
trap"
A light OF reason slowly reappeared
In the younger mans eyes.
"No!" MANN pressed his. advantage
"You must wait until" He brooks
Off abruptly and stepped behind his