Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
@ O
By REX BEACH

the sound OF some one splitting W006
to kindle the charcoal FIRE for bfsak~s
fast. Other sailing craft seemed to be-
getting under way. anG a hskrtng 6unk>
anchor alongside
The three brothers vrnar felt <Aaf
schooner heel slightly and knew thase
she was stealing toward the Spanish
sunboat which was supposed to be on
guard against precisely such undertak-
1ngs as this. few moments, then
there came hail which brought their
hearts into their throats. Morin him
self answered the call
Good morning, countryuant Have.
you caught any of those accurxed M
busters since / saw you last? So?
Cayo Romano. ehe Wen. they come in
the night and they go in the night. II
tee to put YOU where they'd tau into
your arms, for know these waters.
What have I aboardr' NORM laughed
loudiy. You know very weiNcannon
ana shot Tor the rebels. Of course will
you look? No? Then a cup of coffee
o'RetIly peeped through a dirt-stasn.
ed caoin window and saw that the
seiandra was slipping past the stern
OF the ironclad, so he withdrev his
head quickly
In spite of his hospttable invita-
ton. Capt NORM made no move TO come
ABOUT: but instead held his schooner
on ITS course. meanwhile exchanefn1
shouts with the unseen sneaLer -
seemed incredible that Spanish disci-
pine could be SO lax, that the schooner
would be allowed to depart. even for
q Goastwise run. without some for
nAHtfes OF clearance. but 20 it seemed.
Evidently the Spaniards had tired OF
examining these small craft 1t was
TYPICAL OF their carelessness
VI course, this was but one danger
for Morin's schooner was liable n -
stopped by any of the numerous patrol
boats on duty to the eastward Never
sneiess: when an anxious hour had gone
ny ana she was well out toward the
harbor mouth, the refugees fold one
another they were safe.
NORM showed back the companjons
way match and thrust a grinning face
INTO vnew- Ho. there! my lazy little
smell Pancbo. sfl no1s. WAKE up. for Z
xviii !.
THREE TRAVELLERS COME HOME
Esteban varona made slow progress
toward recovery. In the weeks follow.
ing oReilfy's departure from cubitas
MS gain was steady. but beyond a GER,
tain point he seemed unable to go.
Then he began to lose strength. Norfns
was the first to realize the truth, but
IL was some time before she would
acknowledge il, even to herself AZ
last, however. she had to face the fact
mat Esteban's months of prison fare.
.ne abuse, the neglect he had suffered
IN spanish hands. had left him little
more than living corpse. 1t seemed
as II FEVER had burned him out or else
some dregs Of disease still fingered
IN ms system and had all but quenehed
.nat elusive spark which for want of =
oeIter name we call vitality.
Esteban, too, awoke to the fact that
ne was losing ground, and his dismay
was keen. for wonderful thing had
come INTO his life and he spent much
OF his time in delicious contemplatiye
day dreams concerning IL, waiting for
the hour when he would dare translate
those dreams into realities. 1t seemed
T 10 MIN that he had always loved
herself in his heart long before his
mind had regained its clarity, for he
mad come out of his delirious wander.
ings with his love full grown. There
nad been no conscious beginning to
IL; ne had emerged from darkness into
CASING glory, all in an instant. Not
until he found himself slipping
backward did he attempt to set a
guard upon himself. for up to that
love. He found his new task heavy, al
most too much for him to bear That he
attempted it spoke well for the fellows
strength of character.
The time came finally when he could
no longer permit the girl to deceive her.
sell or him with her brave assumption
Of cheerfulness. Norine had just told him
that he was doing famously, but he
smiled and shook his weary head
Lets be honest" he said You know
and l know that 1 can't get we'll"
Norfne was engaged in Strengthening
up the interior of the bark hut in which
her patient was installed; she ceased her
labors to inquire with lifted brows:
Tut! Tut Pray what do you mean
by that
There's something desperately wrong
with me and I realized it long ago So
did you. but your good heart wouldn's
Norine crossed quickly to the hammock
and laid her cool hand upon the sick
mans forehead
You mustn't be discouraged" she told
MIN. earnestly Remember. this is q
trying climate and we have nothing to
do with. Even the food is wretched."
Esteban's smile became wistful THAT
isn't why my fever lasts. If there were
any life. any health, left in me you
would rekindle it No, there's something
desperately wrong, and-we're wasting
time"
You simply mustn't talk like this.
she cried. Then at the look In his eyes
she faltered for the briefest instant
IL
If I had you where I could take proper.
care of you, II we were anywhere but
here. you'd see."
''I-believe you. But unfortunately va
are not elsewhere"
I'm going to take you away" she exc
claimed. forcefully.
Este5an stroked her hand softly. You
can't do that, Miss Evans. You have
been wonderful to me and I can't begin
to express my gratitude@ Norine
stirred, but he retained his grasp of her
fingers, gaining courage from the cons
tact to proceed. ct have been trying for
a long time to tell you something Will
you hstenT'
Norine possessed a dominant persons
ality; she had a knack of tactfully con.
trolling and directing situations, but OF
p sudden she experienced panfc-
stricken fintter and she lost her air OF
easy confidence.
Not now" she exclaimed. with a wise
ihle lessening of color. Don't bother to
tell me now"
i've waited too long: I must speak,
Norine was amazed at her own cons
fusion. which was nothing less than
girlish: she had actually gone to pieces
at threat of something she had long ex-
pected to hear.
81 know how tired of this work you
have become the man was saying. IT
know you're eager to get back to your
,~n work and your own life"
Well
'you have stayed on here just to nurse
ne. lsn'I that trueT'
SEn r,onded Sonneubaf doubff,,1Ix,