Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-05-09
n the ears for Colonel Lopez"
Colonel Lopez!" exclaimed O'Reilly.
EStehan nodded

and the ears Tor Colonel Lopez"
Colonel Lopez !" exclaimed O'Reilly.
Esteban nodded.
Rosa's face, as she looked at the two
men, was white and worried. For a
time the three of them sat silent; then
the American said, slowly, you'll be
shot If you're caught"
Some one must run chances" Este
ban averred. "We're fighting tyranny;
all Cuba is ablaze. 1 must do my part"
"But sooner or later you'll be dis
covered-then what?" persisted O'Reil-
ly.
Esteban shrugged. "Who knows?
There'll be time enough when"
"What Of Rosa?"
At this question the brother stirred
uneasily and dropped his eyes. O'Reil-
ly laid a hand upon his arm. "You
have no right to jeo%pardize her safety.
Without you, to whom could she turn?"
The girl flashed her admirer a grateful
glance.
"Senor, you for one would see that
She
"But-Im going away" O'Reilly
felt rather than saw Rosa start, for
his face was averted. II came here to
tell you both good-by. l may be gone
for some time. IL don't know when
can get back"
"Im sorry" Esteban told him, with
genuine regret. "We have grown very
fond of you. But you will come back
before long, Ell? You're one of us. In
the meantime I'll remember what you
say, and at least I'll be careful" BY
no means wanting in tact, Esteban rose
briskly and, after shaking hands with
O'Reilly, left the two lovers to say fare
we'll as best suited them.
But for once O'Reilly's ready tongue
was silent. The laughter was gone
from his blue eyes when he turned to
the girl at his side.
"You say you are going away" Rosa
inquired, breathlessly. "But why?"
I'm going partly because of this
war and partly because of-something
else. I tried to tell you yesterday, but
[ couldn't. When the revolution start
ed everybody thought it was merely
n local uprising, and 1 wrote my COM
pany to that effect; but, bless you, it
has spread like fire, and now the whole
J eastern end of the island is ablaze.
Business has stopped, and my employ
ers have ordered me home to find out
what's happened to their profits"
"You said there was something
else"
O'Reilly's hesitation became an en-
{ %barrassed silence. He tried to laugh
it off.
"There is; otherwise I'd stay right
here and tell my %penurious friends to
whistle for their profits. 1t seems I'm
> cursed with a fatal beauty. You may
have noticed it? No? Well, perhaps
! it's a magnificent business ability that
I have. Anyhow, the president of my
) company has a notion that I'd make
: him a good son-in-law."
> IL OH" cried Rosa.
And at her tone O'Reilly hurried on
"These rich men have the most alb
p surd ideas. I suppose I'll have to-
"Then you are in love, senorT
Lie yOuuS Aluu AOOuCO OuoAJ
Indeed I am-with the sweetest CIR
> In Cuba. That's the whole trouble
That's why I'm hurrying home to re
J sign before I'm fired" Not daring tt
y look too long or too deeply into Ross
. Varona's eyes until she had taken ii
: the whole truth, he waited, staring al
his feet. "Tm sort Of glad it has com
l to a showdown and I can speak out
:; I'm hoping she'll miss me-" After 6
moment he ventured, "Will sheer
I will you, Rosa?" ~~
II? Miss your Rosa lifted hel
D brows in pretended amazement. "Yor
are amusing, Of course, butt Wont
: have much time to think about you
I for I am so 500 to be married"
D Married? What? Nonsense"
{ Indeed! Do you think I'm so ugly
nobody would have me? The richest
man in Matanzas has asked for my
hand this very afternoon"
"Who? Mario de Castano?"
eyes," -"+A+'t-za gAast~ spskt 80"
O'Reilly laughed with relief, and
though Rosa tried to look offended,