Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-05-14
CHAPTER WI.
The Man Who Would Know Life.

! ne Man Who Would Know Life.
Later that day O'Reilly set out to
reconnoiter the city of Neuvitas. He
was followed, of course-he had ex-
pected as much, and the circumstances
amused rather than alarmed him. But
when he returned to his hotel and
found that his room had been visited
during his absence he felt hint of
uneasiness. Evidently, as Doctor Al
varado had forecast, the authorities
were interested in him; and he had
further evidence of the fact when he
learned that the room next him was
occupied by the very man who had
Swallowed him on the street. Inasmuch
as the intervening wall was no more
than thin partition, through which
his very breathing could be heard,
while his every movement could doubt
less be spied upon, O'Reilly saw the
need of caution.
During breakfast, and afterward
throughout an aimiess morning stroll,
O'Reilly felt watchful eyes upon him.
When he returned to his hotel he
found Mr.. Carbajal in the cafe con-
cocting refrescos for some military Off
GERS, who scanned the American with
bold. hostile glances O'Reilly COM
planned to the proprietor of a tooth
ache. He declared that something had
to be done at once, and inquired the
name and address of the best local
dentist.
Mr.. Carbajal named several, among
them DR.. Tomas Alvarado, whereupon
his guest hurried away, followed at
respectful distance by the secret
agent
Finding Doctor Alvarado's office was
closed, as he had anticipated, O'Reilly
proceeded to the doctors residence.
There was some delay when he rang
the bell, but eventually the dentist
himself appeared O'Reiliy recognized
him from his resemblance to his
brother. He addressed him in English.
II come from Felipe" he began. "He
well remembers the day you whipped
him to keep him from going to the
Ten Years war"
siesta vanished. He started, his eyes
Widened.
"Who are you?" he muttered.
"My name is O'Reilly. am an Amer
lean, friend, so don't be alarmed,
The man you see approaching is fol-
lowing me, but he thinks | have come
to you with a tOOthache."
what do you want?"
ST want your help in joining the in
surrectos."
By this time the detective had come
within earshot. Making an effort at
self-possesSion, the dentist said: ''Very
well. | will meet you at my office in
haIf-hour and see what can be DONE"
| Then ne bowed.
OReilly raised his hat and turned
away.
Doctor Alvarado's dentists chair
faced full-length window, one of sew
eral which, after the Cuban fashion,
opened directly upon the sidewalk, rem
dering both the waiting room and the
office almost as public as the street
itself. Every one of these windows
was wide open when Johnnie arrived :;
but it seemed that the dentist knew
what he was about, for when his pa
tient had taken his seat and he had
begun an examination of the trouble
some tooth, he said, under his breath:
81, too, am watched. Talk to me in
English. When l press, thus, upon
your gum, you will know that someone
is passing. Now, then, what is the
meaning of your amazing message
from Felipe?'
While Doctor Alvarado pretended to
treat a perfectly sound molar, Johnnie
managed, despite frequent Interrupt
tons, to make known the reason and
circumstances of his presence.
But there are no rebels around
here" Alvarado told him. "You could
escape to the country, perhaps, but
what then? Where would you go?
How would they know who you are?"
THAT'S what want to find out"
The Cuban pondered. you'll have
to go to Puerto Principe" he said at
length. "Our men are operating in
that neighborhood, and my brother Ig-
nacio will know how TO reach them.
I'll give you message to him, similar
to the one you brought me from Fee
lipe." Then he smiled. "pve Just
thought of the very thing. Years ago
[ lent him book which l particularly
priced, and one of his children dam
aged it. l was furious. / declared |
would never lend him another, and |
never have. Now then, I'll give you
that very volume; hand it to him and
say that l asked you to return it to
him."
O'Reilly thanked him, promising to
use every precaution in delivering the
message. The next morning he paid
Carbajal's score and took the train
to the interior. In his bag was Tomas