Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-07-19
CHAPTER Vn--Continued.

a glass Of agwa with yellow" Branch's
voice shook. "Tm dying Of a fever,
and this ivory-billed toucan brings me
q quart Of poison. Bulletsw 1t was
impossible to describe the suggestion
Of profanity with which the speaker
colored this %innocuous expletive. "Weak
as I am, l shall gnaw his windpipe."
He barred his teeth suggestively and
raised two talohlike hands.
The waiter was puzzled but not
alarmed. He embraced himself as his
customer had done, and shuddered !;
then pointing at the bitters, he nodded
encouragingly.
O'Reilly forestalled an outburst by
translating his c~ountryman's wants.
"Un VASE de aqua con hiefo," said he,
and the attendant vas all apologies.
$50 you speak the lingo" marveled
Mr.. Branch. "Well, / can't get the
hang Of 1t. Don't like 1t. Don't like
anything Spanish. HI Of a country,
isn't it?-where the ice is yellow and
the butter is meant to kill you,' and
does"
O'Reilly laughed. you've been
studying a guide book, with complete
glossary Of Spanish phrases :"
Mr.. Branch nodded listlessly. "I'm
supposed to report this instruction,
but, the Spaniards won't let me. They
edit my stuff to suit themselves. I'm
getting tired Of the farce"
"Going homer"
.Jon't dare" The speaker tapped
his concave chest. "Bum lungs. I
came down here to shuttle off, and I'm
waiting for 1t to happen. What brings
you to Cubar"
Pm here for my health, too" The
real invalid stared. ~ have rheuma-
tism."
Going to sweat 1t out, Ell? Well,
there's nothing to do but sweat
Branch was racked by a coughing
spasm that shook his reedy frame
sweat and cough. Bullets! No mis-,
take about that hospital bark, is
there" When he had regained his
breath he said: "See here! I'm going
to take a chance with you, for / like
your looks. My newspaper work is a
bluff I don't send enough stuff to keep
me alive. L came here to cure my
lungs, and-I want you to help me
do It."
OReilly stared at the man In sur
prise. "How can l help your he
asked.
by taking me with you."
with me? Where"
ITO the insurrectos, of course"
The men eyed each other fixedly.
"What makes you think" O'Reilly
began.
"Oh, don't say It'll I've got a bunch
l don't know what your game is
probably dynamite: there's a story
that the rebels have sent for some
American experts to teach them how
to use the stuff, and God knows they
need instruction! Anyhow, / can't
swallow that rheumatism talk. l
thought you might give me a lift. Take
me along, will you"
"And how would that benefit your
coughT Johnnie inquired curiously.
Mr.. Branch hesitated. swell, TIL tell
you" he said, after q moment. SIN
afraid to die this way, by inches, and
hours. I'm scared to DEATH" 1t seemed
impossible that the sick mans cheeks \
could further blanch, but they became
fairly livid, while a beading Of mois-
ture appeared upon his upper lip.
Heaven! You've no idea how 1t gets
on n fellows nerves to see himself
slipping-slipping. I'd like to end 1t
suddenly, like that" He voiced the
last sentence abruptly and snapped his |
fingers. "Then, too, I'd like to have a
thrill before I cash in--taste the salt |
of tife,' as somebody expressed 1t.
That's war. It's the biggest game in |
thu world. What do you think Of the
idea?"
"NCt much" O'Reilly said honestly. |
Difference in temperament. I sup
pose II Is a sick fancy, but I've got 1t.
I'm a rotten coward, but I'll fight If
the Cubans will take me-"
"Whare are the Cubans?" 4
"Oh, they're out yonder in the iHis.
I kAoR all ahsvas 'em. Come ever b.