The Ordway new era., 1918-11-22
CHAPTER xIv-centlnusd.

we've been talking about fOod,
Leslie Branch advised his commanding
officer. "Aflss Evans Isn't burning
patriot like the rest of us, and SO of
course she can't share our ravenous ap-
petite for beef cooked and eaten on the
hoof."
-sof" Lopez's handsome face cloud
ed. "You are hungry. then?"
Norlne confessed that she was. sf'm
stnrving!" said she. 81 haven't had q
decent meal for q week"
"God be praised know where there
Is goat. not two leagues away!" said
the colonel. l
"But I don't want goat" Norine
complained. 81 want-well, pickles,
and jam. and sardines, and-candy,
and-tooth-powder! Real boarding
house luxuries. I'd just like to rob a
general store"
Lopez furrowed his brows and lost
himself In thought. Later. while the
others were talking he drew Ramos
aside and for while they kept their
heads together; then they invited Jud-
son to Join their council.
When O'Reilly Joined Judson for
supper the latter met him with broad
grin on his face. "Well," said he, "You
can get ready to saddle up when the
moon rises"
what do you meant"
"Th~ colonel took Miss Evans at her
word. We're going to raid San Antonio
de los Banos-two hundred of us-to
get her some pickles, and jam, and
candy. and tooth-powder."
Certain histories of the Cuban War
for Independence speak of "The Bat
tie of San Antonio de los Banos." 1t
is quite n stirring story to read and 1t
has but one fault. fault. by the way,
not uncommon in histories-it is main
ly untrue.
In the first place, the engagement
was In no sense battle, but merely
raid. The number of troops engaged
was. perhaps, one-fifth of the generous
total ascribed by the historians, and
as military maneuver 1t served no
purpose whatsoever. Nevertheless.
since the AFFAIR had direct bearing
upon the fortunes of several people
connected with this story. 1t is. per-
haps, worth relating.
Lopez and his troop approached the
town in the early morning. As they
deployed for the attack the colonel is
sued private instructions to certain
members of his command.
"O.Reilly. you and Senior Branch will
enter one grocery store after another.
You will purchase that jam, those sar-
dimes, and whatever else you think
Miss Evans would like. Captlin Jud-
son. you and Major Ramos will go to
the apothecary shop-I understand
there Is a very good one-and look for
tooth-powder and candy and the like.
shall see that the streets are cleared,
then I shall endeavor to discover some
pickles; but as God Is my Judge,
doubt II there is such a thing this side
of Habana."
Leslie Branch, whose temper had not
improved with the long night ride, in
quired. caustlcally: "Do you expect US
to buy the groceries7 Well, I'm broke,
and SO Is O'Reilly. If you don't give US
some change. colonel. we'll have to
open charge account In your name."
"Caramba |" muttered Lopez. II In
tended to borrow from you gentlemen.
Well, never mind-we1l commander
what we wish In the name of the re-
public"
Lopez attack proved a complete
surprise, both to the citizens and to the
garrison of the town. The rebel bugle
gnve the first warning Of what was
afoot, and before the Castilian troops
who were lettering of duty could re-
gain their quarters, before the citizens
could take cover or the shopkeepers
close and bar their heavy wooden shut
ters, two hundred ragged horsemen
were yelling down the streets.
There followed a typical Cuban en-
gagement-ten shouts to one shot
There was mad charge on the heels
OF the scurrying populace, q scattering
p0p-pop Of rifles. cheers, cries. shrieks
OF defiance and far-fung insults direct
ed at the fortlnas.
O'Reilly. with Branch and Jacket
close at his heels, whirled his horse
into the first bodega he came to. The
store was stocked with general mer-
chandise, but its owner, evidently q
Spaniard, did not tarry to set a price
upon any of 1t. As the three horsemen
came Gathering In at the front he went
flying out at the rear, and, although
O'Reilly called reassuringly after him.
his only answer was the slamming of a
back door, followed by swiftly dimin-
ishing cries of fright.
There was no time to waste. John
ME dismounted and, walking to the
shelves where some imported canned
goods were displayed. he began to se-
iect those delicacies for which he had
been sent. The devoted jacket was at
his side. The little Cuban exercised no
restraint; he seized whatever was most
handy. meanwhile cursing feroclously,
as befltted bloodthirsty bandit. Boys
-. natural xol,hoEr md nj this onnnr,