Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-05-28


with his long, murderous machete,
but the next instant he was engaged
with a trooper who had fired almost
In his face.
Cobo's men, led by the terrified Pan
cho Cueto, turned and fled for cover,
believing themselves in danger of an
Inhalation. Nor was the colonel him
self in any condition to rally them,
for Asensio's blade had cloven one
full dark cheek to the bone, and the
shock and pain had unnerved him.
The field was small, the jungle was
close at hand. A moment and the in
terlopers had vanished into it, all but
one, who lay kicking among the broad
malanga leaves, and over whom Assem-
sio kept squirting his terrified horse,
hacking downward with insane fury.
This was the first hand-to-hand en-
counter Esteban's men had had. and
their swift victory rendered them fero-
cious. Flinging their guns aside, they
went crashing into the brush on the
trail of their enemies.
hOSd lOullu III ueI .
arms, sobbing out the story of the out
rage and quivering at every sound of
the chase. He was caressing her, and
telling her to have no further fears;
both of them were fairly hysterical.
Evangelina, thanks to her thick skull,
was not dead. In the course of time
under Rosa's and Esteban's ministra-
tons she regained her senses, and
when the other men returned they
found her lying sick and dazed, but
otherwise quite whole.
Then, there beside the ruins of the
hut, was a strange scene of rejoicing.
Asensio recovered now from his burst
of savagery, was fearful, compassion
ate; his comrades laughed and chat
tered and Dragged about their prodig-
ious deeds of valor. Over and over
they recOunted their versions of the
encounter, each more fanciful than the
other, until it seemed that they must
have left the forest filed with corpses.
Esteban was grave. He had heard
of Colonel Cobo, and, remembering
that denim-clad figure ont yonder in
the trampled garden, he knew that Sc
riOus consequences would follow. The
volunteers were revengeful; their
colonel was not the sort of man to
forgive a deep humiliation. Doubt
less he would put a price upon the
heads of all of them and certainly he
would never allow ths.m another en-
y1TNfC ~
terms. Then, too, the narrowness of
Rosa's escape caused the boys heart
to dissolve with terror.
After a conference With Asensio he
decided that they must prepare for
flight, and late that afternoon they all
set out to seek a safer refuge, Evange-
lima in tears at leaving her precious
garden plot. Their led horse, one of
those Lorenzo had captured, carried
pitifully light burden-only some
tools, some pans and kettles, and roll
of charred bedclothes.
Johnnie O'Reilly had no difficulty in
locating the residence of Ignacio Alva-
RADIO, but to communicate with him
was quite another matter, inasmuch
as his every step was logged by that
persistent shadow from Nuevitas.
One evening, several days after his
arrival, a sudden rain storm drove
O'Reilly indoors, and as he assembled
to his room he saw that the lamp in
the hallway flared and smoked at ev-
cry gust of wind. 1t was very dark
outside; he reasoned that the streets
that book which Alvarado, the dentist,
had given him, he took a position close
inside his door. When he heard the
spy pass and enter the next chamber
he stole out into the hall and breathed
into the lamp chimney. A moment
later he was safely through the win
dow and was working his way down
the shed roof, praying that his move
ments had not been seen and that the
tiles were firm. He nimbly scaled the
wall, crossed an Enclosure, climbed a
second wall, and descended into a dark
side street. Taking advantage of the
densest shadows and the numerous
overhanging balconies, he set out at
brisk trOt.
A light showed through the barred
windows Of the Alvarado home, indi-
eating that the family was in. After
some fumbling O'Reilly laid hold of
the latch; then, without knocking, he
opened the front door and stepped in.
His sudden appearance threw the
occupants into alarm: q woman cried
out sharply; a man whom O'Reilly
identified as Ignacio Alvarado himself
leaped to his feet and faced him, ex-
claiming:
"Who are your"
"Im a friend. Don't be alarmed"
Johnnie summoned his most agreeable
smile, then he extended the sodden
package he had carried beneath his
arm. 81 come from your brother
Tomas. He asked me to hand you
this book and 10 say that he is return
ing it with his. thanks"
What are you saying?" Plainly the
speaker did not comprehend; there
was nothing but apprehension In his
voice.
O'Reilly tore the wet paper from the
volume and laie 1t in Alvarado's hand.
Look at it, please, and you'll under
stand. 1 didn't take time to knock, for
fear might bG followed"
Alvarado stared first at the book,
then at his caller. After moment he
made a sign to his wife, who left the
ROOM Wetting his lips, he inquired,
with an effort, what do you want?"
O'Reilly told him in few words.
Alvarado showed relief; he even
smiled. 81 see, but-Caramba You
gave me start. And this book Ha!
Tomas will have his jokes. 1t is well
you took precautions, for I am under
surveillance. I'll help you, yesi But
you must not come here again. Return
to your hotel and Let me think"
Senior Alvarado frovned In deepest