Mexico Missouri message., 1918-07-18
CHAPTER xIV-contlnued.

IL
~we've been talking about food"
Leslie Braach advised his commanding
officer. ''AGiss Eyans isn't a burning
patriot iII1e the rest Of us. and SO OF
course she can't share our ravenous ap-
petife for beef cooked and eaten on the
hoaf."
~S0T' Lopez's handsome face cloud
ed. ''You are; hungry, thenr
Ncrine confessed thai, she was. "Tm
cstarvlng!~ said she. 'T haven't had
,Sseeent. usesI fcr "a week.
"rGOd be praisedF know where there
SIS goat. not tive leagues away!" said
cthe colonel.
"But I don't want a goat" Norlne
complained. 'T wRht-welI, pickles,
and fam, and sardines, and-candy,
1and--tooth-powderl Real boarding
house iuxuries. ia Just like to rob
aEenernl store"
Lopez furrOwed his brows md lost
himself Ia thought Later, while the
others were talking, he drew Ramos
aside and for q while they kept their
heads together; then they invited Jud-
son 70 Join their council.
When O'ReilIy Jelned Judson for
supper the latter met him with broad
grin on his face. 'Weli," said he. "You
can get ready to saddle up when the
RReo3 RISES
"What do you mcanr
''The colonel took Miss Evans at her
-wsCf. We're going to raid San Antonio
de los Banos-tws hundred of us-to
get her some pickles, and jam, and
candy. and tooth-powder."
Certain histories Of the Cuban War
fer Independence speak OF "The Bat
tie Of San Antonio de- los BanOs." 1t
1s quite a stirring story to read and 1t
has but one fault. fault. by the way,
not uncommon I'm hIsteries-lt is main
1y untrue.
In the first place, the engagement
was in no sense q battle, but merely
raid. The number of troops engaged
was, perhaps, one-Afth Of the generous
total ascribed by the historians. and
aas q military naneuver 1t served no
purpose whatsoever. Nevertheless,
since the affair had a direct bearing
upon the fortunes Of several people
connected with this story, It is, per-
maps, worth relating.
Lopez and his troop approached the
town In the early morning. AS they
s3epIoyed for the attack the colonel is
sued private instructions to certain
members of his command.
"O'RcliIy, you and Senor Branch will
enter one grocery store after another.
You VIII purchase that jam, those sar-
dimes, and whatever else you think
MISS Evans would like. Captain Jud-
son, you and Major Ramos will go to
Hhe apOthecary shop-I understand
there is a very good one-and look for
eSOth-pOwder and candy and the like.
shall see that the streets are cleared,
then shall endeavor TO discover some
pickles; but as God is my judge, 1
doubt II there is such thing this side
OF Habana."
Leslie Branch, whose temper had not
improved with the long night ride, in
'a4ulred, caustlcaiiy: do you expect us
to buy the grocerles1 Well. I'm broke,
snd so is 0'Reiliy. If you don't give us
some change, colonel, we'll have to
open a charge account In your name."
''CarambaI" muttered Lopez. 81 In
tended to borrow from you gentlemen.
Well, never mlnd-well commanders
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
gave the first warning of what was
afoOt, and before the CastilIan troops
VSEhO were lettering or duty could re.
Isatn their quarters. before the citizens
could take cover or the shopkeepers
close and bnr their heavy wooden shut
1eers, two hundred ragged horsemer
were yelling down the streets.
There followed typical Cuban en-
gaeement--ten shouts to one shot
There was a mad charge on the heels
.Sf the scurrylng populace. scattering
tpoDDop OF rifles, cheers, cries, shriekS
af defiance and far-fung insults direct
ed at the fortlnas.
O'RelIly, with Branch and JACKIE
SSoSe at his heels. yhlrled his horsI
sKntO the first bodega he came to. TIL,
ust0re was stocked with general mer
SchaRdIse, but Its owner. evidently
Spanlard. did not tarry to set prlc
.a1on any Of It. AS the three horsemel
Nca1ae Gathering in at the front ne wen
rztylng out at the rear. and, although
S0'Rellly called reassurIngly after him
MS oelIy answer was the sinmmlng of
Back door. followed by swiftly dlmin
asAing cries Of fright.
There was no time to waste. John
zaie disRounted and, walking to tn
aEhelves where some imported canne
goods were displayed. he began to sc
aeet those delIeacies for which he ma
beeR sent. The devoted Jacket was q
LAls side. The little Cuban exercised n
5xe6fraint; he seized whatever was mos