The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-09-27

on q lOOking-glaSS. Goodness How
hate a sneering skeptic. . wet blanket
O'Reilly s with n arm shielding
his face. I'm the interest OF friend
ship, I withdraw. A curse on these
buried treasures, anyhow. We shall
yet come to blows"
As he walked away he heard Norine
say: Don't pay any attention to him.
Wen go and dig 1t up ourselves, and
we won't walt until the war is over"
An hour later Esteban and his nurse
still had their heads together. They
were still talking Of golden ingots and
pearls from the Caribbean the size Of
plums when they looked up to see
O'Reilly running toward them. He was
visibly excited; he waved and shouted
at them. He was painting when he ar
rived.
"Newsl From Matanzas!" he cried.
Gomez man has arrived"
Esteban struggled to rise, but No
rine restrained him. "Rosa1 What
does he say7 Quickl"
"Good newsl She left the Pan de
Matanzas with the two negroes. She
went into the city before Cobo's raid"
Esteban collapsed Imply. He closed
his eyes. his face was very white. He
crossed himself weakly.
1.-THE letter is definite. 1t seems they
were starving. They obeyed Weyler's
bando. They're in Matanzas now"
do You hear, Esteban?' Norine
shook her patient by the shoulder.
shes alive. Oh. can't you see that 1t
always pays to believe the best1"
"Alivei Safe!" Esteban whispered.
His eyes. when he opened them, were
swimming; he clutched Norine's hand
tightly his other hand he extended to
O'Reilly. "A reconcentradol In Ma
tanzasl Well, that's good. We have
friends there-theyM not let her
starve. This makes a new man Of me.
Seel I'm strong again. I'll 60 to her"
you'll got" quickly cried Miss
Evans. you'll gol You're not strong
enough. It would be suicide. You.
with q price upon your head! Every
body knows you there. Matanzas Is
virtually a walled city. There's sick
ness. too-yellow fever, typhus-"
Exactly. And hunger. also. / sup
pose nc one has taken Rosa In? Those
concentration camps aren't nice places
FOR q girl"
sBut waitl / have friends IN Wash
ington. They're Influential. They will
cable the American consul to look after
her. Anyhow. you mustn't think Of re-
turning to Matanxas," Norine faltered ;
her voice caught Unexpectedly and she
turned her face away.
OyReilly nodded shortly. @You're a
sdck man." he agreed. There's no need
for both Of us to Co."
Esteban looked up. sThen you"
u leave at once. The Old Man has
given 10 . commission to General Be
tancourt, and I'll be on my way In an
hour: The moon II young; I must
cross the trocha before"
'4That trocha r. Esteban was up on
his elbow again. BE careful there,
O'Reilly. They keep q sharp lookout,
and It's guarded with barbed wire. Be
sure you cut every strand. Yes, and
mufne your horses hoofs, too, In cross
ing the railroad track. That's how we
were detected. Pabloss horse struck
! rail, and they fred at the sound. He
fell at the nrst volley, riddled. Oh, I
know that troeha!"
d the trochars orally ex-
claimed. AT last I've got . chance to
do something. 0odl How long I've
waited"
Esteban drew oyReilly,s tense form
down and embraced his friend. after
The faahion of his people. .She has
been waiting. too 10 said, huskily.
we varonas are good walters, OyReil-
y. Roea win never cease waiting m
u Jon come. Ten her. Tor mo"
Norins withdrew softly out Of ear.
shOk There were lump II her throat
and = pain In her breast. She Mad &C.
Quired Z peculiar and a6ectionate In
terest II this unhappy Gin whom she
had never seen, and she had learned to
respect O'Reilly's love. The yearniDg
that had pulsed n his voice . moment
before had stirred her deeply It awoke
: throb n her own bosom. for OrReflly
was dear to her. The paci1cos. accord
ing 70 III reports. were dying like flies
n the prison campsL Norine wondered
e there might not be . terrible heart
ache u the end Of OReilly's questf
Her face was grave and worried when,
hearing him speak to her. she turned
- take his outstretched hand
sYoa win b careful. won't you3'
she implored. "And yourl be stout Of
heark, 10 matter what occursf'
He nodded. Its . long way back
here 70 Cubitas. Ton may not zee or
hear from me again."
q understand" She choked miaer~
ably. sYou mean you may not come
bach. on. Johnnie I"
INT. tutl We O'Reillys have more
ltves than ! litter Of cats. I mean /
may not nj ron until the war IL over