Evening star., 1918-01-13

time. and that for us to assist you openly
would be liable to defeat your purpose;
But 1 have Just telephoned to a man L
He has relatives in Cuba and he agrees
to help you if he can His name name
oRelly. epRe "Go faras to him. n e tell him what
you have told me, and do as he directs.
Another thing. don't return here unless
It is necessary: otherwise when you
regret it, Mr.. Enriquez extended his
hand. and when OEeilly tried to thank
him he shook his head. 1T is nothing.
l wish you success. butt fear you have
tackled big proposition
DIR. Alvarado. a high type OF the
Cuban professional man. was expecting
o'Reilly. He listened patiently to his
callers somewhat breathless recital
You do well to avoid the cities where
YOU are known" he agreed. 1T would
be madness, under the circumstances.
even to be seen in MatanzaS: those
enemies of-your friends-would have
you deported. But just how to reach
IF you'd merely give me a letter say
ing I'm a friend--
The doctor promptly negatived this
suggestion. surely you don't think 1t
can be done as easily as that" he in
ouired In the first place, wherever
YOU land, you will be watched and
probably searched Such a letter if
discovered would not only end your
chances. but it would bring certain
disaster upon those to whom 1t was
written l have no right to jeopardize
the lives of those I hold dear. These
are perilous times for all good Cubans
Mr. o'Reilly. Enriquez told me about
that poor girl. She bears a famous
name and--I want to help her. He
removed his glasses and wiped them.
absent mindedly. There are three
Alvarados living" he resumed. My
two brothers, Tomas and 1gnacio, re-
side in Cuba, and we all work for the
cause of independence in our own ways.
l am fortunately situated, but they are
surrounded by dangers. and / must ask
you to be extremely careful in COM
municating with them. for am placing
their lives in your hands and-I love
them dearly
Il shall do exactly as you say
"Very well, then. Go to Neuvitas.
where Thomas lives-there is a steamer
can arrange passage on her He is a
dentist. Meet him, somehow. and make
yourself known by repeating this SEN
tence: come from Felipe. He told
me how you whipped him 10 keep him
from going TO the ten Years war;
That will be enough; he will ask you
who you are and what You want"
II see. It's sort of password"
No. I've never had reason to COM
municate with him in this way Noting
the bewilderment in O'Reilly's face.
Alvarado smiled. You went need to
say anything more. No living soul.
except Tomas and I, knows that he
thrashed me, but it is true. l was
young. l wanted to go to the war. but
he took it out of me with bamboo.
Later we bound ourselves never to men
tion it. He will understand from the
message that I trust you. and he will
thing is possible. But tell me. when
You have found Miss Varona, yShat
then?"
Why. I'll bring her out
How? Do you think you can walk
into any seaport and take ship? You
authorities. Once you disappear into
the manigua, you will be a marked
man.
well. then. I'll marry her right
Don't build too much on that fact,
either" the doctor warned. Spanish
jails are strong. and your country has
never compelled that respect for it's
nationals which other countries insist
upon"
Perhaps! But the first thing is to
find Miss Varona and learn that she's
safe. I don't much care what happens
after that
Alvarado nodded and smiled. Good!
sentiment? 1t loves lover. like
your spirit and hope soon to have the
pleasure of again seeing you and meet
ing your-wife''
whereupon the good Cuban patted him
on the shoulder. Come and see me
when You get back. and bring me news
of Tomas. Now, adios. compadre."
Adios. senior! I am deeply GRATEFUL
o'Reilly had no difficulty in securing
passage direct to Neuvitas on the Eng
lish steamer Dunham Castle, and a
few days later he saw the Atlantic
highlands dissolve into the rnists of a
winter afternoon as the ship headed
outward into q nasty running sea.
1t proved to be a wretched trip. Off
Hatteras the Durham Castle labored
heavily for twelve hours. and bad
weather followed her clear into the old
thrust her nose into the narrow en-
trance of Neuvitas harbor did she
wholly cease her seasick plunging, but
then the weather changed with be-
wildering suddenness.
Cuba. when it came fairly into sight.
lay bathed in golden sunshine, all
warmth and welcome, like bride upon
an azure couch. The moist breath
from her fragrant shores swept over
O'Reilly shifted it joyfully.
He had brought little luggage with
him. only an extra suit of khaki. a few
toilet articles. and a Colts revolver,
the companion of his earlier Cuban
days. He was holding the weapon in
his hand, debating how and where to
conceal it, when the first officer paused
in the stateroom door and, spying it,
exclaimed:
Hello! Smuggling arms to the in
surrectos. ehT'
O'Reilly laughed. TITS an old friend
I don't know just what to do with it,"
It'll tell you" the mate volunteered.
Lead your old friend out here to the
rail. shake hands with him, and drop
him overheard before he gets you into
trouble"
Really"
81 mean it. They won't let you land
with that hardware. Take my tip."
But Johnnie hesitated. Though his
intentions were far from warlike, he
could not bring himself, in view of his
secret plans. to part with his only
weapon. He examined his extra pair
of khaki trousers. and discovered a
considerable surplus of cloth at each
inside seam, he took needle and thread
and managed to sew the gun in SO that
it hung close against the inside of his
right leg when he donned the garment.
did not appear to be noticeable SO long
as he stood upright. With some pride in
his stratagem, he laid off his winter
suit and changed into lighter clothing
Neuvitas was scorching under a
midday sun when he came on deck Its
low, square houses were glaring white.
here and there a splotch of vivid Cuban
blue stood out: the rickety. wront-eaten
piling of its water front resembled
rows of rotten. snaggly teeth smiling
out of a chalky face notified with un-
healthy. artificial spots of color Gusts
of wind from the shore brought feverish
odOrS, as if the city were sick and ey