The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-08-08
Isn't it likely to rain on us7"

tHey were SOO0 nghteFS, 0OuDJIeSS, DuI
In spite Of their shiny new weapons
they resembled soldiers even less than
did their major. All were dressed as
they had been when they left New
York; one even wore a derby hat and
pointed patent-leather shoes. Never
theless Norine Evans thought the little
cavalcade presented quite a martial
appearance as it filed away into the
jungle.
The first few miles were trying, for
the coast was swampy and thickly
grown up to underbrush; but in time
the jungle gave place to higher timber
and to open Savannas deep in guinea
grass. Soon after noon the travellers
came to farm, the owner of which
was known to one of the guides, and
here stop was made in order to Sc
cure horses and food.
Johnnie, who was badly tagged from
the previous nights work, found a
shady spot and stretched himself out
for q nap.
The shade was grateful. O'Reilly
enjoyed his sleep.
The party had penetrated to the foot
hills of the Sierra de Cubitas, and as
| they assembled, the scenery changed.
Rarely is the Cuban landscape any
thing but pleasing. It is a smiling
| island. 1t has been said, too, that ev-
erything in it is friendly to man: the
people are amiable, warm-hearted; the
very animals and insects are harmless.
But here in the Cubitas range all was
different. The land was stern and for
| bidding: canyons deep and damp
raised dripping walls to the sky; bride
paths skirted Lodges that were bold
and fearsome, or lost themselves in
gloomy jungIes as nOisome as Spanish
| dungeons. Hidden away in these fast
nesses, the rebel government had es-
| tablished its capital. Here, safe from
surprise, the soldiers of Gomez and
Maceo and Garcia rested between at
tacks, nursing their wounded and re-
cruiting their strength for further sal
| lies.
| 1t was a strange seat of govern
ment-no nation ever had q stranger
for the state buildings were huts of
bark and leaves, the army was uni
formed in rags. Cook fires smoldered
in the open glades; cavalry horses
!
smoke drifted over them.
The second evening brought O'ReiIly
| and Miss Evans safely through, and at
news of the expeditions success a
pack train was made ready to go to
its assistance. Norine's letter from the
! New York junta was read, and the
young woman was warmly welcomed.
| One of the better huts was vacated for
her use, and the officers of the pro-
visional government called to pay their
respects.
There were other Americans in Gu
bitas, as O'Reilly soon discovered. Dur
| ing his first inspection OF the village
he heard himself hailed in his own Ian
| guage, and a young man In dirty
white trousers and jacket strobe
toward him.
welcome to our ethyl" the stranger
cried. "Tm Judson, captain OF artil-
lery, Department. del Oriente; and
you're the fellow who came with the
qufnine lady, aren't your"
O'Reilly acknowledged his identity,
and Judson grinned. "Have you met
the old man." he inquired-''General
GomezF"
mo; I'd like to meet him."
"Come along, then; I'll introduce
you"
Gen. Maxine Gomez, father of pa
triots, bulwark of the Cuban cause,
was. seated in a hammock, reading
some letters; O'Reilly recognized him
instantly from the many pictures he
had seen. He looked up at Judson's
salute and then turned a pair Of bril-
liant eyes, as hard as glass, upon
| O'Rei1ly. His was an irascible, brood
| ing face; 1t had in 1t something of the
Sternness, the exalted detachment, Of
the eagle, and O'Reilly gained hint Of
the personality behind 1t. Maxine
Gomez was counted one of the worlds
ablest guerrilla leaders; and indeed
1t had required the QuenchIess enthu-
siasm of a real military genius to fuse
into a homogeneous fighting force the
ilI-assorted rabble of nondescripts
whom Gomez led, to school them to
privation and to render them sufficient
Iy mobile to defy successfully ten
times their number OF trained troops.
This. however, was precisely what the
old Porto Ricsn had done, and In doing
it he had won the admiration of mill
tary students.
With a bluntness not unkind he
asked O'ReiIIy what had brought him
to Cuba.
When O'Reiny explained the reason
for his presence the old fighter nod
ded-
"Sof You wish to go west, chr"
Eyes, sir. want to find Colonel
Lopez"
lopez Miguel lopez" the gen
eral inquired quickly. swell, you won't
have to look far for him. General
Gomez leathery countenance Hghtened
Into a smile. He happens to be right
here IN Cubitas." Calling Judson to
him, he said: amigo, take Mr.. O'ReIIIy
to Colonel Lopez; you viii find him
somewhere about am s0rry we are
not to have this young fellow for &
soldier; he looks Ike q real man and
quite equal 70 I've Quintos. eh7"
II was ths habit OF the Cubans to
refer to their enemies as quintos-
the fifth part Of q mani With a wave
OK his hand Gomez returned to his