Judsonia weekly advance., 1918-09-11
CHAPTER xvIl-continued.


 T can't sleep when people are starving to death alongside of me. This money burns my pocket. IT."
 Jacket read his purpose and laid detaining hand upon his arm.
 Tt will save our lives, too." he said simply.
 Bah! We are men. There are women and children yonder-"
 But Jackets sensibilities were cal loused, 1t seemed. "Of what use would your few pesetas be among so many?' he inquired. God has willed this, and he knows what he is doing. Besides, your pretty one is probably as hun gry as these people. No doubt we shall md that she, too, is starving"
 O'Reilly slowly withdrew his hand from his pocket. "Yes! It's Rosa's money. But-come; can't endure this"
 He led the way back to the Plaza of Liberty and there on an iron bench they waited for the full day. They were very tired, but further sleep was Impossible, for the death wagons rumbled by on their way to collect the bodies of those who had died during the night.
 Neither the man nor the boy ever wholly lost the nightmare memory of the next few days, for their search took them into every part of the recon centrado districts. What they beheld aged them. Day after day, from dawn till dark. they wandered, peering into huts, staring into faces, asking ques- lions until they were faint from fatigue and sick from disappointment.
 As time passed and they failed to md Rosa Varona terrible apprehen- sion began to weigh O'Reilly down; his face grew old and drawn his shoulders sagged, his limbs began to drag. It was all that Jacket could do to keep him going. The boy, now that there was actual need of him, proved a per feet jewel; his optimism never failed, his faith never faltered, and O'Reilly began to feel a dumb gratitude at hay ing the youngster by his side.
 Jacket, too, became thin and gray about the lips. But he complained not at all and he laughed great deal To him the morrow was always another day of brilliant promise toward which he looked with never-failing eagerness: and not for single moment did he question the ultimate success of their endeavOr. Such an example did much for the older man. Together they practiced the strictest, harshest econ- omy, living on few cents day, while they methodically searched the city from limit to limit
 At first O'Reilly concerned himself more than little with the problem of escape, but as time wore on he thought less and less about that. Nor did he have occasion to waste further concern regarding his disguise. That 1t was perfect he proved when several of his former acduaintances passed him by and when, upon one occasion. he came face to face with old Don Ma rio de CastanO. Don Mario had changed; he was older, his flesh had softened, and it hung loosely upon his form. He appeared worried, harassed. and O'Reilly recalled rumors that the war had ruined him. The mans air of dejection seemed to bear out the story.
 They had been enemies, nevertheless O'Reilly felt a sudden impulse to make | himself known to the Spaniard and to appeal directly for news of Rosas fate. | But Don Mario, he remembered in time. had reputation for vindictiveness so he smothered the desire. One other | encounter O'Reilly had reason to re- | member.
 It so chanced that one day he and Jacket found themselves in the miser- | able rabble which assembled at the | railroad station to implore aims from | the incoming passengers of the Habana | train. Few people were travelling these | days, and they were, for the most part. Spanish officers to whom the sight of | starving country people was no nov city. Now and then, however, there did | arrive visitors from whom the spec tacle of so much wretchedness wrung a contribution, hence there was al ways an expectant throng at the depot. On this occasion O'Reilly was sur prised to hear the piteous whines for charity in the name of God turn sud- denly into subdued but vicious nut ter of rage. Kisses were intermingIed | with vituperations, then the crowd fell strangely silent, parting to allow the passage of great, thick-set man in the | uniform of colonel of volunteers. The fellow was unusually swarthy and he wore black scOwl upon his face, while a long puckering scar the full length of one cheek lifted his mouth into crooked sheer and left exposed a <xlfr oR Ia-l~ a |