The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-08-29

visibIy excited; he waved and shouted
at them. He was painting when he ar
rived
News! From Matanzas - he cried.
Gomez man has arrived"
ESteban struggled to rise, but No
rine restrained him. ROSA? What
does he say? QuickE'
Good news! 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. It 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.
'tShe's alive. Oh, can't you see that it
always pays to believe the best?"
"AIivel Safer Esteban whispered.
His eyes, when he opened them, were
swimming; he clutched NOrfne's hand
tightly his other hand he extended to
O'Reilly. "a reconcentrado! In Ma
tanzas! Well, that's good. We have
friends there-theyTl not let her
See. I'm strong again. I'll go to her."
You'll go?" quickly cried Miss
Evans. you'll gol You're not strong
enough. It would be suicide. You.
with price upon your head! Every
body knows you there. Matanzas is
virtually walled city. There's sick
ness, too-yellow fever. typhus-"
Exactly And hunger also. sup
pose no one has taken Rosa in? Those
concentration camps aren't nice places
for Il girl"
"But watt I 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 MatanZaS," Norine faltered /;
her voice caught unexpectedly and she
turned her face away.
O'Reilly nodded shortly. you're a
sick man." he agreed. There's no need
for both of US to CO."
Esteban looked up. ''Then you"
81 leave at once. The Old Man has
given me a commission to General Be
tancourt, and I'll be on my way in an
hour. The moon is young; I must
cross the trocha before"
"That trocha % Esteban was up on
| his elbow again. 'FBe careful there,
! O'ReiIly. They keep a sharp lookout,
and it's guarded with barbed wire. Be
sure you cut every strand. Yes, and
muff1e your horses hoofs, too, in cross
| ing the railroad track. That's how we
were detected. PablO's horse struck
rail, land they fired at the sound. He
fell at the first volley, riddled. Oh,
know that trocha !"
o. the trocha ~ O'Reilly ex-
claimed. "At last I've got chance to
waited"
Esteban drew O'Reilly's tense form
down and embraced his friend, after
| the fashion of his people. ''She has
been waiting, too" he said, huskiIy.
1--WE Varonas are good walters, O'ReiI-
~. Rosa will never cease waiting un-
til you come. Tell her, for me"
Norine withdrew softly out of ear
shot. There were a lump in her throat
and pain in her breast. She had &C.
quired a peculiar and affectionate In
terest in this unhappy girl whom she
had never seen, and she had learned tC
respect O'ReiIly's love. The yearning
that had pulsed in his voice a moment
before had stirred her deeply; it awoke
a throb in her own bosom, for O'Reilly
was dear to her. The pacificos, accord
ing to all reports, were dying like flies
in the prison camps. Norine wondered
if there might not be a terrible heart
ache at the end of O'Reilly's quest
Her face was grave and worried when
hearing him speak to her, she turned
to take his Outstretched hand.
you will be careful, won't your
she implored. "And you'll be stout O.
heart, no matter what occurs?''
He nodded. Its a long way bacl
here to Cubitas. You may not see o
hear from me again"
'I understand" She choked miser
ably. you mean you may not COM
back Oh, Johnnie!"
''Tut, tutI We O'ReilIys have NOR
lives than a litter Of cats. I mean
may not see you until the war is owe
and we meet in New York. Well, we'v
been good pals, and-Pm glad yo1
came to Cuba" His grasp upon he
two hands was painful.
''You must go. know. and wOuldn'
try to keep you, but" Norine faltereC
then impu1sively she drew him dow
and kissed him full upon the lips. ''Fo
Rosa rs she whispered. Her eyes wer
: shining as she watched him pass swift
: ly out of sight.