The Ordway new era., 1918-10-25

to be a far greater menace to the In
terests of my country than-well. than
score of dynamite experts. I believe
you are a writer
The American smiled. Are writers
such dangerous peOple?"
"That altogether depends upon cir
cumstnnces. The United States Is in
clined to recognize the belligerercy of
these Cuban rebels. and her relations
with Spain are becoming daily more
strained; ill-feellng grows. and NIL be-
cause of the exaggerations. the men
dacities. that have gone forth from
here to your newspapers. We are de-
termined to put down this uprising
In our own way; we VIII tolerate no
foreign interference. War is never a
pleasant thing. but you journalists
have magnified Its horrors and mis-
represented the cause OF Spain until
you threaten to bring on another and
more horrible combat. Now, then
you understand what 1 mean when I
say that you are more dangerous than
powder expert; that your pen can
do more injury, can cause the death
of more Spanish troops than could a
regiment of Americans with dynamite.
Your English friend makes no secret
Of his business, SO we shall escort him
to Neuvitas and see him safely out of
the country, once for ALL"
''And yet you permit me to remain?"
Johnnie was surprised.
''For the present, yes! That is my
official message to you. Privately,
however'-the speaker eyed o'Reilly
with disconcerting expression-'I
would like to warn you. You are
bright fellow, and you have a way with
you-there's no denying 1t. Under
other conditions It would be a pleas
ure to know you better. It grieves me.
therefore, to warn you that your fur
ther stay in Cuba will not be-pleas-
ant. l almost regret that there is no
conclusive evidence against you; 1t
would SO simplify matters. Come. now.
hadn't you better acknowledge that
have guessed your secretY'
O'Reilly's perplexity was changing
to dismay. for It seemed to him he
was being played with; nevertheless.
lie shook his head. II would only be
decelving you. sir" he said.
General Antuna sighed. "Then /
| see embarrassment ahead for both of
u.s."
More arrests7"
MOT necessarily. Understand me.
speak as one gentleman to another,
| but-yOu must have Hoticed that Amer
leans are unpopular with our troops.
Eh2 They are impuisive, these troop
ers; accidents cannot be prevented.
| Suppose something should happen to
you? There is the trouble. You came
| to Cuba to enjoy its climate; you can
| not be expected to remain indoors. OF
course not. Well! Among our SOL
diers are many new recruits, patriotic.
enthusiastic young fellows. but-care-
less. They are wretchedly unprofcient
marksmen. and they haven't learned
| the danger of promiscuOus rife fire.
They are forever shooting ut things.
merely to score hit. Would you be-
lieve 1t? Oh, have to discipline them
| frequently. To think of you being
abroad through the streets, therefore.
worries me intensely. Suppose you
should be found dead some day. I'm
agine my feelings" The speakers
tone and expression were eloquent Of
concern. "How could 1 fix the respon-
sibility7"
by having me followed. as usual.
l dare say" O'Reilly said bitterly.
"Oh, you will of course be shadowed
day and night; In fact, to be quite sure
of your-er-safety, / shall ask you to
permit one of my men to accompany
you everywhere and even to share your
room. We shall try never to lose sight
of you. depend upon 1t. wish you
could find another climate equally ben
eficial to your rheumatism. 1t would
lift great load from my mind" The
speaker paused hopefully; that same
sardonic flicker was on his lips.
Johnnie could not summon an an
swering smile, for his heart was like
lead. He realized now the utter fulfil
ity of resistance: he knew that to
remain In Puerto Principe after this
thinly yelled warning would be to
court destruction-and destruction of
shocking character against which II
] would be impossible to guard. After