Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-05-21
CHAPTER VII-Continued.

O'Reilly read the label. tits bit
ters," said he.
"BItters! And 1 asked for yellow
a glass of agwa with yellow" Branch's
voice shook. "Tm dying of a fever
and this lvory-billed toucan brings me
a quart of poison. Bullets" it was
impossible to describe the suggestion
of profanity with which the speaker
colored this innocuous expletive. weak
as l am, l shall gnaw his windpipe."
He barred his teeth suggestively ana
raised two talonlike hands.
The waiter was puzzled but not
alarmed. He embraced himself as his
customer had DONE, and shuddered
then pointing at the bitters, he nodded
encouragingly.
O'ReiIly forestalled an Outburst by
translating his countryman's wants.
''Un vase de aqua con hielo," said he,
and the attendant was all apologies.
$50 you speak the lingo?" marveled
Mr.. Branch. "Well, l cant get the
hang of it. Don't like it. Don't like
anything Spanish. H of a country,
isn't it?-where the ice is yellow and
the butter Is meant to kill you,' and
does"
O'Reilly laughed. you've been
studying a guide book, with complete
glossary of Spanish phrases
Mr.. Branch nodded listlessly. "Pm
supposed to report this insurrection,
but the Spaniards won't let me. They
edit my stuff to suit themselves. I'm
getting tired of the farce"
"Going homer"
Don't dare" The speaker tapped
his concave chest. "Bum lungs.
came down here to shuttle off, and I'm
waiting for it to happen. What brings
you to CubaT
I'm here for my health, too" The
real invalid stared. 81 have rheuma-
tism."
Going to sweat it out, Ell? Well,
there's nothing to do but sweat
Branch was racked by a coughing
spasm that shook his reedy frame
"sweat and cough. Bullets! No mis-
take about that hospital bark, Is
there?" When he had regained his
breath he said: "See here! IN going
to take a chance with you, for 1 like
your looks. My newspaper work is a
bluff l don't send enough stuff to Keep
me alive. 1 came here TO cure my
lungs and-I want you to help me
do IT."
OReilly stared at the man in sur
prise. "How can / help your" he
asked.
by taking me with you"
with me? Where?"
ITO the insurrectos, of course"
The men eyed each other fixedly.
"What makes you think" O'Reilly
began.
"Oh, don't say it I've got bunch !
l don't know what your game is
probably dynamite: there's story
that the rebels have sent for some
American experts to teach them how
to use the stuff, and God knows they
need instruction! Anyhow, / can't
swallow that rheumatism talk. l
thought you might give me lift. Take
me along, will your"
and how would that benefit your
cough?" Johnnie inquired curiously
Mr.. Branch hesitated. "Well, I'll tell
you" he said, after a moment. I'm
afraid to die this way, by inches, and
hours. I'm scared to DEATH" 1t seemed
impossible that the sick mans cheeks
could further blanch, but they became
fairly livid, while a beading of moiS-
ture appeared upon his upper lip.
Heaven! You've no idea how it gets
on a fellows nerves to see himself
MISUNDERSTANDING. I'd like TO end 1t
suddenly, like thatr He voiced the
last sentence abruptly and snapped his
fingers. "Then, too, I'd like to have a
thrill before 1 cash in-taste the salt
of life as somebody expressed it.
That's war. It's the biggest game in
the world What do you think of the
idea?"
Not much" OReilly said honestly.
Difference in temperament. | sup
pose it is a sick fancy, but I've got II.
I'm rotten coward, but I'll fight If
the Cubans will take me"
where are the Cubans?"
"Oh, they're out yonder in the hills.
know all about 'em. Come over to
my quarters, and I'll show you a map,
If you're interested"
"I am" said O'Reilly, and. rising. he
followed his new acquaintance.