The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-07-12


to 90 on with the couriers."
OReilly accepted eagerly; then
thinking of the girl, he said doubt
fully:
I'm afraid Miss Evans isn't equal
to the trip"
Nonsense! I'm equal to anything" "
Norine declared And indeed she looked
capable enough as she stood there In
her short walking suit and stout boots.
Branch alone declined the invitation,
vOwlng that he was too weak to bulge.
IL there was the faintest prospect OF
riding to the interior he infinitely pre-
ferred TO await the opportunity, he
said, even at the risk Of an attack by
Spanish soldiers In the meantime.
1t took O'Reilly but short time to
collect the few articles necessary for
the trip; indeed, his bundle was so
small that Norine was dismayed.
Cant l take any clothes?" she in
quired in panic. II can't live with
out a change"
1T is something you'll have to
learn" he told her. "An insurrecto
with two shirts is wealthy. Some of
them haven't any"
isn't IT likely to rain on usT"
ITS almost sure to-"
Miss Evans pondered this prospect;
then she laughed. "It must feel fun
n.y." she said.
There were three other members of
the travelling party, men who knew
something of the country round about;
they we're good fighters, doubtless, but
in spit of their shiny new weapons
they esembled 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 martial
appearance as 1t 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 aft:l noon the travellers
came to a farm, the owner of which
was known to one of the guides, and
here a 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 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 ascended, the scenery changed
Rarely Is the Cuban landscape any
thing but pleasing. 1t is smiling
island. 1t has been said, too, that ev
erything In 1t 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 damn
raised dripping walls to the sky; bride
paths skirted ledges that were bolt
and fearsome, or lost themselves ir
gloomy jungles 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 an(
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 a stranger
for the state buildings were huts o.
bark and leaves, the army was uni
formed In rags. Cook fires smolderet
in the open glades; cavalry horses
grazed In the grassy streets, and woot
smoke drifted over them.
The second evening brought O'Reill.
and Miss Evans safely through, and a
news Of the expeditions success {
pack train was made ready to go I,
its assistance Norines letter from tn
New York junta was read, and tn
young woman was warmly welcomed
One of the better huts was vacated 70
her use, and the officers Of the pro
visional government called to pay thei
respects.
There were other Americans In Gu
bitas, as O'Reilly soon discovered. Dur
ing his first inspection OF the villag
he heard himself hailed In his own Ian
guage, and young man In dirt
white trousers and jacket strod
toward him.
welcome to our city!" the strange
cried. I'm Judson, captain Of artil
lery, departments del Oriente; an
you're the fellow who came with tn
quinine lady, aren't your"
O'Reilly acknowledged his identity
and Judson grinned. "Have you me
the old man." he inquired-"Geners
Gomezr
"No; I'd like to meet him."
i "Come along. then; Ill introduc
you."
Gen. Maxine Gomez, father Of pa
triots, bulwark Of the Cuban cause
was seated In q hammock, readin
some letters; O'Reilly recognized hiI
instantly from the many pictures b
had seen. He looked up at Judson
salute and then turned a pair Of bri
liant eyes. az hard as glass, upo
O'Rellly. His was an irascible, bro0t