Evening star., 1918-01-06


way up to Yumuri. toward the homo OF
Asensio and EvangelIna: for 1t was
thither that they naturally turned. II was
Wen that they had made haste. for. as
they rode down into the valley. up the
other side of the hill from Matanzas came
a squad OF the Guardia Civil. and at its
head rode Pancho Cueto.
CHAPTER V.
CRY FROM THE WILDERNESS.
New York seemed almost like a for
eign city to Johnnie O'ReliIy when he
stepped out into it on the morning after
his arrival. For one thing it was bleak
and cold: the north wind. hailing direct
from Baftin's bay, had teeth. and it bit so
cruelty that he was glad when he found
shelter in the building which housed the
offices of the Carter Importing Company.
The tropics had thinned OReillys blood,
for the Cuban winds bear a kiss instead
of a sting: therefore he paused in the
lower hallway. 5ostled by the morning
crowds. and tried to warm himself. The
truth is OReliy was not only cold. but
frightened
He was far from weak hearted. In
fact, few O'Reiilys were that. and Johnnie
had an ingrained self-assurance which
but for the winning smile that went with
1t. Wet all the way from Havana he had
seen In his minds eye old Sam Carter
intrenched behind his fat-topped desk,
and that picture had more than once
caused him to forget the carefully re-
hearsed speech in which he intended to
resign his position as employe and his
prospects as a Son-ii-laW.
That desk OF MIR. Car.er's was always
bare and orderly, clearei for action, like
the deck Of "A hattleship, and over it many
engagements had been fought. for the
man behind it never shirked &
conflict. His was vigorous and
irascihle temperament. compounded OF
old fashioned. slow burning black pow
der and nitrogycerfn--a combinations
Of incalculable destructive power. 1t
was periiousiy unstable mixture. too;
at times nothing less than flame
served to ignite it; on other occasions
the office force pussy-footed past car
ter's door on felt soles, and even then
the slightest jar often caused the un-
toward thing to let CO. In either event
there was a deafening roar. much
smoke and deal of damage. OReiliy
felt sure that whatever the condition
Of Mr.. Carter's digestion or the serenity
of his mind at the beginning of their
interview, the news he had to impart
would serve as an effective detonator
after which 1t would be every man for
himself. 1t was not the effect OF his
report concerning the firms unprofit-
able Cuban connections which O'Reilly
feared would cause the decks to heave
and the ship to rock--Sanuel Carter
could take calmly the most disturbing
financial reverse-it was the blow to
his pride at learning that anybody
could .'-efer another girl to his da,ugh-
ter. Johnnie shook his shoulders and
stamped his feet. but the chill in his
bones refused to go.
He did gain courage, however, by
thinking of Rosa Varona he had
last seen her, with arms outstretched
with eyes tear-fflled, with yearning lips
aquiver at his going The picture
warmed him magicaly, and it was
with a restored determinatit n to make
u clean breast of the matter and face
the worst that he took the elevator. ;
The office force of the Carter I'm
porting Company looked up when the
firms Cuban representative entered the
door. but its personnel having changed
as the result of one of those periodical
disruptions that occurred in the inner
office, he was not recognized until he
presented himself to Mr. Slack, Samuel
Carter's private and intimidated sec
retary
Mr. Slack smiled. wanIy. and extended
a clammy, nerTeless hand as cold and
timber as dead fish
You're expected" said he. Mr.
Carter is waiting to see you before
leaving for California
Seeing me won't make his trip any
pleasanter." OReilIy said somberJy
We were afraid you wouldn't get out
of Cuba; thought we might have to
get the American consul at work.
Really? l didn't know I was so i'm
portant."
"oh. you're the Office pet, and well
you know it." Mr.. Slack's pleasantly
was tinged with envy, for he had never
been able to appreciate o'Reilly. Con
ditions are bad. eh ?"
Yes. Anybody can leave" the other
told him: It's getting back that's diff
ficult. The Spaniards don't like us.
and I dare say they have good reason,
with all this talk of Intervention and
surrectos. They held me up in Havana;
tried to prove l was a spy. They were
positively peeved when they failed.
Snippy people. those spaniards."
Wen. III tell Mr.. Carter you're
here. The secretary glided unabstrusively
toward the private office. disappeared.
glided softly into view again. and
waggled a boneless forefinger invit-
lngly. OReil1y went to meet his en-
ployer as a man marches to execution.
His heart sank further at the well
come he received. for the importer gave
him veritable embrace: he patted him
on the back and inquired three times
as to his health. O'Reilly was anv
thing but cold now: he was perspirine
profusely. and he felt his collar growing
limp. Tt shatter this old mans eager
hopes would be like kicking a child
IN the face. Carter had never been
II ~
was something almost theatrical in his
greeting. 1t dismayed O'Reilly i'm
e'ensely to realize what hold he must
nave upon his employers affections.
although the latter had reputation
Tor self-control. he appeared to be in
a perfect futter now. He assumed sr
boisterousness which seemed strained
and wholly out of keeping with the
circumstances. His actions vaguely re-
minded the younger man of an ambline
draft-horse trying to gallop; and when
for the foufth time. Mr. Carter In
CURED solfcftously concerning his Wis
itor's well-being, Johnnie's dismay
turned to amazement. With a heavy
piayfulness Mr.. Carter at length re.
marked:
Well. my hoy, you made a fzzle of
1t. didn't you? The tone was almost
complimentary.
Yes, sir. I'm a bright and shining
failure" O'Reiliy acknowledged. hope
fully.
Now. don't yes, sir. me. We're
friends, aren't we? Good, Understand
l don't blame you in the least-it,s
that idiotic revolution that spoiled our
business. I can't understand those peo-
pie. Lord, you did splendidly under
the circumstances.
'"They have reason enough to revolt
oppression. tyranny. corruption"
O'Reilly mumb1ed the familiar words
in numb paralysis at Mr.. Carters
jovial familiarity.
"A1l Latin countries are corrupt"
announced the mporter-"always have
been and ALWAYS will be- Tbev thrive