Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-08-08

w - AN Ia
tended a limp, dirty hand, and replied
to O'Reilly's parting words with a
careless "Adios!"
In hurt surprise the former inquired,
"Bon't we part good frlendsY
"Sure" Jacket shrugged, then
turned away.
Jacket was a likable youngster; his
devotion was thoroughly unselish; it
lad not been easy to wound him. With
seener regrets than he cared to &C.
knowledge O'Reilly set out upon his
journey, following the guide whom
General B%etancourt had provided.
1t was a lovely morning, sufficiently
warm to promise a hot midday; the
air was moist and fresh from a recent
shower. This being the rainy season,
he trails were soft, and where the rich
red Cuban soil vas exposed the trav-
elers sank into it as into wet putty.
Crossing a rocky ridge, O'Reilly and
his guide at last emerged upon an
open slope, knee-high in grass and
grown up to bottle palms, those queer,
distorted trees whose trunks are swol-
en- into the likeness of earthen water
jars. Scattered here and there over
he meadows were the dead or fallen
trunks Of another variety, the cabbage
palm, the green heart Of which had
long formed q staple article Of diet for
the insurrectos. Spanish axes had
been at work here and not a single
tree remained alive. The green floor
Of the valley farther down was dotted
with the other, the royal kind, that
monarch of tropic vegetation which
Lends to the Cuban landscape it's pc
culiar and distinctive beauty.
"Yonder is the camino," said the
countryman, pointing into the valley;
ut will lead you to the main road;
and there'-he turned to the north
ward-'is Matanzas. Go with God,
and don't drink the we'll water, which
is polluted from the rains" With a
smile and a wave Of the hand the man
turned back and plunged into the
Jungle.
AS O'Reilly descended the slope he
realized keenly that he was alone and
in hostile territory. The hills and the
woods from Pinar del Rio to Oriente
were Cuban, or, at most, they were
disputed ground. But here in the
plains and valleys near the cities Spain
was supreme. From this moment on
O'Reilly knew he must rely entirely
upon himself. The success Of his en-
terprise-his very life-hinged upon
his caution, his powers Of dissimula-
ton, his ability to pass as a harmless,
helpless pacifco. 1t gave him an un-
accustomed thrill, by no means pleas.
ant. , .-.~~.~4~ ~-.,.,~-.
The road, when he came to it, proved
to be a deep gutter winding between
red clay banks cut by the high wheels
Of clumsy cane carts. Inasmuch as NO
crops whatever had been moved owe
the road during the past season, it was
now little more than an oozy, sticky
rut. Not a roof, not a chimney was in
sight; the valley was deserted. Here
was a fertile farming country-and yet
no living thing, no sound Of bells, nc
voices, no growing cocks, no lowing
cattle. 1t was depressing to O'Reilly
and more, for there was something
menacing and threatening about it all
Toward noon the breeze lessened
and it became insufferably hot. A
bank Of clouds in the east promised q
cooling shower, so Johnnie sought the
nearest shade to wait for it, and took
advantage Of the delay to eat his slen'
der lunch. He was m%editatively MUNICH
ing a sweet potato when a sound al
his back caused him to leap to his fee
In alarm. He whirled, then uttered
an exclamation Of amaZement. Seated
not fifty feet away was a bare-legget
boy, similarly engaged in eating {
sweet potato. 1t was Jacket. Hi.
brown cheeks were distended, hi
bright, inquisitive eyes were fixed upo1
O'Reilly from beneath a defiant scowl
"Jacket" cried the man. sFWhat thu
devil are you doing here?'
"You goin' to let me come along2
challenged the intruder.
$50! You followed me, after I sail
I didn't want you?" O'Reilly spoke re
proachfully; but reproaches had n,
effect upon the Lad. With a mild e1
pletive, Jacket signi1ed his contempt
for such a weak, form Of persuasion.
"See here, now" .O'Reilly stepped
closer. Lets be sensible about this
But Jacket scrambled to his feet and
retreated warily, stufing the uneaten
portion Of the sweet potato into his
mouth. 1t was plain that he had NO
confidence in O'Reilly's intentions
Muttering something in a mufled
voice, he armed himself with a stout
stick.
"Come here" commanded the Ameri.
can.
Jacket shook his head. He made
a painful attempt to swallow, and
when his utterance became more dis
tinct he consigned his idol to a warmer
place than Cuba.
I'm a tough KID" he declared.
Don't get gay on me-"