The Washington herald., 1919-12-07

dismounted and. walking to the
shelves where some imported canned
goods were displayed. he began to
select those delicacies for which he
had been sent. The devoted jacket
was at his side. The little Cuban ex-
ercised no restraint; he seized what
ever was most handy, meanwhile ours
ing ferociously. as befitted q blood
thirsty bandit. Boys are natural rob-
bers, and at this opportunity for loot
Jackets soul famed savagely and he
swept the shelves bare as he went.
Hey. Leslie! Get something to
carry this stun in." O'Reilly directed
over his shoulder. Receiving only
muttered reply. he turned to find that
his fellow-countryman had cut down
a string OF perhaps two dozen large
straw sombreros and was attempting
to select one that fitted his head.
"Oh. look" Branch murmured.
Forty dollars worth OF lids. but-all
too small. They must have been made
on the head Of a cane"
Take the whole string. but get US
something to wrap UP this grub in.
Hurryi"
spurred by o'Reilly's tone and by
lively rattle Of rife shots outside.
Leslie disappeared into the living
quarters at the back of the store. A
moment later he emerged with q
huge armful OF bedclotkes, evidently
snatched at random Trailing behind
him. like bridal veil. was q mosQui-
to net, which in his haste he had torn
from its fastenings.
this to hn aA
Bedding! Pillows! Mosquito net! I'll
sleep comfortable after this"
From somewhere came the faint
smothered wailing Of baby-eloquent
testimony Of the precipitate haste
with which the rifed storekeeper
and his wife had fed. Dumping his
burden OF sheets. blankets, and bril-
liantly colored cotton quilts upon the
floor. Branch selected two Of the
stoutest and began to knot the cor
ners together.
He had scarcely finished when Jud-
son refined in at the door and called
to OReilly: We've cleaned out the
drugstore. Better get a move on you.
for we may have to run any minute.
I've just heard about some Cuban
prisoners In the calaboose Gimme a
hand and we'll let 'em out"
'Sure!" O'Reilly quickly remounted.
meanwhile directing Jacket to load
the canned goods upon his horse and
ride for the open country. He looked
back few moments later, to see his
asistente emerge from the bodega
perched between two queer looking
improvIsed saddlebags bulging with
plunder. The pony was overloaded.
but in obedience to the frantic urg-
ings OF its barelegged rider II managed
to break into a shambling trot. Branch
reappeared. too. looping the eight-foot
string Of straw hats to his saddle
horn. and balancing before him the
remainder of the bedding. done up
in a gaudy quilt.
Sharing in the general CONSERVATION
at the attack. the Jail guards had dIs-
appeared. leaving Lopez's men free
to break into the prison. When
O'Reilly Joined them the work was
we'll under way. The municipal build
ing Of San Antonio was a thick walled
structure with iron barred windows
and stout doors; but the latter soon
gave way. and the attackers poured
in. Selling whatever implements they
could find, Judson and O'Reilly went
from cell to cell. battering. prying.
smashing. leaving their comrades 10
rescue the inmates. This Jail was a
poor AFFAIR. 1t could scarcely be dig
nified by the name OF a prison; never
theless. true prison conditions pre-
vailed in it and it was evidently con-
Quoted in tJpically Spanish fashion.
The corridors were dark and odorous,
the cells unspeakably foul; O'ReiIly
and Judson saw, heard, and smelied
enough fhar1
ter how guilty the prisoners might