Carrizozo news., 1919-06-06
CHAPTER xvl-oontlnusd.

=" NAhN'A'A ~ hAA0 kttAt' W A@NNNa"
courts common soldiers; his shoes
were broken and diGreputable; his cot
ton trousers, magged BY barbed wire
and brambles, and soiled by days In
the saddle and nights In the graas.
were in desperate need OF attention.
His beard had grown. too, and his slIin.
where II was exposed. was burnt 10
. mahogany brown. Certainly there
was nothing about his appearance 20
hespeak his nationality.
The general continued; II am direct
ID In this letter 10 help you In some
enterprise. Command me, SIR"
"A briefly as possible Johnnie made
known the object Of his journey. The
officer nodded his comprehension, but
AZ he did 90 a puzzled expression
crossed his face.
Eyes, reported that Miss varona
had gone into the city-I took some
pains to find out Do you have reason
10 doubt"
~Not the least, sir"
'-rhen--why have you come all this
wayr
II came to find her and to fetch her
10 her brother"
"But--you don't understand. She is
actually inside the lines, In Matan-
Eas--a prisoner"
'Exnctly. ! intend 70 90 into Matnn-
Eas and bring her out"
General Betancourt drew back. as
toniAhed. my dear mani" he ex.
claimed. "Are you madT
o'Reilly smiled family. "Quite
probably. All lovers are mildly mad,
I believe"
-Ahi Lovers begin to see. But
how do you mean to 60 about this
thls-lmpossible undertalingf"
'You told me Just now that / cou.d
pass for Cuban. Well, / am going
20 put II to the test. II once get into
the city I ahall manage somehow to
get out agnin, and bring her with me-"
"Um-mi" The general appraised
DRellly speculatively. mo doubt you
can get init is not 80 difficult 10 en-
ter, / believe, ana especially TO one
who speaks the language like a native.
But the return--I fear you will ind
that another mhtter. MatanEas is a
place Of pestilence, hunger, despair.
No one goes there from choice any
more, and no one ever comes out"
$50 should imagine" The speak
er's careless tone added to General Be-
tancourt's astonIshment. "Bless me |"
he exclaimed. "Whnt an extraordl.
nary young man Is II possible that
you do not comprehend the terrible
conditioner A sudden thought struck
him and he inquired quickly %rell me,
YOU are not by any chance that hero
they call El Demonio7 l have heard
that he is indeed demon. NOT Very
well You say you wish to visit Ma
tanEaB, and / am instructed to help
you. How can do s03"
oReilly hesitated an instant For
one thing. need money. I'll haven't
q single peseta."
you are welcome to the few dol
lars possess"
Johnnie expressed his gratitude for
this ready assistance. "one thing
morc." said he. "Will you give my
boy, jacket, a new pair Of trousers
and send him back 10 the Orient at the
frst opportuuityr'
~Of course. II In done" The gem
eral laid a friendly hand upon O'Rell-
lys shoulder, saying, gravely; ut
would relieve me intensely to send you
back with him. for l have fears for
the success OF your venture. MatanEas
IL a hell Il has swallowed up thou
sands Of our good countryanen; thou
sands have died there. I'm afraid you
do not realize what risks you are TAX
ing"
o'Reilly did not allow this we'll
mennt warning 10 influence him, nor
did he listen 10 the admonitlons Of
those other Cubans who tried to argue
with him out Of his purpose, once II
became known. On the contrary, he
proceeded with his preparations and
spent that afternoon In satisfying him
self that Rosa had indeed left the Pan
de MatanEas before Cobo's raid.
Among Betancourts troops was a
man who had been living IA the hills
at the time Asenslo and his family
had abandoned their struggle for ex.
istence, and 10 him O'Reilly went This
fellow, II seemed, had remained with
his family Ia the mountains some time
after Asensios departure II was
from him that O'Rellly heard his nrst
authentic report OF the atrocities per
petruted by Cobo's volunteers. This
man had lost his wife. his little con.
and an the scanty belongings he pos
sessed. With shaking hands up
stretched TO heaven, the fellow cursed
The author OF bis misfortunoa.
- live for one thingl" he cried
shrilly-"to meet that monster, and TO
butcher him, as he butchers women
and children"
oReily puposely left hs most un-
pleasant task to the last When his
arrangements had been completed and