The Washington herald., 1919-11-05

Indeed? Then you are q pleasure
traveller? You see the sights 10 that
it? Well. Cuba is beautiful
Most beautiful. judging from what
l have seen
Mr.. Carbajal wagged q pudgy fore
finger at his guest Tut! Tut! You
know Cuba You speak the language
better than a native. You can't fool
me. sly one!" He wrinkled his face
and winked both eyes. It was an
invitation to further confidence, and
he was disappointed when it passed
unnoticed. We'll. you Americans are
a brave people," he continued, with
an obvious effort to keep the corfver-
sation going. You like to be where
the fighting is"
Not 1. I'm a timid man.
"Ho! Ha! Ha! the proprietor
cackled. Then he became pensive.
There is nothing here at Neuvitas to
interest a tourist-except the war"
I'm not a tourist"
Indeed? Now that is interesting. -
Mr.. CarbaJal seated himself on the
edge Of the bed. where he could look
into O'Reilly's travelling bag. Not a
tourist, not a travelling man. Now
what could possibly bring you to
Cuba?'
o'Reilly eyed his inquisitor gravely:
a subtle melancholy darkened his
agreeable countenance. II travel for
my health" said he.
you Health" CarbajaTs s
frame began to heave; his bulging
abdomen oscillated as IL shaken by
den hand. Good! Ha! There's an
another joke for you
I'm a sick man." o'Reilly Insisted,
hollowly.
from what maiady do you suffer-
inquired the hotelkeeper.
rheumatism"
rheumatism? That is no more than
a pain in the joints, a stiffness"
There! 1 knew it, O'Reilly ex-
claimed in triumph. Rising. he seized
his hosts moist hands and shook them
violently. You give me courage! You
make a new man Of me. These doc
tors enjoy a fellows agony; they'd
like to bury him. They'd never rec
ommend this climate. No! Pain in
the joints you say, Stiffness That
proves the abominable affliction is
practically unknown here. / thank
you, SIR"
You don't look Sick mumbled Car
bajal. Not like the other American"
What other American"
"A peculiar fellow. He went on to
Puerto Principe. What q cough! And
he was thin as a wire. He bled at the
mouth. too. all the time, when he was
not deviling my hotel. You'll see him
II you go there, provided he hasn't
ant IL ~
lieve he writes for newspapers. Well,
it is my pleasure to serve you. Com
mand me at any hour" Mr.. Carbatal
rose reluctantly and went wheeling
downstairs to his grimy tables and the
flies.
O'Reilly was not in the least de-
ceived; it was plain to him that the
hotel man was in close touch with the
Spanish authorities, and he began to
feel the need of some better excuse,
some valid business reason, for being
here, such as would allay suspicion
once for all. But he could think of
nothing better than his rheumatism,
and to that he determined TO cling.
VII.
THE MAN WHO WOULD KNOW
LIFE
Later that day OReilly set out to
reconnoiter the city of Neuvitas. He
was followed. of course-he had ex-
pected as much, and the circumstances
amused rather than alarmed him. But
when he returned to his hotel and
found that his room had been visited
during his absence he felt q hint OF
uneasiness. Evidently. as DR.. Alva-
rado had forecast, the authorities
were interested in him; and he had
further evidence Of the fact when he
learned that the room next to him was
occupied by the very man who had
him on the street. Inas-
much as the intervening wall was no
more than a thin partition, through
which his very breathing could be
heard. while his every movement could
be spied upon. O'Reilly saw the need
of caution, and he began to cast about
for place to hide that Colts revolver,
the presence Of which was assuming
the proportions of a menace. Now,
that his belongings had been exam
ined three times that day, the next
step would probably be another search
of his person. Unless in the mean
time he could definitely establish his
innocence Of purpose, which was un-
likely, 1t behooved him to rid himself
of the weapon without delay. This,
however, was a problem. He could,
not bring himself to throw the thing
away. and his bare bedroom offered
no place Of concealment. Late that
evening he called Mr.. Carbajal and
asked him II 1t were possible to take
a bath.
Mr.. Carbajal assured him that Il
was. El Gran Hotel Europea was first.
class in every respect; no expense had
been spared In Ats equipment. Senior
O. 'Rail-ye had indeed done wen in pa,.
ronizing It, for It boasted the best
cuarto de bano in the whole city--a
room. moreover, which was devoted
to the purposes Of bathing.
And 1t was large room-large enough
to accommodate o dozen guests at
once. To- be sure. 1t would require,
say, half an hour to make IL ready,
for 1t was stored with hay for the
horses which drew the bus to and
from the depot. but IL the senior would
have patience 1t could soon be restored
70 It's original purpose, Mr.. CarbajaI
himself would zee that there was 4
river Of hot Wafen