Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-11-18
CHAPTER XIV.
That Sick Man From San Antonio.


by the Cuban leaders TO divide theiI
forces into separate columns tDr the
purpose Of raidlng the smaller Spanish
garrisons and harassing the troops sent
10 their relief, reassembling these
bands only when aud where some tel.
ing blow was to be struck.
When O'ReIlly and Branch enlisted
In the Army Of the Orient they were
assigned to the command of Col Mig
uel Lopez. and. 1t was under his leader
ship thar they made their first ac
quaintance with the peculiar methods
of Cuban warfare.
There had been, at first, some doubt
OF Branch's fitness to take the field AT
all-he had suffered a severe hemor
rhage shortly after his arrival at Cubl
tas-and II was only after n hysterieal
demonstration on his part that he hac
been accepted,as a soldier. He simply
would not be left behind. At first tho
Cubans regarded him with mingled
contempt and pity. for certainly ne
less promising volunteer had evei
taken service with them. Tlut upor
the occasion o. the very first fght aH
ill-Rlll disappeared as II by magic, for
although Branch deliberately dlsobeyee
orders. he nevertheless displayed sucl
amazlng audnclty ia the face Of tho
enemy, such a theatrical contempt foi
bullets, as to stupefy every one. More
over, he lived up 10 his reputation: he
continued to be in,sanely during. vary
Ing his exploits to correspond with his
moods, With the result that he attained
popularity which was unique. nay
sensational.
O'Reilly alone understood the reason
for the fellows morbid Irritabillty, his
suicidal reckIessness; but when he pri
vntely demonstrated he was gruffly told
to mind his own business. Branch flat
ly refused to, modify his conduct; he
seemed really bent upon cheating the
disease that made his life misery.
But, as usual, fate was peryerse:
she refused to humor the sick mans
hope. When, after hllndly inviting
death. Leslie had emerged from sew.
eral engagements unscathed. his sur
prise-and perhaps natural relief al
finding himself whole-became tinged
with O certain apprehension lest he
survive those deliberately courted dan
gers only to succlImb to the ills and
prlvatlons Of camp life. The fellows
tongue grew ever sharper; his society
became lntolerahlc, his gloom oppres.
sive and irresistlbly contagious. When,
after several weeks Of campaigning,
the column went into camp for a short
rest. O'Rellly decided that he would
try to throw of the burden of Leslie's
overwhelming detection. and, If pos
sible. shift a portion OF 1t upon the
shoulders Of Captain Judson.
On the day after their arrival OReli-
~ and the big artilleryman took advan-
tage OF pleasant stream to-bathe and
wash their clothes; then, while they
lay In their hnmmocks. enjoying the
luxury OF a tattered oll-cloth shelter
and waiting for the sun to dry their
garments, O'Rcilly spoke what was In
his mind.
I'm getting about fed up on Leslie"
he de Jared. "He's the worlds cham
pion crepe-hanger, and he's painted the
whole world such deep, respondent
blue that I'm completely dismal. You've
got to take him or my hands,"
O'Reilly's youthful assistant who at
the moment was painStakingly manu-
featuring huge. black cigar for him.
self out of some purloined tobacco.
pricKcd up his ears at the mention~of
Rranch's name and now edged closer.
exclaiming:
"Caramhai There's hero for you.
Meesier Branch is the hravest man l
ever seen. Our people call him Ell
Demonio'!'
O'Reilly jerled his head toward the
Cuban. you see? He's made the hit
of his life. and yet he resentS it. My
nerves are frayed out. I've argued my
self hcarse. but he misconstrues every
thing say. / wish you'd convince MIN
that he has chance to get well; II
might alter his disposition. If some
thing doesn't alter II I'll he court-mar-
tailed for shooting a man in his sleep
and I'll hit him right in the middle, no
matter how slim he Is. Oheltty COIN
pressed his lips firmly.
The assistant. who had finished roll
Ing his cigar, now lighted it and re-
pcated: Yes sir. Meester Branch Is
the hravest man ever seen. You re-
member that first battle. Ell? Those
SPY nlaftls seen him comm and threw
down their guns and beat it. ! laugh
10 sim myself that day"
Jacket" was at once the youngest
end the most profane member Of Colo
nei I.Apex's entire command. The most
shocking oaths frn from HIS beard
less Inns whenever he opened them 70
speak English. and o'Reilly's EFFORTS to
sreak the hoy OF the habit proved quite
unnSnliinE.
TiiS Camafneyan boy was char
sctcr. lie waS perhaps sixteen. and
small Cor his aga mere child In
Nevertheless. he vas SEASONED