The Washington herald., 1919-10-31
Go On with the story.
4 CRY FROM THE WILDERNESS.

A CRY FROM THE WILDERNESS.
New York seemed almost like a for
eign city to Johnnie o'ReilIy when he
stepped out into it on the morning
after his arrival For one thing. n
was bleak and cold: the north wind.
hailing direct from Bafins Bay. had
teeth. and II bit SO cruelty that he was
glad when he found shelter in the
building which housed the Offices OF
the Carter Importing Company. The
tropics had thinned OReilly's blood.
for the Cuban wind bears a kiss in
stead OF a sting: therefore he paused
in'the lower hallway. tostled by the
morning crowds. and tried to warm
himself. The truth is. O'Rellly was
not only cold. but frightened.
He was far from wesk-hearted. In
fact. few O'ReiIlys were that. ana
Johnnie had an ingrained self-assur-
ance which might have been mistaken
for impudence. but for the winning
emile that went with Il. Yet all the
way from Havana he had seen in his
minds eye old Sam Carter intrenched
behind his fiat-topped desk. and that
picture had more than once caused
him to forget the carefully rehearsed
speech inn which he intended TO resign
his position as an employe and his
prospects as a son-in-law.
That desk of Mr.. Csrter's had at
ways been bare and orderly, cleared
for action. like the deck OF a battle
ship. and over II many engagements
had been fought, for the man behind
Il never shirked a conflict. His was
a vigorous and irascible temperament.
compounded of old-fashioned. slow
burning black powder and nitroglycer-
inca combination OF incslculable de-
structive power 1t was a perilously
unstable mixture. too: at times moth
ing less than a flame served TO ignite
IL: on other occasions the offlce force
pussy-footed past Carter's door on felt
soles, and even then the slightest jar
often caused the untoward thing to let
20. In either event there was a deaf
ening roar. much smoke. and a deal
of damage O'Reilly felt sure that
whatever the condition OF Mr.. Car
ter's digestion or the serenity Of his
mind at the beginning OF their inter
view. the news he had to impart would
serve as an effective detonator. after
which II wouldabe every man for him
self. II was not the effect OF his re-
port concerning the firms Improbable
Cuban connections which OReilly
fea red would cause the decks to heave
and the ship to rock-Samuel Carter
could take calmly the most disturbing
financial reverse-it was the blow TO
his pride at learning that anybody
could prefer another girl TO his daugh-
ter. Johnnie shook his shoulders ana
stamped his feet. but the chill In hrs
bones refused to go.
He did gain courage. however. BY
thinking OF Rosa Varona as he had
last seen her. with arms outstretched,
with eyes tear-filled. with yearning
lips aquiver at his going. The picture
warmed him megically. and il was
with a restored determination to make
a clean breast OF the matter and face
the worst that he took the elevator.
The office force OF the Carter Inn
porting Company looked up when the
firms Cuban representative entered
the door. but It's personnel having
changed as the result of one OF those
periodical descriptions that occurred
In the inner once. he was not recog-
nized until he presented himself to
Mr.. Slack. Samuel Carriers private
and intimidated secretary.
Mr.. Slack smiled wanly. and extend
ed a clammy. nerveless hand as colo
and timber as a dead fish.
You're expected said he. Mr..
Carter is waiting to see you beforo
leaving for California.
Seeing me won't make his trip any
pleasanter." O'Reilly said. somberly.
I'VE were afraid YOU wouldn't get
out of Cuba: thought we might have
10 get the American consul at work.
really? I didn't know I was so
important
.'Oh, you're the office pet. and wen
YOU know IT," Mr.. Slack's pleasantly
was tinged with envy. for he had new
er been able TO appreciate O'ReIlIy. 1
Conditions are bad. eh?"
"Yes. Anybody can leave" the :
other told him. It's the getting back |
that's difficult. The SpaniarCis don't |
like US. and I dare say they have good |
reason. with all this talk OF interven-
ton and the secret help We're lending |
the InsuTrectos. They held me up in |
Havana; tried to prove I was a SPY
They were positively peeved when |
they failed. Snippy people. those
Spaniards
''well. I'll tell Mr. Carter you're !
here" The secretary glided unobtru- /
sively toward the private once. dis
appeared, glided softly ihto view again
and wagsled a boneless finger invit-
ingiy. O'Reilly went TO meet his en-
ployer as q man marches to execution.
His heart sank still farther at the
welcome he received. for the importer
gave him a veritable embrace; he