Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-10-09
CHAPTER v.
A Cry From the Wilderness.

after his arrival. For one thing ii was
bleak and cold: the north wind, hall
Ing direct from BafEin's 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 truth Is
o'RelIly was not only cold but fright
ened.
II was not the effect Of his report
concerning the firms Improbable Gu
ban connections which he feared
Snmuel Carter could take calmly the
! most disturbing financial reverse-it
was the blow to his pride Mt learning
that anybody could prefer another girl
TO his daughter Johnnie shook his
shoulders and. stamped his feet. but
the chill in his bones refused to 60.
He went to meet his. employer as a
man marches to execution.
His heart sank further ut the well
come he received, for the importer
gave him q veritable embrace; lie pat
ted him on the back and inquired three
times as to his health. ORellly was
anything but cold now he was perspir-
Ing profusely, and he felt his collar
growing limp. To shutter this old mans
eager hopes would be like kicking q
child in the face. Carter had never
been so enthusiastic, so demonstra-
tive; there was something almost the
atrical In his greeting.
''Well. my boy. you made fizzIe OF
II, didn't your" The tone was almost
complimentary.
.'Yes. sir, I'm bright and shining
failure"
Snow, don't yes. sir me. We're
friends, aren't we? Goodl Under.
stand. don't blame you in the least
it's that idiotic revolution that spoiled
our business. You did splendidly, I'm.
der the circumstances"
s'They have reason enough to re-
volt--oppression. tyranny. corruption
O,Reilly mumbled the familiar words
In a numb paralysis at Mr.. Carriers so
vial familiarity.
"All Latin countries are corrupt"
announced the mporter-"always have
been and always will be. They thrive
under oppression. However. / dare say
this uprising won't last long,"
johnnie wondered why the old man
didn't get down to cases. ats more
than an uprising sir" he said. "The
rebels hive overrnn the east end of
the island, and when left Maceo and
Gomez were sweeping west"
"Bnhi 1t takes money to run a war;"
seTIey have money" desperately ar
gued O'Reilly. "Afari raised moro
than a, MILAN dollars, and every Gu
{ ban cigar maker In the Cnited States
gives a part Of his wages every week
to the cause. The best blood Of Cuba
Is in the fight. Spain Is about busted;
she can't stand the strain"
II predict they'll quit fighting as
soon as they get hungry. The govern
ment Is starving them out. However,
hey've wound up our affairs for the
time being, and" Mr.. Carter care
fully shifted the position of an inkwell.
calendar and paper knife-"that
brings us to consideration of your
and my affairs, doesn't IT? Aheml
You remember our bargain? l was to
rive you a chance and you were to
make good before you--er-Dlanned
any ei,-matrimonial foolishness with
my daughter"
.sYes, sir" O'Reilly felt that the
moment had come for his~carefully re-
hearscd speech. but, unhappily, he
could not remember how the swan
song started. Mr.. Carter, too, was I'M
accountahly silent. Another moment
dragged past. then they chorused.
81 have an unpleasant"
Each broke off ut the echo of his
own words.
sswhat's thatr inquired the Inn
porter.
ssNo-nothing. You were saying"
II was thinking how lucky 1t Is that
you and Elsa waited. Hmm! Very
Fortunate" Again Mr.. Carter rear
ranged his desk fittings. I'VE some
times differ, Elsa and I. hut when sh<
sets her heart on thing see that
she gets It. even If think she oughtnt
to have 1t. WHAT'S the use of having
children IL you can't spoil EN-, chr
He looked UP with sort OF resentful
challenge, and when his listener APP
reared to agree with him he sighed
with satisfaction. EARLY marriages
are silly--but she seems to think other
wise. Maybe she's right. Anyhow
she's licked me. I'm done. She wants
to be married right away, before We
60 west. That's why waited to see
you at once. You won't object. will
you? We men have to take our medi-
cine"
aIt's quite out of the question"
stammered the unhappy O'Reilly.
-Come. come. It's tough on you, |
know, but" Johnnie had a horrife
\ vision OF himself being dragged unwil-
lsagly to the altar. ELSA IS. going to
have what she wants. If have to bree'.
n