Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1919-01-02

.Insolent bunchl' growled the cap
tain. Then he swallowed hard and
said "But for that matter. so do l."
"How silly you boys can BET" Norne
laughed. 81 dare say the others are
joking too, but"
"Jollingg" O'Reilly grinned. "Not at
all. I'm the only single man in camp
who isn't in love with you. When you
lrrived this morning there was gen
RAJ stampede for the river. I'll bet
ie fish in this stream viii taste of soap
ur years tn come.
is if To pelu ORelny's words at the
aoment appeared Colonel Lopez
aavcd blood-raw and clad in recent
Numbered uniform which was still
damp The three Americans rose to
salute him, but discipline was lax and
he waved them back TO their seats.
''We've been talking about food"
Leslie Branch advised his commanding
officer. 'Aiiss Evans isn't Il burning
patriot like the rest of us, and So Of
course she can't share our ravenous APP
petite for beef cooked and eaten on the
hoof"
sop Lopez's handsome face cloud
/ ed. you are hungry, then?"
Norine confessed that she was. "lm
starving I" said she. Il haven't had a
decent meal for a week."
"God be praised l know where there
is goat. not two leagues awayw said
the colonel.
But I don't want a goat" Norine
complained. Il want-well. pickles,
and jam. and sardines. and-candy.
and-tooth-powderl Real" boarding
house luxuries. I'd just like to rob u
general store"
Lopez furrowed his brows and lost
himself III thought. Later, while the
others We're talking, he drew Ramos
aside and for while they kept their
heads together; then they invited Jud-
4 son to join their council.
When O'Reilly Joined Judson for
supper the latter met him with broad
grin on his face "Well," said he, you
can. get ready to saddle up when the
moon rises"
''What do you meanT
"The colonel took Miss Evans at her
word. We're going to raid San Antonio
de los Banos-two hundred of us-to
get her some pickles, and jam, and
candy, and tooth-povder."
-
Certain histories of the Cuban War
for Independence speak of 1.-The Bat
tie of San Antonio de los Banos." 1t
is quite stirring story to read and ii
has but one fault. fault. by the way,
not uncommon in histories-it is main
ly untrue.
In the first place. the engagement
was in no sense battle. but merely n
raid. The number of troops engaged
was. perhaps. One-fifth of the generous
total ascribed by the historians and
rs military maneuver it served no
purpose whatsoever. Nevertheless.
since the affair had n direct bearing
upon the fortunes of several people
connected with this story. it is. per-
haps worth relating.
Lopez and his troop approached the
town in the early morning. As they
deployed for the attack the colonel is
sued private Instructions to certain
!
"O'Reilly. you and Senior Branch will
enter one grocery store after another
You will purchase that jam, those sar-
dimes, and whatever else you think
Miss Evans would like. Captain Jud-
son, you and Major Ramos will go TO
the apOthecary shop-I understand
there is a very good one-and look for
Z toofh-noxrdar and % ndv opd th. lsl~o I
shall see that the streets are cleared,
then l shall endeavor to discover some
pickles; but as God is my judge. |
doubt If there is such thing this side
of Habana."
Leslie Branch, whose temper had not
improved with the long night ride, in
qured. caustically: do you expect us
10 buy the groceries? Well I'm broke.
and so is O'Reilly. If you don't give us
some change, colonel, Wen have to
open charge account in your name"
"Caramba :" muttered Lopez. 81 in
tended to borrow from you gentlemen.
Well, never mind-we'll commnndeer
what we wish in the name of the re-
public"
Lopez attack proved complete
surprise, both to the citizens and to the
garrison Of the town. The rebel bueIe
gave the first warning of what was
afoot. and before the Castilian troops
who were lettering off duty could re-
gain their quarters before the citizens
could take cover or the shopkeepers
close and bar their heavy wooden shut
ters' two hundred ragged horsemen
were yelling down the streets. .
There followed Il typical Cuban en-
gagement-ten shouts to one shot.
There was mad charge on the heels
or the scurrying populace, scattering
pop-pop Of rifles. cheers, cries. shrieks
OF defiance and far-1ung insults direct
ed at the fortinas.
O'Reilly, with Branch and Jacket
close at his heels. whirled his horse
INTO the first bodega he came to. The
store was stocked with general mer-
chandise, but its owner, evidently n
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