The Mena weekly star., 1919-01-30
Copyright. by Harper and Brothers
lcontinued from Iast week.l

 shaved blood-raw and clad in q recent. Iy lauHdered uniform which was still damn. The three Americans rose to ealute him, but discipline was lax and he waved them back to their. seats.
 "We've been talking about food, 2 Leslie Branch advised his commanding officer Miss Evans isn't a burning patriot like the rest of us, and so of course she can't share our ravenous ap. petite for beef cooked and eaten on the hoof"
 "SoT Lopez's handsome face cloud. ed. "You are hungry, thenf"
 Norine confessed that she was. "Tm starvingl'' said she. T haven't had a decent meal for a week"
 "God be praised know where there Is goat. not two leagues away" said the colonel.
 But ! don't want a goat" Norine complained. q want--well, pickles and jam, and sardines, and--candy, and-tooth-powderl Real boarding house luxuries. I'd just like to rob | general store."
 Lopez furrowed his brows and lost himself in thought. Later, while the others were talking. he drew Ramos aside and for while they kept their heads together; then they invited Jud- son to join their council When OReilly 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 mean7"
 "The colonel took Miss Evans at her word. We're going to raid San Antonio E de los Banos-two hundred of us-to get her some pickles, and jam, and candy, and tooth-powder"
 
 Certain histories of the Cuban War * fw Independence speak of "The Bat { tie of San Antonio de los Banos" It I is quite a stirring story to read and it has but one fault. fault, by the way, not uncommon in histories--it is main ly untrue
 8 In the first place. the engagement was in no sense battle, but merely 8 2 raid The number of troops engaged was perhaps. one-fifth of the generous total ascribed by the historians, and 6 as military maneuver it served no purpose whatsoever. Nevertheless, since the affair had a 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 members of his command.
 "0'ReiIly, you and Senor 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 very good one--and look for tooth-powder and candy and the like. l 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 a thing this side of Habana.o
 Leslie Branch, whose temper had not Improved with the long night ride, in- quired, caustically: Do you expect US to buy the groceries? Well, I'm broke, and So Is O'Reilly. If you don't give us some change, colonel, we'll have to open charge account in your name."
 "Caramba !" muttered Lopez "1 in tended to borrow from you gentlemen. Well, never mind-we'll commander what We wish in the name of the re public.n
 Lopez attack proved q complete surprise both to the citizens and to the garrison of the town. The rebel bugle gave the first warning of what was hioot, and before the Castlllan troops "no were lettering off duty could re- gam their quarters, before the citizens souid take cover or the shopkeepers tiose and bar their heavy wooden shut ==zaers' two hundred rugged horsemen "ere yelling down the streets.
 There followed a typical Cuban en- kasement-ten shouts to one shot mere was n mad charge on the heels Si ue scurrying popul@ ce. q scattering op,pop of rifles, chec cries. shrleks ueaance and far-flung insults direct fu at the fortinas.
 ohelliy, with Branch and Jacket .iose at his heels, whlrled his horse tn'o the first bodega he came to. The ,ore was stocked with general mer- nandise but it's owner, evidently a panh'fd' did not tarry to set a price i17z.pon any Of 1t. As tine three horsemen <ane clattering In at the front he went psrng f,n out at the rear, and, although
 Neilly called reassuringly after him. .o Vhly answer was the samming of a ssA M aoor followed by swiftly dimin. nplng cries of fright.
 mere was no time to waste. John usmounted and, walking to the sns, ne,les where some imported canned oous were displayed, he began to se-
 " 'nose delicacies for which he had
 sn sent The devoted Jacket was at 'as s'de- The little Cuban exercised no |I seralnt; he seized whatever was most
 .uy meanwhile cursing ferociously,
 oehtted a bloodthirsty bandit. Boys
 natural robbers. and at this oppor
 'V Tor loot Jackets soul famed
 'ase'y and he swept the shelves bare