Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-10-22

At fast 0'ReilFy was recalictf. but
when he rc-eniered the big room ne
found General Antuna awaiting him.
alone
The, general spoke with force and
gravity: "aIr. 0'Reilly, believe you
TO be far greater menace TO the In
terests Of my country than-well. than
score OF dynamite experts. / believe
You are writer"
The American smiled "Are writers
such dangerous people?"
''That altogether depends upon cir
cumstances. The United States is in
clined to recognize the belIigerency of
these Cuban rebels, and her relations
with Spain are becoming daily more
strained: ill-feeling grows, and all be-
cause Of the exaggerations. the men
dacities. that have gone forth from
here to your newspapers. We are de
termined 10 put down this uprising
In our own way: we win tolerate no
foreign interference. War is never q
pleasant thing. but you journalists
have magnified It's horrors and mis-.
represented the cause of Spain until
you threaten 10 bring on another and
q more horrible combat. Now, then,
you understand what / mean when ]
say that you are more dangerous than
a powder expert; That your pen car.
do more injury. can cause the death
of more Spanish troops than could n
~ IT =,
Your English friend makes no secret
Of his business, so we shall escort him
to Neuyiias and see him safely out OF
the country. once for ALL"
sand yet you permit me to remain r.
Johnnie was surprised.
For the present, yes! That is my
official message to you. Privately
however"-the speaker eyed O'Reilly
with a disappearing expression-"l
would like to warn you. You are n
bright fellow, and YOU have a way with
you-there's no denying it. Under
other conditions 1t would be n pleas
ure to know you better. 1t grieves me,
therefore. to warn you that your fur
Nther stay in Cuba will not be-pleas.
ant. | almost regret that there is no
conducive evidence against you: II
would so simplify matters. Come, now,
hadn't you better acknowledge that
nave guessed your secret?"
OReilly's perPlcxity was changing
to dismay. for 1t seemed TO him he
was being played with; nevertheless.
he shook his head. 81 would only be
1eceiving you, sir" he said.
General Antuna sighed. '"Then
see embarrassment ahead for both of
u.s."
"More arrests?'
"Not necessarily. Understand me, ]
speak as one gentleman to another
But-you must have noticed that Amer.
cans are unpopular with our troops
Eth? They are impnlslve, these troop
ers; accidents cannot be prevented
suppose something should happen tc
you? There is the trouble. You came
TO Cuba to enjoy it's climate; you can
not be expected to remain indoors. OF
course not. Well! Among our sol
diers are many new recruits, patriotic.
enthusiastic young fellows, but-care
less. They are wretchedly uaproficient
niarksmen. and they haven't learned
the danger Of promiscuous rifle fire
They are forever shooting at things,
merely to score a hit. Would you be
iieye Il? Oh, l have TO discipline them
frequently. To think Of you being
abroad through the streets. therefore
worries me intensely. Suppose yor
should be found dead some day. I'm
agine my feelings" The speakers
tone and expression were eloquent o.
concern. "Iow could fix the respon
sibility"
by having me followed, es usual
I dare say" o'Reilly said bitterly.
'Oh, You will of course be Swallowed
day and night; in fact. to be quite sure
If your-cr-s safety, l shall ask YOU tt
permit one Of my men to accompany
you everywhere and even to share your
room. We shall try never to lose sight
Of you, depend upon it. l wish yor
could find another climate equally ben
silcial to your rheumatism. 1t woulf
lift a great load from my mind" The
speaker paused hopefully; that same
sarlonic flicker was on his lips.
Johnnie could not summon an an
swering smile, for his heart was like
lead. He realized now the utter fulfil
ity of resistance; he knew that to
remain in Puerto Principe after this
thinly yelled warning would be tC
court destruction--and destruction Of
IA shocking charactertagainst which il
would be impossible to guard. After
moment of thought he said gravely
81 appreciate the delicacy of your
consideration, sir, aad-I shall go"
ory-an order which gave Its savage
lnthor the name of being the arch
lcnd CT ration reputed peculiarly
cruel. -Four hundred thousand Cubans
driven from their homes into shelter
less prison camps more than two hun
dred thousand dead from hunger and
disease; fruitful land laid bare of all
that could serve as food, and changed
to an ash-gray desolation; gaunt fam
~