The Washington herald., 1919-11-01
Go On with the story.
CHAPTER v-coNTINuED.

4 .H
Now. don't yes, sir, me. Were
friends. aren't we? Good! Under
stand. don't blame you in tho least
iit,. that idiotic revolution that spoiled
our business. l can't understand those
people. Lord. You did splendidly.
under the circumstances.
They have reason enough to re-
volt-oppression, tyranny. corruption.
OReilly mumbled the familiar WORDS
in a numb paralysis at Mr.. Carter's
jovial familiarity.
| All Latin countries are corrupt,
announced the importer-'always have
been and always will be. They thrive
under oppression. Politics Is purely a
business proposition with those peo-
pie. However. dare say this up
rising won't last long"
O'Reilly welcomed this trend Of the
| conversation; anything was better
than fuisome praise, and the discus
sion would delay the coming crash.
It seemed strange. however. that
Samuel Carter should take time to
discourse about generalities. johnnie
wondered why the old man didn't get
down to cases.
IT'S more than an uprising. sir"
he said The rebels have overrun
the eastern end of the island. and
when I left Maceo and Gomez were
sweeping west"
Bah. 1t takes money to run a
war"
| They have money" desperately ar
gued O'Reilly "Marti raised more
than a million dollars. and every Gu
| ban cizar-makers' in the United States
gives a part Of his wages every week
| to the cause. The best blood OF Cuba
is in the fight The rebels are poorly
armed, but II our government recog-
nizes their belligerency they'll soon
fix that. Spain is abeut busted; she
can't stand the strain
II predict they'n quit lighting as
soon as they get hungry. The govern
ment is starving them out. However,
they've wound up our affairs for the
time being, and" Mr.. Carter care
! fully shifted the position of an ink
well. a calendar and a paper-knife-
| that brings US to a consideration
Of your and my affairs, doesn't II?
Ahem. You remember our bargain
! was to give you a chance and you
were to make good before you-er-
planned any-er-matrimonial foolish
ness with my daughter"
- Yes, sir" O'Reilly felt that the
! moment had come for his carefully
rehearsed speech. but. unhappily. he
| could not remember how the swan
song started. He racked his brain for
the opening words.
Mr.. Carter, too. was unaccountably
| silent. He opened his lips. then closed
them. Both men. after an awkward
| pause, cleared their throats in unison
| and eyed each other expectsntly. An
! other moment dragged past. then they
| chorused:
81 have an unpleasant,
Each broke of at the echo of hts
| own words,
what's that?' inquired the i'm
| porter.
"N-nothing. You were saying
II was thinking how lucky II is that
you and Elsa waited. Mm-m! Very
! fortunate Again Mr.. Carter rear
ranged his desk fittings. She has
deep feelings-sot a conscience, too.
Conscience is a fine thing in a woman
so few of 'em have it. We some
times differ. Elsa and !, but when
she sets her heart on a thing l see
that she gets 1t, even II think she
oushtn't to have it. What's the use
of having children IL you can't spoil
| 'em. eh?" He looked up with a sort
Of resentful challenge. and when his
| listener appeared to agree with him
ne sighed with satisfaction. EARLY
marriages are silly-but she seems to
think otherwise. Maybe she's right.
Anyhow, she's licked me. I'm done.
She wants to be married right away.
| before we go West. That's why
waited to see you at once. You're a
| sensible fellow. Johnnie-no foolish
ness about you. You won't object.
will you? We men have to take our
medicine
Its quite out Of the question.
stammered the unhappy O'Reilly.
Come. come! It's tough on you. 1
know. but" The fuse had BEGUN to
sputter. Johnnie had Mortified vision
of himself being dragged unwilfingly
to the altar. Elsa Is going to have
what she wants. IL have to break
something. II you'll be sensible I'll
stand behind you like a father and
teach you the business. I'm getting
old. and Ethelbert could never learn
set: his eyes began to gleam angrily.
who is-Ethelbert?" family in
quired O'Reiliy
''Why. dammit! He's the fellow I've
been telling you about. He's not so
bad as he sounds; he's really a nice
boy"
Elisa is in love with another man
Is that what you mean?"