The Washington herald., 1919-11-23

impauently. What are We going
to do with a woman on our hands,"
I'VE? Don't divide her with me.
What are you going to do: The
truth Is plain. this Miss Evans Is IN
love with you and you don't know
II. She sees in you her soul mate.
Well. IL you dop't want her, 1 want
her.. I'll eat her medicine. I'll even
the poor old soul. IL she's
rich"
O'Reilly arose early the next
morning and hsrried down tn the
office of the Junta, hoping that he
could convince Mr.. Enriquez of the
folly of allowing Norine Evans to
have her way. By the light of day
Miss Evans project seemed more
hare-brained than ever. and he sus-
pected that Enriquez had acquiesced
in 1t only because of a natural i'm
ability to refuse anything to a pref
ty woman-that was typically Gu
ban. But his respect for Miss Evans
energy and initiative deepened when
on arriving at Sc New street, he dis
covered that she had forestalled him
and was even then closeted with the
man he had come to see. Johnnie
waited uneasily; he was dismayed
when the girl finally appeared, with
Enriquez in tow. for the mans face
was radiant.
TITS all settled" she announced.
at sight of o'Reilly. I've speeded
them up"
You're an early riser" the latter
remarked. Il hardly expected"
Enriquez broke in. Such enthusi-
asm! Such ardor, She wbirIs a
person off his feet"
1T seems that the Junta lacks
money for another expedition. so
I've made up the deficit. Well be
of in q week"
Really? Then you're actually GO
ing?"
"Of course"
1T was like a gift from Heaven"
Enriquez cried. Our last embar-
rassment is removed, and"
But Johnnie interrupted him.
You're crazy. both of you" he de-
clared irritably. Cuba is no place
for an American girl I'm not think
ing so much about the danger of
capture on the way down there as
the hardship she gets there and the
fact that she will be thrown among
all sorts of men,"
The elder man lifted his head
Every Cuban will know who Miss
ans anu what sIlt mas uOnt
for our cause. You do not seem to
have a high regard for our chivalry.
sir"
There" NOrine was triumphant Mt.
There is bound to be some dan
ger. of course" Enriquez continued.
FOR the coast is well pat rolled: but
once the expedition is landed. Miss
Evans will be among friends. She
will be as safe in our camps as II
she We're in her own home"
Don't be hateful and augumentative
or I'll begin to think you're a bOrr
chaperOn," Miss Evans exclaimed.
Come. Make up your mind to en-
dure me. And now you're going t.
help me buy my tropical outfit"
With a smile and a nod at Enri-
queZ she took O'Reilly's arm and
bore him away.
In spite of his panic-struck pro-
testatiOns that he knew less than
nothing about women's require
ments. she led him uptown. And
she kept him at her side all that
morning while she made her pur-
chases: then when she had loaded
him down with parcels she invited
him to take her to lunch. The girl
was so keenly alive and so delighted
with luc OI adventure InaI
Johnnie could not long remain dis
pleased with her. She had an ir-
resistible way about her. and he
soon found himself sharing her
good spirits. She had a healthy ap-
petite. too; when O'Reilly set out for
his lodgings after escorting her
home he walked to save car fare
CLAIMS. consomme. chicken salad
French pastry. and other extrava-
gances had reduced his capital to
zero.
The days of idle waiting that fol-
lowed were trying. even to one of
O'Reilly's philOsOphic habit of mind
He could learn nothing about the
Junta's plans. and. owing to his
complete uncertainty. he was un-
able to get work. Leslie Branch,
too. failed to find steady employ
ment, though he managed, by the
sale of an occasional column. TO
keep them both from actual surrer-
ing. His cough. meanwhile. grew
worse day by day. for the spring
was late and raw. As a result his
spirits rose. and he became the best
of all possible good companions
johnnie, who was becoming con-
stantly more fond of him, felt his
anxiety increase in proportion to
this improvement in mood: it SEEM
ed to him that Branch was on the
very verge of a co1Iaps>.
At last there came n messaqe