The Washington herald., 1919-12-07

Issued private instructions to certain
members of his command.
"O'Reilly. you and Senior Branch will
enter one grocery store after another.
You win purchase that jam, those sar-
dimes, and whatever else you think
Miss Evans would like. Capt. Judson.
you and Major Ramos will 20 to the
apothecary shop-I understand there
is very good one-and look for tooth
powder and candy and the like. 1
shall see that the streets are cleared,
then / shall endeavor to discover some
pickles; but as God Is my Judge, /
doubt II there Is such q thing this
side Of Habana."
Leslie Branch. whose temper had
not improved with the long night
ride. inquired. caustically: DO you
expect us to buy these groceries7
Well. I'm broke. and SO Is O'Reilly." ;"
Have you no money!" asked the
colonel. vastly surprised.
II haven't tipped my hat to a dollar
since I quit newspaper work. What's
more, want to do a little shopping
for myself"
o'Reilly agreed: "If you don't give
us some change, Colonel, we'll have
to open. a charge account in your
name"
"Caramba" muttered Lopez. IT in
tended to borrow from you gentlemen.
Well, never mind-we'll commander
what We wish in the name of the
Republic"
Lopez's attack proved a complete
surprise. both to the citizens and to
the garrison OF the town. The rebel
bugle gave the first warning Of what
was afoot. and before the Castilian
troops who were lettering of duty
could regain their quarters, before the
citizens could take cover or the shop
keepers close and bar their heavy
wooden shutters. 200 ragged horsemen
were yelling down the streets.
There followed a typical engage
ment-ten shouts to one shot. There
was a mad charge on the heels Of the
scurrying populace, a scattering pop
pop of rifles, cheers, cries, shrieks of
defiance and far flung insults directed
at the fortinas.
Bugles blew on the hilltops; the de-
tenders armed themselves and began
to fire into the village. But since the
Insurrectos were now well sheltered
by the houses and only a portion OF
certain streets could be raked from
the forts. the Spanish bullets did no
harm. Obedient to orders, a number
OF Lopez's men dismounted and took
positions whence they could guard
against a sally. thus leaving the rest
Of the command free to raid the
stores. In the outskirts of the town
Mausers spoke. the dust leaped, and
leaden messengers whined through the
air.
A q
crop. so did the army OF liberators de-
scend upon the shops of San Antonio
de los Banos 1t was great fun. great
excitement while II lasted, for the
town was distracted and its citizens
had neither time nor inclination to re-
sist. Some of the shopkeepers, in
deed. to prove their loyalty. openly
welcomed the invadrs. Others, how
ever lacking time to close up, fled
incontinently. leaving. their goods un-
guarded.
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-
chandlse. but its owner evidently a
Spaniard, did not tarry to set a price
upo' any of 1t. AS the three horse
men came Gathering in at the front
he went flying out at the rear. and.
although O'Reilly called reassuringly
after him. his only answer was the
slamming of a back door. followed
by swiftly diminishing cries OF fright.
Plainly. that rush of ragged men,
those shots. those ferocious shouts
from the plaza. were too much for
the peaceful shopkeeper and his
family. and they had taken refuge in
some neighbor's garden.
There was no time to waste. Johnnie