Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-12-19

Ct5@e-kays-s
'You're a Tough Kid!" He Laughed.
II I could. Put this isn't an enterprise
for boy, and ii won't get you any
thing TO keep up this racket"
Jacket neXt tried tie power of ar
gumcnt lie attempted TO prove that
In a hazardous undertaking of this
sort his assistance would be invalu
able. lie was, so he declared, the one
person in all Cula in every respect
qualified TO share O'Reillys perilS To
begin with, he was rot afraid of Span.
iards. or anything else, for that mat
ter-he dismissed the subject Of per-
sonal courage with contemptuous
shrug. AS for cunning, sagacity pru-
dence. resource, all-around worth, he
was, without doubt, unequaled in any
country. He was Il veritable Spartan
too, when it came to hardship-priva-
ton and suffering were almost to his
liking He was Observation-Disclosures
was something he had inherited; he
was Observation-Disclosures being one
Of his most unique accomplishments.
Az for this talk about hunger, O'Reilly
need not concern himself in the least
on that score for Jacket was a small
eater and could grow fat on q diet Of
dried leaves Disease? Bah! 1t made
him laugh. His experience with sick
ness was wider thln most fisicoS, and
he was a better nurse than Miss Ev-
ans would ever be. Jacket did not wish
to appear in the :past boastful. On
the contrary, he was actually too mod
est. as his friends could attest hi
truth compelled BIN 10 admit that h
was Just the man for 0Reilly he
found it impossible 10 recommend him
self too highly; 10 save his soul he
could think Of no qualification in which
he was lacking ana could see no rea
son why his benefactor would moi
greatly profit by the free use Of his
amazing talents The enterprise was
difficult; it would certainly fail with
out him.
Johnnie remained carefully atten
tive during this aajuration. lie felt ne
desire even to smile. for the boys ear
neStnesS was touching and it caused
the elder mans throat to tighten IN
comfortably Johnnie had not realized
before how fond he had become OF this
4u.int youngs,er. And SO, when the
t'ie fellow paused hopefully, O'Reilly
put an arm around him.
I'm sure you are everything you
gay you are. Jacket, and more, too, but
Tou can't go!"
With that Jacket fUng off the en-
race ard stalsiag away. seated him
self. re took a half-smoked cigar
rom the pocket Of his shirt and lit it,
,coUliDg the While 1T lis friend. More
han once daring TIC evening OReilly
detected his sui.ea, ongry eyes upon
aim.
General DetaDcourt and several mem
5ers Of his staT were Up early the fol-
lowing morning to bin their visitor
so0d-by In spite of their efforts to
make the parting cheerful if was plain
that they had but little hope of ever
again seeing this foolhardy American.
Johnnie's spirits were not in the
lest affected by this ili-concealed pes
siInis'a. for as he told himself. Re had
money ia his pockets and Matanz2s
vas not many miles away. But when
ne came TO part from Jacket he expert
enced a genuine disappointment. The
BOY. strangely enough. was almost in
different to his leaving; he merely ex-
tended a limp. dirty hand. and replied
70 O'Reilly's parting words with a
careless "Adios!"
IN hurt surprise the former inquired.
Don't We part good friends?"
"Sure' Jacket shrugged, then
turned away.
Jacket was a Ikable youngster; his
levotion VAS thoroughly unselfsh; it
aad not been easy To wound him. With
zeener regrets than lie cared to ac-
knowledge C'2eiily set out upon his
Journey. following the guide whom
Ieneral Betancourt had provided
1t was lovely morning. sufficiently
warm TO promise . hot midday; the
air WAS moist and fresh from a recent
shower. This being the rainy season,
he trails were soft. and where the rich
red Cuban soil was exposed the trav-
7lers sank into II as into wet putty.
Crossing a rocky ridge OReilly and
his guide at last emerged upon an
7pen slope. knee-high in grass and