The state herald., 1919-01-03


| ~Come here" commanded the. Ameri-
can. lf'T
Jacket shook his head. He made
a painful attempt to swallow, and
when his utterance became more dis
tinct he consigned his idol to warmer
place, than Cuba.
I'm q tough kid,". he declared.
Don't get gay on me-"
The two parleyed briefly; then. when
satisfied that no violence was intended
him, the boy sat down to listen. But.
an before. neither argument nor appeal
had the slightest effect upon him. he
denied that he had followed his bene-
factor; he declared that he was free
agent and ut liberty to go where he
willed. II 1t 50 CHANGED that his fancy
took him to the city of Matnnzas at
the same time O'Reilly happened to
be travelling thither. the circumstance
might be put down to the long arm of
coincidence. II his company were dis
tasteful to the elder man. O'Reilly was
free to wait and follow later; 1t was a
matter Of complete indifference to
Jacket. he had business In Matanzas
and he proposed to attend to II. The
boy lied gravely, unblushingly. New
ertheless, he kept a wntchful eye upon
his hearer.
"very well," O'Reilly told him final
". II give in."
Jackets face instantly lit up. He
radiated good humor; he hltched his
body closer.
BY - I get my own way. don't
r. he laughed.
"lndeed you do" O'Reilly laid 4
hand fondly upon his loyal follower.
SAnd don't mind telling you that I'm
more than half glad Of II. IL was
getting lonesome. didn't know how
much could miss you. But now we
must make some plans, we must have
an understanding and decide who we
ara. Let me see-your real name 10
Narciso-s
-Narciso villnr."
"Well, then. I shall be Juan villar.
your brother. Henceforth we shnll
speak nothing but Spanish. Tell me
now. what was our fathers name.
where was our home, and what are we
Going togetherf"
During the breathless interval be-
fore the shower the two sat with their
heads together. talking earnestly. As
the wind came and the cooling rain be-
gan to rattle on the leaves overhead
thsy took up their bundles and set
out. The big drops drenched them
quickly. Their thin garments clung
to them and water streamed down
their bodies; overhead the sky wns
black and rent by vivid strenks Of IRE.
but they plodded onward cheerfully.
Jacket was himself agaIn; he bent
his weight against the tempest and
heightened his short strides to O'Rell-
Iy's. He tried to whistle. but his teeth
chattered and the wind interfered, so
he hummed song. to drive the chill
ont Of his bones and to hearten his
benefnctor. Now that he was at last
accepted as full partner In this enter
prise. II became his duty not only TO
share Its perils. but to lessen its hard
ships and TO yield diversion.
The rain wns cold, the bricrs beside
the overgrown path were sharp. and
they scratched the boys bare legs cru
ely: his stomach clamorcd for q COM
pnnion to that solitary sweet potato.
too. but In his breast glowed nrdor
and pride. jacket considered himself
Q fortunate person-a very fortunate
person. indeed. Had he not found a
brother. and did not thnt brother love
hlmf There was no doubt about the
latter. for O'Reilly's eyes. when he
looked down. were friendly and init
mate. Here was man TO die for.
The downpour lasted but a short
time. when the sun came out and dried
tho mems clothes: on the whole. II hnd
been refreshing. When evening came
the vlllnr brothers sought refuge in
an old sugar mill. or rnthcr In a part
OF Il still standing. They were on the
main calxada now. the paved road
which links the two main cities Of tho
island. and BY tho following noon their
destination was In sight.
OReilly felt . sudden excitement
when Aatansas came Into view. From
this distance the city looked quite ns
II did when he had left II. except that
the blue harbor was almost empty Of
shippins. while the familiar range OF
hills that hid the Yumuri--that valley
Of delight % closely linked In his
thoughts with Rosa varonn-seemed
10 smile at him like an old friend. For
'-ths thonsaudth time he asked himself
n he had come IN time to hnd her. or
II fate's maddening delays hnd proved
his own and the siri's undoing.
O'Reilly knew that although Matan.
Eas was q prison and pcsthole. q giri
lkA nA~a ~<AsstA .ssN~- -. A.