The Washington herald., 1919-11-28

Enough to destroy an army. You
can see for yourself. -. Waltz Ask her
how many she ate. Ask her, senior.
implore you!"
There was a silence while johnnie
translated the question and repeated
the answer:
"She says she doesn't remember.
they are SO ntce and ripe"
so nice and ripe :" shouted the
owner Of the farm. tearing his hair.
$50 nice and ripe :" echoed his
wife.
$50 nice and ripe !" groaned the
man who had awakened O'Reilly.
Major Ramos told me to guard her
with my life because she is the guest
Of Cuba Well. I shall kill myself"
The country woman laid a trembling
hand upon Norine's arm. inquiring.
gently: How are you feeling. my
beautiful dove? Sick. eh?"
What on earth ails these peopleT"
inquired the object OF all this solicit
tude. "I haven't made away with a
baby. Maybe they're afraid I won't
pay for my food?'
Light came to o'Reilly. IT remen-
ber now," said he. "Mangoes and
milk are supposed to be poisonous.
The woman wants to know how you
feel"
Poisonous! Nonsense! They taste
splendid. Tell her I'm still half
starved"
1t proved now that one Of the three
members of the landing party pos
sessed an unsuspected knowledge of
English, which modesty alone had
prevented him from revealing. Under
the stress of his emotion he broke
out:
"Oh missy! Those fruit is skill
yeu."
81 don't believe it," Miss Evans
declared.
TT skill you. all right. Maybe you
got a headache here. eh?" The speak
er laid hand upon his abdomen and
leaned forward expectantly.
Nothing but an aching void"
This confession. or a garbled trans
lation of 1t. was enough for the
others: 1t confirmed their worst fears.
the nearest priest. but hesitated. de-
claring it a waste of time. inasmucn
as the lady would be dead in half an
hour. His wife ran to the house for
her crucifix and rosary, which latter
she insisted upon hanging around
Norine's neck. After that she directed
the men to carry the sufferer indoors.
her intention being to make her
guests last moments as comfortable
as possible. When Norine refused to
be carried she was warned that the
least exertion would but hasten the
end, which was. alas! all too near.
O'Reilly was impressed. In spite of
himself. by this weight Of conviction.
especially when the Cubans ridiculed
his suggestion that the combination
of milk and mango might not prove
altogether fatal to an American.
Nothing. they assured him. could pos
sibly be deadlier than this abominabIe
mixture.
The victim herself. however. remain
ed skeptical: she alone treated the
matter lightly. and although she did
finally consent to lie down. II was
merely to please the others and be-
cause she was tired.
They have set their minds on see
ing me expire. and they're such. nice
people I'm almost ashamed to dis
appoint them,' she confided to
o'Reilly. But really I'm too hungry
10 ulc. NOW OOn IOTRet 10 call me
when dinner Is ready
Honestly. do you feel all right"
he asked of her.
Never better"
The meal was slow in coming, for
ments primitive. but the apprehensive
housewife could not long remain away
from the sick room. She made fire.
quent visits thereto. and after each
she reported in a whisper the condi-
tion Of the patient. The lady looked
very white. Her breathing was be-
coming slower. She was unconscious
....All would soon be over....It was
better to let her pass painlessly to
paradise than to torture her with USE
less remedies. Realizing that the
poison had at last begun to work, the
men tiptoed to the door and peered in
compassionately, whereupon the suf-
ferer reused herself sufficiently to call
them "a lot of rubber-necks" and
bid them begone.
Her mind wanders." explained the
man of the house: and then to cheer
OReilly he added. She is young and
strong; she may linger until evening"
The meal was set at last. however;
the men were stealthily attacking II.
Suddenly the sick women swept out
from her retreat and sat down among
them.
'Senorita! This Is suicide" they
implored.
Then. as she ignored them and
helped herself literally to the food.
their own appetites vanished and they
pushed themselves away from the
table.
said. gravely. Dying people have
strange fancies. Pray don't thwart
her."
Indifference so callous on the part
of lover shocked the Cubans. They
rebuked O'Reilly silently; it was plain
that they considered Americans a bar
barously coldblooded race. Meanwhile
they apprehensively watched Norine's
every mouthful.