The Washington herald., 1919-12-20
RAINBOW'S END
A Novel by REX BEACH
Of sunset
" Brothe shersl
CHAPTER XXIII-CoNTINUED.
A Novel BY REX BEACH

CHAPTER XX1II-CONTlNUE Jed.
''Yonder is the camino." said the
countryman. pointing into the valley;
1T will lead you to the main road;
and there"-he turned to the north
wards Matanzas. Go with God.
and don't drink the well water, which
is polluted from the rains" With
smile and a wave of the hand the
man turned back and plunged into the
jungle.
AS O'Reilly descended the slope he
realized keenly that he was alone and
in hostile territory. The hills and the
woods from Pinar del Rio TO Oriente
were Cuban. or. at most, they were
disputed ground. But there in the
plains and valleys near the cities
Spain was supreme. From this mo-
ment on O'Reilly knew he must rely
entirely upon himself. The success of
his enterprise-his very life-hinged
upon his caution. his powers of dis
stimulation, his ability TO pass as a
harmless. helpless paciiico. 1t gave
him an unaccustomed thrill. by no
means pleasant.
The road. when he came To II. proved
to he "A deep gutter winding between
Icu tldS Ddnhs cut ny inc tiEH "ItttS
of clumsy cane carts. Inasmuch as
no crops whatever had been moved
over the road during the past season.
it was now little more than an oozy.
sticky rut. Not a roof. not a chimney.
was in sight; the valley was deserted
Here was n fertile farming country
and yet no living thing. no sound of
bells. no voices. no Growing cocks. no
1nNpinr 1anraSsifV an
O'Reilly, aud more. for there was
something menacing and threatening
about it all.
Toward noon the breeze descended
and It became insufferably hot. A
bank of clouds in the east promised
cooling shower, so Johnnie sought
the nearest shade to wait for it, ana
took advantage of the delay TO eat
his slender lunch. lie was medita-
lively munchinS a sweet potato when
a sound at his back caused him TO
leap to his feet in alarm. lie whirled,
then uttered an exclamation of amaze
ment. Seated not fifty feet away was
bare-legged boy. similarly engaged
in eating n sweet potato. 1t was
Jacket. His brown checks were dis
tended. his bright. inQuisitive eyes
were fixed upon OReilly from beneath
defiant scowl
Jacket" cried the man. What the
devil are you doing here"
You Sun' 10 let me come along"
challenged the intruder.
so you followed me. after / said
! didn't want your" O'Reilly spoke
reproachfully: but repruaches had no
effect upon the lad. With a mild en-
pietive. Jacket siGniiied his contempt
for such weak form OF persuasion.
See here now O'ReiIIy stepped
closer. Lets be sensible about this. +"
But Jacket scrambled To his feet
and retreated warily. stuffing the I'M
eaten portion of the sweet pota,o into
his mouth. Twas plain that he had
no confidence in O'Reiliy's intentions.
MutterinS something in a muffled
voice, he armed himself with a stout
stick
Come here" commanded the Amer
lean.
Jacket shook his head He made a
painful attempt TO swallow. and when
his utterance became more distinct
he consigned his idol TO a warmer
place than Cuba.
I'm a tough kid" he declared
Don't get gay on me-
The two parleyed briefly: then, when
satisfied that no violence was intend
cd him, the boy sat down TO listen
But. as before. neither argument nor
appeal had the slightest effect upon
him. He denied that he had followed
his benefactor; he declared that he
was free agent and at liberty TO go
where he willed. If 1t so CHANGED
that his fancy took him to the city
of Matanzas 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 distastefui to the elder
man, O'Reilly was free to wait and
follow later: II was matter Of com
plete Indifference to Jacket. He ni,u
business in Matanzas and he proposed
TO attend TO II. The boy lied gravely.
unblushingly. Nevertheless, he kept
watchful eye upon his hearer.
Very WELL" O'Reilly told him, finai-
ly. II give in"
Jackets face instantly lit I'D. He
radiated good humor; he hitched his
body closer.
BY -! get my own way. don't
~ he laughed.
Indeed YOU do" O'Rcilly laid a
hand fondly upon his loyal follower.
And i don't mind telling you that
I'm more than half glad OF Il. IL
was getting lonesome. didn't know
now much I could miss you. But