The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-04-21

"A city of beautiful homes," said MT Gartside heavily.
 They talked in a desultory way after that and finally. with prom ises to meet again soon, separated. Billings went outside where he ordered a fotingo to take him to Juanito's gymnasium of which MT Gartside had told him. He was rather oppressed on the trip; he hated exercise.
 The visit gave him no reward. Juanito was not to be seen and a harsh voiced product of the Bow cry ordered Billings to Speed up! Speed up!" After that the same voice ordered him into a chamber where he was mercilessly pum- meied, subjected to ice water from a large nozzled hose and otherwise tortured. Billings re- turned to HavaIia utterly limp and angry over his failurei
 My God!" he thought, lurching from side to side in the taxi cab and mopping his brow. My God. that was fierce!" He would be sell ing something the next time he went to. that damned place" he decided. Passing the cemetery of dramatic tom bstones and a few catacombs he thought that Juani- ta's gymnasium had been located with an eye to the convenience of those who endured the treatment. He ate light luncheon and, al- though still very uncomfort- able, pursued his quest. The boy at the counter spoke English. By the way" Billings said after some conversation about the weather, whats the name of the mother of this Juanito. the big fighter? I'm a newspaper man and thought might get a story out of her. You know people like to take it from me, kid--may be 3 beautiful thing!" The boy at the counter, who had picked up his English from rowing Americans, agreed, "Sure!" He did notA he said, shaking his head. know the name of yuanito's mother. But, he added quickly, he would be able to find out.
 "I'm probably on wild goose chase" Billings thought, woiting while a bel boy went to consult the walters, most of whom knew the gossip of the place.
 The boy came back, announc- ing that the name of Juanito's l mother was Julia. She was called Tia Julia and she lived out near Cienfuegos. It was some distance blut one could easily make the trip and 1t was trip worth making.
 "All right" Billings said care lessly as he jotted down some notes in the small book he car ried. Then he bestowed a tip and | turned toward spot from which at cool, shining-topped table, he ordered dry Martini. He was sore and stiff and still irate. He tapped the table with nervous short fingers as he waited for the drink.
 He was going to Ciefugos to- morrow, wild goose chase or not. But the next days dawn was pink and purple and by the hour when Billings opened h:s heavy eyelids rain was falling. It was cold, too one of those amazingly abrupt changes of Temperature that are typical of warm countries having occurred during the night. | Going to Cinefuegos on such a | day was out of the question. Bill lings must, he knew go there as a sightseer who happened in q casual visit to stop to talk with the neighbors of Tia Julia. He wished fervently that he know the lan- guage he heard on the streets through which he sometimes kstrolled, swinging a recently ac- quired cane with rather too many fiourishes.<
 Billings dressed with many groans, being acutely stiff. He ate his ,breakfast at II. When the skies cleared a bit. he decided, he
 would go to Moro Castle. He had lneyer been ther and 1t was one of the things that in Havana, simply had to be done.
 (TO i3e Continued)