The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, September 10, 1918, Image 2
THE 8EMI.WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE NEBRASKA. RAINBOW S END Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv CHAPTER XXI Continued. 10 Norlne rone, licr fncc nglow with ,rw strength, new determination. "I brought you back when you were nil but gone. I saved you after tlio others and given you up, and now you nro mine to do with as I please. You be long to me and I sha'n't consult you." Sho turned, for a figure had dark' encd the door; It was one of her Eng jisn-spcnKing convalescents who was acting as a sort of orderly. 11 r a. . u . - ... --nenonia," me man Raid, with n flash ox white teeth, "we have another lck wan, nnd you'd never guess who. It Is that American, El Detnonl "Is he sick or wounded?" Esteban Inquired. "Shot by n Spanish bullet. Ho asked at onco for our senorlta." "Of course. I'll cotno In an Instant." When the messenger had gone Norlnc fcent and pressed her Hps to Estehnn's. "Remember, you're mine to do with ns please," she oald ; then sho fled down tho grot' street Branch was waiting at Norlne's quartern; a soiled figure of dejection. HIb left arm lay In a sling across his breast, tie looked up at her approach, fat sho scarcely recognized him, so neatly changed wob he. "Hello, Norlnc!" he cried. "Well, they got me." Norlno paused in astonishment. "Why, Lcsllol I was so frightened I But you can't bo badly hurt." "Bad enough so that Lopez sent mo .In. A fellow gets flyblown If ho stays In the field, so I beat It." "Has your arm been dressed?" "No. I wouldn't let these rough-and-tumblo doctors touch It. They'd ampu tate at thtj shoulder for a hangnail. I don't trust 'cm." Then I'll look at It" "It doesn't hurt really," ho declared. "It's only n Bcrntch." "Then bchavo yourself." Norlno (forced the patient Into a chair and withdrew his arm from tho. sling, frsen, dcsplto his weak resistance, sho ifleftly removed tho bandage. From Ibis expression sho felt sure that sho iraust bo hurting him, but when tho injury was exposed sho looked up in wonderment "Lcsllol" sho exclaimed. "What In 'too world" Branch struggled with himself, ho wallowed hard, then said: "You can oco now why I didn't go to a doctor; I itfld it shot myself. You won't givo we away?" Norlno seated herself weakly; she fctnred in 'bewilderment nt tho unhnppy peakcr. "Afraid? You, El Dcmonlol 'Why, you aren't afraid of anything I" "Say I You don't believe nil that stuff, do you? I'm afrnld of my shadow and always have been. I'm not bravo and never wns. They told mo I was jtolng to die nnd It scared mo so that I tried to end things quickly. I touldn't bear to dlo slowly, to know that I was dying by inches. But, Lord I It scared mo oven worse to go into battle. I was blind with fright all tho time nnd I never got over It. Why, tho sight of a gun gives mo n chill, ami I Jump every time one goes off. Lord 1 how I've suffered I I went crnzy nt our arst engagement crazy with fear. I didn't know whero I wns, or what hap pened, or anything. Afterward, when thoy hailed mo as a hero, I thought they wore kidding, tlmt everybody must know how frightened I wob. After a tlmo I saw that I'd fooled them, and that shamed mo. Then I had to keep it up or become ridiculous. But it nearly killed me." I It so happened that the president nnd well-nigh the entire provisional cabinet were in Cubltas. Lesllo nnd Norlno went directly to tho former. Ho promptly sent for tho minister of Jus, Mco, who In turn gnllantly put himself t Norlncfa disposal. In no tlmo tho own had spread and thoro was sub. ucd euwStcraent throughout tho camp. Norlne. WW Wrwecn tears and laughter when sho ron panting into Esteban's cabin, leaving Branch to wait outside. ' At sight of her Esteban uttered a low cry of happiness. "Dearest I I'vo occn lying in a stupor of delight Tho world has bocomo bright I hear pco plo laughing. What a chango 1" 'Tvo arranged everything I Tho pres ident and his cabinet aro coming to witness the ceremony." Esteban poised upon his elbow, his face was a study. "What have you ar ranged?" ho munaged to Inquire. "Sh-ht" Norlno lnld a finger upon ats Hps. "The guest of the republic Is bo married today." ".Norlno t Oh, my dear" qunvered tho Blck man. "I can't let you do this ad thing. Think I I'm ready for tho grave " "This will make you well. Wo're eo rag away when tho very next cxpedl kn arrives." "I haven't tho strength to rcfuso," Bsteban murmured. "And yot, how can I lenvo Cuba? What right have I to accept happiness and leuve Roan" LMh wbb u subject which Norlno dreaded, n question to which sho know no answer. Sho wns not in n mood to discuss it, and mado no attempt to do so, Instead, sho laid tho Invalid upon his pmow, saying: "Losllo Is Waiting to wish vou lov a quick recovery. Muy I ask him fn By REX BEACH Sho stepped to the door, only to be hold her Intc companion making off down the village street In great haste nnd evident excitement Approaching between the drunken rows of grass huts was n little knot of people. Even ns Norlno watched It grew Into a con smornmo crowd, for men and women and children cume hurrying from their tasks. There were thrco figures In tho lead, n mnn and two boys, and they walked slowly, ploddingly, as If weary from a long march. "Esteban 1" Norlnc cried In n volco she scnrcely recognized. She retrented Into the doorway with one hand upon her leaping henrt. "Esteban I LooRI They're coming hero 1 Yes I It's It's O'Reilly I" Young Varona struggled from his hammock. "Rosa!" he called, loudly, "Rosa 1" There camo a shadow, then In tho doorway tho figure of a man, a tattered scarecrow of u man whoso feet wero bare and whoso brown calves wero ex posed through Happing rags. His breast was naked where thorns had tried to stay him; his beard, even his hair, wero matted and unkempt, nnd tho mud of many trails lay caked upon his garments. It was O'Reilly ! Dumb with umazemcnt, blind with tears, Norlno found herself staring up ward Into his face, and heard him say ing: "I told you I would bring her home." The next Instant sho lay upon his breast and sobs of Joy were tearing at her. Tho story of Rosa's rescue camo slowly and In frngmonts, for tho news of O'Reilly's return caused n sensu tlon. Ills recital was Interrupted many times. "As a matter of fact, our get nwuy was ridiculously easy," he said, "for wo had luck at every turn regu lar Irish luck. I mado Morln Inde pendent for life, but It wasn't tho money, it wns Jacket who Induced him It Wat O'Reilly! to bring us clear to Turlgunno. He lnndcd us ono night, this sldo of tho Moron trochn. Since then we've waded swamns to our armpits, wo'vo fought tho Junglo and chowed bark but we're here." Johnnlo heaved n deep Blgh of relief. "Whero did you get tho monov to hlro schooners and corruut contains?" Branch Inquired. O'Reilly hesitated: he lowered his volco to a whUper. "Wo found tho Varona treasure." Norlno uttered a cry. "Not Don Es. tcban's treasure?" "Exactly. It was in tho well whero young Esteban told us It wns." Johnnie produced from his pocket a handful of coins. Branch's eyes bulgpd, ho touched' a gold piece respectfully, weighed it care fully, then pressed It to his lips. Ho rubbed It against his checks and In his hair; ho placed It between his teeth and bit it. "It's renll" he cried. "Now let mo look at tho Jewels." "Rosa has them, She's wearing them on her back. Hunched backs nro lucky, you know ; hers U worth a fortune." "Why, this bents tho 'Arabian Nights 1' " Norlno gasped. "It bents" Branch paused, then wagged his head wurnlugly at tho girl. "I don't bollovo a word of It and you mustn't" Then Johnnlo told tho Btory. When ho had finished thero was a long mo ment of silence. Then Norlno qua vered tremulously: "That boy 1 That messed uoyr its nil too weirdly Improbable," jti-uiy mniicu, -out nsic itosa or Jacket tho bOV Is liliratlnp in fll samn mm Tin couldn't brag about It to Captain Mo- j nn, nnu tnoro won't bo uny holding 'Copyright, by Harper and Brothers) him now. I'm afraid he'll tip off tho news about that treasure In spite of nil my warnings. Those Jewels are a temptation; I won't rest easy until they're safely locked up In some good vault. Now then, I've told you every thing, but I'm dying for news. Tell mo about yourselves, about Esteban. I ex pected to find him well. What alls him?" "Oh, Johnnie I" Norlne begnn. "He's very 111. He isn't getting well. Help me, Johnnie 1 Help me to get him home " "Of course I will. We'll tnkc him and Rosa away where they can forget Cuba and all tho misery It has caused them. We'll make him well don't worry." O'Reilly saw little of his sweetheart that day, for Norlnc promptly bore the girl off to her own quarters nnd thero attended to her needs, the mpst press ing of which was clothing. Wlille O'Reilly wns similarly en gaged In mnklng himself presentable, ho nnd Branch talked earnestly, with tho result that they repaired later to General Gomez. O'Reilly concluded by saying: "I've done what I enme to do, sir, but Miss Vnronn Is badly shaken by nil sho has been through. She's very nervous nnd far from well. Esteban, too, iBn't recovering." General Gomez nodded. "Miss Evans declares ho must have a change, and we havo arranged to send him out of tho country. His sister, poor child, should go, too." "They should go nt once," O'Reilly Bald, positively. "That's why we camo to see you. Let us Branch and me take nil threo of them to the United Stntes." "But how? How can you take two women and a sick man " "We'll manage somehow," O'Reilly declared. "It Isn't far across to tho Bahama Banks. I'll agree to como back If you so desire." Gomez shook his white head. "No 1 You camo to And nnd save your fiancee, and you volunteered to serve with us whllo you were doing so. We have no desire to keep any mnn against his will. Somo one must ejscort Miss Evans, who in our guest. Why not you two? 'I was looking forward to an Inter esting ceremony this afternoon," Go mez went on. "nas your arrival changed the plans?" "Oh no, sir!" O'Reilly said, quickly. "I'd like to mako It doubly interesting, If Miss Varona will consent to such short notice." "Bravo I You havo a way of dolnrr tho unexpected. Why not? I don't think Miss Varona will hnvo it In her heart to refuse you anything." Tho old soldier wns right. Rosa did not gainsay her lover, and toward sun down tho city among tho leaves wit nessed an unaccustomed scene. Rosn, very dainty In her borrowed nurse's uniform, was round-eyed, timid; she evoked much ndmlratlon, but when sho wns nddresscd ns Scnora O'Reilly sho blushed to tho roots of her hair and shrank closo to her hus band's side. Branch proved to bo a happy choice as Esteban's proxy, for ho relieved Norlno's anxiety nnd smoth ered her apprehensions. When Rosa and O'Reilly returned to Estebnn's cabin they found Norlno abend of them. Sho wns kneeling be side tho sick man's hammock, and through tho doorway enmo tho low, In timate murmur of their voices. Rosa drew her husband away, whispering, happily : "Ho will get well. God and that won derful girt won't Jet him die." CHAPTER XXII. Tho Rainbow's End. Tho Journey to tho const was mado by easy stages and Esteban stood It fairly well. Jacket of course, went nlong. Upon tho announcement of O'Reilly's Antendcd departure for tho States ho had promptly abandoned Cuba to her fate, no foresworo her utterly and declared himself a loyal American citizen. neiying upon tho best information obtalnnblo at Cubltas, O'Reilly had counted upon securing a sailboat from a certain fisherman whoso sympathies wero known to be loyal, but In this ho was disappointed. The party arrived at Its destination, n tiny clearing on. nn unfrequented part of tho north shore, only to find It deserted nnd al ready grown to weeds. Tho house was empty, tho boats wero gone all but ono old hulk, too rotten to warrant moving, which lay high up on tho sund, its planks worm-eaten, Its Beams wldo sprend by tho sun. O'Reilly wns In n quandary. H0 gravely doubted Esteban's ability to stand tho rough return Journoy, and when ho spoko to Norlno of turning back sho wns panic-stricken nt the sug gestlon. "No, no 1" sho cried, anxiously. "Wo must get him nwny. His heart Is set on going through nnd It would kill him to go back." "Then I guess we'll hnvo to go through," ho smiled. For the first tlmo In their acquaint nnco Norlno lost control of hersolf. "Promlso thnt you won't go back" sho Implored him. ' "Very well, If you'll consent to risk Author or'The Iron Trail," "The Spoilers' "Heart of the Sunset," Etc. this miserable tub we found on tho beach " "I'll risk nnythlng n raft, even. Is there nn even chance of our cettlnir across?1' "Perhaps, wenther." It all depends upon the When morning came O'Reilly mado a closer examination of the abandoned boat The result was not encouraging, but ho determined to make use of It, nnd the crazy craft was launched. It was necessary to handle her gingerly, nnd when she took the water she leak ed abomlnnbly. But during the night she swelled nnd In the morning It wns possible to ball her out. From the point of lcnvlng It wns per haps five miles ncross the sound to tho fringe of keys which In this neighbor hood bordered tho old Bnhnraa chan nel with Its unplumbed depths of blue water. Here It was calm, so the run was soon made. When tho constllno of Cubn had be come a blur astern Rosa crept back and seated herself beside her husband, "now much I love you," she whispered. "But I never cun tell you, for we are never alone. Wns thero ever such a courtship, Buch n marriage, and such a wedding Journey ns ours?" It proved to bo a long, long night, for the bont, though roomy, was uncom fortable. Daylight brought an In creased breeze which heeled the bont further. Fortunately tho haze was not thick enough to wholly obscure the sun and so O'Reilly was enabled to hold his course. But he did not like the look of things. In time there came a snlte- ful drlzzlo which completely hid the sun nnd left no Indication of the course except tho direction whence drove tho rein. No ono spoke now. Even Esteban lay silent, shivering miserably upon his sodden bed. Rosa flnnlly straightened her aching back and rfmlled.nt her hus band. "Are wo going down?" she nsked. "Oh no 1 This is merely a squnll," ho told her, with nn assumption of confi dence ho wns far from feeling. Deliverance camo suddenly, and from tho lenst-expected quarter. Out of tho mist to starboard there materialized a shape, u schooner driving ahead of the wind. Tho refugees descried her simul taneously and stood nnkle deep In tho wash, waving their hats and their cala bashes, nnd shouting crnzlly until she saw them and fetched up. There was a babble of voices, shout ed questions, hysterical answers. Rosn was weeping softly ; Norlno had lifted Esteban nnd now, clutched him tight whllo her tenrs fell upon his face. The schooner was a sponger bound for Nassuu; Its blackbird crow spoko English nnd they willingly helped tho strangers overside, laughing and shout ing in a childlike display of excitement Soon thero was hot food nnd coffee, dry beds nnd blnnkets for those who needed them. Johnnie tucked his bride snugly Into one of tho hard berths, then stooped nnd kissed her. Rosa's teeth were chattering, but she smiled happily. "God's hand directed us," she said. BOTH MEN IN RIGHT PLACE At Least That Is Likely to Bo Ver dict of Those Who Tolled Over Income-Tax Schedules. Tho visitor -was being conducted through a state institution for tho Insane nnd his guido was nn affable young man from tho harmless ward whoso keen Intelligence mado tho vis itor wonder why ho was under re straint Stopping in front of a padded cell, they looked at a Btout short Individ ual with a forelock draped over ono cyo nnd a poso characteristically Napoleonic. "Thinks he's tho Little Corporal, eh?" tho visitor asked of tho guide. "Yes; he's had that hallucination for flvo years." Across tho corridor In another cell was an old man poring over n num ber of blue prints. "What's tho matter with him?" "Poor chap," laughed tho guide; "ho thinks that ho has Invented a submarine-proof ship. The hull of the ship Is honeycombed with holes; when tho war-head of tho torpedo strikes, It goes Into one of tho holes nnd Is held fast by its sides." "But," objected tho visitor, "suppose tho torpedo strikes between tho holes?" "In that case," said the guide as ho shook with laughter, "It wouldn't count nnd the submarine would be en titled to another try." In tho last cell was a middle-aged man at a high desk, no looked up as tho others approached and nodded smilingly. "Whnt's tho matter with him?" queried tho visitor. "Illiii? no's hopeless; ho belloves thnt ho Is an authority on Incomo-tax legUtlon." "Ah," said tho visitor, "and he Isn't?" "No, Indeed 1" replied tho guide; "I ntn tho only authority." Knnt Slip. Tlftse nro tho times that try men's souls. -Thomas Palna. jNot "One only noads to pray long enough nnu strong enougn and he will heur." It was n month Inter. Qunlnt old Nas sau lay dozing under nn nftcrnoon sun Up from tho beach came O'Reilly and nis youtnrui niter ego, Jacket They were ciau in clean white clothes; a month of rest had done them good. Jacket was no longer wizened: he wns plump nnd sleek and as full of mischief as a colt, while O'Reilly's lennnonn had disappeared and he failed his gar ments as a man should. They turned In through n picket gate and up a walk. At the end stood a cot tage with wide porches hidden beneath Jasmine and honeysuckle and morning- giory vines. -jook, xiosal" Jacket lifted the heavy string of fish. "We had stu pendous luck." But Rosa was in her husband's arms nnd neither she nor O'Reilly had eyes for anything but each other. Kosa had vastly changed. Sho wns clnd In a charming little muslin dress. there were dimples In her cheeks, she wore n heavy Mnrechal Nell bud at her breast O'Reilly held her off und de- voured her with his eyes. "Sweetheart, you grow fresher and more oeauuiui every hour," said he. Kosa danced upon her toes, nnd tugged at him. "But como quickly and see the surprise we have. I've been wild for your return, so hurry." Sho led him swiftly up the steps, nnd there, standing beside a chnlr, wns Estebnn Vnronu, "ne dressed himself and walked out here alone. Ho's well 1" "Esteban I Really" The brother nodded decisively, "il' true. I rebelled at last Tomorrow I'll walk to the gate and the next day we'll go fishing. Here's n letter from Leslie, by the wny. There's We bit of news': ne says tne talk of Intervention in creases nnd lu may have to return to Cuba as a wnr correspondent. "Intervention 1 Thnt would be fine." itiStebnn cried. v iteuiy noaued. "Oh, It's bound to come, nnd when Uncle Sam takes hold Cuba will be free." Norlne agreed : "I'm sure of It. And then we'll nil go back to our rain bow's end and dig for that pot of gold." Esteban turned adoring eyes upon the speaker; he took her hand In his. "I've found my rainbow's end," said he. "And I've found mine," O'Reilly as serted. "I've gained your father's treas ure, and more I've found the prize of nil the Indies." With his arm about Rosa he drew her Into the house. Esteban lowered himself Into his chair and Norlne rested herself upon Its arm. He lay back with eyes closed. From the regions at the rear came tho voice of Jacket The boy was In a declamatory mood. Ho had gathered an audience, as was his dally custom, and was addressing them In English : "I ikllled rnore'n n dozen Spaniards at Pino Bravo. It wns my day. By rights I should have been made a gen eral, but " (THE END.) The French Tricolor. The Tricolor, the French national standard of blue, white and red, di vided vertically, orlglnntcd during tho first French revolution. In 1789 the lenf plucked by Camllle Desmoullns In the garden of the Palais Royal be came a rallying sign, and green was to be adopted as the nntlonnl color; but, remembering that green was tho color of the hated Prince d'Artols, they rejected It on the following dny. They at first choso, instead, blue and red, the colors of the city of Paris, and Inter added the white of royalty, that had been faithfully preserved by the national guard. This new standard was adopted with enthusiasm. A few months after tnklng of the Bastlle, Ballly and Lafayette offered to Louis XVI the three-colored cocard as a badge of reconciliation with tho king. Thus the Tricolor orlglnntcd ns tho symbol of the liberty of the French nation, nnd It continued ns such even when afterward the "reconciliation" with the king ended with his decapita tion. This Swindler Up to Date. Thought rending was tho method claimed to hnvo been employed by a man In Bengal, India, to win large sums of money on the race course. It turned out to bo n very ingenious form of swindle. Finding n mnn who Is In terested In racing, the conlldenco mnn produces n roll of money, nnd states that ho won this by his fore-knowl-edgo of tho winners on the track. Ho then suggests that his friend test his knowledge. He Induces his victim to hand him sums of money to bo placed on the horses, nnd then vnnlshes. In vestigation has proved that this Ben gall had swindled a number of peo ple of inrgo sums of money In this way.. Lay of tho Last Hen. "Tho Lay of the Last Minstrel" may havo caused somo apprehension In its day, but wero the lay of tho last hen to bo announced In ours thero would certainly bo a panic Seattle Post-Intelligencer. JOY OF MOTHERHOOD Came to this Woman after Taking Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound to Restore Her Health Ellensburg, Wash. " After I wa married 1 was not well for a long time and a good deal of tho time was not able to go about Our greatest desire was to have a child in oar homo and ono day my husband came back from town with a bottle of Lydia E. Pink ham's Vegetable Compound and wanted mo to try it It brought relief frnm mv tmnMu I improved In health so I could do my housework; wo now havo a little one, all of which I -owe to Lydia E. Pinkbam'o Vegetable Compound." Mrs. O. S. Joiinson, R. No. 8, Ellensburg, Wash. There aro women everywhere who long for children in their homes yet are denied this happiness on account of some functional disorder which in most cases would renrMv vieM T.vrlln V. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound oucu women should not give up hope until they have given this wonderful medlclna n trial, nnri -fn-r nnnolnl nrltrt write Lydia E. Plnkham Medicine Co., juynn, saast. mo result oi 40 year experience is at your service. Clear Your Skin WhileYouSleep with Cuticura All druggist! t Soap 25. Ointment 25 & 60, Talcum IS. Dimple eacn Ires or "Cnuesra, Dj. X, Sotwn." BEST BUYRSaSELLERS cattle! fl hocsamshccp STOCK YARDS-OMAHAt Watson E. Coleman l'atnt Lawyer, Wuhlngton, Eatet re&aonabla. Ulijheitreferaacea. Bostaemo. W. N. U., OMAHA, NO. 35-1918. Philadelphia thus fur this yeur has built only 700 dwellings. Last year. 2.177. AlwfLVa !IIX Ttft fVnoa Tt.U Til... TY.Ii-1.- the laundress. At all good grocers. Adv. By No Means. "One must not confuse liberty -tvlth license." "No; especially when think. Ing of a marriage license." Life. Toughened Up. Wiggs "He used to be so soft to get money from." Wnggs "Yes, but loo many touches kind of hardened him up." Its Extent. "My teacher gave me nn awful m11 down because I used Inter for Intern. Was that such a bad mistake, pop?" "Well, my son, I would call It a grave sort of mistake." Search Goes On. "Wlmt has become of the search Jor the philosopher's stone?" "The search changes with every age. Now wo're looking for a tire that won't puncture." Wasn't So Very Wrong. Food Regulator Merrltt was discuss ing the high cost of living nnd other things, nnd remarked, "The fluctua tions come so fnst thnt It Is Impossi ble to keep nn accurate lino on prlqes. wo nro all In the same position ns the small boy who said to his mother: "Why do hnts cost more than houses, mamma?" "But they don't, dear. What 'made you think so?" 'Well, that sign says 'Hats, $10 up," and yesterday I saw a sign that said Houses, $10 down.'" c7rcWear and Tear on that boy of yours during .the active years of childhood and youth necessitates a real buildin&food. Grape-Nuts supplies the essentials for vigorous minds and bodies at any ae, "There's a Reasorf TH