. A la . RED OLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF t I n lr i i B- i.V K ,' n i: lr r.! ISh n. 1ft, f i'i h ' .1 1 1 i rf, I! "i I i ) . i LLK 44fo& H RAINBW3END A NOVEL cJJgEX JZEACff Airman, '77??CW TJ2AZ " 'mJPOLEGS"ffM?TQrmESMSr"n:. COPyWOW, BY HARPER. AND BROTHEPLS. CHAPTEn "XIV Continued. 12 "We've been talking about food," Leslie Drnnch advised his comtnnndlng officer. "Miss Evnns Isn't n burning patriot like the rest of us, and so of cour8o flhe can't shnro our rnvenous np- petite for beef cooked and enten on tho hoof." "So?" Lopez's hnndsomo fnco cloud ed. "You nro hungry,, then?" Norlno confessed thnt she wns. "I'm starving 1" snld she. "I haven't had a decent meal for a week." "God bo praised 1 1 know where there Is a goat, not two leagues uwayl" said the colonel. "But I don't want a goat," Norlno complained. "I want well, pickles, nnd Jam, and sardines, and candy, nnd tooth-powder I Heal boarding house luxuries. I'd Just like to rob a general store." Lopez furrowed his brows nnd lost himself In thought. Later, while tho others wero talking, he drew Ramos aside nnd feu a while they kept their heads together; then they Invited Jud eon to Join their council. When O'ltellly Joined Judson for supper tho lntter met him with a broad grin on his face. "Well," said he, "You can get ready to saddlo up when tho moon rises." "What do you mean?" "Tho colonel took Miss Evans nt her word. We're going to rnld San Antonio do los Bnnos two hundred of us to gut her some pickles, nnd Jam, and candy, nnd tooth-powder." Certain histories of the Cuban War for Independence speak of "Tho Bat tle of Srtn Antonio do los Bnnos." It to quite a stirring story to read and It has but one fault, a fault, by the way, not uncommon In histories It is main ly nntrue. In the first place, tho engagement was In no sense n battle, but merely a raid. Tho number of troops engaged was, perhaps, one-fifth of tho generous total ascribed by tho historians, and as u military maneuver it served no purpose whatsoever. Nevertheless, since tho affair had a direct bearing opon tho fortunes of several pcoplo connected with this story, It Is, per haps, worth relating, i Lopez nnd his troop approached the town In tho early morning. As they deployed for tho nttnclc tho colonel Is sued prlvnto instructions to certain members of his command. "O'Reilly, you nnd Scnor Branch will enter one grocery store ufter another. You will purchase that Jam. those sar dines, nnd whatever elso you think Miss Evnns would like. Cnptnln Jud son, you and Major Itamos will go to the apothecary shop I understand thero Is a very good one and look for tooth-powder nnd candy and the like. I shall sec that tho streets nro cleared, then I shall endeavor to discover some pickles; but ns God Is my Judge, I doubt if there is such a thing this side of Hnbnnn." Lesllo Branch, whoso temper had not Improved with tho long night ride, In quired, cnustlcally : "Do you expect us to buy tho groceries? Well, I'm broke, and so is O'Reilly. If you don't glvo us some chnnge, colonel, we'll have- to open n chnrgo account In your name." "Carombal" muttered Lopez. "I In tended to borrow from you gentlemen. Well, nevor mind wo'll commandeer what we wish In tho narao of the re public." Lopez attack prowl a complete Burprlse, both to tho citizens nnd to tho garrison of tho town. Tho rebel buglo gavo tho first warning of what was nfoot, nnd beforo tho Castlllan troops who wero loitering off duty could re gain their quarters, beforo tho citizens could take cover or tho shopkeopors closo and bar their heavy wooden shut ters, two hundred ragged horsemen wero yelling down tho streets. There followed n typical Cuban en gagement ten shouts to ono shot. There was n mad chnrgo on tho heels oftho scurrying populaco, a scattering pop-pop of rifles, cheers, cries, shrieks of defiance and fnr-flung insults direct ed at tho fortlnas. ' O'ltailly, with Branch and Jacket close at his heels, whirled his horso Into tho first bodega ho came to. Tho store was stocked with general mer chandise, but Its owner, evidently a Spaniard, did not tarry to set a price upon any of it. As tho threo horsemen canio clattering In at tho front he went flying out nt tho rear, and, although O'Reilly called reassuringly after him, his only answer was tho Bl'nmmlng of u back door, followed by Bwlftly dimin ishing cries of fright. Thero was no time to waste. John nie dismounted and, wnlklng to tho shelves whero soiuo imported canned goods wero displayed, ho began to se lect thoso delicacies for which ho had been sent. The devoted Jacket was nt his eldo. Tho little Cuban exorcised no restraint; ho seized whatever was most handy, racuuwhllo cursing ferociously, bs befitted n bloodthirsty bandit. Boys re natural robbers, and at this oppor jf- tunity for loot Jacket's soul flamed savagely nnd ho swept tho shelves baro ns ho went. "Hey, Leslie! Get something to carry this stuff In," O'Reilly directed over his shoulder. Spurred by O'Reilly's tono nnd by n lively rnttlo of rifle-shots outside, Les lie disappeared Into tho llvlng-qunrtcrs at the back of the store. A moment later he emerged with a hugo armful of bedclothes, evidently flnntched at random. Trailing behind him, llko a bridal veil, was n mosquito-net, which in his haste ho had torn from its fas tenings. "I guess this Is poor!" ho exulted. "Bedding! Pillows I Mosqulto-notl I'll Bleep comfortnblo after this." Dumping his burden of sheets, blank its, and brilliantly colored cotton quilts upon tho floor, Branch selected two of tho stoutest nnd begun to knot tho cor ners together. Ho had scarcely finished when Jud son reined lu nt the door and called to O'Reilly : "We've cleaned out the drug store. Better get n mov on you, for wo may have to run any minute. I've Just heard about sorao Cuban prisoners In tho calaboose. Glmtno a hand and wo'll let 'cm out." Sharing In tho general consterna tion nt tho attack, tho Jail guards had disappeared, leaving Lopez' men free to break Into tho prison. When O'Reil ly Joined them tho work wns well un der wny. Seizing whatever Implements they could find, Judson nnd O'Reilly went from cell to cell, bnttcrlng, pry ing, smashing, leaving their comrades to rescuo tho Inmates. While the Americans smashed lock after lock, their comrades dragged tho astonished Inmates from their kennels, hustled them Into tho street, nnd took them up behind their saddles. . Tho raid wns over, "retreat" was sounding, when Judson nnd O'Reilly ran out of the prison, remounted, nnd Joined their comrades, who wero streaming back toward tho plaza. Colonel Lopez galloped up to Inquire, anxiously, "Did you And thoso eatables, eh?" "Yes, sir, and a lot more." "Good! But I fulled. Pickles? Cnromba ! Nobody hero ever heard of one!" "Did wo loso any men?" Judson nsked. "Not one. cut." But Ramos wns badly "So? Then ho got to closo quarters with some Spanlurd?" "Oh no !" The colonel grinned, "no was In too great a hurry nnd broko open n show-case with his fist." The retreating Cubnns still main tained their uproar, discharging their rifles Into tho air, shrieking dellnnce nt their Invisible foes, nnd voicing insult- O'Reilly Whirled Hit Horse Into tho First Bodega. lng invitations to combat. This ferocity, however, served only to terrify further tho civil population and to closo the stutters of San Antonio the tighter. Meanwhile, tho loyal troops remained safely In their blockhouses, pouring a steady flro into tho town. And desplto this admirable display of courage tho vUltors showed n deep respect for their enemies marksmanship, taking advan tage of whatever shelter thero was. Tho raiders had approached San An tonio do los Bnnos across tho fields nt tho rear, but Colonel Lopez led their retreat by way of tho camlno real which followed tho river bank. This road for a short distance was exposed to tho tiro from ono port ; then it was sheltered by a bit of rising ground. f. 4"rml 3cf4v vl Mr' Wk, TTliTii WmB Tidily, nmong tho last to cross tno zone of lire, was Just congratulating httu.self upon the fortunate outcome of the skirmish yhen he saw Colonel Lo pez rldo to the crest of n knoll, rise In his stirrups nnd, lifting his cupped hands to his lips, dlrotrt n loud shout back toward the town. Lopez was fol lowed by several of his men, who like wise begun to yell and to wave their nrtns excitedly. Johnnie turned to discover thnt Les llo Branch had lagged far behind, nnd now, as If to enp his fantastic perform ance, had dismounted and was de scending tho river bank to a place where n large wnshlng had been spread upon tho stones to dry. Ho wns quite exposed, nnd n spiteful crncklo from the nenrcst blockhouse showed thnt the Spunlnrds wero determined to bring lil tn down. Mnuscr bullets ricocheted among the rocks even from this dis tance their sharp explosions were audi ble others broke the surface of tho stream into little geysers, ns if a school of fish were leaping. When Johnnie looked on In breath less apprehension Brunch npproprlntcd several suits thnt promised to fit him; then ho climbed up tho bank, remount ed his horse, and nmbled slowly out of range. Now this was precisely the sort of harebrained exploit which delights a Cuban audience. When Lesllo re joined his comrudes, therefore, ho j wns greeted with shouts nnd cheers. "Curamba! IIo would risk his life for n clean shirt. . . . There's a fel low for you I He enjoys tho hum of these Spanish bees! . . . Brnvol Tell us what tho bullets said to you," they cried, crowding nround him In nn admiring circle. O'Reilly, unnble to contain himself, burst forth In n rage : "Lopez ought to court-mnrtlal you." Infuriated, he rode over to where Captain Judson was engaged In mak ing a litter upon which to carry the sick prisoner they had rescued from tho Jail. "This chap here is all in," said Judson. "I'm afraid we aren't go ing to get him through." Following Judson's glance, O'Reilly beheld nn emaciated figure lying in the shade of n nenrby'guavn bush. The man wns clad In filthy rags, his face was dirty and overgrown with a month's beard ; a pair of restless, eyes stared unbllnklngly nt the brazen sky. Ills lips wero moving; from them Is sued a steady patter of words, but oth erwise ho showed no sign of life. "You sold ho was starving." Johnnie dismounted and lent Judson a hand with his task. "That's what I .thought nt first, but ho'8 sick. I supposo it's that Infernal dungeon fever. We can swing him be tween our horses, and " Judson looked up to discover that Johnnie was poised rigidly, his mouth open, his hands halted in midair. The slcklnnn's voice had risen, and O'Reil ly, with a peculiar expression of amazement upon his face, was strain ing his ears to hear what he said. "Eh? What's -thov matter?" Judson Inquired. For a moment O'Reilly remained frozen In his attitude, then without n word ho strode to the sufferer. He bent forward, staring into the vacant, up turned fnce. A cry burst from his throat, a cry that was like a sob, and, kneeling, he gathered tho frail, filthy figure into his nrms. "Estebnn!" ho cried. "Esteban! This Is O'Reilly. O'Rnll-ye I Don't you know me? O'Reilly, your friend, your broth er! For God's sake, tell mo what they'vo dono to you 1 Look at me, Es tebnn ! Look at mo ! Look nt me I Oh, Estebnn I" Such eagerness, such thankfulness, such pnsslonnte pity were In his friend's honrse volco that Judson drew closer. He noticed thnt tho faintest flame of renson flickered for an lustnnt In the sick man's hollow eyes; then they began to rove again, nnd the snme rustling whisper recommenced. O'Reil ly held the boy tenderly In his nrms; tears rolled down his cheeks ns he Im plored Estebun to hear and to heed him. "Try to hear me! Try!" There was fierce agony In the cry. "Whero is Rosa? . . . Rosa? . . . You're snfo now; you can tell me. . . . You're safe with O'Reilly. ... I came back ... I camo back for you and Rosn. . . . Whero Is she? . . . Is she dead?" Other men were assembling now. Tho column wns ready to move, but Judson signaled to Colonel Lopez nnd rando known the identity of the sick stranger. Tho colonel enme forward Bwlftly and laid a hand upon O'Reil ly's shoulder, saying: "So t You were right, after nil. Es teban Vnrona didn't die. God must have sent us to San Autonlo to deliver him." "He's sick, sick!" O'Reilly snld, huskily. "Thoso Spaniards! Look what they've dono to him." His volco changed. Ho cried, fiercely: "Well, I'm lato again. I'm always Just a llttlo bit too lato. He'll die before ho can tell me " "Walt I Tako hold of yourself. We'll do all that can be done to save him. Now come, wo must bo going, or all San Antonio will bo upon us." O'Reilly roused. "Put him In my nrms," ho ordered. "I'll carry him to camp myself." But Lopez shook bis head, saying, gently: "It's n long march, nnd tho litter would bo better for him. Thank henven wo have nn angel of mercy nwaltlng us, nnd sho will know how to mnko him well." When tho troop resumed Its retreat Estebnn Varona lay suspended upon n 8winglng bod between O'Reilly and Judson's horses. Although they car ried him as carefully as they could throughout thut long hot Journoy, ,ho never censed his bubbling and never awoke to his surroundings. CHAPTER XV. Norlne Takes Charge. During tho, next few days O'Reilly hud rcanon to bless tho happy chance which hud brought Norlne Evans to Cubn. During the return Journey from Snn Antonio tie los Bnnos he had dis covered how really ill Estebnn Vnrona was, how weak his hold upon life. After listening to his rnvlngs, O'Reilly began to four that the poor fellow's mind wns permanently nffectcd. It wns an appalling possibility, one to which he could not rcconcllo himself. To think that somewhere in that fovered bruin wns perhaps locked the truth about Rosa's fnte, if not the secret of her whereabouts, nnd yet to bo unnblo to wring nn intelligent nnswer to a slnglo question, wns Intolerable. The hours of that ride were among the longest O'Reilly hnd ever passed. But Norlno Evnns gnvo him new heart. Sho took complete charge of the sick man upon his arrival In camp; then In her brisk, matter-of-fact way she directed O'Reilly to go nnd get some much-needed rest. Estebnn was 111, very HI, she admitted; there was no competent doctor nenr, and her own facilities for nursing were primitive Indeed; nevertheless, she expressed confidence thnt she could euro him, nnd reminded O'Reilly that nature has a blessed way of building up n resist ance to environment. As n result of her good cheer O'Reilly mannged to enjoy n night's sleep. He was up nt daylight to offer his services in caring for Esteban Vnrona, but Norlno declined them. "His fever is down u little and he has taken some nourishment," sho re- "Eeteb.nl This It O'Reilly!" ported. "That food you boys risked yo.ur silly lives for may come In handy, after nil." "I daro say he won't be nble to talk to mo today?" O'Reilly ventured. "Not today, nor for many days, I'm afraid." "If you don't mind, then, I'll hang around nnd listen to what ho says," ho told her, wistfully. "He might drop a word nbout Rosa." "To be sure. So far he's scarcely mentioned her. I can't understand much thnt ho says, of course, but Mrs. Ruiz tells mo It's all Jumbled nnd quite unintelligible." It was a balmy, languid morning about two weeks nfter O'Reilly's re turn to tho City Among the Leaves. In n hammock swung between two trees Estebnn Vnrona lay, listening to the admonitions of his nurse. Johnnie O'Reilly hnd Just bade them both a henrty good morning nnd now Norlno wns snylng: "Ono hour, no more. You hud a temperature again Inst night, nnd it came from talking too much. Remember, it takes mo Just ono hour to make my rounds, nnd if you are not through with your tales of blood and battle when I get bnck you'll have to finish them tomorrow." With a nod nnd a smile she left. As Ertteban looked after her his white teeth gleamed and his hollow face lit up. "Sho brings mo new life," ho told O'Reilly. "She is so strong, so healthy, so full of life herself. Sho Is wonder ful ! When I first Haw her bending over mo I thought I was dreaming. Some times, even yet, I think sho cunnot bo real. But sho Is, eh?" "She Is qulto subs.tnntlnl," O'Reilly smiled. "All tho sick fellows talk as you do." Esteban looked up quickly; his face darkened. "She er nurses others, eh? I'm not tho only one?" "Well, hardly." Thero was a brief pnuse ; then Este bnn shifted his position nnd his tone changed. "Tell me, have you hoard any news?" , "Not yet, but wo will hear sorao be foro long I'm sure." "Your faith does as much for me ns this lady's care. But when you go away, when I'm alone, when I begin to think" "Don't think too much; don't permit yourself to doubt," O'ltellly snld, quick ly. "Tnko my word for It, Rosa Is nilve and wo'll find her somewhere, some how. General Gomez will soon have word of her. Thnt's what I'vo been waiting for thnt and what you might huvo to tell me." "You know nil that I know now and everything thnt has happened to me." "I don't know how you cniue to be In n cell In San Antonio do los llanos, two hundred miles from tho place you wore killed. That Is still a mystery." ft r very simple, amlgo. Let mo see: I had finished telling you nbout tho fight nt La Joya. I was telling you how I fainted. Somo good people found mo n few hours nfter I lost conscious ness. They supposed I had been at tacked by guerrillas and left for dead. Finding thnt I still had life In me, they took mo homo with them. They were old friends from Mntnnzns by the name of Valdes cultured people who had fled tho city nnd wero hiding in tho mnnlgim llko tho rest of us." "Not Vnldes, tho notary?" "Tho very snme. Alberto Vnldes nnd his four dnughters. Henven guided them to me. Alberto wns an old man ; ho hnd hard work to provide food for his girls. Nevertheless, ho refused to abandon me. Oh, they were faithful, patient people 1 You see, I had walked enst instead of west, and now I wns miles nwny from home, nnd tho coun try between was swarming with Span lnrds who were burning, destroying, killing. You wouldn't know Matnnzas, O'Reilly. It is n desert. "I finally became able to drag myself around tho hut. But I hod no means of sending word to Rosa, and the un certainty nenrly made mo crazy. My clothes had rotted from me; my bones wero Just under the skin. I must have been a shocking sight. Then one dny thero came n fellow traveling east with messages for Gomez. He was ono of Lopez' men, nnd he told me that Lo pez had gone to tho Rubl Hills with Maceo, and that there were none of our men left In tho province. He told me other things, too. It was from him that I learned" Esteban Vnronn's thin hands clutched the edges of his hammock and he rolled his head wenk ly from side to side. "It was he who told me about Rosa. He said that Cobo had ravaged the Yumuri and thnt my sister was gone!" "There, there ! We know better now," O'Reilly snld, soothingly. "It wns a hideous story, a story of rape, murder. I wonder thnt I didn't go mnd. It never occurred to me to doubt, nnd ns n mntter of fact the fel low was honest enough; he really be lieved what he told me. After the man hnd finished I"felt the desire to get nway from all I had known nnd loved, to lenvc Mntanzas for new fields and give what was left of mo to tho cause. I was free to enlist, since I couldn't reach Lopez, and I came to Join our forces In the Orient. "That Is how you found me In this province. Lopez' man never delivered these dlspntchcs, for we were taken crossing the trocha nt least I was taken, for Pablo was killed. They'd have made nn end of me, too, I daro say, only I wns so wenk. It seems n century since that night. My memory doesn't serve me very well from thnt point, for they Jailed me, and I grow worse.' I was out of 'my head a good deal." The two men fell silent for a while. Estebnn lay with closed eyes, exhaust ed. O'Reilly gave himself up to frown ing thought. His thoughts were not pleasant ; he could not, for tho life of him, believe In Rosn's safety so Im plicitly as he had led Esteban to sup pose; his efforts to cheer the other had sapped his own supply of hope, leaving him n prey to black misgivings. He was glad when Norlno Evans' re turn put nn end to his speculations. "Hnve you hnrrowed this poor man's feelings sufficiently for once?" she in quired of O'Reilly. "I have. I'll agree to talk about nothing unpleasant hereafter." Esteban turned to his nurse. "There Is something I wnnt to tell you both." "Wait until tomorrow," Norlno ad vised. But he persisted : "No ! I must tell It now. First, however, did either of you discover nn old coin In nny of my pockets nn old Spanish doubloon?" "Thnt doubloon ngnln I" Norlne lift ed her hnnds protestlngly, nnd cast a meaning look nt O'Reilly. "You tnlked about nothing elso for n whole week. Let me feel your pulse." Estebnn surrendered his hnnd with suspicious readiness. "You wero flat broke when wo got you," O'Reilly declared. "Probably. I seem to remember that somebody stole It." ."Doubloons I Pieces of eight ! Gold en guineas!" cxclnlmed Norlne. "Why thoso nro pirate coins! They remind mo of Treasure Island; of Long John Sliver nnd his wooden leg; of Ben Gunn nnd all the rest." Esteban smiled uncomprchendlngly. "Yes? Well, this hns to do with trens ure of tho Vnronns. My father burled It. Ho was very rich, you know, nnd ho wns nfrnld of tho Spaniards. O'Reil ly knows tho story." Johnnlo nssented with a grunt, "Sure! I know nil nbout It." (TO BE CONTINUED.) Don't Ask Personal Questions. Never presumo upon your Intimacy with another to nsk personal ques tions. No mntter how good frlenda two may be, both hnvo certain matters which they prefer to keep to them selves. Tho presumption which, under the excuse of Intimncy, pushes Its wny Into tho privacies of tho spirit is un worthy of you. Respect your friends reserves, nnd Insist thnt they shall re spect yours. "Diseased Meat." There is a wide difference In tho terms 'diseased meat" and "meat from diseased anlmnls." In fresh pork for tnstnnce, tho nbsenco of live trichinae cannot bo guaranteed by tho vendor from nny known practical method of Inspection, but If tho meat is properly cooked any trlchlnno present aro killed and hence cannot produce disease. Mlndoro. Tho island of MIodoro In the Phil ippines has about 30,700 Inhabitants, nrid thoso includo 18,000 Tugalogs, 7,200 Mangaynes and 2.000 Ylsayans. , LIFT-OFF CORNS! Drop Freezone on a touchy corn, then lift that corn off with fingers t i Sl.il Doesn't hurt a bit I Drop a llttlo Frcczono on nn aching corn, Instnntly that corn stops hurting, then you lift It right out. Yes, magic I No humbug I HM. VWOP 7 OTMs: w A tiny bottle of Freezone costs but a few cents nt any drug store, but Is suf flclent to remove every hard corn, soft corn, or corn between tho toes, and the calluses, without soreness or Irritation. Freezono Is the sonsatlonnl discov ery of n Cincinnati genius. It Is won derful. Adv. Talkative peoplo seldom say much, but as long as they think they do they are huppy. For genuine comfort and lasting pleas ure use Red Cross Ball Blue on waih day. All good grocers. Adv. Tho eyes of n South American fish nro divided injo two parts, tho upper being adapted for vision in the air, the lower for use under tho wuter. Comfort Baby's Skin When red, rough and itching with hot baths' of Cutlcura Soap and touches of Cutlcura 'Ointment. This means sleep for baby-and rest for mother. For free samples address, "Cutlcura, Dcpt X, Boston." At druggists and by mat Soap 25, Ointment 25 and CO. Adv. Danger to OJIbway Finger. An OJIbwny Indlnn would not point his finger ut the moon, ns fulr Luna would consider It n great Insult nnd Instuntly bite off the offending mem ber. Diary of a Gardener. Mondny Spaded up garden, leveled, seed beds. Tuesdny Leveled up seed beds, planted radishes. Wednesday Made new beds, plant ed radishes. Thursday Killed Jones' hen, blncked his eye. Friday Jones' dog bit me, "" broko hoe on him. Saturday Made new seed beds, plunted radishes. Sunday Ruin, snow and sleet. Judge. Power Plant Planned. The largest hydraulic power system ' In Europe Is to bo built In Bavaria and operated as a public utility, according to plans completed recently. Tho pow er Is to bo obtained from Wnlchen lake In South Bavaria, and will bo transmitted by cable from Koechel to nil towns nnd villages throughout 15a varla. A commission, which hns been studying tho undertaking for two years, has submitted n detailed me morial to the Bavarian diet estimating the cost of the enterpriso at 78,000,000 marks. Tho cost of the system Is to bo borne proportionately by tho Bn vnrlnn government nnd tho municipali ties benefiting by this greut electrical plunt. asbetweenPOSTUM and other table beverages is in favor of thid Wholesome:, Healthful drink: POSTUM is all this and more. It's most delicious. Besides there's no waste, and these are days when one should Save. Try INSTANT, mf I m fiitzkrs Tfie & Balance m A , 4 i .,r.r-'rTf'-Jifir- - -"-": f.ft'V'-l-fmaMU,,,,, "!"'. - A