Evening public ledger. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, November 06, 1917, Sports Extra, Pictorial Section, Page 19, Image 19

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    EVENING JJE)D0E-"liHnJADELlHlA', TUESDAY, iNOVJBMBER C, 1917
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(Copyrlsht, 1917, Tub lie Ltdirr Company. All rlnhts rcaerved )
Russia Was Honeycombed With German Spies at
the Outset of the War, Who Were Working
Hand in Glove With the Highest Officers in
Command of the Army It Was This "League
of Treason" That Was Responsible for the
Disastrous Result of the Mazurian Expedition
"After the disaster of Tanncnberg and the loss of two Russian army corps in th fiy
Hwumps 01 uic luazunanyrcgiun, it yvub uiBuuyuieu uwi evmv spying oia gjrTW
nature had been going on and it began to be whispered that the 'Prophet'
if not exactly a German agent, was at least a partisan of separate peace witB
Germany."
Not the Least Frequently Mentioned Person in
This Connection Was the "Blessed Gregory"
Rasputin Insinuations Were Frequent, but
His Skill at Intrigue Made It Absolutely
Impossible for Any One to Link His Name
Definitely With Any Particular Instance of
Giving Information to the Enemy
IT WAS ubout that time that the Massayedoft" incident took place,
about which such a lot has been written and which deserves a pass
ing mention in this record. MassayedoiT was n colonel who had
already given some reasons to be talked. alJout for misdeeds of a
jnore or less grave nature. General Rcnnonknmpf, when he had
received the command'of the Kovno Army Corps, had energetically
protested against hid appointment on his staff, but headquarters
Ignored his representations and maintained the colonel in his
functions.
German Intrigue and Rasputin
After the disaster of Tanncnberg and the loss of two Rus
sian army corps in the swamps of the Mazurian region, it was
discovered that some spying of a grave nature had been going on
and that the principal spy was Colonel Massaycdoff, who had
kept the enemy informed of the movements of the Russian
teoops. He was tried and condemned to death, which sentence
was duly executed. Together with him several individuals com
promised in the same affair, mostly men connected with ques
tions of army purveyance, were also hanged. Among these
last was a man called Friedmann, who had been one of the para
sites who were perpetually crowding around Rasputin. The
latter, however, when asked to interfere in hia faor had refused
to do so, but whether this was due to the desire to get rid of a
compromising accomplice or the dread of being mixed up him
self In a dangerous story, it is difficult to say or to guess. But
others talked, if the "Prophet" himself remained silent, and soon
"it began to be, whispered that he was also, if not exactly a
German agent, at least a partisan of a separate peace with "
Germany.
There certainly exist indications that such was the case. In
iplte of the strong character upon which Rasputin prided him
self, it is hardly possible that he could have escaped the influence
of the people who were constantly hanging about him, and who
were all partial to Germany. This was due to the fact that they
hoped if the latter Power triumphed and vanquished the Russians
to obtain from the German Government substantial rewards for
their fidelity, in the shape of some kind of army contracts for the
time that the Prussian troops remained in occupation of somo Rus
sian provinces. It is quite remarkable that while the nation in
general was all for the continuation of the war, and would have
considered it a shame to listen to peace proposals without consent
of its allies, commercial and industrial people were always talking
about peace to whomever would listen. And Rasputin had now
more to do with that class of individuals than with the nation.
It was at that time that ho suddenly imagined himself to be
endowed with perspicacity in regard to military matters, and that
be attempted to criticize the operations at the front, and especially
the leadership of the Grand Duke Nicholas, whom he hated with all
the ferocity for which his character had become famous. Ho was
known to be absolutely without any mercy for thoso whom he dis
liked. He disliked none more than the Grand Duke, who hod, on
Prophet' himself remained silent, Ir's-'cH Jl
vhtspered that he was in league Wii tr. Jf
i , i ri;L jfl i i
ysor r "
"But others talked, if the
and soon it began to be
with Germany.1
one occasion when the "Prophet" had tried to discuss with him the
conduct of tho campaign and even volunteered to ariivc at head
quarters, declared that If he over ventured to put in an appearance
there he would have him hanged immediately from the first tree he
could find. Rasputin was prudent, and moreover he knew that
Nicolas Nicolaiewitsch was a man who nlways kept his word, so he
thought it wise to leave a wido berth between him and the irascible
commander-in-chief. But he applied himself with considerable per
beverance to undermine the position of- tho latter, and especially to
render him unpopular among the people, accusing him openly of
mismanagement in regard to military matters and of want of fore
sight in his strategical dispositions.
In the beginning this did not succeed, partly because the stuff
did not allow any news of importance to leak out from the front
and partly because the country believed so fiimly in a victory over
tho Prussians that it was very hard to shake its confidence in tho
Grand Duke's abilities. Tho early successes of the first Galician
campaign had strengthened this confidence, nnd no one in Petro
grad during the first months of tho year 1915 ever gave a thought
to the possibility of our troops being compelled to retreat before
tho enemy, and no ono foresaw the fall of Warsaw and of the other
fortresses on the western frontier. Rasputin, however, knew more
than the public at large. He had his spies everywhere, who faith
fully reported to him everything that was occurring in the army.
He was well aware that the army was suffering from an almost
complete lack of ammunition, and that it would never be able to
hold against any offensive combined with artillery attacks on the
part of the enemy. This knowledge, which he carefully refrained
from sharing with any one, enabled him to indulge in prophecies
of a more or less tragic nature, the sense of which was that God
was punishing Russia for its sins, und that with an unbeliever like
the commander-in-chief at the head of its armies it wus surely
marching towards a defeat which would bo sent by Heaven as a
warning never to forget the paths of Providence, and never to dis
dain the advices of the one prophet that it had sent in its mercy
to 'save Russia from all tho calamities which were threatening her.
He used to speak in that way everywhere and to everybody,
even at Tzarskoie Selo; not to the Emperor and Empress, of course,
but to all those persons surrounding them who were favorably in
clined toward himself and likely to spread abroad the prophecies
which ho kept pouring into their ears.
But, in spite of all this, he was not quite so successful as he had
hoped, because owing to the ignorance which prevailed as to the real
state of things in the army, few people believed him, and fewer still
would own that they did so. Once more Rasputin'a star was be
ginning to wane, nnd even the Empress began to think him very
wearisome with his perpetual forebodings concerning misfortunes
which seemed to be far away from the limits of possibility.
Then suddenly things changed. lackensen began his march
forwnrd, and the Grand Duke, with his heart full of rage and despair,
was compelled, owing to the mistakes, the negligence and the crimes
of others, to make the best out of a very bad job, and to try at least to
save tho aimy confided to his cure. Even if ho had to sacrifice towns
and fortresses, he had declared 'he would never, and under no condi
tions whatever, surrender to the enemy. The great retreat began,
und proved to be one of the most glorious pages in the history of
Russian warfare, a deed the gallantry of which will live in the mili
tary annals of the world as almost as grand a one as the famous
retreat of Xenophon und his 10,000 warriors. Russia appreciated
its importance; the world admired it; the Tzar, though he may have
shed bitter toars over its necessity, felt grateful for the talent which
was displayed in such a terrible emergency. Pebble In Fet
began looking for those upon whom they could fix tho rcsponiWIHp-
fnr thin nwfnl rlliinrnft'nfmnf whlrli Ytaii nvnvtna 41.M. Ttl ii.JW
rj ........ ....... .. ,v.av H1UII. iiltB wa
the moment for which Rasputin had been waiting with the pttiwat
of tho serpent watching for its prey, nnd of whfch ho hasten! U '
mnke use with the infernal cunning he usually displayed in all Dm
evil deeds with which he was familiar.
Attacking Grand Duke Nicholas
The secret police agents, who wore workimr with him. nnd thwSt
to whom ho had been enabled to make the enormous profits that 1m4
added so.many millions to his fortune since the war had started, W-
gan to spread the rumor that the Grand Duke was plotting again '
tho Tzar, and wanted to usurp tho lattcr'a throno and crown, out t
fear of being called upon to render an account of his activity during
the nine months of tho campaign. Though it was quite evident tint
tho responsibility for tho lamentable want of organization which had
culminated in the momentary defeat of the Russian troops lay upon
tho War Office and the Artillery and Commissariat Department,
and though the War Minister, General Soukhomllnoff, had been dis
missed in disgrace before being sent to tho fortress of St. Peter and
St. Paul to await there his trial; though strenuous efforts had. been
made to punish thoso to whose carelessness this mass of misfortune
had been due, yet Rasputin and his friends applied themselves to th
task of representing tho Grund Duko as being moro guilty than
any ono else, and of having on purpose kept secret the real state of
things, out of fear that ho would be called upon, if ho revealed tb
truth, to surrender his command. There was not ono word of truth
in these accusations, because Nicolas Nicolaiewitsch had, on the con
trary, worked harder than nny one to repair tho blunders of others,
and had never shared the blind confidence in victory which so many
people who knew nothing about the real condition of affairs pro
fessed to nurse. He had done all that it was humanly possible to do,
in order to save a situation which had been doomed from tho first
day that it had begun to develop. If ho had failed, this had been
in no way his fault, but that of circumstances and of fate which bad
proved too strong for him.
The public, however, thought differently, and Rasputin's numer
ous supporters helped it to come to the conclusion 'that the Grand
Duke ought to be deprived of his command by .some means or other.
This, however, was not such an easy thing to do, because the Em
peror had a sincere esteem and respect for his uncle, and understood
better than all those who criticized the latter tho extent of the dif
ficulties against which he had had to fight. He refused to listen to
those who had tried to shake his confidence in the commander-in-chief.
He .might have go no on for a long tlmo doing so had not Ras
putin succeeded in winning over to his point of view several high
ecclesiastical dignitaries, who took it upon themsolves to speak to
the sovereign of the desire and wishes of tho nation to seo him as
hume himself the supremo command over his armies. They, assured
him that it was quite certain that the armies would fight ever so
much better under the personal leadership of their Tzar than under
any other commander-in-chief, no matter how high might be his
military reputation, or how elevated might be his rank. This was
quite a new point of view, and Nicholas II had to examine it with
attention, the more so as the Empress, too, had been won over to the
idea, and was pressing him to give to his subjects this satisfaction
for which they craved.
The military situation was then recognized, even by the most
optimistically inclined people, to be very serious, and it was gener
ally felt that something had to be done to excite the enthusiasm of
the troops, which had lately begun to wane. The assumption by the
Tzar of the supreme command seemed to present itself almost ip the
light of an absolute necessity. Perhaps from some points of view
Rasputin was not so very wrong to urge it, as it most certainly, pro
duced a salutary effect on the whole situation. But it is to be doubted
whether the "Prophet" had ever looked at it from that point of view.
It is far more likely that his only ainvhad been the displacing, of th
Grand Duke Nicholas, who. had begun to look too closely into a),
that was going 'on around Rasputin, and tt watch the, differenl in
trigues in which tho latter was taking part with an attention that
did not promise anything good for him, or for the further develop
ment of his career as an adventurer.
(CONTINUED TOMORROW)
RAINBOWS END
By REX BEACH
Sr Author of "Tho Spoiler," "Tho
Barrier," "Heart of the Sunset"
A novel of love, hidden treasure and rebellion in beautiful, mys
terious Cuba during the exciting days of the revolt against Spain.
Copyright Harper A Urulhere.
CHAPTER VI (Continued)
"you don't take ire for u. spy, do you?"
Johnnie asked, with Ills friendly
grin.
"Ah! You don't look like one, but we
never know whom to trust. This joung
lady In whom you are Interested, who Is
hen
"Her name is Varonaj Miss Rosa Va
rona." "8o?" Enrlquez raised his brows. "Not
by any chance the heiress to that famous
Varona treasure?"
"Exactly 5 If there io such a thing."
There ensued a pause while the Cuban
drummed softly upon his desk with his
fingertips. "Her brother Esteban told mo
that he was working for jour cause. I
warned him to be caieful, but " O'Reil
ly' voice grew suddenly husky. "Hero!
Read this. I want you to believe me."
Reverently he laid Rosa's letter before
her countryman. "I'm not In the habit
of showing my letters to Btrangers, but
I guess that'll convince you I'm not a
py."
He sat Bllently while the letter was
b)hg read; nor was he disappointed in
the result. Mr. Enrlquez raised dark,
compassionate eyes to his, saying:
Help From Enriquez
"This is a tquchlng letter, sir. I thank
you for allowing me to see it. No, I don't
doubt you now. Poor Cuba! Her sons
must be brave, her daughters patient."
"Weill You understand why I must go
quickly, and "why I can't chance delay
by going either to Matanzas or to Ha
vana, I want to land somewhere farther
east, and I want you to help me to find
Colonel Iopea." ,
Mr. Enrlquez frowned thoughtfully.
"What X Just told you Is literally true,"
he said at last, "We work in the dark
tip here, and we don't know the where
abouts of our troops. We are suspicious
of strangers, too, as we have reason to
be. But I have a thought" He excused
himself and left the room. When he
returned lie explained; "I don't have to
till you that we are watched all the time,
ind that for us to aaslst you openly would
be (labia to defeat your purpose. But I
bve just telephoned to a man I can trust,
n4 1 have told him your story. He has
relatives In Cuba and he agrees to help
you, If h can HU name; Is'Alvarado."
Writing an address upon a card, he
handed It to O'Reilly, "do to hlm tell
him w)it you have told me, and do as
be directs.
"Another thing,, don't return here unless
t 1 necessary; otherwise when you land
ft Cuba you may have cause to regret
WMr. KnrkHMc tndd Ills hand, ami
when O'Reilly tiled to thank him he
shook his head. "It Is nothing. I wish
you success, but I fear you have tackled
a big proposition.''
Doctor Alvarado, a high type of the
Cuban professional man, was expecting
O'Reilly. He listened patiently to his
callei's somewhat breathless recital.
"You do well to ao!d the cities where
you are known," he agreed.. "It would
be madness, under the circumstances,
even to be seen In Matanzas; those ene
mies of your friends would have you
deported. But Just how to reach the In
surrectos "
"If jou'd merely give me a letter say
ing I'm a filend "
O'Reilly Gets Instructions
The doctor promptly negatived this sug
gestion. "Surely you don-t think It can
be done as easily as that?" he inquired.
"In the first place, wherever you land,
you will bo watched and probably
searched. Such a letter, If discovered,
would not only end your chances, but It
would bring certain disaster upon those
to whom It was written. I have no right
to Jeopardize the lives of those I hold
dear. These aie perilous times for all
good Cubans, Mr. O'Relll" Enrlquez told
me about that poor girl. She bears a
famous name and I want to help her.1'
He removed his glasses and wiped them,
absent-mindedly. "There are three Alva
rados living," ho resumed. "My two
brothers, Tomas and Ignaclo, reside in
Cuba, and we all work for the cause ot
Independence in our own ways. I am
fortunately situated, but they are sur
rounded by dangers, and I must ask you
to be extremely careful in communlcat.
Ing with them, for I am placing their
lives In your hands and I love them
dearly."
"I shall do exactly as you say."
"Very well, thenl Go to Nuevltas,
where Tomas lives there Is a steamer
leaving In three or four days, and you
can arrange passage on her. He is a
dentist. Meet him somehow, and make
yourself known by repeating this sen
tence: 'I come from Felipe. He told me
how you whipped him to keep him from
going to the Ten Years) Wart" That will
be enough; he yrlll ask you who you
are and 'what you want."
"I see. It'H a sort of password."
"No. 1'ye never had reason to com
municate with him In this way." Noting
the bewilderment in O'Reilly face, Al
varado smiled. "You woit't need tq,say
anything more. No living aoul, except
Tomaa and I knowa that he thrashed
me, but It la true, I was young, I wanted
to go to the war, but he took It put of
me with a bamboo. Later we bound
pureelvea never to sientlo tt. lie wW
understand from the message that I
trust you, and he will help jou to reach
the rebels, If such a thing is possible.
But tell me, when you have found Miss
Varona, what then?"
"Why, I'll bring her out."
"How? Do you think you can walk
Into any seaport and take ship? You
will be tagged and numbered by the au
thprltles. Once you disappear Into the
manigua, you will be a marked man,"
Alvarado Helps
"Well, then, I'll marry her Tight there.
I'm an American citizen "
"Don't build too much on that fact,
either," the doctor warned. "Spanish
Jails aro strong, and your country hai
never compelled that respect for Its na
tionals which other countries insist
upon."
"Perhaps! But the first thing Is to find
Miss Varona and learn that she's safe.
I don't much care what happens after
that."
Alvarado nodded and smiled. "Good!
What would this world be without senti
ment? It loves a lover. I like your
spirit and I hope soon to have the pleas
ure of again seeing you and meeting your
wife."
O'Reilly flushed and stammered, where
upon the good Cuban patted him on the
ahoulder. "Come and see me when you
get back, and bring me news of Tomas.
Now, adJos, compadre."
"Adtos, senor! I am deeply grateful!"
O'Reilly had no difficulty In securing
passage direct to Nuevltas on the English
steamer Dunham Castle, and a few dayB
later he saw the Atlantic Highlands dis
solve Into the mists of a winter afternoon
as the ship headed outward Into a nasty
running sea.
It proved to be a wretched trip. Oft
Hatteras the Dunham Castle labored
heavily for twelve hours, and bad weather
followed her clear Into the old Bahama
Channel. Not until ahe had thrust her
nose Into the narrow entrance of Neu
vitas harbor did she wholly cease her
seasick plunging, but then the weather
changed with bewildering suddeqness.
Cuba Again
Cuba, when it came fairly into eight,
lay bathed In golden sunshine, all warmth
and welcome, like a bride upon an azure
couch. The moist breath from her fra-
grant shores swept over the steamer's
decks and Johnnie O'Reilly sniffed it
Joyfully.
He had brought little luggage with him,
only an extra ault ot khaki, a few toilet
articles and a Colt's revolver, tho com
panlon of his earlier Cuban days. Ho waa
holding the weapon In his hand, debating
how. and where to conceal K, wh4 the
THE STORY THUS PAR
JOHNNIE O'REILLY, more commonly known as THE O'REILLY, has
fallen in love with ROSA VARONA, one of the orphans of DON
ESTEBAN VARONA, a wealthy slave owner and sugar planter of Cuba.
Don Esteban had hoarded a vast fortune In precious stones, old Spanish
coins and modern currency in a secret chamber at the bottom of a well.
In building this well he was assisted by SEBASTIAN, a faithful slave, the
only other person to share the secret.
When Don Esteban's first wife died he became the target for many match
makers, who knew vaguely of his hidden fortune. DONA ISABEL suc
ceeded in becoming the second wife and immediately set about intriguing
to learn of the fortune. Hoping to get information from Sebastian, she
succeeds in having his daughter EVANGELINA sold. The slave, infuriated,
murders his master and several others before he is shot. Thus In a few
minutes the only two persons Who know the whereabouts of the fortune
are killed.
Isabel tries vainly to get information from PANCHO CUETO, the
manager of the plantations. Instead, he threatens to claim the estate as
his because Don Esteban left no deeds to the property. That night Isabel
falls into the well and is drowned. She is rescued by ESTEBAN, Rosa's
brother and a spy for Colonel Lopez, the leader of the Cuban insurrec
tionists. Pancho Cueto finds a letter with information which Esteban had
dropped and turns it over to the authorities. Rosa and Esteban then escape
up the valley to the hut of Evangelina, their old nurse.
O'Reilly, back in New York at the office of the firm which he repre
sented in Cuba, anxiously awaits information from his sweetheart. His
many letters do not bring a reply until months later, when Rosa tells
him of the misfortunes that have befallen since he left Cuba. O'Reilly
determines to rescue his beloved, and for that purpose calls upon Mr.
Enriquez, head of the Cuban junta in New York. Enriquez says he is help
less to aid O'Reilly.
first officer paused In tho stateroom door
and. spying it, exclaimed:
"Hello! Smuggling arms to the Insur-
rectos, eh?"
O'Reilly laughed. "It's an old" friend. I
don't know Just what to do with it."
"I'll tell you," the mate volunteered.
"Lead your old friend out here to the
rail, shake hands with him and drop him
overboard before he gets you into trou
ble." "Really?"
"I mean It. They won't let you land
with that hardware. Take my tip."
But Johnnie hesitated. Though his In
tentions were far from warlike, he could
not bring himself, In view of hla secret
plans, to part with his only weapon. He
eaamlned his extra pair of khaki trousers
and discovering a considerable surplus of
cloth at each Inside seam he took needle
and thread and managed to sew the gun
In so that It hung close against the In
side of his right leg when he donned the
garment. It felt queer and uncomfort
able, but It did not appear to be notice
able eo long as he stood upright. With
some pride In his stratagem, he laid off
hla winter ault and changed into lighter
clothing.
Nuevltaa was scorching under a mid
day sun when he came on deck. Its lqw,
square houses were glaring white; here
and there a splotch of vivid Cuban blue
stood out the rickety, worm-eaten piling ,
of Its waterfront resembled rows of rot
ten, snaggly teeth smiling out of a
chalky face mottled with unhealthy, arti
ficial spots of color. Gusts of wind from
tho shore brought feverish odors, as If
the city were sick and exhaled a tainted
breath. But beyond, the hills were clean
and green, the fields were rich and ripe.
That was the Cuba which O'Reilly knew.
Spain at War
A Spanish transport close by waa lan
guidly discharging uniformed troops:
lighters of military supplies were being
unloaded; the sound of a bugle floated
from the shore. Moored to the docks or
anchored In the harbor were several
shallow-draft "tin-clad" coast-patrol craft
from the staffs of which streamed the red
and yellow bars of Spain.
Although there were but a few pas
senger on the Dunham Castle, they were
subjected to a long delay during which
suspicious customs men searched their
baggage .and questioned them. Finally,
however, O'Reilly found himself free to
go ashore. He had passed the ordeal han
dily, and now he waa eager to reach some
lodging-place where he could remove that
revolver which knocked against hla leg
so awkwardly at every step.
Once on the dock, he gave hla ba to a
negro and led the way toward tho street.
At the last moment, however, Just as he
was about to plant his feet upon sol(d
earth, he was halted by two men who
rose from a bench where they had been
Idling. They carried the tosseled canes
of the Secret Service, and O'Reilly felt
his heart Jump.
With a murmured apology one of them
relieved the negro of the valise while the
other began to search O'Reilly's person
for concealed weapons. He began at
Johnnie's shoulders and patted one pocket
after another, "fanning" him In the fash
ion approved of policemen. Now, too late,
the American regretted his refusal to
heed the mate's warning. It seemed cer
tain that he was In for trouble, but he
drew his heels together and stood with
tho revolver pressed between his legs,
praying that those exploratory palms
would not encounter It. "When tho officer
had slapped every pocket, ending at the
hips, he nodded; his companion snapped
shut the valise and handed It back to
the porter.
El Gran Hotel Europea
O'Reilly paused a moment or two later
to wipe the abundant perspiration from
his face; even yet his pulse was pounding
erratically. He hoped the future held
no more surprises of this sort, for he
feared that his nerve might fail him.
El Gran Hotel Kuropa, Nuevitas's
leading hostelry, belied its name. It was
for from large, and certainly it waa any
thing but European, except, perhaps, in
Its proprietor's extravagant and un-American
desire to please, at any cost. The
building was old and dirty, the open cafe,
fronting upon the sidewalk of the main
street, was full of files, and dust from
tho unclean roadway lay thick upon its
stone-topped tables; moreover, a recog
nizable odor of decay Issued from the
patio or perhaps from the kitchen be
hind It. After O'Reilly's first meal he was
sure it came from the latter place; even
suspected that the odor flattered actual
conditions. But It was the best hotel the
place afforded, and Senor Carbajol was
the most attentive ot hosts.
He was a globular, unctuous little man,
this Carbajal; he reminded O'Reilly of a
drop of oil. He evinced an .unusual In
terest In the affairs, of his American
guest, and soon developed a habit of pop
ping Into the latter's room at unexpected
momenta, ostensibly to see that all was
as- it should be. Now there waa very
little In the room to need attention only
a bed with a cheesecloth mosquito net, a
washstand and a towering', smelly clothes
press, of Spanish achttecture, which
looked as if It might have a dark and
sinister history. When, for the third
time, he appeared without knocking-,
O'Reilly suspected something.
"YoU have everything, eh?" Mr. Car
bajal teetered upon the balls of his feet
while hla small black eyes roved Inquisitively,
"Everything In abundance."
'There is water, eh?" The proprietor
peered dutifully into tho pitcher, inci
dentally taking stock of O'Reilly's toilet
articles.
"A veritable ocean of It."
"One never knows. These servants are
so lazy. But your other baggage, your
trunk?"
Suspicious
"I have no trunk."
"So? I took you to be a great
eler."
"I am."
"Selling goods', eh?"
"No."
"Indeed? Then you are a pleasure
traveler? You see the "sights, is that itr
Well, Cuba Is beautiful."
"Most beautiful, Judging from what I
have seen."
Mr. Carbajal wagged a pudgy forefinger
at his guest. "Tut! Tut! You know Cuba.
You speak the language better than a,
native. Tou can't fool me. sly one!'
He wrinkled his face and winked boUt
eyes. It was an Invitation to further con
fldence, and he was tdlsappolnted when
It passed unnoticed. "Well, you Ameri
cans are a brave people," he" continued.
with an obvious effort to keep the co
versatlon going. "YoU like to be wherje
the fighting la."
"Not I. I'm a Umld man.'V
"Ho! Ha! Ha!" the proprietor cackled,
Then he became pensive. "Thre fs noth.
Ing here at Nuevltas to Interest a tourist
except the war."
"I'm not a tourist."
"Indeed? Now that la Interesting." lr,
Carbajal seated himself on the edge at
the bed, where he could look into P'Rett
ly'B traveling bag. "Not a, tourist not
a traveling man. Now what could poe
elbly bring' you to Cuba?" y
O'Reilly eyed hla inquisitor gravely; a
subtle melancholy darkened his agreeable
countenance "l travel for my health
said he.
"Your health f" Carbajal' fram
began to heave, his bulging abdomen os
cillated as if -shaken by some hWMfix
hand. "Good! Ha! There',? another ekf
for you."
'I'm a sick man." O'Reilly
hollowly.
"From what malady do yof
inquired the hotelkecper. , "
"Rheumatism?
"Rheumatism? Thai fc m' rtw -
a pain in the !, svUtl
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