The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 28, 1898, Page 31

NED IN CUBA of preceding chapters.—Ramirez ormied General Linares that: Herry an A . Ostend was pur- Admiral Samp- rs commanded d in P e Litnares convinced General best to execute and aed that he should be shot the meantime son and has upon a wounded by was revealed upon Morro Castle.] CHAPTER VI e HE shots fired by the Spanish sen- tinels at Ned were not noticed by General Linares and his friends they feasted. Firing took place hour during the day and night and the sentinels did not call the attention of ny officer to the log ] unknown to them, had carried safety with Harry Ostend’s mes- to Admiral Sampson. But Binnie heard the reports of the rifles and went down to > water's edge and saw the log float away. He ther nt into the prison, and there, for the first tir aw - y Ostend! Did Harry Ostend see h nie's disg If he did he w too shrewd to show it. It was just midnight when the deep sllence of the prison was broken. The sleepy sentinels wer: glad to hear the ~hing footsteps of other sol- 0 were to take their places on The iron door of the prison was opened and the r appeared. “Watch the spy " he sald to a sentinel. be out of our Way to-morrow Ie will be- hot at sunri hed all the proof that Gen Ramirez has fur- al Li- man in all the ni nares needed to show that th 42 is Ostend, the greatest of an sples.” not that Ramirez coming? What does he W here, I received the salute of the d him an order signed res to permit the bear- Ostend. Treacherous ast, Ramirez I Harry Ostend to & of money to save when he k that Ostend would be shot at su Ramirez jailer and h by Gene W r of Ostend’s cell and key,” Ramirez com- X r awed the jailer, who d the key to Ramirez. Harry i looked up as the key grated in of his cell door and saw z and knew that this was the ho had caused him to be seized. er was great, but he controll- » said Ramirez as he enter- “you will be shot at sunrise unl what?” The words were coolly that Ramirez was sur- a poor man, Harry Ostend. get all the American money Ten thousand dollars is You ¢ Fou wish for. not a large sum.” “For that sum will you promise safety to me?” “Yes. I am Ramirez, the secret agent of the King. Y give you my word that ten thousand doilars in gold ‘will buy your freedom and safe con- duct to the American lines.” “Suppose that I refuse?” “You will die at sunrise. But, per- haps, you will feel happy to know that you will ha the soldiers who will “I'do not understand.” Ramirez cruel thou tend the but his face was This laughed, Had Ned been captured? flashed throug ;- He d s of Ramirez. ‘Perh thought, “I mav be able to fool ht ps,” this mirez looked at Harry Ostend sus- o ; time presses; your t once. hall have the money.” of this prison and I to it.” rély treacherous, elf alone with Har- t shackling his hands. said Mr. Ostend. not find it difficult to er to let him pass, with T , especially when hé had produced enough sparkling gold to fur- nish hush money for the sentinels, who had not been paid for many months. Accompanied by Harry Ostend, Rami- rez went out, promising the jailer to return soon with his prisoner. The iron gate of the prison clanged behind them and they were In a narrow street, which was darkened by the shadow of the high wall of the prison. “In which direction?” asked Rami- rez. “In this!” answered a voice from the darkness, and a lithe form shot toward Ramirez with the quickness of thoug! One terrific blow and Ramirez was felled to the ground. The assailant 1 d upon the prostrate form of the ain and thrust a pistol into his #One word, Ramirez, and you di “The American! Binnie! Spare me!" “Not another word. It is Binnfe. You know that my promises are good. One sound or word to attract the guard and you will dle!” Ramirez_wi as s thoroughly cowed and terrified. Here was another witness to his treacher “I will obey,” he whispered. “Spare my Harry Ostend now held Binnie's pls- tol pointed at Ramirez’s head. Bin- nie felt in the rascal's pockets and found the key to open the shackles. “Now to get Julla out of the prison,” said Binnle, as soon as Harry Ostend was free. “Julia here!” “Yes. We came here to take care of Ramirez. We were going to tell the story of the death of a certain Spanish captain, who was shot by Ramirez. Since we find you here and about to be shot—at sunrise to-morrow—we must change our programme and get out of the city with the aid of Ramirez."” ‘“Wonderful boy, you are, Binnle; but how to get Julia out of the jail?” “I will have Ramirez sign an order for me to bring her to General Linares. The rest will be easy!” The three were not noticed by the groups of soldiers in the city. Harry Ostend led the way to a small cottage and finding the key under the door, went in. Ramirez was too bewildered and crushed in spirit to <dare to 0% “You ought to have thought of that before you came to the prison to extort money from me for a service which you never meant to perform.” “I cannot understand how it was that Binnle should have been there to take me a prisoner,” protested the crushed SpY. Binnte laughed joyously. He had so far won the day and although there were many perils to be encountered before the party could get out of the city he felt happy and, it must be con- fessed, a little bit proud. ‘“You do not know how interested I am in your inovements, Ramirez. I saw you in the city and I made it my business to find out what new kind of wickedness yo't were engaged fn. 1 followed you to the prison and for you to come out. TUron m¥ word Glrls, what do you t When Marzery's birthday A present = "’, To whi e scarcely wil nk her Grandma gQ Very hard to guess, pery, our dimpled. e called a Scowling le, Grandma said AN ) 52 came ? | confess: wrinkle deep it caught, and tried to break. ales; This very odd old mi Her dimples chased the w Forgot angHi So ¢ross She fairly had to gizz %/ Went dancing lixe & f soft 2nd Io 0 4 do th fargery For 2ny glass w hush, our M What you s0 Just six is dimpled A Or Graadma cguldn't fool glass 2y ELLA M. SEXTON. =4 \\‘/7":.{1 -7, \\\'/""4 \9 4 R T T S fer any resistance. He penned the or- der and Binnle departed on his mis- sion. Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes passed. Harry Ostend sat with pistol pointed at Ramirez, intently listening. Half an hour—then footsteps were heard. Binnie entered and with him was Julla. At the sight of the girl Ramirez shook with fear and his teeth chattered. Binnie had said that Ramirez had shot the Spanish captain; here was the wit- ness who must have seen thatcrueland cowardly act, and her eyes were look- ing at the traitor so keenly that they seemed to be reading his ev ry secret. He quailed before her glance, bat was silent. Harry Ostend went to a cupboard and took. therefrom & Spanish uniform. “During my residence in Santiago de Cuba,” he said, while a sm”e played over his face, “I have gathered many things that might be of use. This uni= form will about fit Julia.” “What? I wear a Spanish uniform? “Certainly. You will make a capital soldler. Hasten now; for we must be out of the city before daylight and far off in the hills. It is a desperate ad- but here are three friends who useful to Cuba if we can es- cape. Julia soon reappeared from another room, wearing the uniform. Tall and erect, she looked very soldierlike. “Come now,” said Harry Ostend, who naturally assumed command of the party, “the jailer will soon be uneasy, and our time is short. Ramirez, do.not forget that we are all armed and that we are zll dead shots. Your duty is to appear to be in command. We will fol- low you and you will give the proper word to pass us through the city and beyond the forts. You will go wherever we go and be useful to us. March!” “But, Senor, if I obey you I will be shot for this night’s work.” line when M vrinkles fa: She laughed: the glass shone ciear : the murror threw ety ints view e—when «ut7/a funnv lasyy This Scowling-glass will cure her fro across thét Scowling-g i?’ 7 s s, f just 2 name! e same. A /4 doesn know her with the silver sc'awhng;. you have given me a delightful sur- prise. You think that you may be shot by the Spaniards for the work of this night. That is no more than you de- serve; but let me assure you that it will not be safe for you to attempt to play us any tricks.” No one could be more fully aware than was Ramirez that Binnie’s words were not idle threats. He led the way by the shortest route to the east gate to the city. The party was halted at short intervals, for the city was divid- ed into districts, and 1° was necessary to have different passwords to go on. Ramirez never was at a loss for the right word. At the end of an hour they were nearing the last line of sentries who guarded the line of rifle pits in the outer defenses of the city. Just as Ra- mirez advanced to give the word there was a stir. From sentinel to sentinel the call passed along—'turn out the guard.” Hot on the heels of this din came a thunder of horses’ hoofs. In the half light of approaching dawn an officer on horseback drove up and quickly demanded information whether a party of four had been allowed to pass through the lincs at that point. So the escape had already become known, and the situation was critical for the three patriots and for Ramirez. Julia alone was equal to the occasion. Relying upon her uniform and her adroitness to carry the day, she stepped briskly forward and saluted the officer. “Well,” he sald, inquiringly, “what is 1t?7” “I think that I can guide you where they are through the lines.” “It is well,” said the unsuspicious of- ficer. ‘“Lead the way.” “But, Captain,” went on Julia boldly, “there are four of them and they have undoubtedly separated by this time to increase their chances of escape. I can point you out two sharp men who can to THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 1898. find the fugitives if any one in Cuba can.” “Bring them at once. We will then be four to four. If we catch the ras- cals you shall share the reward. One of the persons who has escaped |is Harry Ostend, the American spy. They were helped out of prison by Ramirez. Ah, if I could only catch the villain, Ramirez, fortune would be mine.” Julia pointed out Binnle and Harry Ostend as sharp men to find the fugi- tives. They were given horses, and almost quicker than the fact can be told they were merrily riding out of the city, realizing what a wonderful escape they had had at the last min- ute; and now they are speeding through the country. As for Ramirez, who has been left behind, he knew that his only chance for safety was to get by the sentries unknown. The dan- gers were thickening around him rapid- Iy and he began to understand how dangerous and foolish it is to be a trai- tor. D. H. W. To be Continued. e THE DOUBLE BIRTHDAY BY CHARLES ELMER UPTON. PLACERVILLE. T should have been Monday; but, then, Mattie always was in a hurry, and, besides, there was joy enough to last over into the next day. And you couldn’t keep her quiet. She was all motion, from the merry brown eyes that answered every ldugh to the sturdy little feet that skipped about untiringly from morning till night. For a week past there had been a constant prattle of parties, dinners and toys ~without number. Everybody, from papa and mama down, had been told of the coming wonders at least a dozen times; yet each showed the greatest surprise whenever the subject was spoken of. Now it was Sunday, and even Mattie’s ready brain could think of nothing new, though her tongue could still have rattled on for hours ‘had there been any one to listen. But this Sunday was a busy day, for rains had delayed the outdoor work on the farm and every moment of sunny weather was precious. 1 don't know what Mattie would have done had not something very unexpected appeared. This was a visitor, a young man who often came to 's house. . He was very fond of children, and soon he and Mattie were talking away at a great rate. “You don’t know what I'm going to have?” Mattie said, looking up slyly. “What is 1t? Won't you tell me?” coaxed Mr. Wallace. But Mattie shook her head. “T'll be six years old, and it's to-morrow. Now guess.” Mr. Wallace scowled and pretended to be thinking very hard. "It isn’t a birthday, is it?” he asked. , it is, too! It’s my birthday! Ha! ha! ha! you can’t guess nothin’!"” And Mattie went off into such a funny peal of laughter that the visitor couldn’t help joining. “Six years old!” exclaimed Mr. Wal- lace. ‘“My, what a big girl you are.” “Most big as mama,” added Mat- tle, looking down at her toes. “An’ maybe K1l be bigger. She don’t grow at all. Say, what makes old folks never grow?” “H-m! Well—they don’t have time, I guess,” said Mr. Wallace. “Oh!” said Mattie, and for a while sat perfectly still. Suddenly she burst out. “Say, I guess old Llar had lots o’ time to play!"” “Old who?” asked the astonished vis- itor. “Old Liar; ’cause - he growed an’ growed an' growed till he was as big as—as the whole world, I guess. An’ he was bad all the time, and he killed poor Davy. No, no! Davy killed he!” and Mattie’s eyes blinked excitedly. Mr. Wallace threw back his head and laughed long and loudly, while Mattle stared in surprise, not seeing any cause for such queer behavior. He stopped presently, red in the face, though his mouth was yet smiling as he said gently: “You little rogue! You mean Go- liath.” “Yes, yes! Go-llar! That's him! What do you think? I'm going to have a cake!” “You don’t mean {t!” cried Mr. Wal- lace, opening his eyes wide. “And can I haye some?” “All you want,” answered Mattle generously, jumping up from her chair and dancing about in excitement. “It's 8ot choc’late in it an’ sugar an’ candy an’ little frizzes all on top. It's gooder than any o’ your cake, ain’t it?” (bE ‘smrvq'n}:gun (THROD .05 NoTHOIES. EDITED DAVID H- “Well, I should say it was!” said the visitor, with a whistle of astonishment. “And it's all your very own?” Mattie nodded gleefully. “Every teenty bit! An’ mama an’ me made it all our own selfs. didn’t help one speck—there, now!” “Whew!"” said Mr. Wallace, looking as if he would like to get up and dance, too. “Then there's the party”’— “An’ T'll get my table an’ my cups an’ saucers, nen we can have a really, truly dinner, an’ T'll 'vite you an’ papa an’ mama an’ “And dolly,” put in Mr. Wallace. “Yes, dolly, too,” agreed Mattie, “an’ —an’'—lots more. Just then Mr. Wallace looked up and saw Mattie’s mama in the doorway. “BExcuse my leaving you alone, Mr. Wallace. But there’s so much work now that one hardly knows where to begin. I'm afraid Mattie is tiring you.” “Not at all, Mrs. Stanton,” answered the visitor. ‘“Mattie and I have been having a very pleasant little chat.” It grew late and Mr. Wallace arose to leave. “You can’t go home,” sald Mattie, catching hold of his hands. “You had better stay to supper, Mr. Wallace,” said Mattie’s mama. “Mat- tie will be disappointed if you don’t taste her birthday cake.” Mr. Wallace stayed; and so it hap- pened that Mattie had two birthdays in one. The table was soon set and the won- derful cake placed where it could be seen and admired by all. Then papa was called In from the field; then came brother Tom, aged.11, and sister Car- rie, who was almost “grown up,” being nearly 16. “Puss is different from most people,” sald Mr. Stanton, winking «t the visi- tor. “Her birthday comes only ence a [ %Z)ou %,f i oTh year.” “Yes,” said mama, soberly, “but she has the best of it at school. The other boys and girls didn’t start till they were six years old, and Mattie has been going three weeks already; so she's just that much ahead.” So they joked and laughed and ate, and everybody tasted the cake and de- clared it to be the best he had ever eaten. Soon after supper Mr. Wallace said again that he must go home; but Mat- tie climbed upon his knee an¥l declared she wouldn’t let him go. Then Mr. Stanton said that the visitor had bet- ter stay all night, as home was a long way off and the road was very rough and muddy. So they all sat down by the fireplace and began to talk, and Mattie sat on Mr. Wallace’s lap and told evérybody ert] Lo r 3 o/r\ta\ % A[\&:\{o n’f\oA 165 Ry Nobody _else | gbout the fun she would have the next ay. After a while the clock struck 9, and mama said Mattie must go to bed or ?:; couldn’t get up early in the morn- I wish I had time to tell you all about the party. May be some time you will meet Mattie and she can tell just what happened. Mama’s voice was the first sound Mattle heard the next morning, and she opened her eyes sleepily, “What’s ze matter?” “Time to get up, dear,” was the cheery answer; and then Mattie knew that morning had come and the real birthday was just begun. ———— NINE BRAVE SOLDIER BOYS EVERAL Santa Rosa boys thought that it would be fine to camp like real soldiers, and they carried ou their idea. Captain Ted Culver, First Lieu- tenant Arthur Wright, Privates Will Neurater, Willle Healey, Earl Riley, Hood Burnett, James Jamison, James Church and Harry Wilson. Such was the roster of the occupants of ‘“Camp Dewey” in the large vacant lot ad- joining Dr. Wiley’s residence on Mec- Donald avenue. These young gentlemen for the ‘e achersn ever can myafijy’-mg' mads -;t 30 r\a;_l\ x&h;fi cal vs: my;adlaigr doll - oesn’t 'he Stand .@r.«al'x_',x\:‘g)l\'tt‘ | 3‘?'\{7’1“\0“‘1’-6&&&4-“. ol VW\&'C dopgoudthinkiefiher fotet EbadfiWeilor space of three days and nights en- joyed a taste of soldier’s life on the tented field, and spent a most enjoy- able time following out to the letter the regime of military rule in camp. hey had their tents pitched and had their commissary. department; had regular drills morning and afternoon and had guard mount and review. The young soldiers did not forget 10 mave Old Glory fluttering in the breeze over “Camp Dewey,” for in this way did they immortalize the hero of Manila by naming their camp in honor of him. Visitors, and during the en- campment there were many, were re- quired always to salute the colors. Captain Culver’s company was quite sorry when the time came for the breaking of camp. the authorities tax a dog ts size. In Hambu according to 81 JACK SAVED | THE EXPRESS BY ALMA S. BEMENDERFER, ANGELS CAMP. LKALI POINT was situated in Nevada, near the mountains. Away to the east stretched the desert, and through it the rail- road track was lost to sight in the distance. Years ago, when silver min- ing was at its height, all the six alkali bleached mills near the mountains made loud music for the people who oc- cupied the liveliest camp in that sec- tion. But now all was quiet, and to the few remalining citizens the passing trains were the only noisy machines. to boast of thereabouts. Jack Hqward lived there. His father was a section hand on the railroad, and the trains, pulled by the swift, puffing engines, seemed to draw him to the tracks and force him to take an inter- est in railroad work. Often in the dusk of the evening he would -wander off, and standing by a rock pile watch the headlight of a locomotive quickly ad- vance out of the gloom of the desert, growing brighter and brighter as it bore down on the station. Away to the south on the railroad line was a deep gulch called Hooker Gulch, and as mining had been done above it much of the debris and waste ore was dumped into its depths, until the deep, steep cut near the track was filled by a plle of rock. Jack often walked by it and wondered it it was solidly braced. Once he no- ticed that some small stones had rolled on the ‘track; but as that had hap- pened, elsewhere, he only tossed them to one side. Often when his father res turned home after a hard day’s work he sat with him on the porch and lis- tened as he explained about railroad work., “Jack,” he said, as the through train passed by, going East, “see that train? ‘Why, it's a little world to itself, with its own peculiarities, so to speak. Even the people have their own railroad ways. Look at the mail clerks, por- ters, baggage men, conductor, express man, fireman and the engineer, who, to my mind, is the most important man there. He understands every part of his engine and all the track he runs over. Yet how in the power of others he is, when one mistake on their part might send him and a trainload of peo- ple to their death.” One day as Jack was passing the gulch he saw several boys rolling large stones down the steep bank to see them skip the track. Quickly climbing to where they were he said: “Stop that, fellows. If any hit the rails they might make trouble.” “Mind your own business,” shouted one boy; “and you think you can or- der us you are mistaken. Don’t listen to him, boys. Go :%ead and roll all Yyou please.” Then more rocks were rolled over, each boy trying to see who could roll the farthest. Jack stood by, them it was not safe. trying to convince Seeing they . would not listen he went down and started back to town. He had not more than cleared the gulch when, hearing the boys shout, he looked back. They had started a large boulder, which, as it bounded from place to place on the down trip, started earth and rock, which gathered in volume every second, till a huge slide came surging down over the track, covering it deeply for several feet. The boys stood still at the top till it reached the bottom, and then came stumbling down in great haste. “Just look what we have done, boys,” sald one quickly. “Who would have thought that boulder could have start- ed all that slide? Pitch in and let’s try to get it off before a train comes along.” The boys walked some distance and getting picks and shovels worked hard to clear the track. But as fast as they shoveled it off more dirt slid down from the dump, till at length they sald it was useless. “The best things for us to do ds to leave things as they are and skip, and, ‘ when we reach the point, say we saw it as we came by. No one would ever think we started all that, and if Jack Howard dares tattle we will pay him back. I mean just what I say, too. Don’t I, fellows?” “Yes,” said the boys. Then they started for the point, leaving Jack alone, The landslide had occurred on level ground, and as the engineers ex- pected clear headway there, they gen- erally made ,up for lost time on that level stretch of country. It was nearly night and Jack decided to go to Alkali Point and get help. He hurried on, but before he had gone far he heard the echo of a train along the rails com- ing from the opposite direction. He was very much frightened. What could he do? That flashed through his mind as, turning back, he hurried over the landsiide, and—there was the train! The headlight was glowing, the cars lighted and sparks from the smokestack trailing on behind. Jack thought quickly. Taking off his coat he lit one end, waving it over his head. It quickly burst into a bright blaze, which was seen by the engineer, who brought the train to a standstill within ten feet of where Jack stood. “Well, what’s the trouble here?” asked some of the trainmen as, lan- terns in hand, they came up. “Why, it’s a landslide!” “Yes,” sald Jack, “it is. I came along and saw it, so I was able to let you know in-time.” After a time'the other boys learned how Jack had saved many passengers from death. They were afraid that Jack would accuse them. But no, Jack kept his own counsel, and from that time he was the most popular boy in town. 4 B Teacher—Do all kinds of birds have feathers? ’ Bennle Bright—All but the parrot, ma’am. Peacher—Not the parrot? Bennie Bright—No, ma’am; the par- rot has grass.—Harper’s Round Table. i il “You speak,’ said a fond mother, “about people having strength of mind, but when it comes to strength of don’t mind my son Willlam surpasses anybody T ever knew.”