The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 4, 1898, Page 31

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1898. 'BINNIE AND NED IN CUBA. [Synopsis of preceding chapters—Binnie hav- ing turned the tabies upon Ramirez, the Span- ish spy, had taken and made him @ prisoner. Then an order was secured by h Julia was en from prison, Harrv Ostend, Binnle and Julla forcing Ramirez to pass them by the sentries, had nearly made their escape from the city of Santiago de Cuba, when a Spanish of! e up, searching for t having become known to Gen , with quick wit, being a & h goldier, offers tc find the fugitives. He, not crsons before him = thos the es- m, ade members of the searc They ride out of the city in high gle 4 mounted and fully armed with the foolish of- ficer.] g C....~TER VIIL HE four. the Spanish officer, Harry Ostend, Julia and Binnie, all fully armed, rode with varied emotions. The officer hoped to gain fame and reward; the others hoped to use the officer to help them to reach the American army outposts, at least to get through the Spanish lines with his assistance. Soon they came to where the road had three for Here, upon the advice of Julia, who was pre- serving well the appearance of & an- ish soldier, Harry Ostend was instruct- ed to ride in one direction, Binnie in a second and the officer and Julia went along in company, on the main road. Harry Ostend and Binnie did not ride far before they drew rein. The sound of the hoofs of the horses ridden by Julia and the officer had died out in the distance. The two Americans rode back to the fo s of the road and there met, Binnie, who reached the junction first, waiting for Harry Ostend to come up. Together they then made th way along the main road, keeping their eyes and ears open. They realized that Julia, when she had caused them to take the side roads had some plan that she wished to carry out alone, and they also understood that she had sent them away so that the entire party should not fall into trouble if she should fail. A mile from the forks of the road ;rum turned suddenly on her compan- on. Sudden suspicion flashed into the of- ficer's mind. Click. His suspicion came: too late. “Who are you?” he asked. At the same time he reached for his pistol. “Please give me that weapon, the girl quietly said. my prisoner.” The offic willingly, meant. “I will call some friends of yours, if you do not mind. went on the girl, in an even tone of voice. She took from its hiding plac lic whistle and blew upon it a signal. rilly through the forest the echoes rang. Harry Ostend and Binnie b d. This was the Cuban signal for sembling. It miliar to the Spa ish captain, it had been used the Cubans from the be ning of the war of independence. captain heard and knew how eas be had been tricked. His anger stirred so in him that he drove the spur in his horse's sides and was aw like the wind. Julia did not fire after him; she waited for developments, secure in the ;;m that the officer would not escape Onward came Binnie and Harry Os- cap- “You are r gave up h wondering pistol what this un- all a me- deep tend with the sp of an onr storm. Their first idea was tha was in danger but when they Spanish officer alone and in full flight the came them. their voice: fice partly over- laughter in lled upon the of- surrender. This d. He was forced two Americans essed forward to meet Julia, In citement her soldier cap had fall- “head and h she had de coiled up a her cap whe which d hidden in t put on the uni- ldier, now blew 2 Spanish about her shoulders, lisgust of the Spanish officas was 1 prisoner by a girl,” he said. will that sound when it is Harry Ostend. . nt as he turned admiringly to- ward her, “of all the brave and wise Cuban girle that it has been my good fortune to meet, you are the bravest and wisest.” “Thank you, Mr. Ostend; and thank too, Binnie, for coming to my I gave you both a chance, you in the capture of the Binnie and the Cuban girl! This was too much for the wondering Captain “Will you answer me one question?” “You wish to know where Ramirez is, I suppose?” said Julia. “He was the fourth person party. When you innocently engaged us to catch ourselves, Ramirez stood by, quaking with fear, believing that you would recognize him. He brought us to the outer line of the city and he was a good conductor; but we think that you will be of as much use as he was “Never.” The officer’s face was pallid with rage as he said this. Three pistols were leveled at him. He looked at them coolly for a mo- ment, then he realized that he must obey. “Lead on,” he sullenly said. “No, you are to do the leading until we are safely beyond all the Spanish lines. If you serve us well and do not attempt to betray us we will speak for you when we join the Americans. But do not trifle with us if you wish to see sunny Spain once more.” So said Harry Ostend Onward the party in our / went. Binnie rode ah 1d of the Spaniard to head him off he should make another dash Julia cape Harry Ostend and ht up the rear. Binnie ulty in following the trail, up to a blockhouse which was filled with anish soldiers who were lounging about ‘““Bewnre, id Harry Ostend to the Spanish officer, as they came in sight of the soldiers. ‘“You will 31 Mg = S “I wish I could help more!” ex- claimed the girl, looking up from the bastings she was patiently pulling out. ““We are so poor.” “You help all you are able’ an- swered the mother, fondly. ‘“Mother appreciates her big girl who helps sew and wash dishes and cook and scrub and wash and iron for us all. It is be- cause you help so much that I have the good chance I have to earn.” are in haste; that you are in command of the party, and that we will not stop. Your life depends upon doing as we bid you.” Take the news to our friends,” so d the commander of the blockhouse as the party refused an invitation to stop for bregkfast, “that we are all ready for the Americans and will give them a warmer welcome than they will breakfast provision was rounded out by He was not up any sooner than Binnie STORY OF A car;hfnrf' 2 5 and Julia. The Spanish officer still lay catching a brace of blrdsf \\'hic!’;lBlnnie “Where did you look, mamma?” she “That was Wwe one, very Wwell ga¢ ypon the ground, being unarmed. skillfully brought down from the trees asked, presently. done,” remarked Harry Ostend grimly This was the first time that Julla had with stones. A fire was made in an- SOLDIER CAP “Everywhere," answered Mrs. Til- as the blockhouse disappeared from ever been actually under fire, but she other hollow tree. The smoke, as it — ford, briefly. “Don’t think any more view behind them, “but I think that acquitted herself like a voteran soldier. slowly escaped from this improvised BY GULIELENA ZOLLINGER. about it, daughter. It will only make hereafter it will be well for me to be the captain of this company, just to avoid accidents. I will trouble you, Captain, for your uniform.” When the party again moved Harry Ostend was dressed as a Spanish cap- tain. Several blockhouses were passed and Harry Ostend talked for the party and managed to pick up much infor- kitchen, was hardly to be noticed at any considerable distance and Binnie was not afraid that it would bring any of their enemies upon the scene. A brook of sweet water ran by and they made cups of the large leaves of the banana tree and drank freely. All felt much refreshed. ~They did not lose sight of the fact that their danger From the small group of fugitives such a fierce and well directed rain of bul- lets proceeded that the small Spanish party who had emerged from the edge of the woods once more sought the wel- come refuge that its shade afforded. Still the American rifles barked like dogs of war; still the withering fire of bullets tore away twigs and sought out you unhappy.” ? “But 1 \Efixi{ think of it, mamma. We need it so.” The next day there came a letter and a package to Minnie. Her New York cousin, Willie Applebee, was going to war. “And as a parting remembrance, my dear little cousin,” the letter ran, “I send you a soldier’s cap.” HE Western city where Minnie Tilford lived with her mother, brother and sister was full of ex- citement. Its boys were going to war. Minnie’s father had been one of the boys in the old war, and fif- teen-year-old Minnie, the oldest of the three children, was thinking about it while the drums beat and the flags mation. To avold any accident, the iith great accuracy the Spanish sharp- had been increased by the knowledge T/ 0, Hastily Minnie opened the small Spanish captain was treated as a pris- shooters in their eyries in the thick foli- that the Spanish officer, lately of their “4Yr(“ (19 was papa when he went, Package and took therefrom a bonbon- oner, a possible suspected spy, and aged trees. When the fire of the party, had of their identity. The Span- . 0000 niere, which was the “soldier’s cap, while the three friends freely feasted with the Spaniards the real captain and it was filled with chocolate creams., “How lovely!" cried Minnie, passing the candy to her mother. “Isn’t it a dear little soldier’s cap, mamma? And without waiting to hear her mother’s reply she went on with her letter. “The shops are full of pretty conceits in bonbonnieres,” wrote the cousin. “Knapsacks, sailor hats, shells, shield-shaped boxes, tents with a sol- dier on guard at the dooirt. But I:Choms; N v v r to take off my hat, as it were, to father il plenty while your g ern cousin—" So the letter ran It seemed to Minnie that her father o had been dead a long while. Eleven years. Just as many years as her younger brother, Allan, was old. remember Spanish slackened for 2 moment Harry Ostend asked: *Is any one hurt?” jards would wish to capture them for the reward and the glory to be gained. But Harry Ostend did not believe that their hiding place could be readily found. On the whole, they felt that they were now having an experience such as Robinson Crusoe might have appreciated. During the day Binnie climbed a tall tree and looked toward the American line. To his astonishment, he discov- ered that the Americans had disap- peared. Harry Ostend understood. Only an American scouting party had vet appeared in that neighborhood and they had been ordered back. ' This made the position of our three friends “Barely 18, dear.” : “Did you know him then? “No; I was a baby then. The war had been over fifteen years when I first met your father.” Mrs. Tilford had not paused in her sewing as she answered her daughter’s questions. She was sewing to earn money to pay the rent. 2 “Were we always poor?” went on Minnie. n. For two or three days Minnie's thoughts were in a whirl. Now she thought of Willie off for the South, now what of the dainty bonbonniere, and now of more critical. The Spaniards would “I can't seem to m ! soon know that the Americans had plenty is like, mamma,” she said at her father stp;pc:esd aAnidder;ut of the fallen back and would come on in force last. And she looked around the small c}*{z\ns at last dar n 3 Mamma!” she cried. “Come!" “Come! Where?” asked the mother in astonishment. But Minnie held out her hand almost impatiently, her eyes shining with ex- citement. “I've a thought, mamma. Come!"” she repeated. Without a word Mrs. Tilford laid down her sewing and rose to follow her daughter into their tiny sleeping-room. Down dropped Minnie on the floor, and and faded room. be under Mrs. Tilford thought of the poor ad- “Is visers she had had, who had squan- dered her all in bad investments, and said nothing. She could remember what plenty was like, and the contrast be- tween her former and her present cir- cumstances was painful to her. “When I'm a man,” said 13-year-old Bert, “I'm going to Washington and get you a pension. That's the thing to to capture the fugitives. “There is need for us to way at once,” said Harry Ostend. Julia able to go?"” “Ready,” was the cheerful given without hesitation. “We must follow the American scout- ing party as rapidly as possible. Our best hope of escape lies in that direc- tion.” Even as he spoke, a dull, harsh sound was heard by them all. “Bloodhounds! They are hunting us with bloodhounds!” said Julia. For the first time her face paled and her hands trembled a little. The cutlook was surely full of peril now. Once the bloodhound is upon a fresh trail he never falls to find the vietim for whom - he searches. What was to be done? Soon the little party of three might ex- pect to be surrounded by enemies who would follow the lead of the fierce and unerring hounds. Harry Ostend said nothing. He was busy thinking. He looked as uncon- cerned as if there were no hounds or Spaniards within a hundred miles. (To be Continued). answer, TRIUMPHANT EXIT OF THE AMERICANS FROM THE CITY. was compelled to lie in guard houses. No one knew him, for he had not been long in the province. In high spirits the Americans and Julia journéyed. They proceeded slow- ly aft st day, their purpose be- ing to 1 they could. At one blockhouse they heard of the brave ex- ploit of Hobson and his gallant com- panions, who sank the Merrimac to prevent Cervera from escaping. At an- other they heard of the oncoming of a considerable force of American soldiers. “No,” was the prompt response. of Binnie and Juiia.” “Then the time has come for a dasn. Never mind the captain; we will leave him behind, and he must explain his plight to the Spaniards in the best way he can: Forward.” Up leaped the three into full view, daring the fierce firing of the Spaniards, sped with the swiftness panish bullets whistling close to them as they Although they ware uncomfortably ran for their lives. When they knew that the Americans fugitives the Spaniards sent no sound LITTLE DOG LADDIE. were near-they hastened on, being im- of derision after them as they flad N, patient to take part in the real fight- The; re flights that demand as much BY JENNIE LANDMANN, STOCKTON SPENT my vacation with a little dog named Laddie. He does all kinds of tricks. If you show him a piece of bread he will walk on his hind legs for it. He looks very funny when he hops around. When we are at,the table he sneezes for a piece of meat. When he sees me put on my hat he will run out to the corner and wait until I come, and then follow me to town. Laddie is going to have his picture taken soon. ing for the freedom of Cuba. Once, as they climbed a hill, they saw far below them the glitter of bayonets and bold and clear on the morning breeze came the music of an American band playing “The Star Spangled Banner.” Still keeping on they caught a glimpse of a fiuttering flag.. It was the glorious red, white and blue. They longed to go on to the American lines at once; but thought it prudent to wait until night, when they might be surer of escaping the notice -of the Spaniards. As soon as the dusk of the evening fell they ge as the most reckless charges against intrenchments and batteries. This was one of this sort. In fact the Spaniards, later in the night, talked ad- miringly of the exploit of their un- known foes until they learned the en- tire story from the Spanish officer who had borne the Am cans unwilling company to this place. Then their ad- miration, while it was heightened for the daring and skill of the Americans, was tempered with disgust for their own officer, Loud was the laughter about th: Spanish camp fire at the ex- cou NEGLECT THE PERSECUTED DOLL REPROVES HER MISTRESS FOR ;nnvo.] r.,.(-]w]ar}z]l 0;1 tf};vot. leaving their pense of the captain, who had been —_—— do. Then you wcix‘x("t ha\v'venrt‘o (s;eeg'égg E)r:glggt \Lr;dxer the bed brought out a orses tied behind them. made a prisoner and who had been i ess. I was talking 5 innia?” e Bt ron e munE Erandly up above: ke vaaE . KITTY'S SAD MISTAKE. Ll “What do you mean, Minnie?” de- Hooper about it and he said that was the thing to do. His aup! gets a pen- sion, and she don’t sew.’ «I should like to have a pension, cer- tainly,” said Mrs. Tilford. “Well, I'm going to get you one,” de- clared Bert, grandly. Then he seized his hat and rushed out, attracted by a noise in the street. There had never been any talk of a pension in Mrs. Tiiford’s flat of two rooms until now. And Minnie turned curiously to her mother. “Can Bert do it, mamma?” she asked. “No, dear, T am afraid he can’t. But there is no need to discourage him. isn’t a man yet, you know,” and she smiled. “But why, mamma? Why can’t he?” “Because your father's papers are lost,” answered Mrs. Tilford, gravely. “I knew nothing about business when your father died. His army papers may have been among his other papers. I aiding Iin the escape of thogse whom he had been sent out to capture—all by the wit and adroitness of a young girl of Cuba. Harry Ostend led his comrades toward the American camp. They were compelled to chop their way through the forest with machetes, and their progress was slow, especially as one of the party had to remain behind as a rear guard. All night long they toiled without meeting friend or foe, The gray dawn came and they were still some distance from the American outposts. Julia was completely tired. Harry Ostend concluded that they would go no farther until she could get rested. Secking for a place of refuge he found a great tree with a hollow tru The opening in the tree was large enough to permit the girl to enter. Once within she was out of the sight of any passer, for a climbing ivy nearly covered the hole or doorway to what Binnie called the “Palace Hotel.” They were all hungry. Harry Ostend mount21 guard a tangle of forest and thick growth of chaparral, the figures of the four mper- sons were clearly in relief against the landscape. There wasa moonlighted space of many yards to cross before the friendly cover of the forest could be once more gained. There was no time to turn back now; there was in imme- diate view the double danger of being shot by both friend and foe. The Span- jards knew that no friends of theirs could now be journeying toward the American lines, The Americans would also have reason to suspect a trap and might at any moment open fire. Harry Ostend's anticipations in this direction were not overdrawn. There suddenly came flashed from the depths of a tree behind them, within the Span- ish lines, a keen light, which was imme- diately followed by the whistle of a bul- let. The first bullet was followed by another and another in quick succes- sion, and the American outposts, eager to bring on a general engagement, re- manded Mrs. Tilford. father’s old uniferm.” “I know it, mamma. open it quick!” “The child has been too much ex- cited the last few days,” thought Mrs. Tilford, glancing at her daughter's flushed cheeks. “I will humor her.” She opened the box. Impatiently Minnie reached past her mother and picked up her father’s cap. Her sensitive fingers felt of the crown. “They are!” she cried. “They are here! Feel, mamma! Don’t you feel paper in the crown?” A few moments’ careful work took out the lining /and out fell the papers. “Your father was wise,” said the mother, brokenly. “He knew I was careless and young. And he knew, too, that I loved him and would never part with his uniform.” She sald no more, but her heart went out in gratitude to that higher pdwer B e “That is your BY MAYME ELOISE FOX. A Kkitty once captured a fat, toothsome Open the box; hird, Which, when she prepared to devour, Spoke thus: “Mistress Tabby, to eat with . soiled face, Belongs not to those of great power. “Both custom and etiquette have a fixed rule, That ere one partake of a meal His face must be clean and his toilet ar- ranged, For cleanliness counts a great deal.” This flattering, plausible counsel appealed To Tabby; the bird she released, That she might her facial ablution per- orm, The better to relish her feast. No sooner her hold on the bird she re- laxed Than upward he flew to a tree, From whose leafy bough he regarded the cat, _ Chagrined to no little degree, do not know. But four or flve years that had directed her through hum sponded. at the tree and Binnie went in search ved a wis ago I made a search for them. If I Y o3 n 5 t teache B = means to this piece of good fo: 3 Fall on your faces,” commanded of breakfast. This was not difficult to E?&e’;(f&%ipgg ama caneda{;fia:;;w DuEs, could find them—" she paused and “How camepyou togthink rtoufnei” Harry Ostend, “or none of us will live find. Berries and wild fruits abounded. And kitty, recalling the loss of one meal, looked dreamily out of the window < asked the mother, when the papers had been placed in the hands of an agent and the pension and back pay assured. “I thought,” said Minnie, “if a sol- dier's cap would hold chocolates why might not a soldier’s cap hold papers? It was Cousin Willie’s bonbonniere. to reach the American lines.” Behind them came the trampling of feet. The Spaniards were coming. Re- gardless of the command that he had just given, Harry Ostend rose to his knee and prepared to defend himself. With his rifle in easy reach Binnie picked Itis Spanish soldier cap full of berries. Venturing a little way out of the thicket he uttered a low cry of joy, for near at hand yas a banana tree, fairly laden down with ripe fruit. This Takes food before washing her face. ~ while a vision of good food and com- 2 e fortable clothing for her - children passed before her. “Could you get the pension if you found them?” asked Minnie eagerly. “Yes, I am sure of it.” Teacher—John, of course you would rather be right than be President? John (guardingly)—Well, I'd rather be right than be Vice President. . 7 1s 'L BEETH I DDLE Wipks Express, JINKS’ DOLL AND GERTIE BY ESTELLE BAKER. ERTRUDE never believed that her doll, Jennie Jinks, could talk and walk and act just like she could herself, but I think that she belleves it now. She told me all about it the other night when she was sitting down on the floor by the sitting room fire. You know Gertie has a whole family of dolls, all sizes and shapes, colors and nationalities. But her prime favorite is her big doll, Clarisse de Montague, who is a great big, beauti- ful French doll, dressed in blue satin " and a lovely white hat with a curling ostrich feather winding around it, and with finely worked silk and linen underclothes. Clarisse has wonderful real brown curls and big brown eyes that open and shut. She can talk— that is, she can say ‘“Mamma” and “Papa” and “Ough,” just like Gertle’s little baby brother, Louls, does. There are so many dolls that it would take too much time‘to tell about them here, but she had one doll that she always detested. She called her Jennie Jinks. She is about a foot and a half long and is dreadfully homely, but that isn't her fault, for her little mamma has totally neglected her. She has but one gown to her name and that is a dirty red calico dress. Gertie was very sleepy the other day—that day it was so hot—and she went to sleep under the pepper tree out on the lawn. In about five minutes— 80 It seemed to Gertie—she was awak- ened by & small but angry voice at her side, and raising herself up on one elbow she peered over the side of the hammock. Well, of all things! If there wasn't Jennie Jinks standing on the grass, a most disreputable sight, with her matted straw-colored hair strag- gling down her back in such a sorry fashion. “Well, well,” cried Gertte in great surprise, “I didn’t know that ‘dolls could walk and talk.” “Well, they can,” replied Jennie, with a great show of indignation, “and I am very angry at you ause you treat me so.” Gertie had left her lying face down in the dust near the woodshed in the back yard. Gertie was speechless from mingled surprise and shame. The doll went on talking. “You treat me just like an old stick of wood. You haven't washed my face for at least a month, and I haven’t had on any other dress but this old filthy red thing for at least three months. I think it's a shame to dress me: too badly for people to look at and I am only good enough for people to step on and knock around.” Gertie knew this very well, but she had no defense, so the doll continued her lecture. “There isn't a button on this red dress and you put in two pins and they hurt dreadfully. You have just ‘jabbed’ them into the very flesh and I wish you would take them out!” With a penitent sigh Gertie pulled out the pins and tucked them under the frill of her guimpe. “That’s so much better,” cried the doll in relief. “They have been stuck into me for over six weeks. * ‘“And besides all this you leave me out in the yard every night, in the dust and cold, while you put that conceited Clarisse de Montague up in her lovely cradle and tuck the silk and wool blankets all around her precious shoulders” (with a sniff of disdain) “and me you leave out here in the damp night. That's a lovely way to treat a doll. Suppose your mother * should do that!” “I didn’'t know that dolls had feel- ings,” sald Gertie apologetically. “You didn’t,” shrieked the doll, “T’'ll show you if they have feelings,’ and with this she rushed up to Gertie and tried to . throw her out of the hammock. But, of course, the little thing couldn’t do it, and, as Gertie heartlessly laughed, she suddenly sprouted up faster and faster until she grew as high as Gertie —no, higher—and started to throw her out of the hammock. Gertie screamed and sprang forward—but the doll had fled; gone to doll land. ON THE PARLOR WALL. BY CATHERINE HOWARD. Draw( )i)ack the folds of the parlor cur- ain, Let the light through the window fall On a picture by wee hands painted, There on the snow-white parlor wall. Ah, to your eyes it may disfigure— Fairest of all it is to mine, For 1 see in the childish penciling Trace of my darling in each line. Oh, for a glimpse of that tiny figure! Oh, but once more to hear the call! Lisped so sweet, “I have drawed & plic- ture, Mother, for you, on the parlor wall.” A i JOKES BY JUVENILES. ' Little five-year-old Flossie had ob- served that fish was always served for dinner each Friday at her home in the city, but she had missed it during a two weeks’ sojourn in the country. “Grandma,” she queried, ‘don’t you never have Fridays in the country?” “Of course we do,” was the reply, “but why do you ask?” *‘Cause,” answered Flossie, “they don’t smell like the Fri- days we have in town.” A Denver tot closed her prayer with: “God bless papa and mamma and Dewey and Shafter and Schley and Sampson and Teddy's Terrors, and I wouldn’t be very hard on poor Admi- ral Cervera if I were you.” Mrs. Ferry—Did you behave yourself at Mrs. Wallace’s and not ask the sec- ond time for pie? Bobby—Yes'm, 1 dldn’t have to ask only once. I got the first piece without asking. The imagination of small boys is worth having. Thfi other night, when Mr. Wal- Iypug was lying asleep’ on the library Sofa and snoring away for dear life, Mrs. Wallypug remarked that she wished he ‘would not snore so. “Pa ain't snoring,” said Thomas Wal- lypug. ‘‘He's dreamin’ about a dorg, and that’s the dorg growlin’.”—Harper's Ba~ zar.