The rebels
held that part of the island. Once there and in touch with them it
would surely be no difficult task to evade the local authorities
and join Colonel Lopez.
O'Reilly pondered these thoughts briefly, then seized his hat and
hastened down-town to the office of the Cuban Junta.
At this time the newspapers of the United States were devoting
much space to the insular uprising; the first stories of Spanish
atrocities later, alas! destined to become all too familiar, were
gaining public attention, and there were few readers who did not
know something about the activities of that body of patriots who
made their headquarters at 56 New Street. It was from this place
that the revolution was largely financed, so the papers said. It
was there that the filibustering expeditions supplying arms and
ammunition originated. To 56 New Street O'Reilly went.
There was nothing martial about the atmosphere of the Junta's
offices; there were no war maps on the walls, no stands of arms
nor recruiting officers in evidence--not even a hint of intrigue
or conspiracy. The place was rather meanly furnished, and it was
disappointingly commonplace. A business-like young man inquired
O'Reilly's errand.
Johnnie made known a part of it, and then asked to see some one in
authority. In consequence, perhaps, of his Irish smile or of that
persuasiveness which he could render almost irresistible when he
willed, it was not long before he gained admittance to the
presence of Mr.
Pages:
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106