"Where the devil have you been?" the latter inquired, anxiously.
"Been getting out my weekly joke about the revolution. Had to
write up this morning's 'battle.' Couldn't work in my room, so I--
"
"Sit down; and don't jump when I tell you what has happened. We're
going to be pinched at midnight."
"Why midnight?"
"I don't know, unless that's the fashionable hour for military
calls."
"What's it all about?"
"I guess they don't like us. Have you got anything incriminating
about you?"
"N-no! Nothing, except my citizen's papers and--a letter of
introduction to General Maximo Gomez."
O'Reilly suddenly lost what appetite remained to him.
"Nothing EXCEPT a letter to General Gomez!" he cried. "Good Lord,
Branch! Were you ever shot at sunrise?"
The reporter coughed dismally. "N-no! It's too damp. I suppose you
mean to hint I'd better destroy that letter, eh?"
"Just as quickly as possible. Where is it?"
"In my room."
"Hm-m! Then I'm not sure you'll have a chance to destroy it."
O'Reilly was thinking rapidly. "From what I was told I suspect you
are being watched even there."
"Bullets! I thought as much."
"Would you mind using some other oath?" O'Reilly broke out,
irritably. "I've always considered 'bullets' weak and ineffective,
but--it has a significance."
"There's a new lodger in the room next to me.
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