Happy Days: Tom Taylor, The Boy Who Worried Blanco — page 2: what you’re looking at

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. ~ LJ od , ? ~Zz4 ” ~*~ ‘ * ~ TOM TAYLOR. BY H. K. SHACKLEFORD. ear CHAPTER I. = Youya ‘roM TAYLOR AND BLANCO—THE “ ae P% ae THREAT, Was General Fitzhugh Lee, the Amer- se; igéan Consul-General of Havana, left that — “€ity téreturn to the United States, just __~ prior to the declaration of war, quite a ‘number of American citizens came away with him. Among them was a youth of some eigshteen years of age, named Taylor, _ - whose fsther owned a sugar plantation In _ Pinar del Rio province, on which all the ‘mills and houses had been destroyed by - order ef Weyler, after seizing some legal - documents pertaining to the estate and _ bther property. as -_ ¥& was for the purpose of obtaining those ~~ . — - documents that young Taylor called upon | ‘the captain-general on the day before his departure, Blanco received him courte- ously, as the youth had twice called on fim’ before, and quietly listened to his sar age plication. | » 4) Sf don’t know where the documents are “ab this-anement,” said Blanco, “ but I pre- > = sume that my secretary does, Aseverything ied 1 ints towards an open rupture be- > tween the United States and Spain I cer- > tainly cannot return you any property lo- ~~) gated in Spanish dominions.” =>) ~-* Bat, general,” said young Taylor, >» “there is no war between the United | > States and Spain, and hence from a legal |) Standpoint it is unjust to withhold my property from me.” rie property is held legally under the '- =) “articles of war, which justifies the seizure " of property belonging to _ individuals > charged with aiding and abetting the ene- mies of Spain.” ->o) +#«“WNeither I nor my father, general, have > aidledior abetted the insurgents_in any way “whatsoever.” That is a matter for investigation,” A>. Gad thet will take place during my ~ absence,” retorted young Taylor. _ “Why should you be absent?” Blanco ton ¢ i : re Bis = 4 = & » * CS ay = ol ~ “Faw f ™ #Wecause self-preservation is the first )eeiaw of nature, an American citizen’s life is 73) fot safé im Ouba just now.” 2 , “Well, whose fault is that?” Blanco fh}. ~~ a ‘eT. Dr, *\ - ) 2) itis certainly no fault of mine,” I dl i . A + } was ies <Butit is the fault of your country,” re- +. verted Blanco. — “gah oPhis isa matter of private property, a: ee as Lam leaving the country, the land- ae \ > ef estate will remain subject to the laws ee ES. of Spain, but the documents that have » heen taken from me pertains to property in New York and other places in America, over which Spain can have no control uimderany circumstances; you can at least t—_ ‘ :. . 4 a é am =) befarn those to me.” es : Magi tl can return you nothing,” remarked =. hulkhe captain-general. a eee Very well, general. I shall leave Ha- % Xo Yana to-morrow with General Lee; but — 3°] asain Bee J will return, and it may be that ee You will regret this act of injustice,” and "> he started to leave the presence of the nay 5 Overnor-zeneral, who sneeringly re- “tien Te pees him : [> * L hope shall have the pleasure of see- = yaw ey La ” c ° , ae vou when you do return,” » = ss “fis quite possible that you may,” an- = sweret qoung Taylor, ‘for I shall cer- te a a siv fet you know of my presence on the a , d perhaps worry you just a little , bit? pit he passed out of the room, leav- Papert aly the captain-general with a grim smile y on. ‘face. - eee aylor immediately repaired to > he American Consulate, and reported to . ere Lée, as one who would leave with on «following day-for Key West. sneral Lee, through his private secre- ¢aev nad notified what few American citi- [Gens were still in the city of the last >>.) chance they would have to leave Havana + ied i. ‘woarmolested; but the great bulk of Ameri- +: ft; a Fs who had been in Havana had already 7 > = departed; The next day the little party =) >» repaired to the wharf to take the steamer “that was,to convey them to Key West. ie A great crowd of people were on the ~~ street to-see them leave. All the wharves “were black with a dense crowd of human- : ae all sorts of violent epithets at general and his Vd fe : “e was made to anything said to them by tlie populace, and the little party of Americans was soon safely on board thesteamer. It was then General Lee’s turn, and pointing to the Spanish flag waving over Morro Castle, said to those about him: ‘Look at that flag out there, for this is the last year it will wave anywhere over Cuban soil.” ; The ship then steamed away, followed shy the jeers, sneers and taunts of the scum = Llehthe city.amd & few. hours later was in | + the harbor at Key Westy where the A mer- wean congul-general waa given amevation an ee Fae s7 o . “ "} Weg! os eee fee : uf i) “> + * , v* ca Owe : ; = _ 5 nad _ ’ 4. . + bs * ag ? * ; wi . So Se ay b - ‘ pve « eel e¢ Rotem >t > on 31 = f | he *, . . = iv ‘ a ¥ vies J ay . ° ~ * + eee s , 7 - . ak FB vue 9 x nah * ’ a bas o's :.? > ~ . ee ——_-* wm “F5 1 ey ia ‘gpa nat’ Pw 7 i . i Ma : 7 va. O a ¥ pe RY ph tton J: y My — TYHAPPY DAYS “HAPPY DAYS” BICYCLE AND BUTTON COUPON. To the ten persons sending us the largest number of these coupons cut from “Happy Days”—between the numbers 197 and 200—we will send to each one a ‘Happy Days” Bicycle, or we will send War-ship But- tons for these coupons, if sent to us according to direc- tions printed on page 16. eee ee by the citizens, He hastened on to Tampa, where he took a special train that was to convey him to Washington, Young Taylor accompanied him all the way, and continued on to New York after parting with him at Washington, On ar- riving in New York young Taylor reported to his father, and informed him that Blan- co had refused to return to him the docu- ments seized by Weyler. ‘‘ Well, it can’t be helped,” said the elder Taylor; ‘‘we shall simply have to wait until the Spaniards are driven out of Cuba before we can hope to again do any- thing with the property there.” ** Of course,” said Tom; ‘* but I promised Blanco that I would return to Cuba and let him hear from me,” “* You did, eh?” ‘* Yes, sir ; right to his face.” ** What did he say to that?” ‘* He replied that he would be very glad to see me again, and 1am going to make him understand that he uttered more truth than he was aware of when he said it, for I intend to worry him until he is willing to pay a million of dollars tosee me once more in his presence as a prisoner.” ‘*See here now, Tom, my boy, don’t go to doing anything rash or foolish.” ‘*On the contrary, father, I intend to be prudent and cautious, but at the same time worry Blanco more thanever a gad fly worried a horse.” A day or two later Tom was in consulta- tion with the secretary of the Cuban Junta in the city of New York. A week later he was on his way to Florida, accompanied by a score of Cubans who had seen service in theinsurgentarmy. Heestablished him- self at Jacksonville, where he was secret- ly joined by many other Cubans who came to the city quietly by ones and twos and threes, until he had a force of over one hundred men quietly waiting orders from him, He Sine all their expenses, conduct- ing everything so quietly asto excite no suspicion whatever. . In the meantime the President ot the United States had proclaimed war against Spain. ‘There was then nothing to prevent Cubans or Americans from warlike acts against Spanish authority in Cuba. Yet young Taylor thought it best as far as pos- sible to keep secret the object of his move- ments, knowing as he did that Spanish spies were thick all along the coast of Florida. Late one afternoon a litte steamer entered the harbor of Fernandina, and that night two carloads of quiet, but dark-featured passengers left-Jacksonville for that little port, and before midnight they were all on board the unknown steamer, and before daylight had passed out to sea. | Young Taylor was on his way to Cuba to make good his threat of worrying Blan- co. Alittle after sunrise the party were assembled on deck, and were addresed by the daring young American, “Boys he sung out to them, * we are going ahead of the Stars and Stripes to raise the Cuban flag and fight for the free- dom of the island, with the assurance that the army and navy of the United States will make our victory certain and sure. You have each of you pledged to me your word of honor, in consideration of.my hav- ing paid all expenses of transportation and equipment, to stand by me as long as the war shall last. Iam frank to admit td you that I have a personal grievance to settle with Blanco, At the same time I pledge to you that I will orderno man into danger that I would not share with him. We have on board of this vessel cases of Winchester rifles, sabers and revolvers of the best make, with plenty of ammunition for anactive campaign, You haveallseen service, so you need no instructions in the use of arms, nor in the ways of killing Spaniards, I promise you plenty of fight- ing,and at the same time will try always to avoid unnecessary waste of life. Let every man, now proceed to, supply himself with a rifle and revolver, together with uniformis and equipments,” i Fy Shel Ps ; a * ‘¢ ' ea a : : * bo sn | y . L-t & 4 4 ay i yy . res é rhy on ’ Pat, . dl a4 j ou + ' | ‘4 \« Pea ree. f AY 3 ask : fis MP ee rr, ; : ot “ee oP esha 24 4.7 With wild shouts of enthusiasm the Cubans broke open the cases and selected their arms, uniforms ,and equipments, after which they proceeded to perfect their organization. Tom Taylor was elected captain, with the right to appoint the lieutenants at his leisure, Having spent nearly half his life on his father’s sugar plantation, young Taylor had learned to speak Spanish like a native, He was hardy, active and strong, with a very keen insight into human nature that was quite unusual in one of his years. During the day he made his selection for first lieutenant. He was a young Cuban by the name of del Pino, who was some twenty-five years of age, and had seen two years of service under Gomez, and whohad een in New York for some three months Pepa Ker ne from a wound. The selection was satisfactory. to every Cuban on board. As it was the intention of the party to make a landing on the coast under cover of night, the steamer slackened its speed to avoid showing upat the point of danger before night came on, after which she steamed forward, and by midnight had reached the spot at which Tom had in- tended disembarking. CHAPTER II. THE’ CAMP—THE ENEMY MEETS A TERRIBLE DEFEAT, It was somewhere about midnight when the steamer dropped anchor a half mile from shore, and lowered four boats, which were immediately filled by the Cubans and quietly rowed ashore, They landed on the beach which was found desolate, with no light or human habitation in sight. It took two trips to land the force; after which. came arms, ammunition and ra- tions,which were Janded and promptly con- veyed into the woods some fifty yards back from the water. Not a light was struck, for the moonlight was sufficient to enable them to do all they wished to do. Before they laid down to sleep each one filled his haversack with a five days’ sup- pry of rations, and his knapsack with his lanket and rubber cover. Nothing had been left undone that was necessary for the personal comfort of the mén, Sunrise found them encamped in the woods near where they had landed, Their first thought was for the safety of the extra arms and ammunition they had brought with them for the purpose of arming such recruits as might join them, Fully half the day was spent ina search for a safe hiding-place, by which time one was found in the shape of a little hut on a knoll in a swamp about a mile and a half away from the camp. The arms and ammunition were conveyed to that hut, the men wading through water knee deep to reach it, Night found them again at the same camp; but on the morrow they started in a south- easterly direction toward a little’ village some miles away, where they expected to find friends of the insurgents who were oe in the field. When they reached the village the sight of their uniforms, which was of brown linen, very much like that used by the Spaniards themselves, to- gether with knapsacks and haversacks, caused the villagers to take them for Cu- ban volunteers under the flag of Spain; but they were quickly disabused of that impression when the Cuban flag was raised, Then they learned that these were the first of the army of invasion from the United States, and great rejoicing fol- lowed, | The little party set up the standard of the Cuban Republic in the village, which was called La Palma, and invited the peo- ple to jointhem. Abouta score of Cubans joined them during the next day, all of whom stated that they had already seen service, and had simply ventured back to their homes in the absence of any Spanish troops in the vicinity. 4 ‘Tome promised each one who joined them a. Winchester rifle and a revolver, and to buy ! A SPY IN - eat, - peer. ® Pel Se. i - - - rs a gy * 2 ae 2 seaWdes _ +P oF pay each one ten dollars a month if the contributions he proposed to levy upon the enemy enabled him todoso. Ina few days about fifty new recruits came in, and he sent a detashment back to his secret store-house for arms.and ammunition for them. ; If was while the detachment was away that a young Cuban woman came to the camp and asked to see the young Ameri- cano capitan. She appeared to bea very intelligent girl about eighteen years of age, who lived in a little village a few miles beyond La Palma, On inquiring what he could de for her, she replec that she had come to tell him that aman had joined his standard. who had acted as a spy for Weyler and Blanco. On his promising her not to letit be known who gave him the information she told him the fellow’s name, which was Antonio Rodriguez. | Tom thanked her and she went away, but a few minutes after she left he remem- bered that she had not given her name, He quickly went in search of her, but she was gone, no one knew whither, He immediately sought his lieutenant, del Pino, to whom he told the story of the girl, The lieutenant at once looked over the list of the names of the new recruits and found Rodriguez's name on it, ‘“Yes,” he said to Tom; “here’s his name,” ‘* Well, we want to find out something about him before we take any steps in re- gard to this charge made against him.” ‘* Yes,” said the lieutenant; “I will inquire among the men, for I know some of them who may probably be well ac- quainted with, him.” , Inside of afi hour orso the lieutenant reported to'Tom that all those who knew the suspect gave him a good name, and declared that they believed him to be an earnest friend of the Cuban Republic. When Tom heard that he felt like kick- ing himself for not having secured the name and address of the girl. “T’ll tell you what we must do, lieuten- ant,” said he, ‘‘ we'll take him in with the others, and keep an eye on him, and if we catch him playing us false we will make short work of him.” The next day the detachment returned with the arms and munitions for the re- cruits, and the suspect received his rations and revolver with the others, ° On that very evening the news came, through some indefinite source, that a party of Spanish cavalry had been seen the day before at another village some twelve miles south of them, ‘Tom tried to trace the source of the report, but was un- able to do so, yet with the caution of an old veteran he sent out scouts on foos several miles on each road leading from the village. The night passed without anything oe- curring of any consequence, and the next diy was passed in trying to find out if there really was any Spanish cavalry in that part of the province, By a liberal tse of money, Tom suceeed- ed in getting a half dozen horses, on which he sent out scouts to go beyond those who were on foot, Night came on again, and so great was the uncertainty of the situa- tion that the men were ordered to sleep on their arms, It was then that Lieutenant del Pino made the discovery that the man Rodri- guez was not in camp, and he reported that fact to Tom. ‘‘ Find out when he was last seen here,” Captain Taylor ordered. ‘*I saw him myself just before dark,” said the lieutenant. ‘*Then find out if any of the guards have let him pass.” The lieutenant immediately went the rounds of the guards, all of whom denied that any one had passed their post. The sentinels were then instructed to be extra vigilantin preventing any one com- ing or going. ut the night passed, and about daylight a couple of scouts camein at full speed, and almost out of breath, with the state- ment that a squadron of Spanish horse was rushing down upon the little camp. Captain Tom immediately rallied his men, and divided them into two parties, commanded respectively by, himself and the lieutenant, ‘*Now, men,” he called out to them, ‘‘ this is our first chance at the Spaniards, Each one of you hold in your hand the best weapon of the day, You must keep cool, obey orders, aim welland keep up a steady fire on the enemy as long as he is in sight, or until you are ordered to stop. No mat- ter if they are two to our one, you can stand up and destroy their whole force be- fore they can reach youif you keep coo) and aim well.” H{e then led them out to an open field on the outskirts of the village, and placed his men in position, without any breastworks of any kind in front of them, . Note, see here, men,” he sang out to them again, ‘I have placed you herein an ohkon field in order to tempt the enemy to co arES upon you the moment they see you, each of you can’t bring down a half c com wget & M 7 ee | DOO " e - ‘ ae oo. ‘