The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-21
WITH A LIFE AT STAKE.

gineering corps had met just outside the
town. thus completing the survey from
Mexico to Fl PasO, and giving promise OF
that wonder, the ferro carril. Of which
much in vague way was known. yet
nothing definite. 1t was 10 carry men and
goods al speed much greater than Don
Pepe's now caballo de pura sangre. which
all knew must be the fastest horse in the
world. Juan el panadcro averred it had
feet Of iron, in number like the centpede,
but immeasurably more powerful
Others rejected Juan the bakers story
and gave preference 10 wings as mode Of
propulsion, but all agreed that so strange,
so powerful, and mysterious a device must
necessarily be Of origin diabolic This idea
logically developed into the further one
that those engaged in such work must have
exceedingly close relations with the de-
VII and at the usual price. To express de-
testation Of one who would part with so
precious possession as his immortal soul.
was not only a praise-worthy act, but a
| Christian duty.
This last phase had been reached when
| JACK Wilson, engineer in charge, walked
! into the plaza, unconscious of impending
I trouble. He was made aware of the fact
| that ne was an object of more than ordi-
| nary curiosity by stone hurtling past his
| mead and cries of "Muerte a los gringosH
4 He had had previous acquaintance with
Mexican mObs. and promptly drew mis- pis-
tol and iourished it at arms length. The
/ crowd feu away, and he was enabled 10
/ get his back to a stone kiosk near at hand.
| THOSE In the rear of the crowd waved their
| machetes and urged the immediate exter-
/ mination Of so unholy q being as the Amer
] IN he l.
| ly agreeing, in the abstract. with their fell
lows, yet hesitated at carrying out so good
| a work in the face of u six-shooter.
suddenly silence fell upon the mob as
/ II divided, and a friar, clad In his priestly
robes, moved to Jacks side and motioned
him to put up his pistol He asked a
/ question or two Of tNose nearest smiled
at the answers, and in a two minute lee
| ture dissipated the ideas which had re-
| Gently threatened serious consequences.
| lie proclaimed not only Jack, but all the
engineers as his friends. and promised
! pehance now and pains eternal to any
| who failed in proper respect to them
| Bidding them receive his blessing and de-
part. he took Jack by the arm, and on the
! way to headquartefs he explained the
/ cause OF the difficulty There they found
/ Juan Gomez, captain of the Fourth caval-
| ~, Just ready to clatter out with a file of
soldiers. having heard that a row of some
| MS especial charge, the engineers, were
| in II as usual. He was trifle disappoint-
| ed that peaceful measures had prevailed.
The ensuing day was the 10th of Septem-
| Der, da de la Independence, and the town
was en- fiesta. Such great shrubs as an
arid region could furnish put themselves
| in sickly evidence; an occasional bunch of
| flowers gave odorless proof of the glo.
hous delights OF freedom; the Mexican
tri-clor waved faltering defiance TO all
! tyranny in the uncertain breeze and
| aroused an enthusiasm to which tequila
sold cheaply at the corners. materially
added. Groups of peones crowded around
the monte layouts on the kerb, wagering
| llacos and cuart!as. gleefully rejoicing
| when fortune favored them; when re-
| verses came and the final wager Of his
own shirt or his sweetheart's rebozo prov
| ed disastrous, there always remained
small margin Of credit at the cantina,
where tequila furnished a few hours
/ oblivion.
In the afternoon came the buu-fght.
| True the bulls were not killed, nor was the
| general performance up to a professional
| standard, yet for amateurs the work was
creditable Don Vicente who as loco. was
| overwhelmingly funny, failed to perceive the
entrance of the bull Being engaged at the
/ time singing a humorous song; the bun cut
/ the song short and Don Vicente will go
/ on crutches for a while. Don Carlos es-
| sayed the role of picador, confident that in
| the mind of Lolita Sanchez his skill would
| amply offset the wit and humor of Vim
| cente; when the latter was carried from
the ring he regretted the occurrence, but
| was resigned when he thought of the free
! field 1t would give him. But alas for HUI
| man hopes He did not receive the bull
| properly on his lance; he and his horse
| parted company for a moment, but were
| promptly rolled together again by the bull
A broken collar-bone and various bruises
will prevent Don Carlos from basking in
| Lolita's smiles.
The affair of the evening was the din
ner given by the Alcalde, to which the
! officers of the regiment and the engineers
had been invited By the time coffee and
| cigarettes We're reached the company was
/ in mellow mood. Speech followed speech
! in which the country's glories were touch
! ed upon and good-fellowship deepened
! until the Alcalde assured himself that he
/ had given most successful entertainment
With the increasing mellowness the colo
mel had dropped into a reminiscent mood
Leaning across the table toward Juan Go
mez he said:
mi Captain remembered Conchita Pc
rez p
The blood mounted to Juan's face, and
| into his eyes came a look which would
have warned a soberer man.
But dost thou remember her?" repeat
| ed the mellow colonel
Juan still stared silently at the colonel
who turned to his neighbor anG said: Con
| chita Perez-perhaps you know her? No?
| Such eyes, such hair, such teeth ali! an
! angel on earth! But such a flirt; she was
! somewhat enamored of a certain captain
but preferred the colonel. even without
! the PADRES blessing"
| With cry Of LIAR Juan sprang to
his feet seized a glass of water, and
| dashed it fun in the coloners face I'm
4 mediately all was confusion. Jack VIII
/ son grasped Juan's arm and hurried him
! into the street and thence to hts quarters
| They were Immediately Joined by Andres
| Rejon and the friar. The formers round
! jolly face wore a look of concern rarely
| seen there. The priest, usually impassve
showed an anxiety he did not try to con-
ceal.
You've done it this time" said Jack
Nothing short of a duel will settle this
| little unpleasantness'
| Before an answer could be made a cor
! poral appeared in the doorway and said
he had orders to accompany Capt. Gomez
to the barracks. AS the door closed Jack
said: Juan is in for a court martial in
stead of a duel"