The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-27
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. clap of thunder, only more disastrous
, Men are seen running in all directions
/, fire arms rattle, and that terrible
shouting continues, as though the
Americans would add terror to the
flight of their defeated foes.
All! the field is won-the victory
theirs!
Gradually the sounds of battle die
away; the men of the New Mexican
sheriff cease fighting because they can
no longer find enemies against whom
they may launch themselves.
Colonel Bob suddenly awakens to
startling fact that gives him much
uneasiness. He cannot find his COM
rade, Dick.
He RACES around, seeking informa-
ton, and at last strikes clew. Dick
was seen heading for the house of the
chief engineer just when the last line
of the Mexicans broke and fled, so 1t
looks as though he might be there.
Without waiting longer Bob Harlan
rushes away, and q minute later en-
tiers the house.
Once inside the doorway he pauses
to listen and hears sounds that indi-
cate desperate engagement of some
sort. That arouses Colonel Bob, who
cannot stand by when there is any
fighting going on; he rushes headlong
for the scene of the disturbance, for
a wonder holding his tongue. AS a
general thing, under similar circum-
stances, he would be shouting as he
ran, telling those who fought not to
bring the little affair to a finish until
he came, but something momentarily
palsies his tongue now. Perhaps the
thought has struck him that the mis-
cradle Professor John that bulldog Of
naturalist, may be in the house with
the intention of running off with Dora,
and the idea is so staggering that it
has actually taken his breath away.
At any rate, it has not deprived Bob
of his powers of locomotion, for he
gets over the ground in a way that Is
surprising, and in few moments
bursts upon the scene.
1t is essentially and peculiarly
dramatic, for the characters engaged
form complete company. That trag
edy has also entered into 1t can be
seen at a glance, nor is the comic
side missing-Dora attends to that.
The combatants are those old-time
bitter foes, Barcelona and the man
against whom he holds such a bitter
grudge, the man for whom he has
waited so long, the man who has on
several occasions done him up hand
somely-Dick Denver.
Stretched upon the floor is Senior
Lopez. with the blood oozing from
wound in the breast The pistol that
did the awful work is not three feet
away from his hand-it belongs to
Barcelona, and the Mexican has by
some terrible accident shot his en-
ployer just as the man the bullet was
intended for leaped upon him.
Bending over the fallen Mexican are
two female forms, one being an old
woman, the other young girl whose
face and figure betray the beautiful
Juanita.> Where they have come from
is a mystery; but, perhaps, knowing
something of the mission of the senior,
they have entered the house looking
for him; some other motive may have
stirred Juanita to action, some deep
feeling of the heart, for she is girl
Of singular impulses.
Colonel Bob's gaze does not stop
here he looks for something beyond
Dora-where is the only and delight
full Dora? A cry reaches his ear in a
voice he knows, and turning his head
Bob sees a sight that causes broad
grin to spread over his face-a sight
that is certainly humorous enough to
cause hearty laugh, although serious
for one poor individual.
Dora is there, very much there; she
holds in her hand a revolver which
this same Colonel Bob gave her re-
Gently with which to defend herself.
Dora has taken few lessons with this
weapon, but she is woefully at sea re-
garding it's use, and although she
swings it around in a truly dramatic
style she has neglected to draw back
the hammer
Crouching before her is the little
bug-hunter, who lodges his head in
great alarm every time that weapon
comes In line with her eyes, all the
while keeping up a jargon of beseecA
ing ordinations, calling upon all the
gods to witness the fervency of his de-
votion, and anon begging the adora-
BILE, the charming Dora, not to murder
him in cold blood, he whose only fault
is in loving her not wisely but too
well.
Quite a strange scene, taken all in
all-tragedy and comedy combined.
Colonel Bob hardly knows whether to
laugh or look serious. He sees that
his comrade is in rather bad predic-
ament, and makes one step toward
helping him, when he hears Dick say:
stand back, Bob; want to manage
this chap alone If l can. Stand back,
old fellow
The two men struggle with the pow
er of giants, and Barcelona, seeing a
companion near by, ready to give his
antagonist assistance If necessary,
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