Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-18
The Argus Daily Short Story
After the Revolutionary Edwin Pennington.
Copyrighted. by Associated Literary Press

After every struggle resulting in a
change Of government there are scores
TO be paid Off by those who have re-
VOTED. As reyolutiOnists, instead of
being favored by the law they have
been hampered by it. Having estab-
lfshed themselves in power. the other
edge of the sword is brought into play
and cuts in the opposite direction. In
stead Of being used to imprison or exc
cute revolutioEists it is used to execute
the advocates OF the government over
thrown.
When the recent revolution in Mex
leo became the de facto government the
revolutionists stood ready to use the
law TO punish those who had used it
to punish them. During that period
when President Diaz held his own III
the city of Mexico a young lawyer.
AlfonZo Fernandez, a sympathizer
with the insurgents. left the city TO
join the forces of Madero. During the
fighting he was captured by the gov
eminent troops, and, being man of
influence. every effort was made to in
duce him to return to the support OF
President Diaz. lie was turned over
to one Jose Sierra, man deeply inter
ested in putting down the rebellion.
with orders TO persuade. force or buy
him to the government support.
Sierra took the captive to his hacien-
da, put him on his parole not TO leave
it and treated him like a guest instead
of prisoner. The jailer host was an
adept at winning over an enemy and
used every art of persuasion that suS-
gested itself to him.
Concia, Sierras daughter. girl of
twenty. possessed one Of those oval
faces OF q dusky shade. large liquid
eyes and especially the long lasheS of
the Spaniard. Her father Eoticed soon
after Fernandez's arrival that he was
attracted by his daughter and she was
attracted by Fernando. 1t occurred
to Sierra that Fernandez's conversion
might be accomplished more readily
by means of the girl than by his own
arguments or threats. He gave the
young people every opportunity TO he
together and when he saw that the
pear was ripe undertook TO pluck it.
He offered Fernandez 4 prominent
position under the government, which. /
Of course. would be tantamOunt to Sc
curing his adherence. Fernandez de !
cllned the offer Then Sierra inform \
ed his prisoner that he would be tried I
for treason. which meant that he would /
be found guilty and executed. In love
with the daughter Of the man who had !
made the threat. the temptation to
yield and desert the cause in which he
had embarked was well nigh resistless.
Fernandez seemed TO have every
thing to gain by giving his adher-
ence to the established government. !
President Diaz then appeared to be
firmly fixed in the presidency, and It
would be difficult to unseat him. By
yielding Fernando would acquire a
position Of prominence that might be
permanent. That position he might
make more enduring and more promi-
nent by throwing his influence on the
side Of the man who had done much
for Mexico. These arguments were re
by the fact that on one side
stood death. on the other love. But
honor forbade.
Fernandez now considered the parole
be had given void and began to take
measures 10 escape If possible. Concia
for him a woman'S dress and
Irove him in her volaute past guards
who had orders to be watchful and on
10 account permit his escape Had #
,ot been that she accompanied him he
would not have succeeded in deceiving
hem. as il was. he made good his
escape and returned TO Mexico City
Not even Sierra knew how Fernan-
lez got beyond his clutches. Concia