Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-10-14

command of the town., but neither the
federals nor the miners would recog-
nize his authority and the leadership
went by default. While they waited to
hear the rebel demands the Americans
took advantage OF the truce to bring
up hot food from the hotel, where Don
Juan de Dios stood heroically at his
post. Let bullets come and go, Don
Juan kept his cooks about him, and
to those who had doubted his valor his
conee was answer enough. z.t& y .
"W'y, my gracious, Mr.. Hooker" he
rallied, IS Bud refreshed himself be-
tween trips, "ain't you going to take
any up to those women? Don't drink
so much coffee now. but give 1t to the
men who tight!"
"Ump-um," grunted Bud with a grin:
they got a skinful OF mescal already!
What they need is another carload of
ammunition to help EN- shoot their
first REBEL 81
Il thought you said they wouldn't
lght!" tWitted Don Juan. This is the
battle of Fortuna that l was telling
you about last week.
"Sure!" answered Bud, "and over
there is the dead!"" &@ % $@ai
He pointed to ayriot Of mescal bot
ties that marked the scene OF the
nights potations, and Don Juan gave
him up as hopeless. :
"a pile Of bottles usually represent
the casualty list in a Mexican fight"
added Bud as Don Juan moved away.
But, Jest as he would, Bud saw that
the situation was serious, for the fool.
hardy Sonorans had already emptied
their cartridge-belts, and their guns
were no better than clubs. Unless the
rebels had been equally reckless with
their ammunition they had the town at
their mercy, and the first thing that
they would demand would be the refu-
gees in the big house.
Before that could be permitted the
Americans would probably take a
hand in the fight, for. while the great
majority Of the women In the house
were Mexican. there, were a few
Americans, and they would be pro-
tected regardless OF international COM
plications. But Gracia Aragon was
not an American, and she could not
claim the protection Of these country
men Of his.
The possession OF the town; the
arms Of the defenders; food, clothing
and horses to ride-none Of these
would satisfy them. They would de-
mand the rich Spanish landowners to
be held for ransom, the women first
Of all. Andto all those women hud-
died up in the casa grande not one
would bring a bigger ransom than Ora
cha Aragon. Z +
Bud pondered upon the outcome as
the emissaries wrangled on the hill.
side, and then he went back to the
corral to make sure that his horse was
safe. Copper Bottom, too, might be
held for ransom But. knowing the
rebels as he did, Hooker foresaw q
different fate, and rather than see him
become the mount of some rebel chief.
tain he had determined. II the town
surrendered, to make a dash. 10y 49,,
Riding by night and hiding in the
hills by day he could get to the border
In two days. All he needed was a little
1erked beef for the trip and he would
be ready for anything.
So he hurried down to the hotel
again and was just making a sack OF
food fast to his saddle when he heard
a noise behind him and turned to face
Aragen. For two days the once
naughty Don Cipriano had skunk about
like a sick cat, but now he was headed
for Gracia's big roam, and the look in
his eyes betrayed his purpose.
where you going?" demanded
Hooker in English, and at he gruf
challenge the Spaniard stopped in his
tracks. The old. hunted look came
back into his eyes, he seemed to
shrink before the stern gaze OF the
Texan, and. as the memory Of his past
mfsdeeds came over him, he turned as
II to fee. -
But there was a smile, an amused
and tolerant smirk, about the eAmert-
cans mouth, and even for that look
OF understanding the harried hacien-
dado seemed to thank him. He was
broken now, thrown down from his
pedestal of arrogance and conceit, and
as Hooker did not offer to shoot him
at sight De turned back to him like a
lost dog that seeks but a kind word
Bud knew that Aragon was entirely
at his. mercy, that fear had clutched
the once arrogant Spaniard by the
throat, and it was almost worth the
anxiety he felt for this mans daugh'
ter to see the father cowed. Aragon