The Huttig news., 1914-08-08


 friend with the sack of tobacco and went back to join his pardner.
 That evening tine plaza was filled with the widest rumors. and another train arrived during tle night, but through it all Bud and Phil remained Inimpressed. ln the morning the sol disrs went marching off down the trail, leaving great silence where ali had been bugle-calls and excitement, and then the first fugitive came in from dewn below.
 He was an old Mexican, with trem- bling beard and staring eyes, and he told tale of outrage that made their blood run cold The red-laggers had come to his house at night they had killed his wife and son, left him upon the ground for dead. and carried off his daughter prisoner.
 Eut later, when the comisario ques- toned him sharply. it developed that he lived not far away had no daugh- ter to lose, and was, in fact. only a crazed old man who told for truth that which he feared would happen.
 Notwithstanding the denouement, his story stirred the Mexican popna- ton to the depths, and when Bud and Phil tried to hire men to push the work on the mine, they realized that their troubles had begun. Not only was it impossible to engage laborers at any price, but on the following day Cruz MendeZ. with his wife and ehil- dren and all his earthly possessions on his burros, came hurrying in from the camp and told them he could serve them no more.
 ''It is my womani" he explained: Thy Maria! Ah. if those reYoltosos should see Maria they would steal her before my eyes.'
 So he was given his pay and the fifty dollars he had earned and. after Jne customary "Mnchas graeias, an with tie faithful Maria by his side, hc went hurryiag off to the store
 And now in crowded vehicles, with armed men riding Tn front and behind. the refugees from Moctezuma and the hof country began 10 pour into town,
 
 of all who saw them.
 They were the rich property owners who. having been subjected to forced contribution before, were now fleeing at the first rumor of danger, bringing their families with them to escape any being held for ransom.
 lB half day the big hotel presided 1,.- monte was swarniing with staring eyed country mothers and sternly sub dued families of children. and final ly, to add eclat to the occasion and compensate for the general confusion. Don Cipriano Aragon y Tres Palacios came driving up to the door with his wife and the smiling Gracia.
 If she had been in any fear of cap lure by bold marauders, Gracia Ara gen did not show it now, as she sprang lightly from the carriage and waited upon her lady mother Perhaps. after year or more of rumors and alarms, she had come to look upon impending revolutionary conflicts as convenient excuses for a trip to town, long stop at the hotel. and even a dash to gay Gadsden in case the rebels pressed close.
 However that may be, while Don Juan exerted himself to procure them ! good room she endured the gaze of he American guests with becoming }iacidity and, as that took some time, he even ventured to look the Ameri- cans over and make some comments to her mother
 And then--or so it seemed to Bud the mother glanced up quickly aad fixed her eyes upon him. After that ne was in less of hurry oAreturn to he mine, and Phil said they would stay inside for week. But as for Don Cipriano, when he came across them in the crowded lobby he glared past them with malignant insolence md abruptly turned his back.
 At La Fortuna he was the lord and master, with power to forbid them the place; but now once more the fortunes # war had turned against him, and he Fas forced to tolerate their presence.
 The band played in the plaza that 'vening, is being Thursday of the week, and as the cornet led with La 'aloma,' and the bass viol and guitars ,eat the measure. all feet seemed to urn in that direction. and the fear of he raiders was stilled.
 Around and around the band stand md in and out beneath the trees the Jieasure loving maidens from down below walked decorously with their mothers: and the little band of For una Americans, to whom life for some months had been trifie burdensome, awoke suddenly to the beauty of the evening.
 And among the rest of the maidens, but far more rayishing and high-bred. walked Gracia Aragon, at whom Bud in particular stole many secret glancos from beneath the broad brim of his hat, hoping that by some luck the in- sufreetes would come upon the town. and he could defend ber--he alone.