Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-09-23

cape-and then, when the worst was
expected to happen. the dynamite
failed to explode and the YaQuis
rushed the trenches at shutdown"
/ did those Yaquis know about the
dynamite?" Injured Bud.
know" repeated Don Juan, waving
the thought away; mot a word! Their
commanders kept It from them. even
after they discovered the mine. And
now the Indians are making boasts;
they are drunk with the thought OF
their valorl and claim that the rebels
fed from them alone. "a
THE roadmaster came into town
this morning on a velocipede and said
that the Yaquis are ~tnsuferable, think
ing that it was their renown as fight
ers and not the news Of the dynamite
that drovef all the soldiers from town.
However. Aqua Negra is once more
in the hands of the government; the
track Is clear and most Of the bridges
repaired: go why quarrel with the
Yaquis? While they are. OF course.
nothing but Indians. they serve their
purpose In BATTLE"
well, l. guess yes!"" responded Bud
warmly. Serve their purpose, Ell?
Where were these Mexican soldiers
and them Spanish officers when the
Yaquis were. taking the town? And
that was just like a dog-goned Mexi-
can-setting that time-fuse and then
not having 1t go OF. More'n likely the
poor. zap that fired it was 30 scairt he
couldn't hold a match--probably
never lit it. Jest dropped the match
and run. They're q bum bunch, II
you want to know what ! think. I'd
rather have q Yaqui than Q hundred
Of 'em!"
"A hundred OF whom?" inquired a
cool voice behind him, and looking up
Hooker saw the beautiful Gracia gaz,
ing out at him through the screen
door. syS
"a hundred Mexicans!" he repeated.
and Gracia murmured "Oh!" and wa
gone.
Miss Aragon is very loyal to her
country observed Don Juan, but
Hooker only grunted.
Somehow, since those four Mexicans
had come to his camp, he had soured
on everything south Of the line; and
even the charming Gracia could not
make him take back his words. II she
had intended the remark as q chal-
lenge-a subtle invitation to follow
her and defend his faith-she failed
for once of her purpose. for 1t there
was any particular man in Mexico that
Bud hated more than another It was
her false-hearted fathery
Hooker had, in fact. Thought more
seriously Of making her a half-orphan
than Of winning her goodwill, and he
fingered about the hotel, not to make
love to the daughter. but to strike ter.
.ror to Aragon. $
The company being good, and 8
train being expected soon. Bud stayed
over another day. In the morning,
when he came down fol. breakfast, he
found that Aragon had fed before him.
With his wife, daughter and %retinue,
he had moved suddenly back to his
home. Hooker grinned when Don Juan
told him the news.
"Well. why not?" he asked. chuck.
ling maliciously. Here its the mid
die OF the rainy season and the wal
going on all summer and nary q rebel
in sight. Where's that big fight you
was telling about--the battle Of For
tuna? You've made q regular fortune
out OF these refugees. Brachamonte'
but I fail to see the enemy" ~
""Ah. you may laugh" shrugged the
hotel-keeper. but wait! The time will
come. The rebels are lost now---some
day, when you least expect It. they
viii come upon usStand then, believe
me. my guests will be glad they are
here. What is q few weeks bill com
pared to being held for ransom Look
at that rich Senior Luna. who was here
for q time In the spring. Against my
advice he hurried home and now he
Is paying the price. Ten thousand
pesos It cost to save his wife and
family, and for himself and son bis
friends advanced ten Thousand more
L make no evil prophecies, but Il
would be better for u friend II the
stayed on at my poor hotel"
Whose friend?" inquired Bud
5blufly, but Don Juan struck him upon
the back with ~elephantine playfulness
and hurried of to his duties.
AS for Hooker, he tarried In town
until he got his mail and a copy Of
the Sunday paper and then, well sat
isfied that the times were quiet and
wars a thing Of the past, he ambied
back to the Eagle Tail and settled
down for a rest.
Flat on his back by the doorway
he lay on his bed and smoked, reading
his way through the lurid supplement
and watching the trail with one eye
Since the fight with Aragon's Me2t
cans all his appreheneions had left
him. He had written briefly to Phil
and Kruger. and now he was holding
the fort. i
It had been a close shave, but he
had escaped the cowardly assassins
and had Aragon in his power. Not BY
any force of law, but by the force OF
fear and the gnawing weakness Of Ara
CONS W evil conscience.
Aragon was afraid Of what he had
done, but it was the suspense which
rendered him SO pitiable. On a day
he had sent four armed Mexicana
to kill this Texan-not n had re
turned and the Texan regarded him
fs%neeringly. This 1t was that broke
the Spaniard's will, for he knew no,
what to think. But as for Bud. he lay
on his back by the doorway and
laughed at the funny page. 3,
AS he sprawled there at his reading
Amigo came in from the hills. and he
too, was content to relax. Gravely
scanning the colored sheet, his dark
face lighted up. ~4, ~
1t was all very peaceful and pleas
ant, but 1t was not destined to last.
(TO BE CONTINUED.) ~
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