The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-10-24


going, but as his pelones peIted past
the superintendent house the reor-
gained miners, their belts stuffed with
cartridges from their own private
stock, came charging up from the town
and rallied them in the rear.
Trained by American leaders they
were the only real fighting force to be
depended upon unless the Americans
themselves should take a hand in the
game, and that they could not do
without the possibility of serious in
ternatlonal consequences, a chance
they could not take except as last
resort to save the women and children
and themselves.
In solid, shouting mass they swept
up the hill together, dropped down be-
mind the defenses, and checked the as
founded rebels with a volley. Then
there was another Iong-range battle,
with every sign Of war but the dead,
until at last, as the firing slackened
from the lack of cartridges, a white
nag showed on the ridge above, and
the leaders went out for a parley-
one OF those parIeys so character
1stic Of Mexican revolutions, and
which in reality mean so little, for
both sides know that the words ut
tered are meaningless, and should one
OF them ever result in a surrender the
terms of that surrender would not be
regarded, once the victims were in the
hands of the victors.
Properly speaking, Del Rey was In
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
wy, my gracious, Mr.. Hooker" he
rallied, as 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 it to the
men who f1ghtI"
Ump-um," grunted Bud with grin;
they got a skinfuI of mescal already
What they need is another carload of
ammunition to help 'em shoot their
first rebel"
Il thought you said they wouldn't
fight!" twitted Don Juan. This is the
battle of Fortuna that I was telling
you about last week.
'Sure!" answered Bud, 'and over
there is the dead!"
He pointed to a riot of mescal bot
ties that marked the scene Of the
nights rotations, 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 And of all those women hud-
died up in the casa grande not one
would bring bigger ransom than Ora
cha Aragon.
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 a
| different fate, and rather than see him
become the mount of some rebel chief
tain he had determined, if the town
surrendered, to make a dash.
Riding by night and hiding in the
| hills by day he could get to the border
| in two days. All he needed was little
| jerked beef for the trip and he would
be ready for anything.
| So he hurried down to the hotel
again and was just making sack of
food fast to his saddle when he heard
noise behind him and turned to face
Aragon. For two days the once
naughty Don Cipriano had skunk about
like 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 the 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
misdeeds came over him. he turned as
if to fee
But there was smile. an amused
and tolerant smirk, about the Ameri
cans mouth, and even for that looE