The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-29

Of state, but very exciting for the dam
sells and most provocative to the Amer
leans
After the promenade in the plaza
the mothers by common consent pre-
empted the upstairs reception-room.
gathering their precious charges in
close; while the Americans, after their
custom, foregathered in the lobby.
convenient to the bar. Hot argu-
ments about the revolution, and pre-
dictions of events to come served to
pass the early evening, with many
scornfuI chances at the Mexican dan
dies who went so insolently up the
stairs. And then, as the refugees re-
tired to their apartments and the spirit
of adventure rose uppermost. Phil De
Lancey made a dash out into the
darkness and came back with Next
can string band.
"A serenade, boysI" he announced,
as the musicians filed sheepishly into
the hotel. Our guests, the fair seno-
ritas, you know Well make those
young Mexican dudes look like two
spots before the war is over. Who's
game now for song beneath the win
dows? You know the old stand-bys-
La Paloma' and 'Teresita Mia'-and
you want to listen to me sing Me Gus
tan Todas' to Gracia, the fairest of the
fair! Come on, fellows, out in the
plaza, and then listen to the old folks
cussI"
They adjourned then, after a drink
for courage, to the moonlight and the
plaza; and there, beneath the shut
tered windows and vacant balconies.
the guitars and violins took up La
PaIoma," while Phil and a few brave
spirits sang.
A silence followed their first at
tempt, as well as their second and
third, and the comisario of police, a
mild creature owned and paid by the
company, came around and made a
few Intellectual protests.
But inside the company's conces-
sion, where by common consent the
militant rurales kept their hands on,
the Americans knew they were safe,
and they soon jollied the comisariO
into taking a drink and departing.
Then De Lancey took up the burden,
and the string band, hired by the hour,
strummed on as If for eternity.
One by one the windows opened;
fretful fathers stepped out on the bal
cony and, bound by the custom and
convention of the country, thanked
them and babe them good night. But
the two windows behind which the
Senior Aragon and his family reposed
did not open and, though the dwin-
balcony, and all knew that his daugh-
fO,- a-s A. ct ~
| Cipriano did not wish them good night.
Perhaps he recognized the leading
tenor-and the big voice of Bud
Hooker, trying to still the riot-but,
however it was, he would not speak
to them, and De Lancey would not
| quit
TRY 'em on American music!" he
| cried, as everyone but Bud went away
in disgust, ''the latest rag from Broad
wa-ay, New York. Here, gimme that
guitar, hombre, and listen to this
now!"
He picked out clever bit of syn
copation and pitched his voice to a
heady twang:
Down in the garden where the red roses
| grow,
| Oh my, I long to go!
| Pluck me like a flower. cuddIe hour
LOWE let me learn the Red Rose Ra-agI"
There was some swing to that, and
it seemed to make an impression, for
Just as he was well started on the
chorus the Stats of one of the shut
tiers parted and patch of white shone
through the spaces. 1t was the ladies
then, who were getting interested!
Phil walled on:
| ''Swee-eet honey bee, be sweet to mel
Ny heart is free. but here's the keyI''
And then, positively, he could see
that patch of white beat time. He
took heart of grace at that and sang
on to The end, and at suggestion o.
clapping in dumb-show he gave an en-
core and ragged it over again.
eEv'rybody's doin' it, doin' it, dom
it," he began, as the shadow dance
ceased.
Honey, declare, it's bear, it's {
bear, it's a bear!'" he continued
temptingly, and was well on his wa!
to further extravagancies when thu
figure in white swiftly vanished and f;
door slammed hard inside the house.
Several minutes later the form o
Don Juan appeared at the lower door
anu III III OACOEIdlu IOu0S ne requested
them to cease.
THE Senior Aragon informs me-" b.
said, that your music annoys him.
well, let him come to the balloon,
and say his 'buenas noches,'" an
swered Phil resentfulIy.
"The gentleman refuses to do that!
responded Don Juan briefly.
Then let him go to bed!,' reptile,
De Lancey, stunning a few synco
pated chords; I'm singing to hi
daughter"
At that Don Juan came down of tn
porch in his slippers and they engage
in protracted argument
What, don't 1 get a word?" de
manded Phil grievously, mot a pleas
ant look from anybody? 'Swee-ee
hOney-bee, be sweet to met" b
pleaded, turning pathetically to tn
Iady's balcony; and then, with a SUD
den flourish, white handkerchief ar
peared through the crack Of the shut
tiers and Gracia waved him good night
Enough, Don Juan!" he cried, laJ
ing down the guitar with a thump
; this ends our evenings entertain
raoOfIs'