The Arvada enterprise., 1914-11-12
CHAPTER XII.

|
Mexicans-in fact, its rates we're prac-
tically prohibitive for anyone not be-
Ing paid In gold-but, since most of
the Americans had left, and seven dol
/ lars a day Mex was no deterrent to the
rich refugee land owners, 1t became
OF sudden International. with a fine
mixture OF purse-proud Spaniards and
race-proud American adventurers.
Not q very pleasing combination for
the parents Of romantic damses des-
tined for some prearranged marriage
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
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
scornful glauces at the Mexican dan
dies who went 10 insolently up the
stairs. And then, a. the refugees re-
tired to their apartments and the spirit
of adventure rose uppermost. Phil De
Lancey made q dash out into the
darkness and came back with Mexi.
can string band.
"A serenade. boys!" 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
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
| cuss!"
They adjourned then. after . drinl;
for courage. to the moonlight and tho
plaza: and there. beneath the shut
the guitars ana violins took up La
Paloma." while Phil and few brave
spirits sang.
A silence followed their first at.
tempt. ~ well as their second and
third, and the comisario of police, q
mild creature owned and paid by the
company. came around and made q
few Intellectual protests.
But inside tho 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 com,sario
into taking a drink and departing.
Then De Lancey took up the burden.
and the string band. hired by the hour,
strummed on as II 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 bade them good night. But
the two windows behind which the
Senior Aragon and his family reposed
did not open and. though the dwin-
ding band stood directly under their
balcony. and all knew that his daugh.
ter was the fairest oil the fair. Don
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 rng from Broad.
wa.ay. New York. Here. gimme that
guitar. hombre. and listen to this
now!"
He picked out a clever bit OF syn.
copation and pitched his voice to .
heady twnng:
Down In the garden vhsrs the red roses
grow,
| oh my. l long to soi
| Pluck me like = flower. cuddi- me an hour.
Lsvis is, me learn the Red Roe. Ra-ns''
There was some swing to that, and
II seemed to make an impression. for
Just ~ he was we'll started on the
chorus the Stats Of one OF the shut.
tcrs parted and \ patch OF white shone
| through tho spaces. II was the ladies'.
then. who were getting Interested
| Phil walled on.
| "swss--st honey bee. he sweet to mel
NY heart 10 free. but h~r.'s th. ksyr.
And then. positively. he could see
! that patch OF white beat time. lie
took heart OF grace at that and sang
on to tho end. and At suEgestion OF
clapping in dumb-ahow he gave an en-.
core and ragged II over again.
-'Ev'rybody's doin' II. doin' II, doln'
NJ" he began. ~ tho shadow dance
| ceased.
Honey. I declare. IT'S n bear, it's .
bear. It's bcar!'" no continued
temptingly, and WAS well on his way
to further extravaganciea when the
h.urc In white swiftly vanished and .
door slammed hard inside the house.
Several minutes later tho form Of
Don Juan appeared Al the lower door.
and In no uncertain tones he requested
them TO cease.
| The Senior ArAgon Informs me-" hs
said. "tha, your music annoys him"
We'll. let him come to the balcony