The Arvada enterprise., 1914-12-24

at Captain del Rey-but six months in
Mexico had made him careless, and he
half hoped the Yaqui would win.
The captain had 1t coming to him
for his brutality. but with Aragon II
was different-Aragon had wife and
daughter-and. with the memory OF
| Gracia In his mind, Bud sent his horse
I plunging down the ridge to warn them
before 1t was too late.
There were some brush fences to be
jumped. but Copper Bottom took them
flying. and as they cut into the river
trail he made the mud-puddles splash
Across the fields to the south Bud
could see the poems running for cover
the insurrectos must be. in sight be.
yond the hills.
He was going south, they were NOV
Ing west. but It was FIVE miles north
again to the town. Speed was what
was needed and Copper Bottom gave
his best. They dashed into Fortuna
like . whirlwind, and Hooker raised
his voice in a high yell.
"Insurrectos!" he shouted. "Ladro.
mes! Pr-onto Fortuna!"
There was q rush. a moments si.
lence. and then heads appeared from
every window and women ran scream.
Ing with the news. Aragon came rush.
Ing from the store and confronted him
angrily; then. reading conviction in
his tones. he called for horses and ran
frantically into the house.
A shrill screech came from the hill
side, where serving-woman had
scampered to view the valley, and. a.
she pointed her finger and screamed
mothers laid hold OF their little ones
and started up the valley on foot.
Still the men ran about In the horse
pen and Aragon adjured his women.
folk in the house. Burning with i'm.
patience. Bud spurred his way to the
corral where they were fumbling with
reata and rigging and dropped rope
on the first horse he saw. Then he
snatched side-saddle from a trem-
bling peon and slapped It on the
brute's back. Grabbing up the bride.
he led the horse back to the house and
bridled 1t while he shouted for haste.
Still the women tarried. and the
sound of galloping came from : the
south. Then. as all seemed lost. the
Mexicans came humping out from the
stable with the family coach, Aragon
and his wife leaped in. and Gracia.
neatly attired in riding-skirt. came
tripping down the steps.
Even in such times as these she
IN Anty tD
herself. and Hooker had to gaze for a
moment before he helped her up. She
offered her foot and vaulted lightly
into the saddle: the coach went pound.
ing on ahead; and az the servants
scattered before her she galloped OF
at the side of Bud.
Behind them the rumble Of distant
hoofs rose up like the roaring Of wa
tiers, and the shrieks OF fleeing women
echoed from the roadside. but once
safely in the canyon their lead was
never lessened and. with coach-horses
galloping and positions lashing from
both sides. the whole cavalcade swept
into the plaza while the town Of For.
tuna went mad.
Already the great whistle was blow.
ing hoarsely. its deep reverberations
making the air tremble as II with fear
Americans were running back and
forth. distributing arms and rushing
their women to cover: Don Juan. his
chin Quivering with excitement. was
imploring all Corners to be calm: and
the Aragons. coming flying up to the
door. added the last touch to the panic.
They with their eyes had seen the
rebels: they were riding in from the
| south. Other men. equally excited,
swors they were coming from the
north. and a disorderly body OF So.
/ nora miners. armed as If by magic
with guns which had long lain hidden,
banked themselves about the store and
Office and clamored for more and more
cartridges. Then . rip OF gun-hre
echoed from across the canyon, and
the miners made n rush to the attack
| The whistle. which had obscured all
sound rs n cloud obscures the light
stopped suddenly In Its roar. and the
crowd at the hotel became calm. The
superintendent. wiry. gray.haired
little man. with decision In every
movement. came running from his
fort,like house on the hill and ordered
all the women to take shelter there
and take their children With them.
So. while the rifles ratified and stray
bullets began TO knock mud from the
walls. they went struggling up the hill
rich and poor. patrician and peon
while the air was rent by the walls
OF the half-Indian Mexican women
who held themselves rs good as cap
turcd by the revoltosos. concerning
whoss scruples they entertained nc
Illusions.
The women OF the sris,ocracy bore
themselves with more reserve. as be
fitting their birth and station. and the
Americans who gathered about them
si,h their protecting rifles pretended
that all would be WE'LL but In tn,
minds OF every one was that same
terror which found expression in the
pcon wall and. while scattered rebels
| and newly armed miners EXCHANGED