Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-11-06


ing that It was their renown as fight
ers and not the news Of the dynamite
that drove all the soldiers from town
However. Aqua Negra is once nor
in the hands Of the government; the
track is clear and most of the bridges
repaired; so why quarrel with the
Yaquis? While they are, Of course.
nothing but Indians, they serve their
purpose in battle"
We'll, / guess yes!" responded Bud
warmly. Serve their purpose, eh7
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 it go off. More'n likely the
poor zap that fired 1t was SO scairt he
couldn't hold a match-probably
never lit it, jest dropped the match
and run. They're a bum bunch. II
you want to know what l think. I'd
rather have a Yaqui than a hundred
Of 'em!"
"a hundred of whom?" inquired q
cool voice behind him, and looking up
Hooker saw the beautiful Gracia gag
ing out at him through the screen
door.
"A hundred Mexicans!" he repeated.
and Gracia murmured Obi" 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. If she
had intended the remark as y chal-
lenge-a subtle invitation to follow
her and defend his faith-she failed
for ono Of her purpose, for II there
was any particular man in Mexico that
Bud hated than another 1t was
her false-hearted father.
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 a
train being expected soon, Bud stayed
over another day. In the morning,
when he came down for 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 it's the mid
die of the rainy season and the wal
going on all summer and nary a rebel
in sight. Where's that big fight you
was telling about-the battle Of For
tuna? You've made a regular fortune
out of these refugees, Brachamonte,
but fail to see the enemy"
"Ah, you may laugh" shrugged the
hotel-keeper, but wait! The time win
come. The rebels are lost now-some
day, when you least expect 1t, they
will come upon us and then, believe
me, my guests will be glad they are
here. What Is a few weeks bill com
pared to being held for ransom? Look
at that rich Senior Luna, who al here
for a time in the spring. Against my
advice he hurried home and nov he
is paying the price. Ten thousand
pesos 1t cost to say his wife and
family, and for himself and son his
friends advanced ten thousand more.
/ make no evil prophecies, but 1t
would be better for our friend If he
stayed on at my poor hotel"
Whose friend?" inquired Bud
bluf1y, but Don Juan struck him upon
the back with elephantine playfulness
and hurried off 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 ambled
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 Mext
cans all his apprehensions had left
him. He had written briefly to Phil
and Kruger, and now he was holding
the fort
1t had been a close shave, but he
had escaped the cowardly a~ssassins
and had Aragon in his power. Not By
any force of law, but by the force oil
fear and the gnawing weakness of Ara
CONS W evil conscience.
Aragon was afraid Of what he had
done, but 1t was the suspense which
rendered him so pitiable. On a day
he had sent four armed Mexicans
to kill this Texan-not n had re
turned and the Texan regarded him
sneeringly. This it was that broke
the Spaniard's will, for he knew moi
what to think. But as for Bud, he lay
on his back by the doorway and
laughed at the funny page.
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 darh
face lighted up.