The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-11-05

ing west, but II was FIVE miles north
again TO the town. Speed was what
was needed and Copper Bottom gave
his best They dashed into Fortuna
like a whirlwind, and Hooker raised
his voice In a high yell.
'Insurrectosl" he shouted. "Ladro
mes! Pronto a Fortuna"
There was a rush. a moments al
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 q serving woman had
scampered to view the valley. and. as
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 sdjured 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 a rope
on the first horse he saw. Then he
snatched q slds-saddle from a trem-
bling peon and slapped 1t on the
brute's back. Grabbing up the bride.
he led the horse back to the house and
bridled It while he shouted for haste.
Still the women tarried, and the
sound Of galioping 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 q riding-skirt. came
tripping down the steps.
Even In such times as these she
seemed to realize her first duty to
herself, and Hooker had to gaze for q
moment before he helped her up. She
offered her foot and vaulted lightly
into the saddle: the coach went pound
Ing on ahead: and as 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,
ters. and the shrieks OF fleeing women
echoed from the roadside. but once
safely In the canyon their lead was
never lessened aud. with ach-horses
salloping and positions flashing 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. tn 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
all oomers 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,
swore they were coming from the
north. and a disorderiy body Of So
nora miners. armed a. IL by magic
With guns which had long lain hidden,
banked themselves about the store and
,fiice and clamored for more and moro
cartridges. Then . rip OF gun-fire
,choed from across the canyon, and
he miners made . rush to the attack.
The whistle. which had obscured al
ound as a cloud obscures the light.
topped suddenly In its roar. and the
rowd at the hOtei became calm. The
uperintendent. a wiry. gray-haired
title man. with decision In every
movement came running from his
ort-like house on the hill and ordered
ii the women to take shelter there
nd take their children with them.
So. while the rifles ratified and stray
'uliets began TO knock mud from the
walls, they went struggling up the hill.
ich and poor. patrician and peon.
While the air was rent by the walls
4 the halfIndian Mexican women,
rho held themselves as good as cap.
ured by the revoltosos, concerning
hcoo eeiuPtoo shcJ cutcttaihcu nv
Illusions.
The women OF the aristocracy bore
with more reserve, as be-
lifting their birth and station. and the
americans who gathered about them
With their protecting rifles pretended
hat all would be well; but In the
minds OF every one was that same
error which found expression In the
)eon wall and. while scattered rebels
md newly armed miners exchanged
rolleys on both sides OF the town. the
Americans sought out
avery woman and rushed her up to the
big house. There. IL worst came to
worst. they could make a last stand.
Dr. save them by a ransom.
So. from the old woman who kept
he candy stand In the plaza to the
wives OF the miners and the cherished
OF the landowners. they
we're all crowded inside the broad halls
,f the big house: and seventy odd
armed with company rifles.
paced nervously along the broad versn-
las or punched loopholes In the adobe
wslls that inclossd the summer garden
behind.
Along with the rest went Hooker
md GrsciA and. though her mother
ana kar f.fhar