Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-09-24
with a quick grip the Yseui was son.

Ing idea that II was to take pot-shots
at Captain del Rey--but six months in
Mexico had made him careless. and he
half hoped the Yaqui would win.
The captain had IL coming to him
for his brutality, but with Aragon 1t
was different--Aragon had a wife and
daughter-and. with the memory Of
Gracia In his mind. Bud sent his horse
plunging down the ridge to warn them
before Il was too late.
There we're 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 we're NOV
ing west, but Il 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 high yell
"lDsurrectosi" he shouted. "Ladro-
mes! Pr-onto Fortunai"
There was a rush, a moments ST.
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.
4 Oh A. III
side, where a serving woman had
scampered 10 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 adjured his women
folk in the house. Burning with i'm
patience. Bud spurred his way to the
corral where they we're 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 1t on the
brute's back. Grabbing up the bride,
he led the horse back to the house and
bFidled II while he shouted for haste.
1NAAA Aht NOlnth taAAACnf aah bhO
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 ridlng-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 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 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 and. with coach-horaos
gailoping and positions flashing from
both sides, the whole cavRleade 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 tremhle as II with fear.
Americans were running back and
forth, Distributing arms and rushing
their women to cover; Don Juan, his
chin 6uivering 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 we're riding in from the
south! Other men. equally excited
swore they were coming from the
north. and a disorderly body OF So
nora miners. armed as II by magic
; with guns which had long lain hidden
banked themselves about the store and
office and clamored for more and more
cartridges. Then q rip of gun-hrs
echoed from across the canyon, and
the miners made a rush to the attack
The whistle, which had obscured al
sound az a cloud obscures the light
stopped suddenly in It's roar, and the
crowd at the hotel became calm. The
superintendent. wiry, gray-hairet
little man, with decision In ever
movement, came running from hi
fort-llke house on the hill and ordered
all the women to take shelter Their,
and take their children with them.
So, while the rifles ratified and stra,
bullets began to knock mud from tn,
walls. they went struggling up the hill
rich and poor, patrician and peon
while the air was rent by the wall
Of the half-Indian Mexican women
who held themselves as good as car
tured by the revoltosos, concerning
d whose scruples they entertained n,
y illusions.
l. The women of the aristocracy Dor,
n themselves with more reserve, as be
10 fitting their birth and station, and tn
Americans who gathered about then
d with their protecting rifles pretende,
- that all would be well; but in tn
10 minds OF every one was that sam
e, | terror which found exnreasion In IN