The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-09-03


But later. when the comisarto cues
toned him sharply. II developed TIA
he lived not far away. had no dargh
ter to lose. and was. in fact, only
crazed old man who told for truth tina
which he feared would happen.
Notwithstanding the denouenent
his story stirred the Mexican popula
tion to the depths. and when bud anC
Phil tried to hire men to push tn,
work on the mine, they realized thai
their troubles had begun. Not only
was It impossible to engage laborers
at any price, but on the following day
Cruz Mendez. with his wife and chill
dren and all his earthly possessions
on his burros. came hurrying In from
the camp and told them he could serve
them no more.
1T is my woman!" he explained
my Maria! All. II those revoitosos
should see Maria they would steal heI
before my eyes!"
So he was given his pay and the
afty dollars he had earned and. after
the customary "Mdchas gracias,- and
with the faithful Maria by his side, he
went hurrying of to the store
And now In crowded vehicles. with
armed men riding In front and behind.
the refugees from Moctezuma and the
hot country began TO pour into town.
adding by their very haste to the panic
OF all who saw them.
They were the rich property owners
who. having been subjected to forcsd
contribution before. were now fleeing
at the first rumor OF danger. bringing
their families with them to escape any
being held for ransom.
In half day the big hotel presided
over by Don Juan de Dios Bracha-
monte was swarming with staring.
eyed country mothers and sternly sub
dued families OF children; and final
ly. to add eclat to the occasion and
compensate for the general confusion.
Don Cipriano Aragon y Tres Palacios
came driving up to the door with his
wife and the smiling Gracis.
II she had been In any fear OF cap
ture by bold marauders. Gracia Ara
gon did not show II now. as she sprang
lightly from the carriage and waited
upon her lady mother. Perhaps. after
year or more OF rumors and alarms,
she had come to look upon impending
revolutionary conflicts as convenient
excuses for trip to town. long stop
at the hotel. and even a dash to gay
Gadsden In case the rebels pressed
close.
However that may be, while Don
Juan exerted himself to procure them
a good room she endured the gaze OF
the American guests with becoming
placidity and. as that took some time.
she even ventured to look the Ameri-
cans over and make some comments
to her mother.
And then-or so Il seemed to Bud
the mother glanced up quickly and
fixed her eyes upon him. After that
he was in less OF a hurry to return to
the mine. and Phil said they would
stay inside for week. But as for
Don Cipriano, when he came across
them in the crowded lobby he glared
past them with malignant insolence
and abruptly turned his back.
At La Fortuna he was the lord and
master, with power to forbid them the
place; but now once more the fortunes
Of war had turned against him. and he
vas forced to tolerate their presence.
The band played In the plaza that
evening, it being Thursday OF the /
week. and as the cornet led with La /
'aloma." and the bass viol and guitars |
,eat the measure. all feet seemed to .
urn in that direction. and the fear OF
he raiders was stilled.
Around and around the band stand
md In and out beneath the trees the
pleasure loving maidens from down
'elow walked deoorously with their
nothers; and the little band OF For
una Americans. to whom life for some
months had been a trife burdensome.
woke suddenly to the beauty OF the
vening.
And among the rest OF the maidens.
'ut far more ravishing and high-bred,
walked Gracia Aragon. at whom Bud
n particular stole many secret glances
rom beneath the broad brim OF his
at, hoping that by some luck the In
urrectos would come upon the town.
nd he could defend her-he alone.
or he felt that he could do it against
ny hundred Mexicans that ever
reathed.