Williams news., 1914-10-15
CHAPTER XII.

In its inception the Fortuna hotel had not been intended for the use of Mexicans-in fact, it's rates were prac- tically prohibitive for anyone not be- ing paid in gold-but, since most of lars day Mex was no deterrent to the rich refugee land owners, it became of sudden international, with a fine mixture of purse-proud Spaniards and race-proud American adventurers.
 Not very pleasing combination for the parents of romantic damsels des- tined for some prearranged marriage of state, but very exciting for the dam sels and most provocative to the Amer jeans.
 After the promenade in the plaza the mothers by common consent pre- empted the upstairs reception-room. gathering their precious charges in close; while the Americans, after their custom, foregathered in the lobby, convenient to the bar. Hot argu- ments about the revolution, and pre- dictions of events to come served to pass the early evening, with many
 
 dies who went so insolently up the stairs. And then, as the refugees re- tired to their apartments and the spirit of adventure rose uppermost, Phil De Lancey made dash out into the darkness and came back with a Mexi- can string band.
 "A serenade, boys!" he announced, as the musicians filed sheepishly into the hotel. Our guests. the fair seno- ritas, you know! We'll make those young Mexican dudes look like two spots before the war is over. Who's game now for cong beneath the win dows? You know the old stand-bys- La Paloma' and 'Teresita Mia'-and you want to listen to me sing Me Gus tan Todas' to Gracia, the fairest of the fair! Come on, fellows, out in the plaza, and then listen to the old folks cuss!"
 They adjourned then, after a drink for courage, to the moonlight and tho plaza; and there. beneath the shut tered windows and vacant balconies. the guitars and violins took up La Paloma," while Phil and a few brave spirits sang.
 A silence followed their first at- tempt, as we'll as their second and third, and the comisario of police, mild creature owned and paid by the company, came around and made a few intellectual protests
 But inside the company's conces- sion, where by common consent the r,,i1i the Americans knew they were safe, and they soon jollied the comisario into taking drink and departing. Then De Lancey took up the burden, and the string band, hired by the hour, strummed on as If for eternity.
 One by one the windows opened; ,fretful fathers stepped out on the bal cony and, bound by the custom and convention of the country, thanked them and bade them good night But the two windows behind which the Senor Aragon and his family reposed did not open and, though the dwin- ding band stood directly under their balcony, and all knew that his daugh- ter was the fairest of the fair, Don Cipriano did not wish them good night
 Perhaps he recognized the leading tenor-and the big voice of Bud Hooker, trying to still the riot-but, however it was, he would not speak to them, and De Lancey would not quit
 "Try 'em on American music!" he cried, as everyone but Bud went away in disgust, "the latest rag from Broad wa-ay, New York Here. gimme that guitar, hombre. and listen to this now!"
 He picked out clever bit of syn copation and pitched his voice to a heady twang:
 Down in the garden where the red roses
 grow,
 Oh my I long to goi Pluck like 6 flower, cuddle me an hour. Lovie let me learn the Red Rose Ra-agw
 There was some swing to that, and it seemed to make an impression, for just as he was well started on the chorus the slats of one of the shut ters parted and a patch of white shone through the spaces. It was the. ladies, then, who were getting interested! !! Phil walled on:
 SWee-eet
 My heart Is free. but here's the keyr' And then, positively, he could see that patch of white beat time. He took heart of grace at that and sang on to the end, aud at a suggestion of clapping in dumb-show he gave an en- core and ragged it over again.
 'Ev'rybody's doin' 1t, doin' it, doin' it!'" he began, as the shadow dance ceased.
 "'Honey, declare. it's bear, it's a bear, it's a bear!'" he continued temptingly, and was we'll on his way to further extravagancies when the figure in white swiftly vanished and a door slammed hard inside the house.
 Several minutes later the form of Don Juan appeared at the lower door, and in no uncertain tones he requested them to cease.
 1 "The Senor Aragon informs me-" he said, that your music annoys him."
 Well, let him come to the balcony