Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-07-31


sudden blow struck Brindle to the
ground and the loop came away un-
filled. The Texan laughed, shifting in
his saddle.
Come againl" commented Bud,
leaning sidewise as he coiled his rope,
and as the womenfolk and idlers came
rushing to see what had happened he
turned Copper Bottom In his tracks
and came back like a streak of light.
Look out, you ugly mans dog!" he
shouted. whirling his rope as he rode;
and then, amid a chorus of indignant
protests. he chased the yelping Brindle
down the lane and through a hole in
the fence. Then, with no harm done,
he rode back up the street. smiling
amiably and looking for more dogs to
rope.
In the doc of the store stood Ara
gon. pale with fury, but Bud appeared
not to see him. His eyes were turned
rather toward the house where, on the
edge of the %veranda, Gracia Aragon
n her mother stood staring at his
antics.
Good morning to you, ladies!" he
saluted, taking off his sombrero with
a flourish; lovely weather, amt it?"
And with his tongue in his cheek and
a roguish glance at Aragon, who was
struck dumb by this last effrontery, he
went rollicking after his pardner, send
ing back a series of joyous yips.
Nov hat sure does me good" he
conflded to Phil, as they rode down
between cottonwoods and struck into
the muddy creek. mo sense in 1t, but
1t gets something out of my system
that has Kept me from feeling glad.
Did you see me bowling to the ladies'?
Some class to that bow-no? You
want to lock out got my eye on that
gal, and I'm sure a hard III to head.
Only thing is, l wouldn't like the old
man for a father-inlaw the way mat
ters stand between US now"
He laughed b~oisterously at this wit
ticism, and the little Mexican chill
dren, playing among the willows,
crouched and lay quiet like rabbits.
Along the sides Of the rocky hills,
where the poems had their midland
rock houses, mothers came am sly
to open doors; and as they logged
along up the river the Chinese gar
deners, working in each separate nook
and eddy of the storm-washed creek
bed, stopped ~grubbing to gaze at them
inQuiringly.
"Wonder what's the matter with
them chintks ?" observed Bud, when his
happinessI had ceased to ~effervesce;
they sit up like a village of prairie
dogsl Whole country seems to be ON
the rubbeF neck. Must be something
doing"
That's right" agreed Phil; did you
notice how those poems scattered when
l rode down the street? Maybe there's
been somh insurrectos through. But
say-listeh!"
He STOPPED his horse, and in the
silence al buglercal came down the
wind frorhthe direction of Fortuna.
"Soldiersl" he said. "Now where
did they come from? l was in Fortuna
day before yesterday. and-well, look
at that!"
From the point of the hill just ahead
of them a line of soldiers came into
view, marching two abreast, with a
mounted officer In the lead.
"Ahai" exclaimed Bud with convic-
ton; they've started something down
below. This is that bunch of federals
that we saw drilling up at Aqua Ne
gra."
"Yep," admitted De Lancey regret
fully; Il guess you're right for nee
the open season for rebels has begun"
They drew out of the road and let
them pass-a long, double line of
shabby infantrymen, still wearing their
last years straw hats and summer uni
forms and trudging along in Tapping
sandals.
In front were two men bearing Ian
terms, to search out the way by night;
slatternly women, the inevitable camp
followers. trotted along at the sides
with their bundles and babies; and as
the little brown men from Zacatecas,
each burdened with his heavy gun and
a Job lot of belts and packs, shufled
patiently past the Americans, they
flashed the whites of their eyes and
rumbled a chorus OF "Adios!"
"Adios, Americanos!" they called.
gazing e~nviously at their fine horses,
and Phil in his turn touched his hat
and wished them all Godspeed.
Poor deyils!" he murmured, as the
last lettering camp-followers, laden
with their burdens, brought up the
rear and a white-skinned Spanish Off
Ger saluted from his horse; what do
those little pelones know about lib
erty and justice, or the game that is
being played? Wearing the same uni
forms that they had when they fought
for Diaz. and now they are fighting for
Madero. Next year they may be work.
ing for Orozco or Huerta or Salazar."
Sure" muttered Bud; but that
= Ill ~ l.