The Elbert County tribune., 1914-08-21
CHAPTER XII.

In its inception the Fortuna hotel
had not been intended for the use OF
Mexicans-in fact, Its rates were prac-
tically prohibitive for anyone not be-
ing paid In gold-but, since most OF
the Americans had left. and seven dol
lars day Mex was no deterrent to the
rich refugee land owners. 1t became
of a sudden International. with a fine
mixture OF purse-proud Spaniards and
race-proud American adventures.
Not a very pleasing combination for
the parents of romantic damsels des-
tined for some prearranged marriage
OF state. but very exciting for the dam
sells and most provocative TO the Amer
leans.
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
scornful glances at the Mexican dan
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 a 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-
rites, you know! Well make those
young Mexican dudes look like two
spots before the war Is over Who's
game now for a song beneath the win
dows? You know the old stand-bys-
La Paloyna' and 'Teresita Mia'-and
you want to listen to me sing Me Gus
tan Todas' to Gracia, the fairest of the
fairl Come on, fellows. out in the
plaza, and then listen to the old folks
cuss!"
They adjourned then. after 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 few brave
spirits sang.
A silence followed their first at
tempt, as we'll as their second and
third. and the comisario of police, a
mild creature owned and paid by the
company. came around and made
few Intellectual protests.
But inside the company's conces-
sion. where by common consent the
militant rurales kept their hands of,
the Americans knew they we're safe.
and they soon 1ollied the comisario
into taking a drink and departing.
Then De Lancey took up the burden.
and the string band. hired by the hour.
strummed on as II 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
Senior 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
Ciprfano 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 1t was, he would not speak
to them. and De Lancey would not
quit.
Try 'em on American musicl" he
cried. as everyone but Bud went away
In disgust, the latest rag from Broad
~a-ay, New York. Here. gimme that
guitar. hombre, and listen to this
now!"
He picked out a clever bit OF syn
copation and pitched his voice to
heady twang:
Down in the garden where the red roses
grow.
Oh my. long goi
Pluck me like nowor. cuddle mo an hour.
Lowe let me learn the Red Rose Ra-sgi"
There was some swing to that. and
it seemed to make an impression. for
just as he was well started on the
chorus the stats OF one of the shut.
ters parted and patch Of white shone
through the spaces. 1t was the ladies.
then, who were getting Interested
Phil walled on:
"swes-est honey bee, be sweet to msi
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. and at suggestion of
clapping in dumb-show he gave an en-.
core and ragged 1t over again.
'Ev'rybody's doin' It, doin' 1t, doin
it!'"' he began, as the shadow dance
ceased.
Honey. declare. It's bear, it's a
bear. It's bearl." he continued
temptingly. and was well on bis 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