The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-08-19

NASh4I WhSA sNS
They did not shoot, those Yaquis;
but, dragging their guns behind them,
they crept up through the bushes and
dug pits quite close to the lines. Then,
when the rebels discovered them and
manned their guns, the Yaquis shot
down the gunners.
Growing bolder, they crept farther
to the front-the rebels became disor.
ganized, their men became mutinous-
and at last, when they saw they would
surely be taken, the leaders, buried
two tons OF dynamite In the trenches
by the bull-ring and set a time-fuse,
to explode when the Yaquis arrived.
"The word spread through the town
like wildfre-aii the people, all the
soldiers fed eyscy which way to es-
cape-and then, Then tho worst was
expected to happsa. the dynamite
failed to explode and the Yaquis
rushed the trenches at sGnaown."
Did those Yaquis know about the
dynamite?" Injured Bud.
Know" repeated Don Juan. waving
the thought away; not a word! Their
commanders kept it from them, even
after they discovered the mine. And
now the Indians are making boasts;
they are drunk with the thought Of
their valor and claim that the rebels
fed from them alone.
1.-The roadmaster came Into town
this morning on a velocipede and said
that the Yaquis are insufferabie, think.
ing that it was their renown as fight
ers and not the news Of the dynamite
that drove all the soldiers from town.
However, Aqua Negra is once more
in the hands Of the government; the
track is clear and most Of the bridges
repaired; so why quarrel with the
Yaquis? While they are, Of course,
nothing but Indians. they serve their
purpose in battle"
well, l guess yes!"! responded Bud
warmly. Serve their purpose, eh?
Where were these Mexican soldiers
and them Spanish officers when the
Yaquis were taking the town? And
that was Just like a dog-goned. Next
can-setting that time-fuse and then
not having 1t go of. More'n likely the
poor zap that fired it was so scairt he
couldn't hold a match-probably
never lit 1t, jest dropped the match
and run. They're q bum bunch, II
you want to know what l think. I'd
rather have a Yaqui than a hundred
Of 'em!"
"a hundred of whom?" inquired a
cool voice behind him, and looking up
Hooker saw the beautiful Gracia gaz-
ing out at him through the screen
door.
"A hundred Mexicans!" he repeated.
and Gracia murmured obi" and was
gone.
Miss Aragon Is very loyal to her
country" observed Don Juan, but
Hooker only grunted. +,
Somehow, since those four Mexicans
had come to his camp. he had soured
on everything south Of the line; and
eve the charming Gracia could not
make him take back his words. II she
had intended the remark as a chal-
lenge-a subtle invitation to follow
her and defend his faith-she failed
for once of her purpose. for If there
was any particular man in Mexico that
Bud hated more than another 1t was
her false-hearted father.
Hooker had, in fact, thought more
seriously Of making her a half-orphan
than Of winning her goodwill, and he
fingered about the hotel, not to make
love to the daughter, but to strike ter.
ror to Aragon.
The company being good, and a
train being expected soon, Bud stayed
over another day. In the morning,
when he came down for breakfast, he
found that Aragon had fed before him.
With his wife, daughter and retinue,
he had moved suddenly back to his
home. Hooker grinned when Don Juan
told him the news.
well, why not?" he asked, chuck.
ling maliciously. Here it's tia mid,
die OF the rainy season and tie wal
going on. all summer and nary D. rebel
In sight. Where's that big fight you
was telling about-the battle If For
tuna? You've made a regular fortune
out Of these refugees, Brachamonte,
but I fail to see the enemy"
"Ah, you may laugh" shrugged the
hotel-keeper, "but wait! The time will
come. The rebels are lost noW-some
day, when you least expect it. they
will come upon US and then, believe
me, my guests will be glad they are
here. What Is a few weeks bill com.
pared to being held for ransom? Look
at that rich Senior Luna, who Fas here
for q time in the spring. Against my
advice he hurried home and now he
Is paying the price. Ten thousand
pesos II cost to save his wife and
family, and for himself ant o his
friends advanced ten thousaod more.
/ make no evil prophecie:A but 1t
would be better for our friend If he
stayed on at my poor hotel"
Whose friend?" inquired Bud
blufiy, but Don Juan struck him upon
the back with ~elephantine p;ayfulness
and hurried off to his duties.
As for Hooker, he tarrieG in town
until he got his mail and Is copy Of
the Sunday paper and then. we'll sat-
isfied that the times were quiet and
wars a thing of the past, ne ambled
h, ok 70 no EaqIa Tail and settled