The Arvada enterprise., 1914-12-31
tcoe,d.st 1914 ~ Pm. 4 n....,,
CHAPTER xxlI-contlnued.

NoVyn&ms ASSSs 2
CHAPTER xxiI-contlnusd.
Let the Mexicans night 1t out" he
said. They might resent 1t II you
took sides. and that would make 1t bad
for US. Just walt while-you never
can tell what will happen. Perhaps the
rurales and federals will stand them
or"
What, that little bunch?" demanded
Bud. pointing scornfully at the land
ful Of defenders who were covering
behind their rock piles. why half of
them pelones don't know what q gun
was made for. and the rurales-"
We'll. the rebels are the same" sug-
gested the superintendent Practically.
Let them fight 1t out-we need every
American We can get. SO Just forget
about being = Mexican"
"All right" agreed Bud. al he yield
cd reluctantly to reason. 1T amt be-
cause I'm q Mexican citixen-I Just
want to stop that rush."
He walked back to the house, jug
Cling his useless gun and keeping his
eye on the distant ridges. And then.
in . chorus Of defiant yells. the men
In the federal trenches began to shoot.
In an airline the distance was some
thing over = mile. but at the first scat
tering volley the rebels halted and
dred = volley In return. With a vicious
spang . few stray bullets smashed
against the reverberating steel tank.
h11f IN h,,p< hA AnP
ers. drunk with valor. began to shoot
and yell like mad.
The bullets of the rebels, fred at
random. struck up dust.iets in every
direction. and from the lower part Of
the town came the shouting of the nom
combatant Mexicans as they ran here
and there for shelter. But by the
trenches. and in the rear of the black
tank, the great crowd Of onlookers
persisted, ducking ~ each successive
bullet hit the tank and shouting en-
courasement AZ the defenders emptied
their rifles and reloaded with clip after
clip.
The rifles ratified . continuous vol.
ley; spent bullets leaped like locusts
across the nat; men ran to and fro,
now crouching behind the tank, now
stepping boldly into the open: and the
defiant shouts of the defenders almost
drowned the walls Of the women. Ex-
cept for one thing 1t was . battle
there was nobody hurt.
For the first half-hour the Ameri-
cans stayed prudently under cover.
busying themselves at the suggestion
Of H-few,kmerican women in providing
. hrst-aid hospital on the sheltered
porch. Then. a. no wounded came to
all It and the rebels delayed their
charge. one man after another climbed
up to tho trenches. ostensibly to bring
down the injured.
Al soldiers and bystanders reported
NO one hit. and the bullets few harm.
lessly past. their solicitude turned rap
idly to disgust and then to scorn.
Strange n It may seem. they were dis
appointed at the results. and their re-
marks were derogatory a. they com.
mented on the bravery Of pelones and
Mexicans in general.
From . dread OF imminent attack, of
charging rebels and retreatins defend.
err, and . tight to the death by the
house. they came suddenly to q desire
lor blood and battle. for dead men and
the cries OF the wounded: and all fear
Of the insurrectos left them.
"Come away. boys" grunted the
burly roadmasteF. who up to then had
led In the work: I'VE wasted our time
on that hospital-there'll be no wound.
Cd. Let's take ourselves back to the
house and have = quiet smoke"
Right you are. Ed" agreed the mas.
ter mechanic. ~ he turned upon his
heel in disgust. This amt war
them Mexicans think they're working
for . moving-picture show!"
II bet you can 90 up on that
ridge" announced Hooker. land clean
out the whole bunch with my six.
shooter before you could bat your
eye"
But the superintendent was not 20
sure.
Never mind. boys" be said. Were
worth q lot Of ransom money to those
rebels and they wont give up 20 quick.
And look ut this now-my miners com.
ing back! Those are the boys that will
night! Walt till Chico and Ramon
Mendoza get after them!"
He pointed a. he spoke to q stray.
Cling band Of sonorans. led by the
much.vaunted Mendoza brothers, a.
they buried to save the town. and .
cheer went up from the trenches -
tho fsderals beheld achievements.
But . change had come over tho fro.
eating miners. and they brought other
rebels In their wake.
As they trudged YEARLY into town
and sought shelter among the houses
. great body OF men appeared on the
opposite ridge. firing down at them a.
they retreated. Tho battle rapidly
turned into . long distance shooting
contest. with the rebels on the ridges
and tho defenders In the valley, and
finally. a. the day wore ON and . thun.
derstorm came up. Il died out alto
gsthcr and the rebels turned back to
H.