The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-05-01

hole with cartridges and loaded clips.
At his feet lay his blanket, bound into
tight roll, and canteen and coffee
cup completed his outfit, which, SO far
as impedimenta were concerned, was
simplicity itself
But instead of the cheap linen uni
form Of the federals he was dressed
in good American clothes-a striped
shirt, overalls, and a sombrero banded
with a bright ribbon-and in place Of
the beaF., hunted look OF those poor
conscripts he had the steady gaze Of
a free man.
They stood and smoked for a few
moments, talking briefly. and then, as
the Yaquis closed up their ranks and
marched off to make camp for the
night. Bud presented his strange
friend with the sack Of tobacco and
went back to join his pardner
That evening the plaza was filled
with the widest rumors, and another
train arrived during the night, but
through it all Bud and Phil remained
unimpressed. In the morning the sol
diers went marching off down the trail
leaving a great silence where all had
been bugle-calls and excitement, and
then the first fugitive came in from
down below.
He was an old Mexican, with trem-
bling beard and staring eyes, and he
told a tale of outrage that made their
blood run cold. The red-faggers had
come to his house at night; they had
killed his wife and son, left him upon
the ground for dead, and carried off
his daughter, a prisoner.
But later, when the comisario ques-
toned him sharply, it developed that
he lived not far away. had no daugh-
ter to lose, and was, in fact, only
crazed old man who told for truth that
which he feared would happen.
Notwithstanding the denouement,
his story stirred the Mexican popula-
ton to the depths, and when Bud and
Phil tried to hire men to push the
work on the mine, they realized that
their troubles had begun. Not only
was it impossible to engage laborers
at any price, but on the following day
Cruz Mendez, with his wife and chill
dren and all his earthly possessions
on his burros, came hurrying in from
the camp and told them he could serve
them no more.
1T is my woman!" he explained;
my Maria! All. il those revoltosos
should see Maria they would steal her
before my eyes!"
So he was given his pay and the
fifty dollars he had earned and. after
the customary "Muchas gracias." and
with the faithful Maria by his side. he
went hurrying off to the store.
And now in crowded vehicles. with
armed men riding in front and behind.
the refugees from Moctezuma and the
hot country began to pour into town,
adding by their very haste to the panic
Of all who saw them.
They were the rich property owners
who. having been subjected to forced
contribution before, were now fleeing
at lLC AAol ulAOi vi udl6CAs Va Ah6A-Ao
their families with them to escape any
being held for ransom.
In half day the big hotel presided
over by Don Juan de Dios Bracha-
monte was swarming with staring
eyed country mothers and sternly sub
dued families of children; and final
ly, to add eclat to the occasion and
compensate for the general confusion,
Don Cipriano Aragon y Tres Palacios
came driving up to the door with his
wife and the smiling Gracia.
II she had been in any fear of cap
ture by bold marauders, Gracia Ara
gon did not show it now as she sprang
lightly from the carriage and waited
upon her lady mother. Perhaps, after
a year or more of rumors and alarms.
she had come to look upon impending
revolutionary conflicts as convenient
excuses for trip to town. long stop
at the hotel. and even a dash to gay
Gadsden in case the rebels pressed
close.
However that may be, while Don
Juan exerted himself to procure them
good room she endured the gaze OF
the American guests with becoming
placidity and, as that took some time,
she even ventured to look the Ameri-
cans over and make some comments
to her mother.
And then-or so 1t seemed to Bud
the mother glanced up quickly and
fixed her eyes upon him. After that
he waa in less of hurry to return to
the mine. and Phil said they would
stay inside for a week. But as for
Don Cipriano, when he came across
them In the crowded lobby he glared
past them with malignant insolence