The Huttig news., 1917-06-23

hiding what we can. Yesterday at the big Obispo ranch our people shot two Americans and burned some of their houses. They intend to kill all the Americans they find, so you'd better be careful. Just now fellow rode up shouting that you were coming, bat of course didn't know"
 Yes, of course. We're trying to reach the border" Father O'Maiiey told him. Will you hide us here until We can go on?"
 Juan curtsied respectfully to the priest. "My house is yours, father" Can you take care of our horses, too, and-give us a place to sleep?" Dave asked. His eyes were heavy; he had been almost constantly in the sad dle since leaving Jonesville, and now i could hardly keep himself awake.
 Trust me-" the Mexican assured them, confidently. If somebody comes HI send them away. Oh, can lie with the best of them.'
 The Garcias were not ordinary peo- pie, and they lived in rather good cir cumstances for country folk There were three rooms to their little house, all of which were reasonably clean. The food that Inez set before her guests, too, was excellent if scanty.
 Juanito, taking cue from his parents, flung himself whole-heartedly into the task of entertainment, and since Alaire met his advances halfway he began, before long, to look upon her with par ticular favor. Once they had thorough ly made friends, he showered her with the most tiattering attentions. His shyness, it seemed, was but a pretense at heart he was bold and enterpris- ing fellow-and so, as mark of his admiration, he presented her with all his personal treasures. First he fetched and laid in her lap cigar-box wagon with wooden wheels-evidently the handiwork of his father. Then he gave her, one by one, a highly prized blue bottle, a rusty Mexican spur, and the ruins of what had been a splendid clasp-knife There were no blades in the knife, but he showed her how to peep through tiny hole in the handle, where was concealed the picture of flashing Spanish bull-fighter. The ap- preciation which these gifts evoked in- toxicated the little man and reused him to a very madness of generosity. He battered away and returned shortly, staggering and grunting under the weight of another and a still greater offering. It was dog-a patient, hungry dog with very little hair. The animal was alive with fleas-it scratched absent-mindedly with one hind paw, even while Juanito strangled 1t against his naked breast-but 1t was l the apple of it's owners eye and when Inez unfeelingly banished it from the | house Juanito began to squall lustily. Nor could he be ceneiliated until Alaire took him upon her knee and told him about another boy, of precisely his own age and size, who planted a magic bean 1 in his mothers dooryard, which grew up and up until it reached clear to the sky, where giant lived. Juanito Gar eia had never heard the like. He was spellbound with delight; he held his breath in ecstasy only his toes moved, and they wriggled like ten fat, brown tadpoles.
 In the midst of this recital Garcia senior appeared in the door with warning.
 Conceal yourselves" he said, quick ly. "Some of our neighbors are con- Ing this way" Inez led her guests in- to the bedehamber bare room with dirt floor, from the window of which they watched Juan go to meet group Joined in the barley. Then, after time. the riders galloped away.
 When Alaire, having watched the party out of sight, turned from the window she found that Dave had col lapsed upon chair and was sleeping, his limbs relaxed, his body sagging
 "Poor fellow, he's done up," Father OMalley exclaimed.
 ''Yes; he hasn't slept for days" she whispered. Help me-" With the as- sistanee of Dolores they succeeded in lifting Dave to the bed, but he half reused himself. Lie down, dear" Alaire told him. "Close your eyes for few minutes. We're safe now."
 Somebody has to keep watch" he muttered, thickly, and tried to fight off his fatigue. But he was like drunken man.
 '1m not sleepy; I'll stand guard" the priest volunteered, and, disregard ing further protest, he helped Alaire remove Dave's coat.
 Seeing that the bed was nothing more than board platform covered
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