Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-20
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CHAPTER xI. !

n ESteDdQ went ABOUT ulS piAu u ue-
ttrs:..:cy:::s pscchc Cretc With youthful
energy and zest. First he secured, at
Some pains, half-stick Of dynamite, q
Acap and fuse, and q gallon or more of
kerosene; then he assembled his fol-
lowers and led them once again into
the San Juan.
La Joya was still tenanted when
early in the evening its rightful owner
arrived; the house and some Of its out
buildings showed lights. Esteban con-
icealed his men. While the horses
cropped and the negroes rested he ft-
ted fuse and cap to his precious piece
OF dynamite.
Now while Esteban was thus busted,
'Pancho Cueto was entertaining an I'M
welcome guest. In the late afternoon
he had been surprised by the visit Of q
dozen or more volunteers, and mas
much as his relations with their colo
mel had been none Of the friendliest
since that ill-starred expedition into
the Yumuri, he had felt chill OF APP
Iiprehsnsion on seeing the redoubtable
lCobo himself at their head.
, The colonel ad/explatned that he
was returning from trip up the San
Juan, taken for the purpose Of round
Ing up those inhabitants who had been
Idilatory in obeying the new orders
from Havana. That smoke to the south
ward was from fires of his kindling:
he lad burned good many crops and
houses and punished good many peo-
pile, and since this was exactly the sort
iof task he liked he was in no unpleas-
ant mood. He had demanded Of Cueto
lodging for himself and his troop, an
nounc1ng that part of his command
was somewhere behind and would re-
join him later in the night.
Cueto had welcomed his visitor in
all humility he put up the soldiers in
the bate Of the sugar mill, and then
Installed Cobo in his best room, after
which he ransacked the house for food
and drink and tobacco.
When Cobo finally took himself of
70 bed Cneto followed in better spirits
than he had enjoyed for some time.
For one thing, 1t was agreeable to look
forward to q night Of undisturbed re-
pose. Pancho's apprehenAons had fat
tened upon themselves, and he had
been living Of late In nightmare Of
terror.
But It seemed to him that he had
barely closed his eyes when he was
awakened by tremendous vibration
and found himself in the center Of the
floor, undecided whether he had been
hurled from his bed or whether he had
leaped thither. Still in daze he heard
shout from the direction Of Cobo's
room, then q din Of other voices, fol-
lowed by a rush Of feet; the next in
slant his door was flung back and he
saw, by the light Of high-held torches,
Esteban Narona and ragged rabbls
Of black men. Cueto knew that he
faced death. He lodged blow from
Esteban's dubbed rife only to behold
the fash Of machete. Crying out
again, hestried to guard himself from
the descending blade, but too late; the
sound Of his hoarse terror died in his
throat, half born.
"Quicki Soak the bed with oil and
IRE It." Esteban directed; then he ran
out into the hall to Investigate that
bther shouting. He found the chamber
whence 1t issued and tried to smash
the door; but at the second blow he
heard q guashot from within and the
wood splintered outward almost into
biz face. simultaneously, from some
4 where outside the house, arose the
notes Of Spanish bugle-call.
Young varona waited to hear no
more. Nor did his men; realizing the
peril into which they had been led,
they bolted from the house as fast as
they could 60. There was no need for
questions; from the direction Of the
sugar mill came beloved orders and
the sound Of men shouting to their
horses. Evidently those were troops
and trained troops, too. for they took
no time to saddle: they were up and
mounted almost before the marauders
had gained the backs Of their own ami.
mails
Il Instantly there began q blind battle
Al desperately cramped quarters.
I2.3e=$ fought stirrnD to stlrrnn with
dubbed rifles and machetes; saddles
were emptied and the terrified horses
n sssss st.S 20 n Ak g{g RI