The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1921-03-04


''Hahl SO here you are, my lamb"
she greeted Dolores. "Rlght-O. Just
where yer ought to be, Cor bless yer
sweet face. Let these poor mIsfor-
tunate lads see that the sister o. the
new president amt too proud to care
for 'em. Ere, lass. old up the cad
o. this young cockerel with the ole in
Us neck. Ere, lad. Tyke a~brace now
Ere's some o. your own people, not q
lot O. bloomin' yeller bellies, come to
put something else In yer neck-sOme-
think that1l stimulate yer"
The ''young cockerel" blond youth
of scarce 20 summers, twisted his head
and grinned up at Dolores as she knelt
beside him to lift him up. Here. here,
sister," he mumbled, you'll get that
white dress dirty. Never mind me. It's
just flesh wound, only my neck has
got stiff and I'm weak from loss of
blood"
Mother jerks winked at Webster as
she set a glass of brandy to the strlck-
en- adventurers lips. "Glve me bit
O. the white meat, as my sainted En-
cry used to s'y," she murmured COM
ically.
Dolores looked up at Webster. 'Tn
stay here" she said simply. ave found
Job helping Mother jerks. You and
Don Juan may run along If you wish.
l know you're as curious as children"
They were. 1t would have been Inn
possible for any man with red corpus
cles in his blood to harken to the shoot
ing and shouts only three city blocks
distant without yearning to see the
fight itself.
"rn return in Is minutes, at the
latest" he promised her, and with Don
Juan Cafetero, who had helped himself
to a rifle and bayonet from one Of the
wounded, he turned the corner into the
next street which they followed west
through a block plentlfully sprlnkled
with the dead of both factions.
Don Juan led the way through an al
ley in the rear of the Cathedral de la
Santa Cruz to the door of the sacrls-
ty; as he placed his hand on the latch
three rife bullets struck around them,
showering them with fragments Of fall
ing adobe.
@There's a house party in the neigh
borhood," yelled Don Juan and darted
into the church, with Webster at his
heels, Just in time to escape another
fusillade. They walked through the
sacristy and passed through a dooI
into the great cathedral, with It's high
carved, gothic-arched ceiling. Through
the thick-closed doors of the main en-
trance, lost in the dlmness Of space
out in front, the sounds of the battle
half block away seemed very distant
indeed.
They passed the altar and Don SuaI
genuflected and crossed himself rever
emily. "Pn bo afther maxim me con
fession," he whispered to Webster
''Wait for me, sor."
He leaned his rifle against the ALTA
railing, crossed the church and touche,
; lie. ly on the shoulder a monk kneeI
ing in prayer before the altar of thu
Virgin; the latter bent his head Will
Don Juan whispered; then he rose ant
both went into the confessional, Will
Webster found q bench along the wal
and waited.
Presently Don Juan came forth
knelt on the red-tiled floor and praye,
something, Webster suspected. h
had not done for quite a while. An
when he had finished his supplieatio
and procured his rifle, Webster joine
him, the monk unbolted the door an
from the quiet Of the house Of Go
they passed out into the street and tn
tumult of hell.
1--WE been clost to death this day,
Don Juan explained. IAN the day
not DONE Be the same token, tbs Ion
since I'd made me last confession
sure, until you picked me out av tn
mire, son It's little thought had &c
the hereafter"
From their place they could see
dozen or more of RIcardo's hired figh
4 ers crouched under the shelter of tn
palace walls across the street. 81 thin
Wen be safer there" Webster crie'
h as couple of bullets struck the ston
% steps at their feet land rlcochete
l. against the cathedral door. "That riff
IS Of yours is making you a marked mai
( Don Juan"
They ran across the street an
u Joined the men under the palace wal
p whats this2" Don Juan demande
o brlskly. "Have ye net shmoked thl
d out yeti"
ie Weddings doing" a young Germa
ie answered. "Der chief has sent wOl
u dot we shall not artillery use on d
haIooa Mo-, oil ov.onndt AZ We haf m