Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-02-23

the west. Presently along the side OF
those hills the headlight OF a locomo-
tive crept. dropping swiftly down
grade until Il disappeared In the low
lands.
A half hour passed: then 20 the
south OF the city a rocket fiared sky
ward; almost instantly another fiared
from the west. followed presently by
q murmUr. scarcely audible. as OF
mufled snare drum. punctuated pres
entity by q louder. sharper. insistent
puck puck-puck that. had Webster but
known II. was the bark OF a Maxim
vickers rapld-fire gun throwing a
stream OF shells into the environments
u the government troops on the fringe
o. the city.
websters pulse quickened. There
goes the 'tlllery TO the south. sor."
Don Juan called. and evek as he
spoke. a shell burst glorIously over
the government palace. the white
walls % which were already looming
over the remainder OF the city. now
family visible in the approaching
dawn.
That was 10 awaken our friend.
Sarros.- Webster cried. "rll bet
buffalo nickel that woke the old horse
thief I'D. There's another-and an
other"
The uprnar swelled. the noise grad
ually drifting around the city from
west 20 south. forming. seemingly. a
semicircle OF sound. The govern
ment troops are up and doing now"
Webster observed. and speeded up his
motor. Il think IL high time we played
the part Of frightened refugees. Maui
ser bullets KIN az three miles. Some
strays may drop out here in the bay"
He speeded the launch toward Ia
Estrelllta. and as the craft scraped
in alongside the great steamers CON-
panion landing. her skipper ran down
the ladder TO greet them and inquire
eagerly 81 the trend OF events ashore.
1--WE LEFT In a hurry the instant Il
started" Webster explained. "As
Americans. we didn't figure we had
any interest In that scrap. either
way" He handed Dolores out on the
landing stage. tossed their baggage
after her and followed: Don Juan
took the wheel. and the launch slid
out and left them there.
At the head Of the companion ladder
Webster paused and turned for another
look at Buenaventura. To the west
three great fires now threw a lurid
light skyward. mOcking an equally
ldrid light 20 the east. that marked the
approach Of daylight He smiled.
Those are the cantonment barracks
BURNING" he whispered 10 Dolores.
Ricardo Is keeping his word. He's
driving the rats back into their own
holes"
The weeks Of clean living. OF alb
Stention from his wonted daily alco-
holic ration. had inspired In Don Juan
CafeterO n revival OF his all but de-
funct interest in life: conversely. In
these stirring times. he was sensible
~ an equally acute interest In So
hrantean politics. for he was Irish;
and fiahby indeed Is that son Of the
Green Little Isle who. wheEever he
may be. declines 20 take hand In
any public argument. For the love OF
politics. Ike the love OF home. Is new
er dead In the Irish.
II Is instinct with them-the
heritage. perhaps. OF centuries Of op-
preston and suppression. which nur-
lures rather than STILES the yearnlng
for place and power. Now as Don
Juan turned Leber's launch shoreward
and kicked the motor wide open. he.
too. deserted against the dawn the
glare ~ the burning environments west
" the city. and nj the sight his pulse
beat high with. the lust Of battle. the
longing 10 be In az the death In this
struggle. where the hopes and aspi-
-ations of those he loved were at stake.
Two months previously a revolution
would have been a matter OF extreme
indifference 20 Don Juan: he would
have reflected that IL was merely the
outs trying 90 get In. and that IL they
succeeded. the sole benefit 20 the gen
eral public would be the privilege OF
raging the bin. Today. however. in the
knowledge that he had an opportuni-
y 10 fight beside white men ard per
chance even up some OLD scores with
the Guardia Civil. II occurred sudden
~ 10 Don Juan that IL would be a
brave and vlrtuous act 90 cast his
Tot with the Ruey forces. He was a
being reorganIzed and rebuilt. and n
behooved him 10 do something TO dem
Onstrate his manhood.
Don Juan knew. OF course. that
should the rebels lose and he be cap
turcd. he would be executed; yet this
contingency seemed n far-fetched one,
In view OF the fact that he had John
Stuart Webster at his back. ready 20
finance his escape from the city. Also
Don Juan had had an opportunity. In
a ~