The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-02-10

Safros drew q revolver, but before
he could use It Dom Juan tapped him
smartly over the head with his rife
barrel, and the man toppled inertly to
the ground beside his dying horse ss5
more power to- ye sor. Don Juan
called cheerily. and turned TO receive
|yVebster's approval.
What he saw paralyzedg him for an
II3instaAt. Webster was standing beside
the gate, firing into a dozen Of Sarros''
soldiery who were pouring out of q
house just across the street. where for
AN hour they had crouched unseen and
unheard by the Ruey men at the gate.
They were practically out Of ammun1-
ton and had merely been awaiting q
favorable opportunity to escape before
the rebels should enter the city 1T
force and the house-to-h house search
for snipers should begin. They had
been about to emerge and beat a hasty
retreat, when Sarros rode out at the
gate, and with a rush they followed,
gaining the sidewalk In time to be wit
nesses to the .dictator's DOWNFALL.
Fora moment they had paused, hud-
died on the sidewalk behind their Off
Ger, who, turning to scout the street
up and down, beheld John Stuart Web
sterS standing by the gate with an ap-
tomato in his hand. At the same in
slant Webster's attention had been at
tracted to the little band on the side
walk; in their leader he recognized no
less a parsonage than his late acquain-
tance, the fire eating Capt. Jose Ben
avides. Coincidentally Benayides rec
ognized Webster.
It was an awkward situation. WEBB
ster realized the issue was about
to be decided, that If he would
have It in his favor. he should waste
not one split-second before killing the
mercurial Benavides as the latter
stood staring at him. It was not q
question. now, Of who should beat the
other to the draw. for each had al
ready filled his hand. It was q ques-
ton, rather, as to who should recover
first fr0m his astonishment. II Bena-
vides G .el to let bygones be by
cones and retreat without firing q
shot, then: Webster was quite willing
to permit him to pass unmoiested; In
deed, such was his aversion to shoot
Ing any man, so earnestly did he hope
the Sobrantean would consider that
discretion was the better part of valor,
that he resolved to inculcate that idea
lin the Hotspur:' 4 .gS n \. NJ II. ..s
"Captain Benavides," he said suave-
Ely, 1. your cause is lost. If YOU care to
escape nboafd 1.-THE steamer.I will see
no its that you are not removed from
her before she sails; IL you cares to
surrender to me now, / give you my
word OF honor you will not be exc
scuted. Z" III sst5ssssllst
Behavides might have had, and
doubtless did- have; his faults, but
cowardice was not one Of them. And he
did have the ghost Of q sense OF hu,
su,or. An evil smile fitted over his
olive features.
.yyithouts taking into consideration
the bayonets at my back" he replied,
at strikes me the odds are even now.
And yet you patronize me-" a1s5s es.,
Webster was notified 4 IT'D rather
do that than Kill you. Benavides." he
retorted. Don't be a fool. Run
along and sell your papers. and take
your pitiful little sandal-footed bri-
gands with you. Scatl"
Benayides' hnnd, holding his pistol,
had been hanging loosely at his side.
With his furious glance meeting Web
ster's unfalteringly, with the merest
movement of his wrist and scarcely
without movement Of his forearm. he
threw up his, weapon and fired.
Scarcely a fifth of o second had
elapsed between the movement Of his
wrist and the pressure Of his finger
on the trigger; Webster, gazing stead
ily into the somber eyes, had noted
no hint Of the mans intention, and
was caught actually of his guard.
The bullet tore through his biceps,
momentarily paralyzing him, and his
automatic dropped gathering to the
sidewalk rs he stopped and recovered
It, Benavides fired again. creasing
the top of his left shoulder. The
Sobrantean took aim for q third and
finishing shot. but when he pulled the
trigger the hammer fell on & defective
cartridge, which gave to John Stuart
Webster all the advantage he crayed.
He planted q bullet in Benavides' abs
domen with his first shot, blew out
the luelist's brains with his second,
and whirled to meet the charge Of the
little sandal-footed soldados, who,
seeing their leader fallen, had with
out an jlstant's hesitation and appar-
emily by mutual consent decided to
avenge him.
webster backed dazedly toward the
wall, firing as he did so. but he was
too dizzy to shoot EFFECTIVELY. and the
semicircle OF bayonets closed in on his
front. He had wounded three men
without stopping them; second
more, and their long. eighteen-inch
bayonets would have been In his
vitals, when into the midst OF the
melee, from the rear. dashed Don
Juan Cafetero, shriekfng like fiend
and swinging his rifle, which he held
grasped by the barrel. 4