Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1921-01-14
CHAPTER XVI.

While Ricardo watched beside the
unconscious Webster one Of his aides
galloped up the street. to return pres
emily with a detachment with stretch
ers, into which Webster and Don Juan
Cafetero were laid and carried up the
palace driveway into the huge golden
reception hall where only the light
before Sarros had greeted the bellies
and beaux of his capital. In the mean
time Mother jerks had succeeded In
restoring Dolores to consciousness;
supported by the indomitable old
woman the girl slowly followed the
grim procession until, at the door OF
the reception room, they found their
further progress barred by sentry.
"The red-haired man Is Dead" he
Informed them in response to their
eager queries. IF you want his body"
he continued, hazarding a guess as to
their mission. II guess You can have
It. There he is" And the sentry
pointed to the stretcher which had
been set down along the wall Of the
reception hall.
SOW about the other?" Mother
jerks demanded. Don Juan Cafetero
had, unfortunately. been so much Of
a nuisance to her In life that she was
not minded to be troubled greatly
over him in death. although the Spar.
tanlike manner of his exit had thrilled
the British bulldog blood in her.
1.-The big fellow isn't quite dead yet.
but I'm afraid he's gOner. The
surgeons have him in this room now.
Friend of yours, Miss" he inquired
in tones frefghted with neighborly
sympathy.
Dolores nodded.
"Sorry l can't let you in. Miss" he
continued, but the General ordered
me to keep everybody out until the
doctors have finished looking him
over. II l was you, I'd wait In that
room across the hall; then you can
get the first news when the doctors
come out"
Mother jerks accepted his advice
and steered her charge into the room
indicated. AS they waited, Ricardo
Ruey stood anxiously beside the table
on which John Stuart Webster's big,
| limp body reposed, while Doctor Pach-
eco, assisted by q Sobrantean con-
frere, went deity over him with sur
gical scissors and cut the blood-soaked
clothing from his body.
He breathes very gently" the rebel
leader said. presently. is there any
HOPPER
! The little doctor shrugged. II fear
not. That bayonet-thrust in the left
side missed his heart but not his
lung"
"But apparently he hasn't bled much
from that wound"
THE hemorrhage is probably IN
ternal. Even II that congestion Of
blood in the lungs does not prove fatal
very shortly, he cannot. In his weak
ened state, survive the traumatic
fever from all these wounds. 1t IL
bound-hello. how our poor friend still
lives with the bayonet broken on In
his body-for here Is steel-hahi Not
a bayonet. but a pistol"
He unbuttoned the wounded mans
coat and found a strap running dag
onally up across his breast and over
the right shoulder. connecting with
holster under the left arm. The
doctor unbuckled this strap and re-
moved the holster. which contained
Webster's spare gun: Ricardo. glanc-
ing disinterestedly at the sheathed
weapon, noted q small, new. triapgu-
lar hole In the leather holster. He
picked II up, withdrew the pistol and
found a deep scratch, recently made,
along the blued steel close to the vul-
canite butt.
When Ricardo glanced at Pacheco
after his scrutiny Of the pistol and
holster, the doctors dark eyes were
regarding him mirthfully.
II have been unnecessarily alarmed,
my general" said Pacheco. ~Ouz
dear friend has been most fortunate
in his choice of wounds
Hes a lucky Yankee; that's what
he is, my dear Pacheco. A lucky Yam
kerr Ricardo leaned over and ex'
amined the bayonet-wound in Web
ster's left side. HE took the point
of the steel on his pistol hs happened
to be wearing under his left arm
he went on to explain. That turned
the bayonet and II slid along his ribs
making a superficial 1esh-wound."
| Pacheco nodded. "And this bullet
merely burned the top of his right
shoulder. while another passed
through his biceps without touching
the bone. His most severe wound Is
this jab In the hip"
They stripped every stitch Of cloth
ing from Webster and went over him
carefully. At the back Of his head
they found a little cIotted blood from
small split in the scalp; also they
found a lump of generous proportions
Pacheco laughed briefly but con
tentedly.
Then he IL not even seriously In
juredY Ricardo interrupted that
laugh.
~ would die of fright II ! had tc
fight this fine fellow q month from
today" the little doctor chirped. The
man is in superb physical condition
/ II 10 the bump on the head that rem
ders him unconscious-not loss d
blood"
Al II to confirm this expert testi
mony Webster at that moment breath
ed long and deeply. screwed up his
face and shook bis head very slightly