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

CHAPTER xv-continued.
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"Stay by the wall. you mailman"
Webster ordered. ''There'n be enough
left 10 ride down those men in the
street and saber thesn!"
And there were! They died to
man, and the sadly depleted troop of
guards galloped O.. leaving Don Juan
and Webster unscathed on the side
walk. the only two living men unhurt
In that shameless.
Not for long, however, did they have
the street to themselves. Around the
corner Of the palace wall limousine,
with the curtains drawn, swung on Two
wheels, skidded. struck the carcass If
a horse and turned over, catapuitlng
the chauffeur into the middle of the
street.
"Sarrosw shrieked Don Juan ard
ran to the overturned vehicle. 1t was
quite empty.
Bully boy, Senior Sarros," Webster
laughed. "He's turned a pretty trick,
hasn't he? Sent his guards out to
hack q pathway for an empty limcu-
sinel That means he's hoping to draw
the watchers from the other gate"
But Don Juan Cafetero was not lis
tening; he was running at top speed
for the south gate Of the palace
grounds-and Webster followed.
As they swung into the street upon
which this south gate opened. Webster
saw that 1t was deserted Of all save
the dead, for Sarros' clever ruse had
worked well and had had the effect Of
arousing the curiosity Of his enemies
as to the cause Of the uproar at the
north gate. in consequence Of which
they had all scurried around the block
20 see what they could see, thus &C
cording Sarros the thing he desired
most-a fighting chance and half
minute to get through the gate and
headed for the steamship landing with
out interference.
Webster and Don Juan came abreast
the high, barred gate In the thick, 20
foot masonry wall as the barrier swung
back and q man, In civilian clothes.
lthundered through on a magnificent
bay thoroughbred.
That's him. Shtop the divil !"
screamed Don Juan. They'll do the
decent thing be me II I take him
alive"
To Webster, who had acquired the
art Of snap shooting while killing time
In many a lonely camp. the bay charg-
er offered an easy mark. Hate to
down that beautiful animal" he re-
marked-and pulled away.
The horse leaped into the air and
came down stiff-legged; SarrOs spurred
1t cruelty, and the gallant beast strove
TO gather itself into its stride, stag
Igered and sank to its knees. as with
Wild Irish yell Don Juan Cafetero
reached the dictator's side.
Sarros drew a revolver. but before
he could use 1t Don Juan tapped him
,smartly over the head with his rife
barrel, and the man toppled inertly to
the ground beside his dying horse.
More power TO ye sor." Don Juan
called cheerily and turned to receive
lWebster's approval.
What he saw paralyzed him for an
instant Webster was standing beside
1.-THE gate, firing into dozen Of Sarros'
isoldiery who were pouring out Of "a
house Just across the street. where for
AN hour they had crouched unseen and
Iumheard by the Ruey men at the gate.
They were practically out Of ammuni-
!tiou and had merely been awaiting a
favorable opportunity to escape before
1.-THE rebels should enter the city in
Iforee and the house-to-house search
for shippers should begin. They had
been about to emerge and beat hasty
retreat, when Sarros rode out at the
ieats, and with q rush they followed.
shining the sidewalk In time to be wit
,neases to the dictator's downfall.
For a moment they had paused, hud-
died on the sidewalk behind their on
,csr. who. turning to scout the street
sup ana down. beheld John Stuart Web
Ister standing BY the gate with an au-
itomatic IN his hand. At the same In
jstant webster's attention had been at
itracted to the little band on the side
walk: IN their leader he recognized no
hess q parsonage than his late acquain-
ltrnce, the IRE eating Capt Jose Ben
lavides. Coincidontaliy Benavides rec
loenised webstsr.
II was an swkvard situation. Web
lister realized tAe issue was about
10 be decided. that II he would
have It IN his favor. he should waste
mot one split-second before killing the
Imercurial Benavides as the latter
stood staring at him. II was not a
jouestion. now. Of who should beat the
jother to the draw. for each had J.
ready filled his hand. II was a ques-
zion. rather, as to who should recover
Iarst from his establishment. II Bena-
Iyides decided to let bygones be by.
cones and retreat without firing
shot. then Webster was quite willing
ito permit him to pass unmolested: in
deed. such was his aversion to shoot
ing any man. so earnestly did he hone
the Sobrantean would consider that
discretion was the better part of valor
that he resolved to inculcate that idea
I'm the Hotspur.
captain Benavides." he said suave.
liz. syour cause Is lost. II you care to
escape aboard the steamer. 1 ill see
to It that you are not removed froG
her before she sails; II you care to
surrender to me now. give you my
= A.