Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-02-04

for Don Juan Cafeter0 IL mad been
a long, joyous, thirsty day. but at
last the day was done And In order
to make certain, soldado jabbed him
once more through the vitals before
he fled with the other survivors.
=
For half an hour after Webster left
her to assist the great-hearted Mother
jerks In the rough care of the wound
ed, Dolores, absorbed In her work Of
mercy, gave all Of her thought to the
grim task before her. The cries. fol-
lowed by the sudden. savage outbreak
of fire when the guards made their
dash from the palace, brought Web
ster and Don Juan to mind instantly.
In quick access of terror and appre-
henson she chung, trembling, to stolid
old Mother jerks.
Somebody's breakin' in or breakln'
out" the veteran decided calmly.
Come TO the corner, dearie, an ave
look"
She half dragged Dolores to the cor.
ner, from which they had an unob-
structed view down the cross-street
to its intersection three blocks distant
with the Gale San Rosario; conse-
quently they saw the dozen or more
survivors of that Inflated dash from
the north gate of the palace flash for
n second across their line OF vision.
Mother jerks croaked dlsmally, like
a dsreputable old raven she was try.
ing TO cheer,
1.-THE rats are leavin' the slnkin'
ship" she wheezed. Come an see
them tyke the devils as killed my
salnted Emery" She broke eagerly
from Dolores OBTAINING grasp and ran
down the street. Dolores hesitated
moment; then, reasoning that her duty
lay In pursuing Mother jerks and
preventing her from rushing headlong
into the conflict. she followed.
Evidently the fleeing guards had
scurried around a corner into cross
street shortly after Dolores and Moth
err jerks had seen them gallop past,
for the firing down the Gale San Ro-
sario had ceased entirely by the time
they reached 1t. They stood moment
at the corner, gazing up the street at
the dead-man and beast-wlth the
wounded crawling out Of the shambles
to the sidewalk.
Mother jerks nodded appr0vingly as
triumphant shouts from the north gate
told her the Ruey men were pouring
into the palace with their arms about
each other the two women watched
and waited-and presently the nation
al flag on the palace came fluttering
down from its staff, to be raised again
with the red banner of revolution fut-
terlng above it, the insignia of ma
ton reborn.
my lamb" Mother jerks said soft
ly TO Dolores, "the war is over. WOt's |
the matter with goin in the south gate |
an wytin on the palace steps for the
provisional president to make his
grand ountray? If we estate five
minutes they'll have a bloomin' guard |
on both gates, arskin' us 90 we are
an wot we want"
But Mr.. Webster will come back
to that back street looking for me;
| must 90 back and wait there for
him"
"Wyte, nothlnk" Mother jerks
overruled the girls protest roughly.
" Ell ave gone into the palace with
the crowd for a look-see; well meet
i'm there an syve i'm the trouble o.
'untin' for us. Come" And she half
dragged the shrinking girl toward the
gate, block distant, where only
few minutes before Webster and Don
Juan Cafetero had made their inef-
fectua stand
Don't look at the blighters, honey"
Mother jerks warned Dolores when,
in approaching the gate, she caught
sight Of the bodies strewed in front
Of it. "My word Regular bally mess
an all spiggoties! Cawn't be. Must
ave been some white meat on this
bird, as my sainted Emery ulster sly.
Hah! Thought so! There's red
h, AIDED 'un! Gawds truth! An e
done all that-Gor' strike me pink
It's Don Juan Cafetero."
Mother jerks stepped over the CORY
rorpses ringed around Don Juan and
knelt beside him. don Juan!" she
cried. you bally, interferin' blighter.
you've gone an got IL"
She ran her strong old arms under
his dripping body, lifted him and laid
his red head on her knee while with
ier free hand she drew a small flask
Of brandy from her dress pocket.
Don Juan opened his buttermilk
Eyes and gazed up at her with slow
" dawnlng wonder. then closed them
again. drowslly, like tired child.
Mother jerks pressed the flask TO his
llue lips; as the brandy bit his tongue
he rolled his fiery head in feeble pro-
est and weakly set his teeth against
he lip OF the flask. wondering,
Mother jerks Withdrew it-and then
Don Juan spoke.
'Have We the masther's permission,
lllanah? give him me word av hon
Observation-Disclosures
He-was good-to me
roth he was--God-love-m e--boss
-"
His jaw dropped loosely; his head
oiled sideways; but ere his spirit
led, Don Juan Cafetero had justified
he faith Of his master. He had Kept
his word of honor. He Mad made
rood on his brag to die for John Stu
SN vye