Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-05-06

knew her thoughts were out where the
arc lights on the outskirts of Buena-
ventura met the open country--out
where the brother she could scarcely
remember and whom, until a month
previous, she had believed dead, would
shortly muster his not too numerous
followers.
In the darkness Webster could hear
the click Of her beads as she prayed {;
on the turtle deck forward Don Juan
Cafetero sprawled, thinking perchance
Of his unlovely past and wondering
what effect the events shortly to tran
splre ashore would have on his future.
He wished Webster would relent and
offer him drink some time within the
next twenty-fOur hours. In times Of
excitement like the present a man
needs drop to brace him up
Five times the launch slipped lazi-
ly down the harbor along the strag-
Cling two mile water front five times
it lOafed back. The moon, which was
In the first quarter, sank. Then to
Webster's alert ear there fOated
across the still waters the sound of a
gentle purrlng-the music Of an auto
truck. He set the launch In toward
Leber's little dock, and presently they
saw the door Of Lebers warehouse
open. Men with lanterns streamed
forth, lighting the way for others who
bore between them heavy burdens.
They're emplacing the machine
guns In the motor-truck." he whls-
pered to Dolores. 1--WE will not have
to wait long now. It's nearly 4
o'clock"
Again they backed out into the bay
until they could see far out over the
sleeping city to the hills beyond in
the west. Presently along the side of
those hills the headlight of locOmO-
tive crept, dropping swiftly down
grade until 1t disappeared in the low
lands.
A half hour passed; then to the
south of the city rocket flared sky
ward; almost instantly another hared
from the west, followed presently by
a murmur, scarcely audible. as Of
muffled snare drum, punctuated pres
emily by louder, sharper, lnslstent
puck-puck-puck that, had Webster but
known It, was the bark of a Maxim
Vlckers rapld-6re gun throwing
stream Of shells into the environments
Of the government troops on the fringe
of the city.
Websters pulse quickened. There
goes the 'tillery to the south, sor,"
Don Juan called, and even as he
spoke, shell burst gloriOusly over
the government palace, the white
walls of which were already looming
over the remainder OF the city, now
family visible In the approaching
dawn.
THAT was to awaken our friend,
Sarros," Webster cried. "I'll bet
buffalo nickel that woke the old horse
thief up. There's anOther-and an
other"
The uprOar swelled, the noise grad
ually drifting around the city from
west to south, forming, seemingly. a
semlcircle of sound. 'The govern
ment troops are up and doing now"
Webster observed and speeded up his
motor. 81 think 1t high time we played
the part Of frightened refugees Maui
ser bullets kill at three miles. Some
strays may drop out here In the bay"
He speeded the launch toward La
Estrelllta. and as the craft scraped
IN alongside the great steamers com
2aniOn landing, her skipper ran down
the ladder to greet them and inquire
eagerly Of the trend Of events ashore,
1--WE left in hurry the instant 1t
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, hooking an equally
lurid light to the east, that marked the
approach of daylight. He smiled.
"Those are the cantonment barracks
burning" he whispered to Dolores
"Ricardo Is keeping his word. He's
driving the rats back into their own
holes"
(COntiuued neyt week