The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1921-06-24

In alongside the great steamers COM
panion landing, her skipper ran down
the ladder to greet them and inquire
eagerly of the trend Of events ashore.
1--WE left in a hurry the instant it
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 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"
The weeks Of clean living, Of alb
stention from his wonted daily alco-
holic ration, had inspired in Don Juan
CafeterO a revival Of his all but de-
funct interest in life; conversely, in
these stirring times, he was sensible
Of an equally acute interest in So
brantean politics, for he was Irish;
and flabby indeed is that son Of the
Green Little Isle who, wherever he
may be, declines to take q hand in
any public argument. For the love Of
politics, like the love Of home. is new
err dead in the Irish.
It is instinct with them-the
heritage, perhaps. of centuries of OPP
preston and suppression, which nur-
lures rather than stiles the yearning
for place and power. Now as Don
Juan turned Leber's launch shoreward
and kicked the motor wide open. he.
too, deserted against the dawn the
glare of the burning environments west
Of the city, and at the sight his pulse
beat high with the lust of battle, the
longing to be in at the death in this
struggle, where the hopes and aspi-
rations Of those he loved were at stake.
Two months previously a revolution
would have been a matter Of extreme
Indifference to Don Juan; he would
have reflected that it was merely the
outs trying to get in, and that if they
succeeded, the sole benefit to the gen.
eral public would be the privilege of
paying the bill. Today, however, in the
knowledge that he had an OppOrtuni-
ty to fight beside white men and per-
chance even up some old scores with
the Guardia Civil 1t occurred sudden
ly to Don Juan that it would be a
brave and virtuOus act to cast his
lot with the Ruey forces. He was a
being recognized and rebuilt, and it
behooved him to do something to DEM
onstrate his manhood.
Don Juan knew, Of course, that
should the rebels lose and he be cap
tured, he would be executed; yet this
contingency seemed far-fetched one.
in view of the fact that he had John
Stuart Webster at his back, ready to
finance his escape from the city. Also
Don Juan had had an opportunity, in
the hills above San Miguel de Padua.
for a critical study of Ricardo Ruey
and had come to the conclusion that
at last a real man had come to lib
crate Sobrante; further. Don Juan
had had ocular evidence that John
Stuart Webster was connected with
the revolution, for had he not snug
gled Ruey into the country? 1t was
something to be the right-hand man
90 lob
try like Sobrante it was also some
thing to be as close to that right-hand
man as Don Juan was to his master.
Webster; consequently self-interest
and his sporting code whispered to
Don Juan that 1t behoOved him to
demonstrate his loyalty with every
means at his command, even unto his
hearts blood.
"Who knows" he cogitated as the
launch bore him swiftly shoreward,
'but what TIL acQuit meself with hon
or and get fine Job undher the new
administration? IT'S the masthers
fight, I'm thinkin'; then, be the same
token, it's John Joseph Cafferty's.
win, lose or draw, an may the devil
damn me If I fail him afther what
he's done for me. Sure, If Gineral
Ruey wins, a crook av the masther's
finger will make me jefe politico. An
If he does-hoo-roo! Hoo-ray"
With his imagination still running
riot, Don Juan made the launch fast
to the little dock, down which he
ran straight for the warehouse, where
the Ruey mercenaries were still con-
gregated, busily wiping the factory
grease from the weapons which had
lust been distributed to them from the
packing cases A sharp voice halted
him, he paused, painting, to find him
self looking down the long blue bar
rel of a service pistol.
"Who are you, and what are you