Vernon Parish Democrat., 1921-06-02

Caribbean coast.
For Don Juan Cafetero 1t had been
a long, joyous, thirsty day, but at
last the day was done. And in order
to make certain, soIdado 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 a quick access Of terror and appre-
hensionAshe clung, trembling, to stolid
old Mother jerks.
Somebody's breakin' in or breakin'
out" the veteran decided calmly.
"Come to the corner, dearie, an ave
a 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
a second across their line of vision.
Mother jerks croaked dismally, like
a disreputable old raven; she was try
ing to cheer.
'The rats are leavin' the sinkin'
ship" she wheezed. "COme an see
them tyke the devils as killed my
sainted Emery" She broke eagerly
from Dolores OBTAINING grasp and ran
down the street. Dolores -hesitated a
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 a cross
street shortly after Dolores and Moth
er 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-with the
wounded crawling out of the shambles
to the sidewalk.
Mother jerks nodded approvingly 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 1uttering
down from Its staff, to be raised again
with the red banner of revolution flut-
tering above it, the insignia of a 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
1 must go back and wait there fol
him"
"Wyte, nothinkr" Mother jerks
overruled the girls protest roughly
"'E'n ave gone into the palace will
the crowd for a look-see; We'll meei
J I'm there an syve i'm the trouble o
! ''untin' for us. Comew And she hall
dragged the shrinking girl toward th'
| gate, a block distant, where only {
few minutes before Webster and Dor
Juan Cafetero had made their inef
fectual stand.
; 'Don't look at the blighters, honey,
! Mother jerks warned Dolores when
in approaching the gate, she caugh
sight Of the bodies strewed in from
of it. "NIy word Regular bally mes
: AN all spiggotiesI Cawn't be. Mus
ave been some white reeat on thi
2 bird, as my sainted Emery uster s'y
2 HahI Thought sol There's red
3 ht lded un! Gawd's truth An Z
t done all that-Gor' strike me pink
t It's Don Juan CafeterO."
S Mother JenKs stepped over the gOr,
0 c0rpses ringed around Don Juan ant
! knelt beside him. "Don Juan !" sh
+ cried. ''You bally, .interferin' blightel
] you've gone an got it'll"
$ She ran her strong old arms unde
e his dripping body, lifted him and lai
s his red head on her knee, while wit
/. her free hand she drew a small flas
+ of brandy from her dress pocket.
D Don Juan opened his buttermil
eyes and gazed up at her with SLOW
|. ly dawnlng wonder, then closed ther
s again, drowsily, like a tired ehilt
o Mother jerks pressed the flask to hi
: blue lips; as the brandy bit his tongu
: he rolled his fiery head In feeble pre-
n test and weakly set his teeth agains
g the lip of the flask. Wondering
d Mother jerks withdrew it-and the
J. Don Juan spoke,
/, 'Have ye the masther's' permission
a allanah7 I give him me word av hor
/. or-nOt-to dhrink-till-he-give-
permission. He-was good-to me-
d troth he s-God-lOve-m -me-bOs