Vernon Parish Democrat., 1921-06-02

OboJ OJ NhS WeAAg JOu
Webster ordered. HThere'l be enough
left to ride down those men in the
street and saber themI"
And there werel They died to a
man, and the sadly depleted troop Of
guards galloped on, leaving Don Juan
and Webster unscathed on the side
walk, the only two living men unhurt
In that shambles.
Not for long, however, did they have
the street to themselves. Around the
corner of the palace wall a limousine,
with the curtains drawn, swung on TWO
wheels, skidded, struck the carcass Of
a horse and turned over, catapulting
the chauffeur into the middle of the
street.
"SarrosT' shrieked Don Juan aud
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 pathway for an empty limcu->
sinel That means he's hoping to draw
the watchers from the other gGteI"
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 it 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
to see what they could see, thus ac-
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, 90
foot masonry wall as the barrier swung
back and a man, in civilian clothes,
thundered through on a magnificent
bay thoroughbred.
'aThats him. Shtop the divil !"
screamed Don Juan. "They1l do the
decent thing be me if take him
alive"
To Webster, who had acquired the
art of snap shooting while killing time
In many 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
>gered and sank to it's knees, as with a
wild Irish yell Don Juan Cafetero
reached the dictator's side.
Sarfos drew a revolver, but before
ne could use it 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 We sor," Don Juan
called cheerily and turned to receive
Webster's approval.
What he saw paralyzed him for an
Instant Webster was standing beside
the gate, firing into a dozen of Sarros
soldiery who were pouring out Of Q
house just across the street, where fol-
an hour they had crouched unseen and
unheard by the Ruey men at the gate
They were practically out of ammuni
tion and had merely been awaiting q
favorable opportunity to escape before
the rebels should enter the city IL
force and the house-to-house search
for snipers should begin. They hat
been about to emerge and beat hasty
retreat, when Sarros rode out at the
gate, and with rush they followed
gaining the sidewalk in time to be wit
nesses to the dictator's downfall.
For a moment they had paused, hud
died on the sidewalk behind their Off
Ger. who, turning to scout the stree
up and down, beheld John Stuart Web
ster standing by the gate with an au
tomato in his hand. At the same in
slant Websters attention had been at
traeted to the little band on the side
walk; in their leader he recognized NJ
less a parsonage than his late aequain
tance, the fire eating Capt. Jose Ben
avides. -6olncidentally Benavides rec
ognized Webster.
II was an awkward situation. Web
ster realized the issue was abOu
to be decided, that if he woul'
have 1t in his favor he should vast
not one split-second before killing tn
mercurial Benavides as the latte
stood staring at him. 1t was not
question, now. Of who should beat tn
other to the draw, for each had al
ready filed his hand. It was a ques
tion, rather as to who should -recove
first from his establishment. If Bena
vides decided to let bygones be by
cones and retreat without firing
shot, then Webster was quite willin
to permit him to pass unmolested; IL
deed, such Yas his aversion to shoof
ing any man. so earnestly did he hop
the Sobrantean would consider ths
discretion was the better part Of yaloi
that he resolved to inculeate that ide
10 the Hotspur.
"Captain Benavides,s he said suay'