Evening star., 1921-02-13
THE CABURE FEATHER

n II oRAIIES was going to fire his
NN Mauser again when his friend
Jaramillo, who was sighting
- his rife from a kneeling po-
sitfon a few yards away, yelled at the
top Of his voice to make himself heard
above the deafening rattle of the mus
kerry volleys.
Don't shoot, What would be the
use? You can't kill him. That man
has a paye of great power.
They had landed about midnight
near the city wharf. Two river tugs
had ferried them across the Parana.
There were more than hundred of
them, resolute band recruited in
Paraguay and the wild Chaco terri
tory nearly all natives of the state
or Corrientes who had gone into exile
after some unsuccessful political ven
ture or an affair of the heart which
made a change of residence eNpedient.
Mingled with these rebellious sons or
CorrienteS went a few born hghterS.
men of the type who love danger for
it's own sake, a small group of genuine
Adventures who prowled around the
outlying provinces of the Argentine
Republic ready to rush wherever there
was the slightest possibility of an up
rising against the constituted au-
thorities.
Counting on the incredible audacity
Of their coup and the shock that their
political adversarieS were going TO re-
ceive. they advanced boldly over the
streets which conVerEed on the ponce
barracks. marching rapidly. with the
confidence of men who tread on ia
miliar ground. The peaceful citizens
who were sitting in front OF their
homes enjoying the cool night air
beat haSty retreat. realizing the i'm
port Of this sudden lrruption OF armed
men.
HARDLY had the landing party come
within pistol-shot of police head
quarters when the doors of the bar
racks were closed and barred and the
guard opened fire on the invaders
through the windows. The coup had
failed, The enemy had been neither
shocked nor surprised. But despite
this. the rebels did not think for one
moment of fleeing. Just because the
attack had failed to surprise the po-
lice there was no good reason why
they should deprive themselves of the
pleasure of exchanging few shots
with the hated adversary.
"Hurrah for DR.. Sepulveda..' they
SnOuleQ LOW IL Will Nlc
usurping government.
And having relieved their feelings
vocally and expressed their opinion
about the character of the established
government. they fell back in small
groups. took positions in the street
corners which faced the square where
the police station was located. and be-
gan to return the enemy's fire with
their Mausers.
A police officer, a stout. dark man.
exposed himself in one of the windows
with amazing coolness. He would
raise his arm and empty his revolver.
meanwhile volleying the rebels with
1uage.
"Scoundrels. Canallas, Sons of a
barrel. Dogs. And as soon as
he discharged the contents of one
revolver, he would change his position
and open FIRE with another. his body
Offering an easy target to the as
saiIants. Occasionally ,he would dis
appear to reload his weapons. return
ing almost Immediately to continue the
fight -,
The majority of theerebels seemed
to have forgotten the political motive
that had brought them there. the
"usurping government" and the neces-
sity of capturing the police barracks.
Their whole attention was centered on
that fat, dark man who insulted them
and who took absolutely no precaution
TO save his own skin. Bullets few all
around him, but not single one SEEM
ed to hit the mark.
Don't waste your CARTRIDGES,
brother" continued Jaramillo with a
fatalistic air. That man has tails
man, a paye. which hfakes, him invul-
nerable. He is safe from bullets the
devil himself is not safer. Hum, I