The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1922-03-03

motor. II think it high time we played I
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
Estrellita. and as the craft scraped
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 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 a lurid
light skyward, hooking an equally
lurid light to the east. that marked the
approach of daylight He smiled.
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
90 L. Ill 4
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 tiabby indeed is that son of the
| Green Little Isle who, wherever he
may be, declines to take a hand in
any public argument. For the love of
err dead in the Irish.
1t 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-
| cations of those he loved were at stake
Two months previously 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, it 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 q
being reorganized and rebuilt and II
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 a far-fetched one
in view of the fact that he had Johr
Stuart Webster at his back, ready t(
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 thai
at last a real man had come to lib
crate Sobrante; further, Don Juar
had had ocular evidence that JOhr
Stuart Webster was connected witt
the revolution, for had he not snug
gled Ruey into the country? 1t was
something to he the right-hand mar
of the president Of 4 rich little coun
try like Sobrante: II was also some
thing to he as close to that right an(
man as Don Juan was to his master
Webster; consequently Self-intereS
and his sporting code whispered Il
Don Juan that it beh0Oved him tt
demonstrate his loyalty with ever,
means at his command. even Unto his
hearts blood,
"Who knows" he cOgitated as the
launch bore him swiftly shoreward
but what I'll acqrit meself with hon
or and get a fine job undher the new
administration? 'Tis the masther's
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 l fail him afther wha
he's done for me. Sure if Ginera
Ruey wins, a crook av the masther',
finger will make me iefe politico. An
If he does-hoo-rOo! HOo-ray"
With his imagination still running
riot. Don Juan made the launch fas
to the little dock, down which he
ran straight for the warehouse. where
the Ruey mercenaries were still con
gregated, husily wiping the factory
grease from the weapons which haC
just been distributed to them from the
packing cases. A sharp voice halted
l. l,. - ERNI i'm