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About The Augusta herald. (Augusta, Ga.) 1914-current | View Entire Issue (June 28, 1914)
EIGHT The hand of Broken Promises r ... . =r , T . =====:By DANE cOOLIDGE==== A Stirring Story of the Mexican Revolution A story of border Mexico, vivid, Intense, such as has never before been written, Is this one of Ameri can adventurers Into the land of manana. Texan, mining engineer, Spanish senor and senorita, peon, Indian, crowd its chapters with c;iear-cut word pictures of busi ness, adventure and love, against a somber background of wretched armies marching and counter marching across a (arid racked by revolution and without, a savior. (Continued from Yesterday.) The sun was swinging low and he was collecting wood down the gulch for a fire when, with a sudden thud of hoofs, a horseman rounded the point and came abruptly to a halt. It was Aragon, and he was spying on the camp. For a full minute lie scanned tho house, tent and mine with a look so snaky and sinister that Bud could read his heart like a book. Here was the man who had sent the assassins, and he had come to view their work! Very slowly Bud’s hand crept toward his six-shooter but, slight as was the motion, Aragon caught it and eat frozen in his place. Then, with an inarticulate cry, he fell flat on his horse’s neck and went spurring out of sight. The answer to Bud’s questions was very easy now. The Mexican who had led the attempt on his life was one of Aragon’s bad men, one of the four gunmen whom Hooker had looked over so carefully when they came to drive him from the mine, and Aragon had fitted him out with new arms to make the result more sure. But with that question answered there came up another and another until, in a sud den clarity of vision, Bud saw through the hellish plot and beheld himself the master. As man to man, Aragon would not dare to face him now, for he knew that he merited death. By his sly approach, by the look in his eyes and the dismay of his frenzied retreat, hr had acknowledged more surely than by words his guilty knowledge of the raid. Coming to a camp where he expected to find all dead and still, he had found himself face to face with the very man he had sought to kill. How, then, had the American escaped destruction, and what had occurred to his men? Perhaps, in his ignorance, Aragon was raging at his hirelings because they had shirked their task; perhaps, not knowing that they were dead, he was waiting in a fever of impatience for them to accomplish the deed. How ever It was, Bud saw that he held the high card, and he was not slow to act In the morning he saddled Copper Bottom, who had been confined to the corral for weeks, and went galloping into town. There he lingered about the hotel until he saw his man and started boldly toward him. Surprise, alarm and pitiful fear chased them selves across Aragon’s face as he stood, but Bud walked proudly by. "Good morning, senor!” was all Bud said, but the look in his eyes was eloquent of a grim hereafter. And instead of hurrying back to guard his precious mine Hooker loi tered carelessly about town. His mine was safe now—and he was safe. Aragon dared not raise a hand. So he sat himself down on the broad veranda and listened with boyish interest to Don Juan’s account of the war. "What, have you not heard of the battle?" cried portly Don Juan, delight ed to have a fresh listener. “Ague Negra has been taken and retaken, and the railroad will soon be repaired. My gracious! have you been out in the hills that long? Why, it waa two weeks ago that the rebels captured the town* by a coup, and eight days later the federals took it back. .“Ah, there has been a real war, Mr. Bud! You who have laughed at the courage of the Mexicans, what do you think of Bernardo Bravo and his men? They captured the last up train from Fortune; loaded all the men into the ore cars and empty coaches; and, while the federate were still in their barracks, the train ran clear into the station and took the town by storm. "And eight days later, at sundown, the federals took it back. Ah, there was awful slaughter averted, senori But for the fact that the fuse went out two hundred Yaqui Indians who led the charge would have been blown Into eternity. “Yes, so great was the charge of dynamite that the rebels had laid in their mine that not a house in Ague Negra would have been left standing if he fuse had done Its work. Two tons of dynamite! Think of that, my friend! "But 'hese rebels were as Ignorant of Its power as they were of laying a train. The Yaquis walked into the town at sundonm and found it de serted —every man, woman and child had tp Gadsden and the rebels had lied to the west _ ’’But listen, bore was 'ho ? happened—actually, and not as com mon report has It, for the country Is all in an uproar and the real facts were never known. When Bernardo Bravo captured the town of Agua Ne gra the people acclaimed his a hero. "He sent word to the junta at El Paso and set up a new form of gov ernment. All was enthusiasm, and several Americans joined his ranks to operate the machine guns and can- Th« Artillery Drove Them Back. non. As for the federals, they occu pied the country to the east and at tempted a few sallies, but as they had nothing but their rifles, the artil lery drove them back. ‘‘Then, as the battle ceased, the rebels began to celebrate their vic tory. They broke into the closed can tinas, disobeying their officers and be ginning the loot of the town, and while half of their number were drunk the federals, being informed of their condition, suddenly advanced upon them, with the Yaquis far in the lead. “They did not shoot, those Yaquis; but, dragging their guns behind them, they crept up through the bushes and dug pits quite close to the lines. Then, when the rebels discovered them and manned their guns, the Yaquis shot down the gunners. ‘‘Growing bolder, they crept farther to the front —the rebels became disor ganized, their men became mutinous— and at last, when they saw they would surely be taken, the leaders burled two tons of dynamite in the trenches by the bull-ring and set a time-fuse, to explode when the Yaquis arrived. ‘‘The word spread through the town like wildfire —all the people, all the soldiers fled every which way to es cape—and then, when the worst was expected to happen, the dynamite failed to explode and the Yaquis rushed the trenches at sundown.” “Did those Yaquis know about the dynamite?” inulred Bud. "Know?” repeated Don Juan, waving the thought away; “not a word! Their commanders kept it from them, even after they discovered the mine. And now the Indians are making boasts; they are drunk with the thought of their valor and claim that the rebels fled from them alone. “The roadmaster came into town this morning on a velocipede and said that the Yaquis are insufferable, think ing that it was their renown as fight ers and not the news of the dynamite that drove all the soldiers from town. “However, Agua Negra is once more in the hands of the government; the track is clear and most of the bridges repaired; so why quarrel with the Yaquis? While they are, of oourse, nothing but Indians, they serve their purpose in battle.” "Well, I guess yee!” responded Bud warmly. “Serve their purpose, eh? Where wore these Mexican soldiers and them Spanish officers when the Yaquis were taking the town? And that was Just like a dog-goned Mexi can—setting that time-fuse and then not having It go off. More'n likely the poor yap that fired it was so soalrt be couldn’t hold a match —probably never lit it, Jest dropped the match and run. They’re a bum bunch, if you want to know what I think. I‘d rather have a Yaqul than a hundred of ’em!" “A hundred of whom?” inquired a cool voice behind him, and looking up Hooker saw the beautiful Oracle gat ing out at him through the screen door. "A hundred Mexicans!” he repeated, and Gracia murmured "Oh!" and was gone. "Miss Aragon ia very loyal to her country," observed Don Juan, but Hooker only grunted. Somehow, since those four Mexicans had come to his camp, he had soured on everything south of the line; and < ven the charming Gracia oould not make him take back bis words. If she had Intended the remark as a chal-, .eLge—a subtle invitation vo follow Author of “THE FIGHTING FOOL," “HIDDEN WATERS," “THE TEXICAN,” Etc. Illustrations by DON J. LAVIN tCooyright, 1914. by Frank A. Munsey.) her and defend his faith —sEe Tailed for once of her purpose, for if there was any particular man in Mexico that Bud hated more than another it was her false-hearted father. Hooker had, in fact, thought more seriously of making her a half-orphan than of winning her good-will, and he lingered about the hotel, not to make love to the daughter, but to strike ter ror to Aragon. The company being good, and a train being expected soon. Bud stayed over another day. In the morning, when he came down for breakfast, he found that Aragon had fled before him. With hie wife, daughter and retltfUe, he had moved suddenly back to his home. Hooker grinned when Don Juan told him the news. “Well, why not?’ he asked, chuck ling maliciously. “Here it’s the mid dle of the rainy season and the war going on all summer and nary a rebel in sight. Where’s that big fight you w r as telling about —the battle of For tuna? You’ve made a regular fortune out of these refugees, Brachamonte, but I fail to see the enemy.” “Ah, you may laugh,” shrugged the hotel-keeper, “but wait! The time will come. The rebels are lost now —some day, when you least expect it, they will come upon us and then, believe me, my gueets will be glad they are here. What is a few weeks' bill com pared to being held for ransom? Look at that rich Senor Luna, who was here for a time in the spring. Against my advice he hurried home and now he is paying the price. Ten thousand pesos it cost to save his wife and family, and for himself and son his friends advanced ten thousand more. I make no evil prophecies, but it would be better for our friend if he stayed on at my poor hotel." “Whose friend?” Inquired Bud bluffly, but Don Juan struck him upon the back with elephantine playfulness and hurried oft to his duties. As for Hooker, he tarried In town until he got his mail and a copy of the Sunday paper and then, well sat isfied that the times wore quiet and wars a thing of the past, he ambled back to the Eagle Tail and settled down for a rest. Flat on his back by the doorfray he lay on his bed and smoked, reading his way through the lurid supplement and watching the trail with one eye. Since the fight with Aragon’s Mexi cans all his apprehensions had left him. He had written briefly to Phil and Kruger, and now he was holding the fort It had been a close shave, but he had escaped the cowardly assassins and had Aragon In his power. Not by any force of law, but by the force of fear and the gnawing weakness of Ara gon’s own evil conscience. Aragon was afraid of what he had done, but it was the suspense which rendered him so pitiable. On a day he had sent four armed Mexicans to kill this Texan —not one had re turned and the Texan regarded him sneerlngly. This it was that broke the Spaniard's will, for he knew not what to think. But as for Bud, he lay on his back by the doorway and laughed at the funny page. As he sprawled there at bis reading. Amigo came In from the hills, and he, too, was content to relax. Gravely scanning the colored sheet, his dark face lighted up. It was all very peaceful and pleas ant, but it was not destined to last, CHAPTER XXI. On the morning after they had laughed at the comic paper and decid ed that all tho world was fair, Hooker and Amigo were squatting by the fire and eating & man's size breakfast The creek, swollen by yesterday's torrential rain, had settled to a rivu let. The wind had not risen and the sun was just over the hill when, with a rush and a scramble. Amigo threw down his cup and was off in a flash for the rocks. A moment later two men rode down the canyon, and then two more, and two more. It wae a column of men, all armed with rifles, and they cast envious eyes at Copper Bottom as they halted before the camp. As for Bud, he saluted gravely, for he knew them for what they were. These were the lost forces of Ber nardo Bravo and Salazar, Rojas and the other bandit chiefs, and they marched, as he well knew, upon Kor tuna. They marched quietly, and the great whistle bad not blown. It would make a rich prize, Fortuna, if they could take it by surprise! The ransom for the Spanish haclendados alone would amount to thousands of dollars, and the mine-owners could afford to pay anything in order to save their works. A box of dynamite under the giant concentrator and the money would be produced at once, and yet the scoun drels halted at a one-man camp to steal a single horse. A flicker of scorn passed over Hook er's face aa the leader came dashing up, but the Texan greeted him with a slow smile. ’Bqgnos dias, general!” he aald; THE AUGUSTA HERALD, AUGUSTA. GA. "you have many men." "Enough!” observed the "genera!” hurriedly, "but some In the rear are on foot. As I suppose you are ltt sym pathy with our great cause, I will ask you for that horse. Of course, I will give you a receipt.” He fetched out a blank-book as he spoke and motioned to a ragged beg gar at bis heels. Bud cheeked the man’s rush with a look. “One moment!” he said, and as the soldier turned back his general glanced up sharply. “Only this, Senor General,” an swered Bud. "You are welcome to anything I have—food, blankets, mon ey—but 1 cannot give you that horse.” “But, senor!” protested the general, regarding him with arrogant pig eyes that glinted wickedly, "this poor sol dier’s feet are Bore. Surely you would not make him walk. Only name your price and I will give you a receipt for him, but my man must have the horse." There was a pause and men began to dismount and move In closer. At a word from their commander any one of them would draw and kill him, as Hooker very well knew, but his love for Copper Bottom made him ob durate. “If the man Is lame," he said, “I will give him another horee—but he cannot have this sorrel.” He stepped quickly over to the cor ral and turned with his back to the gate, while the commander spat out orders in Spanish and armed men came running. “Senor,” he said, advancing brusque ly upon the defiant Hooker, “I must trouble you for that pistol.” “No, senor!” answered the cowboy, keeping his hand upon his gun, “not to you nor no man—and I’ll never give it up to a Mexican!” “Carai!" exclaimed the officer impa tiently, “you are an Americano—no?” “Not only that,” rumbled Bud, draw ing himself up In his pride, “I am a Tejano also, and if any man touches that horse I’ll kill him!" His voice trembled with anger, but hie hand was steady and the Mexicans did not deceive themselves. "Ha, un Tejano!” murmured the men who stood about, and one or two who had started to climb the fence thought bettor of it and dropped back to the ground. Bud knew the fate of several men who had proclaimed themselves Ameri icans to the lnsurrectos —boastfully done, it was said to be the quickest way there was of drawing a Mexican bullet. But to be a Texan was differ ent—somehow the very name suggest ed trouble to their minds and an Ala mo light to the death. Hooker saw that he had made an impression, and he was not alow to follow it up. “If you need a horse,” he said to the general, "let your man go up that arroyo and he will find one hobbled on the flat. Then give me your receipt for two hundred dollars gold and I will contribute a saddle.” It was a reasonable concession, un der the circumstances, and, best of all, it saved the general’s face. The hid eous frown with which he had regard ed the American changed suddenly to a look of pompous pride. He jerked an imperious head at his ragged re tainer and drew forth his receipt-book with a flourish. While he wafted for the horse to ap pear he turned upon his snooping men and drove them to their mounts with curses. Evidently it was no sinecure to command In the army of the liber ation, and the veiled mutterlngg of his followers showed that they were little better than tigers in leash. Mounted upon horses, mules, and even burros; armed with every con ceivable weapon from a musket to standard repeating rifles, they were a tatterdemalion army, more fit for "treason, stratagems and spoils” than the sterner duties of war. Bud looked them over closely, well satisfied to have his back against a wall, and when the lowbrowed re tainer came hurrying back with the horse he quickly took the worthless receipt and watched them on their way. Then, as the last camp-follower disappeared, he ran for his saddle and rifle and within a minute he was mounted and away. There were rebels below him—very likely there were more to come—the only safe place for Copper Bottom was over the hills at Fortuna With out stopping for path or trail, ha head ed straight northwest over the ridges, riding as the cowboys do when they rake the range for cattle. Hardly had he topped the first high crest when he came In sight of Amigo, 1 jaded down with his cartridge-belts and car rying his heavy Maueer. In a long, shambling trot the T'aqui was drifting along the hillside with the free grace of a wild creature, and when Hooker pulled down his horse to keep pare with him he laughed and motioned him on. Taking the load, be loped on over hogback and barranca, picking out the best trail by Instinct and setting such a pace that Bud was hard pressed to keep up with him. (To Be CjulLaued Tomorrow.) Aylesbury Ducks Popular in English Markets — — — ~—■— v vV;,;C.'s ,“v v;v ■'.Vi * ‘ r' (Coyprlght 1014 by The Eugene Me- Guckin Company.) Aylesburys originated in the vale of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, having been developed from what was formerly known as the White English. It is most popular of domestic ducks in England because of its rapid growth to maturity. The Aylesbury ducks have an almost horizontal carriage, In this respect dif fering greatly from tho elevated Pe king. Males weigh nine pounds and STARTING ON TOO LARGE A SCALE IS APT TO CAUSE POULTRY FAILURES Beqinner Has Many Lessons to Learn Before Reaping Profits. Aylesbury Ducks the Favorite Market Variety in England. By J. Harry Wolsieffer. Poultry Editor, Lecturer and Author Copyright, 1914, by The Eugene Me- Guckin Co. A warning to the beginner In poultry raising is timely. Too many try to start on a large scale and spend all of thalr cap ital on equipment. When the pinch comes for operation they are caught short and failure en sues. There are many other subjects to he considered too, such as se lection of breeds, the market, the locality, etc., that have impor tant hearing on results. Read the following article for advice. The sketch of Aylesbury Ducks, too, is interesting. The poultry Industry has become so large and the publicity given It with in Hie past few years so great that many have entered it who hut a few years hack would have scorned the idea of being a poultry keeper. To day the business of poultry keeping is regarded as a desirable business and In the ranks are found men and women of ull walks in life. Failures in poultry both on a large and small scale are not uncommon, but wnen they do occur they are given wide spread publicity. In other lines of business the fail ure would be placed upon the man behind the business venture, but the loultry raiser will seldom admit that the failure lies at his door. In the majority of cases the blame 1b at once placed upon the little “American Hen.” Failures can be traced to many causes in poultry operations Tilt: majority who enter the poultry field do ho when but little practical experlnece, the only knowledge ob tained being through the poultry press, much of which is good, being written by practical men of expert ence. Their advice is both practical, safe and sane, but reading alone will not make a successful poultry keeper. With this knowledge must come the actual experience, which, coupled with the knowledge gained by good reading, will lead to success. But this experience cannot be gain ed in a day, a month or a year. Like any other line of business, you must face the pitiulls laying In wait for you during the first two years of the be ginner’s operations and then If you have the grit and the capital, each ■unending year will bring greuter success Make Expenses First Year. There never was, and never will be, any beginner who will make anything above running expenses the first y< ar. Nevertheless, In the maporlty of eases, the average beginner thinks that a profit can he shown at the end of the first year. Poultry figuring Is very deceiving. The poultry equip ment Is one that, a large percent age of cases, is underestimated, but this Is one of the greatest essentials of success In poultry. The poultry raiser must have good poultry equipment. Incubators, brood ers, laying houses and colony house* for the growing stock, etc. This does not mean that these need be expen sive, but they should he so construct ed that they will stand the weather nnd give comfort to the fowls placed In them. $1 Per Hen for Housing. Under favorable conditions with the preseut price of lumber, etc., It will cost $1 per hen to house them. This does not take Into consideration the cost of colony houses, which will cost from sls to S2O for the oxß or Bxlo size. Then there Is the pur chase of hatching eggs, chicks or stock, and here the beginner figures In the cheap stock In many cases, which means failure In the long run. More failures are caused by lack o? females eight pounds when in breeding condition. Exhibition birds, when heavily fed and forced to lay on weight, have been known to weltfh from two to three pounds per bird heavier than these weights. The plumage is a dead white, free from tints in undercolor. The bill is large and broad and of pale flesh color, with no trace of yellow, the latter in dicating traces of a cross with Peklns, which was made some years ago fcp re store virility. The skin is light pink in color, fading dead white after a few knowledge in the operating of the starting of the poultry farm than by having “hobbies," set ideas of their own, and these they follow liiHteud of the beaten path of the experienced poultry operator. When too late they realize that the path they have taken Is the wrong one, but seldom will they admit this, but place the blame upon the poultry. There is only one right system, although tills may vary lit a slight degree, but the principles are the same, and this system must, In a measure, be followed by the be ginner. After several years of experience, the poultry keeper may ride his ‘'hobbies" one at a time, and may find in them some advantage. But for tlie beginner to start poultry ope rations with “hobbles” of Ills own at the baginning spells failure from the start. Another cause of failure and one that 'has an extensive following is the starting poultry operations on too large a scale. Only a few instances are recorded where h plant waß start ed by a beginner on n large scale, operated and succeeded. The major ity of the leading successful poultry farms which liuvo been in operation for the past five or ten years are those started by men or women with a few hens and who gradually worked up the ladder of poultry fame and success. Folly to Start on Big Scale. It Is less costly to experiment with a few titan with many. And it is (oily for beginners to expect that they can make the same proiltn the first cA second year that the poultry keeper of severul yeurs' experience is making. This Is one of the causes of the variation in reports in the col umns oT the poultry press. Some men are better managers than others and the better the management the greater will be the net profits. • Lack of Capital One Cauae. Again, many beginners are compell ed to give up poultry keeping Just at the point of success, due to the In ability to carry on the operations fur ther due to lack of cash, due to hav ing exhausted their funds In build ings and operations at the start. The safe way Is to start at the bottom and keep the poultry operations well within your eapltal so that In case any reverses come, sufficient cash will be available to carry on the work. All poultry year* are not the same: some are good, some poor but always a margin of profit can be obtained when the plant is properly managed. Don’t Act Rashly, To give up a good position In the city and at once put every dollar i:i poultry, 1g 111-advised, unless the cash outlay Is sufficient to curry on the poultry operations for several years. Experience must he gained, and dur ing this time, which largely depends on the man or woman, the profits cannot be expected to run as high for the novice as for the more experi enced operator. In beginning It Is wise to look over the location; con slder well the markets, choose the breed Or variety that is best Tor the zone In which the poultry operations will be conducted; consult, If possi ble, real poultry experts -those who have mode good; visit several of the leading successful poultry farms, those that are successful and hav" been In optratlon for several >ear:i; carefully consider the requisites of the business, and you will have a solid foundation to start on. But for the beginner to start out on a large scale, on Ideas foreign to those who are successful in poultry, dooms him to failure Tom the start. Follow the beaten path of success there are many such In every state In the Union start modestly, and, as experience comes, wradttally Increase the flock. Two hundred fowls well handled will give a good profit. I>Hter, two hundred more, given the same care, can be made as profitable; then 200 or 200 can he added until tile beginner has a flock that Is a money-maker There are many things to learn the first year; Incubation brooding, the care of growing the chicks to maturity and thmi the nll- Inuportant feature, the getting of eggs In winter. If the poultry beginner [Vreaks even he will be more than re SUNDAY. JUNE 28. days in cold storage. Their at is also light colored, almost colorless, and the meat is short grained, tender and white. The legs and toes are bright orange, and toenails white. They are heavy layers, a good duck laying as high as 130 eggs a year, the average being 100 to 115. The eggg is large, white and translucent. They have not been a great success In tno American market, but many are bred for show purposes. The average duck farm seldom has more than 1,500 ducks. paid by t!.e knowledge gained during this first year which will prove In valuable for the future. TO RECORD PRINTED WIRELESS MESSAGES Device Perfected to Type Printed Matter Sent “Through the Air’’—Soon Be Used. Berlin. -Captain A. N. lloyland, of the Norwegian, has perfected a mar velous device for recording printed messages sent by wireless. A simple keyboard like thnt of a typewriter Is used for transmission It is thought the new devices will soon be In practi cal use. The Inventor has already typed ■messages liy wireless between Berlin ami the Idg station at Nouen. The re sults were at times somewhat uncer tain owing to the absence of a suffi cient sensitive relay by which the feeble wireless signals could be amplified and so rendered powerful enough to operate the typewriting de vice. Since then Captain Hoyland has been at work on a suitable relay, and hns now produced an Instrument which will respond to signals of the order of strength employed in wireless work. He ststes his Intention of now applying It to Ihe practical working of Ids typing device. The chief feature of the wireless typewriter Is Its application to secret code work; as the apparatus now exists, It Is possible at a few seconds notice to employ any one of 720 dif ferent “alphabets." Like Typewriter. The transmitting keyboard Is ar ranged like that of a typewriter with the additional alphabet-changing de vp-f fixed to It. The keyboard ap pliance can be applied to any wireless station, and may lie used alternatively with the ordinary Morse apparatus. The advantage of Captain Hoybind's system is that although any one of the 720 code alphabets may he used, the receiving apparatus In each case] when set In response, registers the ■ode signals as printed letters of the alphabet, and thus, while “tapping” would lie rendered quite Impossible, the ?t?e recorded In a de coded and legible form. ftrilv dots are used In the transmis sion -1. e„ short signals, and hy their spacing the mechanism of the receiv ing apparatus Is controlled so as to reconstruct the message The new re lay depends upon the variations In the electrical resistance of selenium, the illumination of the selenium cell being controlled by the movements of a very delieate galvanometer of special de sign, WHILE THE WORLD WAITS. One week rroin today I am going away On my regular venrly vacation; I'll leave other editors to talk to my creditors And solve dally the rate of the nation. ! nm gn'ne to fish whero fish are In schools. An,l hoard where the hoarding la great, I Hm not going to rise till I want to get tin. Which will usually be rather late.. I nm off for the wooda with a small stock of goods. Some dry but most of them wet I’ll dodge nil convention, which I* Siitnn's Invention. When your mind upon freedom Is set. I will never come hack till my two weeks are tip, Thoegh the world ne" I me ever so bsd, And through dvnnsties fall for the lack of advice — , Geo when I get back they'll be glad. —t. t. a.
