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About The Augusta herald. (Augusta, Ga.) 1914-current | View Entire Issue (June 30, 1914)
TUESDAY, JUNE 30. The Land of Broken Promises 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, Bpsnlsh senor and senorita, peon, Indian, crowd Its chapters with clear-cut word pictures of busl nesak adventure and love, against a somber background of wretched armies marching and counter marching across a land racked by revolution and without a savior, j. ' (Continued from Yesterday.) The ccflumn to the south —the one which Hooker had encountered—had taken to the high hills west of the town, and, along the skyline of the tmtteHke summits they could now be ss£n In scattered bands making their way to the north. The defenders of Fortuna consisted of a rag-tag garrison of twenty fed orals and the hot-headed, charging miners. But apparently that was a combination hard to beat, for, while the federals entrenched themselves be hind the black tank on the hill and prepared to protect the town, the So norans in shouting masses drove every thing before them and marched on to attack Chular. But in thie they made a mistake, for the rebel scouts, seeing the great body of defenders pressing on up the nar row canyon, rode back and Informed the tricky Bernardo Bravo. He would be a poor general Indeed who could not see the opening that was offered and, while the valiant Sonorans pur sued the rebel cavalry up the pass, Bernardo Bravo sent the half of hts thousand men to cut off their retreat from behind. Along the broad top of the moun tain above they came scampering by |fns and twenties, closing in with a va*s superior force upon the now town. In the depths of the cani i ( i below the miners were still abasing the elusive cavalry, their fir ing becoming faint as they clambered on toward the summit and the rebel headquarters at Chular. They had, in fact, been handled like children, and the Americans Joined in contemptuous curses of their mistaken bravery as they beheld in what straits it had left them. Forbidden by the superintendent to participate in the combat, yet having In their oare the women of the camp, they were compelled to stand passive ly aside while rebels by the hundred came charging down the ridgee. Only in the last resort, and when all diplo macy and federal defense had failed, would they be allowed to so much as cock a rifle. And yet—well, twenty uetermlned Americans might easily turn back this charge. Taking advantage of hl3 Mexican citizenship. Hooker was already on the run for the trenches when the super intendent stopped him with a look. “Let the Mexicans fight it out,” he said. "They might resent it if yon took sides, and that would make it bad for us. Just wait a while—you never can tell what will happen. Perhaps thtf" rurales and federals will stand them oft.” “What, that little bunch?” demanded Bud, pointing scornfully at the hand ful of defenders who were cowering behind their rock piles. "Why half of them pelones don’t know what a gun was made for, and the rurales—” "Well, the rebels are the same,” sug gested the superintendent pacifically. "Let them fight It out —we need every American we can get, so Just forget about being a Mexican.” "All right,” agreed Bud, as he yield ed reluctantly to reason. “It ain’t be cause I’m a Mexican citizen —I Just want to etop that rush.” He walked back to the house, Jug gling his useless gun and keeping his eye on the distant ridges. And then, In a chorus of defiant yells, the men In the federal trenches began to shoot. In an airline the distance was some thing over a mile, but at the first scat tering volley the rebels halted and fired a volley In return. With a vicious spang a few stray bullets smashed agalnstV-he reverberating steel tank, but no ono was hurt, and the defend ers, drunk with valor, began to shoot and yell like mad. The bullets of the rebels, fired at random, struck up dust-jets In every direction, and from the lower part of the town came the shouting of the non combatant Mexicans as they ran here end there for shelter. But by the trenches, and In the rear of the black tank, the great crowd of onlookers persisted, ducking as each euccesslve bullet hit the tank and shouting en couragement ae the defenders emptied their rifles and reloaded with clip after dip. • The rifles rattled a continuous vol ley; spent bullets lesped like locusts ocrosa the flat; men ran to and fro, now crouching behind the tank, now stepping'boldly Into the open; and the defiant shouts of the defenders almost drowned the walls of the women, Ex empt for Ofn» Jjj, y/fiti ft battle— there was nobody hurt. For the first half-hour the Ameri cans stayed prudently under cover, busying themselves at the suggestion of a few American women In providing a first-aid hospital on the sheltered porch. Then, as no wounded came to fill it and the rebels delayed their charge, one man after another climbed up to the trenches, ostensibly to bring down the Injured. As soldiers and bystanders reported no one hit, and the bullets flew harm lessly past, their solicitude turned rap idly to disgust and then to scorn. Strange as It may seem, they were dis appointed at the results, and their re marks were derogatory as they com mented on the bravery of pelones and Mexicans in general. From a dread of imminent attack, of charging rebelß and retreating defend ers, and a fight to the death by the house, they came suddenly to a desire for blood and battle, for dead men and the cries of the wounded; and all fear of the insurrectos left them. “Come away, boys," grunted the burly roadmaster, who up to then had led in the work; "we wasted our time on that hospital—there’ll be no wound ed. Let’s take ourselves back to the house and have a quiet smoke.” "Right you are, Ed,” agreed the mas ter mechanic, as he turned upon his heel in disgust. “Thie ain’t war— them Mexicans think they’re working for a moving-picture show!" ”1 bet you I can go up on that ridge,” announced Hooker, “and clean out the whole bunch with my six shooter before you could bat your eye.” But the superintendent was not so sure. “Never mind, boys,” he said. “We’re worth a lot of ransom money to those rebels and they won’t give up so quick. And look at this now —my miners com ing backl Those are the boys that will fight 1 Walt till Chico and Ramon Mendoza get after them!” He pointed as he spoke to a strag gling band of Sonorans, led by the much-vaunted Mendoza brothers, as they hurried to save the town, and a cheer went up from the trenches as the federals beheld reinforcements. But a change had come over the flre eating miners, and they brought other rebels In their wake. As they trudged wearily into town and sought shelter among the houses a great body of men appeared on the opposite ridge, firing down at them as they retreated, The battle rapidly turned into a long-distance shooting contest, with the rebels on the ridgeg and the defenders in’ the valley, and finally, as the day wore on and a thun derstorm came up, It died out alto gether and the rebels turned back to their camp. Except for one lone federal who had shot himself by accident there was not a single defender hurt, and if the enemy had suffered losses it was onlx by some such chance. But when the Sonoran patriots, holding up their empty belts, came clamoring for am munition, the men by the big house took in the real catastrophe of the battle. Seventeen thoueaud rounds of the precious thirty-thirties had been de livered to the excited miners and now, except for what few the Americans had saved, there was not a cartridge in camp. Very soberly the superintendent assured the leaders that he had no more; they pointed at the full belts of the American guard and demanded them as their right; and when the Americans refused to yield they flew into a rage and threatened. All in all, it was a pitiful exhibition of hot-headedness and imbecility, and only the firmness of the superintend ent prevented a real spilling of blood. The Mexicans retired in a huff and broke into the cantina, and as the night camo on the valley re-echoed to their drunken shoutings. Such was war aB the Sonorans con ceived it. When Hooker, standing hia guard in the corredor, encountered Gracia Aragon on her evening waller he could scarcely conceal a grin. “What are you laughing at, Senor Hooker?” she demanded with asperity. “Is It so pleasant, with a houseful of frightened women and screaming chil dren, that you should make fun of our plight?” "No, Indeed,” apologized Bud; "noth ing like that. Sure must be bad in there—l stay outside myself. But I reckon it’ll soon be over with. The Mexicans here in town have shut off all their ammunition and I reckon the rebels have done the same. Like as not they’ll all be gone tomorrow, and then you can go back home." "Oh, thank you for thinking about me!” she returned with a scornful curl of the lip. "But if all men were as open as you, Mr. Hooker, we women would never need to ask a question. This morning you told me I did not know what I was talking about —now 1 presume you are thinking what cow ards the Mexicans are! "Oh, I know! You need not deny itt You are nothing but a great big—To jano! Yea, I was going to say ‘brute/ but you are a friend of dear Phil’s, and so I will hold my tongue. If it wasn’t Author of "THE FIGHTING FOOL,” “HIDDEN WATERS," “THE TEXICAN," tyc. Illustrations by DON J. LAVIN Frank A. MunstyJ (Copyright. 1914, hy him to guess. “Oh, I do wish he were here,” she breathed, leaning wearily against the white pillar of an arch and gazing down through the long arcade. “It was so close in there," she con tinued, “1 could not stand it a minute longer. These Indian women, you know —they weep and moan all the time. And the children—l am so 6orry for them. I cannot go now, because they need me; but tomorrow —if Phil were here—l would leave and ride for the line. “Have you seen Del Rey toduyT No? Then all the better —he must b 9 polic ing the town. It Is only of him I am afraid. These rebels are nothing—l agree with you I No I lam not angry with you at ail now I But tomorrow. Just at dusk, when all is still as tt la at this time, then, If Phil were here I would mount my brave horse and ride out by the western pass.” She ended rather inconclusively, let ting her voice trail oit wistfully as she waited for him to speak, but something within moved Hooker to hold hla peace, and he looked out over the town without commenting on her plans. It was evident to him that she was deter mined to enlist his sympathy and In volve him in her wild plot, and each time the conversation veered In that direction he took refuge in a stubborn silence. “What are you thinking of, Mr. Hooker?” she asked at last, as ha gazed Into the dusk. “Sometimes I scold you and sometimes I try to please you, but I never know what you think) I did not mean that when I said I could read your thoughts—you are bo different from poor, dear Phil I" “M-m-m,” mumbled Bud, shifting hla feet, and his face turned a little grim. "Ahal” she cried with ill-concealed satisfaction, “you do not like me to call him like that, do you? ‘Poor, dear Phil,’ —like that I But do you know why I do it? It 1» to punish you for never coming near me—when I signed to you—when I Waited for you—long ago 1 Ah, you were so cruel I I want ed to know you—you wore a cowboy, and I thought you were brave enough to defend me—but you always rod6‘ right by. Yes, that was it—but Phil waa different! He came when I sent for him; he sang songs to me at night; he took my part against Manual del Rey; and now—” “Yes!” commented Bud bruskly, with his mind on "dear Phil's" finish, and she turned to peer Into his face. “So that Is It!” she said. “You do not trust me. You think that lam not your friend —that I will serve you as he was served. Is that what you are thinking?” "Something like that," admitted Hooker, leaning lazily against the mud waU. “Only I reckon I don’t think just the way you do.” "Why? How do I think?" she de manded eagerly. "Well, you think awful fast,” an swered Hooker slowly, "And you don’t always think the same, seems like. I’m kind of quiet myself, and I don’t like—well, I wouldn't say that, but you don't always mean what you say.” “Oh!” breathed Gracia, and then, after a pause, she came nearer and leaned against the low wall beside 'him. “If I would speak from my heart," she asked, “if I would talk plain, as j you Americans do, would you like me j better then? Would you talk to me i instead of standing silent? Listen, Bud—for that is your name—l want you to be my friend the way you were a friend to Phil. I know what you did for him, and how you bore with hie love-madness—and that was my fault, too. But partly It was also your fault, for you made me angry by not coming. “Yes, I will be honest now—it was you that I wanted to know at flret, but you would not come, and now I am promised to Phil. He was brave when, you were careful, and my heart went out to him. You know how it is with us Mexicans—we do not love by rea son. We love like children —suddenly j —from the heart! And now all I wish In life Is to run away to Phil. But every time I speak of it you shut your Jaws or tell me I am a fool.’’ "Cmp-um,’’ protested Bud, turning stubborn again. “I tell you you don’t know what you're talking about. These rebels don’t amount to nothing around the town, but on a trail they're awful. They shoot from behind rocks and all that, and a woman ain't noways safe. You must know what they’re like— theee old women don’t think about nothing else—so what’s the use of talk ing! And besides," be added grimly, "l’ve had some trouble with your old man and don't want to have any more.” i “What trouble have you had?” she demanded promptly, but Hooker would not answer in words. He only shrugged bis shoulders and turned away, crumpling his hat in his hand. "But no!” she cried as she sensed the meaning of hie ooncealment, “you i must tell me! 1 want to know. Waa it over your mine? Then you must not blame me, Hr he never haa told me a’word!” I "No?" inquire'/ Hud, rousing sudden ly at the memorl of his wrongs. "Then THE AUGUSTA HERALD, AUGUSTA, GA. By DANE COOLIDGE maybe you will tell mellow lie go! this”—he fetched a worn piece of ore from his pocket—“when my pardner gave It to you I It waa right there I lost my pardner—and he was a good kid, too—and all because of that rock. Here, take a look at It—l took that away from your father!" (To Be Ooatinued Tomorrow.) Wife—l believe you married me just because I had money. Husband—You’re wrong. T married you because I thought you’d let me have some of it. FOR WEAKNESB AND LOBS OF APPETITE The old Standard general strength ening tonlo GROVE’S TASTELESS thill TONIC, drives out Malaria and builds up the system. A true tonlo and sure Appetizer. For adults and children. 60c. Yeu remember the last Dollar Day in Augusta? There’s going to be an other one aoon. Watch for it, in tho Augusta Herald. ONE DOLLAR" BILL Men’s New Style Straws just received—all shapes for a Dollar. P. F. SHERON & CO. YOUR DOLLAR Is Biggest on Friday July 3rd. \ 'lk I J See Wednesday’s and Thursday’s Herald for Story of Dollar Day in Augusta. The Wise Dry Goods Co. $50,000.00 stock of mer chandise slaughtered regardless of cost. Sale commences tomorrow morning Toly Ist, every article in the house marked down. Watch for the red tags mark ed in plain figures showing the original price and the reduced price. No fictitious valuation placed on a single article, but genuine reductions throughout the entire house, do not be misled by false impressions but come and see for yourself and compare prices, and let your own conviction govern you. The principles under which this sale is conducted. A small child can see that it is a genuine bonafide massacre of merchandise of merit. All we ask is a visit from you and the impression will be everlasting. Watch the newspapers for daily bulletins and join the crowds that will lead you to the greatest harvest of bargains that you ever witnessed, don't forget the time. Sale commences tomorrow morning, July the first and to continue until the stock has been reduced $20,000.00. / The Wise Dry Goods Co. 858 Broad Street FIVE
