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Show Ui - "- " ' " i '.. : Bli VxTTiiiXgXXtTi''ri'iiilll,ll!tiirrTtf,irrT!rgyritiii!riygTgvfTn MB b ; ifj II I: Webster-Man's Man ! bbbbTbbm Hil By PETER B. KYNE bbmbh ' ' i I BJI1 Author of "Cappy Ricks," "The Valky of the Giant," Etc HbIiII H CopjrUht br Ftttr B. Erne. mm L. ...... ........ ....... - JH flSl CHAPTER XV Continued. HhBJU 17 HNBV "Stay by tlio wall, you madman," BMBff "Webster ordered. "There'll bo enough Wr " t0 r,Je down 'hose nicn In tho HMj Mrcct and saber them I" VXIU And there wcrol They died to a Bfljllf KaD' nn(1 tlt0 ""ly depicted troop of BiHk pinrds galloped on, leaving Don Juan MBd and Webster unscathed on the side-Hsfl side-Hsfl ' wn,k tnc on,y two living men unhurt HH to that shambles. HEB Not for Ions, however, did they hnvo HJIB tho ntrect to themselves. Around the BHBn comer of tho palace wall a limousine, Bldf with the curtains drawn, swung on iwo WflB wheels, skidded, struck tho carcass of HH r horse and turned over, catapulting JWS the chauffeur Into tho middle- of tin HfVH "Sarrosl" shrieked Don Junn and HtH ran to tho overturned vehicle. It was HjBB unite empty. BIS "Dully boy, Scnor 8nrros," Webster BII laughed, "tie's turned n pretty trick. Mil Hasn't ha? Sent his guards out to HE mm hack a pathway for an empty Union- HtAY slnel That means he's hoping to draw HfH the watchers from tho other gUet" HlaV ITtit Don Jnna Cafetero was not lis- HtHY tenlng; he was running at top spo.nl H&yS for the south gate of tho palace HJHHj grounds and Webster followed. HJHV As they swung Into tho street upon HHW which this south goto opened, Webster HjHK saw that It was deserted of nil save IH the dead, for Snrros' clever ruse had HBB worked well nnd had had tho effect of HJHfl arousing tho curiosity of his enemies HflK nfl ,0 nc cnuso "f the uproar at tho HHB north Kate, In consequence or which jHH they had nil scurried iirounil the block Hjl to see what they could .see, thus nc HH cording Sarrns tlio thing' he desired HH most a fighting chance nnd n half HHH minute to get through tlio gnto- nnd BBBS headed for tho steamship landing with- H out Interference,, BAHf Webster and Don .limn en mo abreast BAHJ the high, barred gate In tho thick. 20- HHB foot masonry wnll as the barrier swung HHH bark and n mnn, In clvlllnn clothes, HHH thundered through on n magnificent HHB bay thoroughbred. HHV "That's him. Shtop tho dlvlll" HB screnmod Don Juan. "They'll do the HHB decent thing bo mo If I tako him HHB To Webster, who had acquired tho HHB art of snnp shooting whllo killing tlmo HHB In many n lonely camp, tho bay chnrg-HH chnrg-HH or orfered an easy mark, "Ilnto to HflB down that bonutlfal nnlmnl," ho re-H re-H Marked nnd pulled' away, HHl Tho horse leaped Into tho nlr nnd HHl came down stiff-legged ; Snrros spurred HHj It cruelly, nnd tho gallant beast strove HH to gather Itself Into Its stride, stag-Bflfl stag-Bflfl gered and sank to Its kneos, as with a HHJ wild Irish yell Don Juan Cafetero HHf reached tho dictator's side. HHl Snrros drew n revolver, hut beforo HHl bo could uso It Don Junn tnppcd him HHl smnrtly over tho head with his rifle BBWi tinnf), and tho mnn toppled Inortly to HHj the ground1 bcsldo his dying horse. BBI "More power to yo sor," Don Juan HHj called cheerily and turned to rccclvo HlB Webster's approval: HHi What ho saw paralysed him for an HH Instant. Webster was standing bcsldo HH tlio gate, firing Into n dbzen of Snrros' HH soldiery who were pouring out of a Hi kouxo Just across the street, whero for HHj an hour they had crouched unseen and HHj unheard by tho Ilucy men at tho gate. HH They wore practically out of timmunl-HB timmunl-HB tlon and nnd merely been awaiting a HH Atvomblo opportunity to escape beforo HH tho- rebels should enter tho city In HH force and tho house-to-house search HH for snipers should begin, They had HH been about to emorgu nnd bent a hasty HB retreat, when Snrros rodo out at the HH gate, und with a rush thoy followed, HJ gaining tho sidewalk In tlmo to bo wit-um, wit-um, ncsses to tho dictator's downfall. Hm For a moment they had paused, bud-HJ bud-HJ died on tho sldcwnlk behind tholr ofll-Hm. ofll-Hm. rer, who, turning to scout tho street H up and down, beheld John Stuart Web-JHJj Web-JHJj ' oter standing by tho gnto with an nu-HV; nu-HV; tomatlc In his bnnd. At tho samo In-Hj; In-Hj; tatitWobster's attention had been nt-Wm nt-Wm traded to (ho llttlo band on tho sldo-IH sldo-IH walk; In their lender ho recognized no BH , less a personage than bis lato ncqunln-mm ncqunln-mm tttnw, the flro eating Copt, Jose Hen-IB Hen-IB 1 avldes, Colncldentally llennvldes rec-HJ rec-HJ " ' ogntzed Webster. El it was an awkward situation. Web ISt "tar realized the Issue was about HI to be decided, that If ho would IHI'I ,invo It In his favor, ho should waste HjM not ono split-second before killing the IttrJL' mercurial llennvldes as tho latter IMtCT. stood staring at him. U was not a fMW question, now, of who stiould bent tho fit'' other to the druw, for each had al-IpjL al-IpjL rea.dy filled his hand, It was a que-'jmtfi que-'jmtfi tlon, mtlier, as to vho should recover HMji ' first front his astonishment. If llrnn-Imf llrnn-Imf vtdes decided to let bygones bo by. Wt cones and retreat without firing . ff' ' shot, then Webster wns quite wlllint Mfc, to penult him to pass unmolested; In-Bt In-Bt deed, such was his aversion to shoot' IR Sag any man. no earnestly did he bono Iff j bo Sobrantcan would consider that WEr Atcretlon was the better psrt of valor. p- tbat be resoJrcd to inculcate that Idea n' 1a the HotJrjior. "Captain Dcttarldes." he said soave-iKfe',' soave-iKfe',' ly, "foar can ts lost. If you care to Jfc, rwipo bor3 ibe Maauier. I trM te H84 H Uwt T m mt rttmwed trms WW wrwiir e u. tHw. J if) ym mj MF wn r ikhh vou vHO tun ue ex- Br v " I llennvldes might havo had, and doubtless did have, his faults, but cowardlco was not ono of them. And ho did have tho ghost of a senso of humor. hu-mor. An ovll Bmlle flitted over his ollvo features. "Without taking Into consideration the bayonets at my back," ho replied, "It strikes mo tho odds aro oveu now. And yet you patronlzo me." Webster was nettled. "I'd rather do that than kill you, Bcnavldcs," he retorted. "Don't bo a fool. Run along nnd sell your papers, and take your pitiful llttlo sandal-footed bii-gands bii-gands with you. 8cntl" llennvldes' hand, holding his pistol, had been hanging loosely at his side. With his furious glanco meeting Webster's Web-ster's unfalteringly, with the merest movement of his wrist nnd scarcely without movement of his forearm, ho throw up his weapon and fired. Scarcely a fifth of a second had elup8cd between tho movement of bis wrist nnd tho pressure of his finger on tho trigger; Webster, gazing steadily stead-ily Into tho somber eyes, had noted no hint of tho man's Intention, and wns caught actually off his guard. Tho bullet tore through his bleeps, momentarily paralyzing htm, and his nutomntlc dropped clattering to tho sidewalk; as ho stooped nnd recovered It, llennvldes fired again, creasing tho top of lila left shoulder. Tho Sobrnntean took aim for a third and finishing shot, but when ho pulled ho trigger tho hammer fell on a defective cartridge which gnvo to John Stuart Webster nil tho advantngo he craved. IIo planted a bullet In Ucnavldcs' nb- Webster Planted a Bullet In Benavldes' Abdomen. domen with his first shot, blew out the duelist's brains with his second, and whirled to meet tho chnrgo of tho llttlo sandal-footed soldados, who, seeing their lender fallen, had without with-out an Instant's hesitation and apparently appar-ently by mutual consent decided to avengo him. Webster backed dazedly towrd the wall, firing as ho did so, but ho was too dizzy to shoot effectively, and tho semicircle of bayonets closed In on his front. IIo had wounded three men without stopping them; a second more, and tholr long, clgbtccn-lnch bayonets would lmo been In his vltnls, when Into tho midst .of the melee, from tho rear, dashod Don Junn Cafetero, shrieking like a fiend nnd swinging his rifle, which ho held grnRped by tho barrel. Webster snw a bayonet lunging toward to-ward him. IIo lifted his leg nnd caught tho point on his boot-heel whllo with his tnst cnrtrldgo ho killed tho mnn behind tho bayonet, Just as the latter's next-rank mnn thrust straight and truo In under the American's left nrm. whllo a third man Jnbbed at his stomach and got tho bnyonet homo In his hip. Thcso two thrusts, delivered nlmoBt simultaneously, by their Impact Im-pact carried their victim backward agntnst tho wall, against which his bead collided with a smart thud. IIo fell forward on his fuco; beforo his assailants could draw back for a flu (Riling thrust. In ense the gringo needed need-ed It, which the doubted, Don Juan Cafetero had brained them both. Standing nbov tho man ho loved, With the latterV body between his outspread legs. Don Juan Cafetero stood for tho final acrountlng, his but" termllk eyes gleaming hatred and war-madness, war-madness, his lips drawn back from his snaggle teeth, bis breast rising and falling ns thoy closed m around him. For n few seconds bo wns visible visi-ble swinging his rlllo like a Hall, magnificent, unterrlfled and then a bayonet slipped In under his guard. It wan the end. With a final great effort that used up ibo lust strength In his drlnk-cwrnxled drlnk-cwrnxled muscle ho hurled" his ride Ib the inldxt of his four remaining mwmh. before he swnycil nnd top-Pd top-Pd full Jongih on top of Webster frilling with bis poor body tho mim i bvi fanned to Hume Uiu dying ember of manhood In tho wreck that drink nnd tho dovll bad cast up on the Caribbean coast. For Don Junn Cafetero It had been ft long, Joyous, thirsty day, but at last the day was done. And In order to mnke certain, a soldado Jabbed him onco more through tho vltnls before ho lied with tho other survivors. For half nn hour after Webster left her to assist tlio great-hearted Mother Jenks In tho rough enro of tho wounded, wound-ed, Dolores, absorbed In her work of mercy, gave all of her thought to tho grim task beforo her. Tho cries, followed fol-lowed by tho sudden, snvugo outbreak of flro when tho guards mndo their dash from tho pnlacc, brought Webster Web-ster aud Don Junn to mind Instnntly. In n quick ncccss of terror and appre- i hcnslon sho clung, trembling, to stolid old Mother Jenks. "Somebody's brcakln' In or brenkln' i out," tho veteran decided calmly. "Come to tho corner, dearie, an' 'avo a look." Sho half dragged Dolores to the corner, cor-ner, from which they had an unobstructed unob-structed view down tho cross-street to Its Intersection three blocks distant I with tho Cnllo San Ilosario; con so- i qucntly they saw the dozen or more survivors of Hint Ill-fated dash from the north gato of tho palace flash for i n second across tholr line of virion. Mother Jenks croaked dismally, like i n disreputable old raven; she was trying try-ing to cheer. "Tho rats nro lcnvln' tho slnkln' ship," sho wheezed. "Como nn' see them tyko the devils ns killed my sainted 'Knery." Sho broke eagerly from Delores detnlnlng grasp and ran down tho street. Dolores hcsltntcd n moment; then, reasoning that her duty Iny In pursuing Mother Jenks nnd preventing her from rushing headlong Into' tho conflict, she followed. Evidently tho fleeing guards bad scurried around n corner Into n cross-street cross-street shortly after Dolores and Mother Moth-er Jenks hnd seen them gallop past, for tho firing down tho Cnllo San llo- sarlo Kad-ceased entirely by tho tlmo they reached It. They stood n moment at tho corner, gazing up tho street nt tho dead man .and beast with the wounded crawling out of tho shambles to tho sldcwnlk. Mother Jenks nodded approvingly as triumphant shouts from tho north gnto told her tho Itucy men wcro pouring Into tho pnlnco; with their arms about each other tho two women watched and waited and presently tho national nation-al flag on tho palaco came fluttering down from Its staff, to be raised again with tho red banner of revolution fluttering flut-tering nbovo It, tho Insignia of a nation na-tion reborn. "My lamb," Mother Jenks said softly soft-ly to Dolores, "tho war Is over. Wot's tho matter with go In' In the south gato un' wytln' on thq pnlaco steps for tho provisional president to make his grand ountrny? If wo 'csltatc five minutes they'll havo a bloomln' gunrd on both gates, nrskln' us oo wo nro an' wot wo want." "Ilut Mr. Webster will como back to that back street looking for mo; I must go back and wait there for him." "Wyte, nothlnkl" Mother Jenks overruled tho girl's protest roughly. "'B'll 'ave gone Into tho pnlnco with tho crowd for a look-seo; we'll n.cet Mm there an' syvo lm tho troublo o' 'untln' for us. Como I" And sho half dragged tho shrinking girl townrd the gate, a block distant, whero only a few minutes beforo Webster nnd Don Juan Cnfetcro had mndo their Ineffectual Inef-fectual stand. "Don't look nt tho blighters, honey," Mother Jenks warned Dolores When, In approaching the gate, she caught sight of the bodies strewed In front of It. "My word! Regular bally mess ni? all splggotles'l Cnwn't be. Must 'nvo been somo whlto meat on this bird, as my sainted 'Kncry ustcr s'y. Hah I Thought sol .There's a red-boded red-boded 'un! Gawd's truth 1 An o done all that Cor' strike mo pink I It's Don Junn Cafetero." Mother JenKs stepped over tho gory corpses ringed nround Don Junn nnd knelt besldo him. "Don Junn I" she cried. "You bnlly, Interfcrln' blighter, you'vo gone an" got Itl" Sho ran her strong old arras under his dripping body, lifted him and Inld his red head on bar kneo, whllo with her free hand sho drew a small Dusk of brandy from her dress pocket. Don Junn opened his buttermilk eyes nnd gazed up nt her with slow-,ly slow-,ly dawning wonder, then closed tliein again, drowsily, like a tired child. Mother Jenks pressed the llnsk to IiIr. hluo lips; as the brandy bit his tongue ho rolled his fiery head In feeble protest pro-test nnd weakly set bis teeth against the lip of the flnsk. Wondering, Mother Jenks withdrew It and then Don Junn spoke. "Have yo the mnsthcr's permission, ullnnnh? I give him me worrd nv honor hon-or not to dhrlnk till he glvo permission. Ho wns good to rue-troth rue-troth ho wns God love me boss Ills Jnw dropped loosely; bis bend rolled sideways; hut ere his spirit tied, Don Junn Cafetero had Justified 'lie fallh of bis muster. He hnd !-cpt I lits word of honor Hi- IumI n,me guoil on his brag to dlo for Jolm 8tu- i MHVHBHHHHHHt7sk!ttBsiiv art Webster aud welcome the chanool Mother Jenks held his body a llttlo while, gazing Into the faco no onger rubicund; then gently she cosed It to the ground and for the first time was aware that Dolores knelt In the dirt opposite to her strlvln to U t tho body upon which Don Juan had been lying. Tho strength of Dolores wns unequal un-equal to the tusk; so Mother Jenks. hardened, courageous, calm as her sainted 'Enery nt his Inglorious finish, rose end stepped nround to her side to help tier. She could sec this other ns n white mnn, too; coolly she stooped nnd wiped his gory face with tho hem of her apron. And then sho recognized html "Mft him up! Gho him to me I Dolores sobbed. "Oh, Caliph, my poor dear, big-hearted blundering boy I" She got her nrm under his head; Mother Jenkins nldcd her ; and the limp body wns lifted to a sitting position; then Dolores knelt on ono knee, supporting sup-porting htm with tho other, and drew his head over on her shoulder; with her whlto cheek cuddled against his, she spoke Into bis deaf cars the little, lit-tle, tender, foolish words thnt mothers moth-ers hnve for their children, that women wom-en have for the stricken men of their love. Sho pleaded with him to open his eyes, to speak to her nnd tell her ho still lived; so close was his face to hers that she saw an old but very faint whlto scar running diagonally across his left eyebrow and kissed It. Presently strong arms took him from her; clinging to somebody sho knew not whom sho rSllowcd, monn-Ing monn-Ing broken-henrtcdly, while eight men, forming a rude litter with four rifles passed under his body, bore Webster to the shade of a tufted palm inside tho pnlnco gate. As they laid Webster down for a moment there Dolores saw a tall, youthful man, of hnndsome features and noblo bearing, approach nnd look nt him. In his eyes there wcro tears, n sob escaped him ns with n little Impulsive, affectionate movement ho patted John Stuart Webster's cheek. "My friend I" tho fainting Dolores heard him murmur. "My grcnt-hcart-cd. whimsical, lovablo John Webster. You mndo It possible for mo to meet you hero tonight and this Is the nicotine nicot-ine 1" CHAPTER XVI. While Rlcardo watched beside the unconscious Webster ono of his aides galloped up tho street, to return presently pres-ently with a detachment with stretchers, stretch-ers, Into which Webster and Don Junn Cafetero wcro laid and cnrrled up tho palace driveway Intoho huge golden reception hall whnm only tho night before Snrros had greeted tho belles and beaux of his capital. In the meantime mean-time Mother Jenks had succeeded In restoring Dolores to consciousness; supported by the Indomitable old woman the girl slowly followed the grim procession until, nt tho door of tho reception room, they found their further progress bnrred by a sentry. "Tho rcd-hnlrcd mnn Is deud," ho Informed them In responso to their eager queries. "If you want his body," bo continued, hnzardlug n guess as to their mission, "I guess you can hnve It. There ho Is." And the sentry pointed to tho stretcher which had becn set down along tho wnll of the reception hall. '"Ow about tho other?" Mother Jenks demanded. Don Junn Cafetero hnd, unfortunntcly, been so much of a nulsnnco to her In llfo thnt sho was not minded to bo troubled grently over him In death, although the Spar-tnnllko Spar-tnnllko manner of his exit had thrilled the Urltlsh bulldog blood In her. "Tho big fellow Isn't quite dead yet, but I'm afraid he's a goner. The surgeons hnvo him In this room now. Friend of yours, Miss?" ho Inquired ln tones freighted with neighborly syinptithv, Dolores nodded. "Sorry I can't let you In, Miss," ho continued, "but tho General ordered mo to keep everybody out until the doctors have finished looking hlra over. If I wns you, I'd wait In that room across the hall; then you cun get tho first news when tho doctors come out." AMotJier Jenks nccepted his advice hind steered her chnrgo Into tho room Intllrntnil. Ae llmv iin,i t ,. Itucy stood anxiously bcsldo the tnblo on which John Stunrt Webster's big, limp body reposed, whllo Doctor Poch-ceo, Poch-ceo, assisted by a Sobrnntean confrere, con-frere, went deftly over him with surgical sur-gical scissors and cut tho blood-soaked clothing from Ills body. "He breathes very gently," tho rebel lender said, presently. "Is there nnv hope?" Tho llttlo doctor shrugged. "I fear not. Thnt bayonet-thrust In tho. left sldo missed his heart but not bis lung." "Rut nppnrently he hnsn't bled much from that wound." "Tho hemorrlinge Is probably Internal. In-ternal. Kven If thnt congestion of blood In the lungs does not prove fatal very shortly, Jie cannot. In his weakened weak-ened state, survive tho traumatic feer from all these wounds. It Is bound hello, how our poor friend still lives with the bayonet broken off In his body for here Is steel hah ! Not n bnyonet. but n pistol." Ho unbuttoned the wounded man's coat and found n strap running diagonally diag-onally up across his breast and over tho right shoulder, connecting with a holster under tho loft nrm. The doctor unbuckled this strap and removed re-moved tlio holster, which contnlned Webstor's spnre gun; Itlrnrdo. glancing glanc-ing disinterestedly Ht the sheathed weapon, noted n smnll. new. triangular triangu-lar hole In the leather bolster He picked It ui'. ulU.divw the plsinl nml found u deep scratiU, um-iiiIv itwUft. J atonr the blued ateef close to tfco i COnltO blltt. r,nhnrtt When Ricnrdo glanced at Pnche after his scrutiny of the pistol anfl holster, tho doctor's dark eyes were regarding biro mirthfully. "I hnve been unnecessarily alarmed, . my general," snld Pacheco. Our dear friend bos been most fortunate In his choice of wounds -" "He's a lucky Yankee; that's what he la, my dear Pnchcco. A lucky Yankee Yan-kee I" Rlcardo leaned over aud examined ex-amined the bayonet-wound In Webster's Web-ster's left side. "Ho took the point of the steel on his pistol he hnppcncd to be wearing under his left nrm, he went on to explain. "That turned tho bnyonet nnd It slid along his ribs, making a superficial flesh-wound. Pacheco nodded. "And this bullet merely burned tho top of his right shoulder, while another passed through his biceps without touching the bone. His most severe wound la this Jnb In tho hip." They stripped every stitch of clothing cloth-ing from Webster and went over him carefully. At the back of his head they found a llttlo clotted blood from a small split In Uio scalp; also they found a lump of generous proportions. Pacheco laughed briefly but contentedly. con-tentedly. "Then he Is not even seriously Injured?" In-jured?" Rlcardo Interrupted thnt laugh. "I would die of fright If I had to fight this flno fellow a month from todny," tho llttlo doctor chirped. "Tho mnn Is In superb physical condition; It Is tho bump on tho head that renders ren-ders him unconscious not loss of blood." As If to confirm this expert testimony testi-mony Webster at that moment breath-cl breath-cl long and deeply, scrdwod up his fnco and shook his bend very slightly. Thereafter for sovcral minutes ho gnve no further evidence of nn nctlvo Interest In life seeing which Pacheco decided to tako prompt ndvnntngo of his unconsciousness and prObe tho wounds In. his nrm nnd shoulder for the fragments of clothing which the bullets must hnvo carried Into them. After ten minutes of probing Pacheco announced thnt ho was through end ready to bnndagc; whereupon John Stunrt Webster said faintly but very distinctly, In English: "I'm awfully glad you are.- Doc'. It hurt like h II Did you mnnnge to get n bite on that fishing trip?" "Jack Webster, you 'scoundrel!" Ricnrdo yelled Joyously, und ho shook the pntlcnt with entire disregard of tho latter's wounds. "Oh, mnn, Tra glnd you're not dead." "Your sentiments nppcal to mo strongly, my friend. I'm too tired to look at you. Who the devil aro you?" Fell o silence, whllo Webster prepared pre-pared for another speech. "Whero nm I?" "In tho palace. We won pulled-up, pulled-up, and thnt forty-thousand dollar bet of yours Is safe. I'll cash tho ticket fpr you tomorrow morning." "D n tho forty thousand. Where'a my Croppy Roy?" "Your what?" "My wild Irish blackthorn, Don Juan Cafetero." "I hope, old man, he has cro now that which all bravo Irishmen nnd truo deserve n harp with a crown. In llfo tho Irish havo the harp without with-out tho crown, you know." "How did ho dlo?" Welutcr whispered. whis-pered. "Ho died hard, with the holes In front and bo died for you." Two big tears trickled slowly through Webster's closed Uda and rolled roll-ed across his palo cheek. "Poor, lost, lonesome, misunderstood wreck," ho murmured presently, "ho wns an extremist ex-tremist In all things. IIo used to sing those wonderfully poetic ballads of his people I remember ono thnt began: 'Green were tho fields whero my forefathers fore-fathers dwelt.' I think his heart was In Kerry so we'll send him there. He's my dead, Rlcardo; caro for his body, becauso I'm going to plant Don Juan with the shamrocks. They didn't understand him here. He was an exile so I'm going to send hlra home." (TO DB CONTINUED.) |