CHAPTER XXX.
MANANA! MANANA! TO-MORROW! TO-MORROW!
The night when Abe Lee started on his ride from Republic to San Felipepassed quietly in the little desert town. Texas and Pat with a fewfaithful white men guarded the Worth property lest, in some way, thenews that Worth would be unable to pay as his superintendent hadpromised should get out and precipitate a crisis. But the strikerscontinued to enjoy peacefully their holiday, looking forward to themorrow when they would be enriched with nearly two months' pay. Whenthe morrow came the laborers, their dark faces beaming with childishhappiness, gathered early in front of Jefferson Worth's office. Texasand Pat, with the men of the office force who had been up all night,were sleeping, for another night of guard duty was before them.
When it was ten o'clock and no one had arrived at the office, the crowdof laborers began to show signs of growing impatience. Then someonerecalled seeing Abe riding on the buckskin horse toward the south andsuspicion grew. At last a few of the more intelligent went in a body tothe bank.
"We come to see you about money. You sabe about money?"
"What money is that?" asked the man behind the window shortly.
"Our money for work on railroad. Senor Worth was to pay. ElSuperintendente say pay to-day sure. He no come. You sabe?"
"I sabe that Worth won't pay."
"No?"
"No. He has no money here."
The Mexicans exchanged glances. "No money? You are quite sure, Senor?"
"Sure."
"Gracias, Senor. Adios!"
It was a dangerous crowd that filled the streets of Republic thatafternoon and evening, and all through the night that followed thefriends of Jefferson Worth expected every hour the fulfillment of thestrikers' threats. Soon after breakfast, which Pat and Tex shared withBarbara, the message came from Mr. Worth telling them that Abe was onhis way home with the money.
Again the men were told that they would receive their pay on themorrow, but this time the announcement was received with black scowlsand muttered curses of disbelief. "They make us damn fools, one time.How we know this time not the same?" asked one of the leaders, speakingfor the crowd. "Mebbe, Senor Tex, you not know. Mebbe they fool youlike us. We get money this day, we glad--go work. We no get money bythis night--" an expressive shrug of the shoulders finished thesentence.
The attitude of the citizens of Republic was one of angry indifference.They were angry both with Jefferson Worth and the strikers because thetrouble was unsettling and harmful to the best interests of all thebusiness in the town and to some degree turned the inflowing stream ofsettlers and investors towards other points of the new country. Theywere indifferent because of that underlying conviction, brought aboutby mysteriously authoritative rumors and whispered statements fromsupposed inside sources, that the cause of the trouble was a fightbetween Jefferson Worth and the Company. Whether capitalists rise orcapitalists fall is always a matter of indifference to all who are notthemselves of the capitalist class. For capital continues its masteryof them just the same. No one doubted that the railroad would befinished whether Jefferson Worth failed or not. Horace P. Blanton wasnot backward in expressing the popular feeling, and the popular feelingoften expressed grows ever more popular.
Toward the end of the afternoon Pablo, who had been mingling with hiscountrymen all day, came to "headquarters" to report. The strikers wereplanning to attack their employer's property that night. Pablo wascertain that the mob would go first to the power plant and theadjoining buildings.
No help was to be had from the citizens and, save for the few white menin Mr. Worth's employ who had been made to understand the situation andthe reason for the delay, Tex and Pat were alone. They knew that therewas small chance of Abe's arrival until well toward midnight. For alittle they considered the situation.
Then the old frontiersman spoke. "Hit stands to reason that Pablo hereis right an' that the stampede will head toward the works first, an'they'll all go together. They ain't a-comin' here 'til later, afterthey've made their biggest play. Now Pablo, you listen. Get twohorses--sabe, two--one for Ynez and one for yourself, and have themwith El Capitan for La Senorita ready by the back door. You watch. IfSenor Lee comes, tell him quick to go to the power house. If the mencome, take the women on the horses and get out of the way. Youunderstand?"
"Si, Senor. I will care for La Senorita."
Texas Joe turned to Barbara. "I don't reckon they'll get here at all,for I bank on Pat an' me fixin' somethin' to interest 'em until Abegets here. But it's best to be fixed for what you ain't expectin'.You'll be a heap better off with Pablo anywhere away from here if theyshould come this way."
When the night fell, Texas and Pat went to the scene of the expectedtrouble and Barbara was left with Pablo. The Mexican prepared thehorses as Texas had instructed and then took up his position by thefront gate, proud and happy that they had so honored him--that they hadtrusted him to guard his employer's daughter. The darkness deepened.Watchful, alert--Pablo strove to see into the gloom and listened tocatch the first sound of approaching friend or enemy. The white menshould learn that he could protect La Senorita--La Senorita who, inRubio City, had been to him an angel of mercy when he was lyinginjured--La Senorita, whom they all loved.
Behind him the door of the house opened, letting out a flood of light;then closed. In the darkness a voice called softly: "Pablo, are youthere?"
"Si, Senorita. You want me?"
Barbara came quickly down the walk to his side. "It's so lonely andstill in the house, Pablo; may I stay out here a little with you? Wecan both watch."
Surely La Senorita could stay. Why not? Pablo was to protect her, notto keep her a prisoner.
She laughed quietly. "I believe you would do anything for me, Pablo."
"I would protect La Senorita with my life," he answered simply.
"I believe you would, Pablo; and so would Tex and Pat and Abe. You areall so good to me and I--I feel so good for nothing--so useless."
In the darkness the musical voice of Pablo answered: "Our love for LaSenorita is so great. It is like the desert in the gentle moonlight, sobig and wide. It is like the soft night under the stars, so deep.Everybody so loves La Senorita, and anyone loved that way cannot bewhat you say--good for nothing. Sometime men love like the sun on thedesert in day time--fierce and hot, and that is different; that makessometimes trouble--sometime make men kill. It is not good, La Senorita,but it is so."
They heard a galloping horse coming nearer and nearer. Barbara touchedher companion's arm and Pablo laid a hand on his revolver. Was it Abe?Was it someone to say that the mob was coming?
The horse and rider passed and the sound of their going died away inthe stillness of the night.
"Pablo, what time will they go to the power house?"
"Any time now, Senorita."
Barbara spoke quickly--eagerly now. "Are there not a good many of yourcountrymen from Rubio City among them, Pablo?"
"Si, Senorita."
"And do they--do they remember me?"
"Surely no one who lived in Rubio City could forget La Senorita, whowas so kind to the poor."
"Then, Pablo, I have a plan to help. I did not tell Texas and Pat, butYnez is not in the house. I sent her away this evening to stay with afriend on the other side of town."
"Si, Senorita." The soft voice was perplexed and troubled.
"Pablo, I am going to the power house to help."
"No, no, Senorita; it cannot be."
"Yes, Pablo, I must."
"But, Senorita, that is not right."
"You will go with me, Pablo--and no one will harm me."
"But if Senor Lee comes?"
"When he finds no one here he will understand and go to us."
"No, no, Senorita; you must not! The father--Senor Texas, and Pat--theywill kill me. La Senorita does not want Pablo to be hurt."
"Why Pablo, no one can blame you, and don't you see that I must do whatI can? Come; we are losing time. We must not be too late. You get thehorses
."
She went quickly into the house and when she came out again theMexican, still protesting, held the horses ready.
At the power house Texas and Pat sat just inside the main entrance. Inthe big room beyond them the great dynamos that furnished electricityto all the towns for lights and supplied the ice plant, the shops andevery enterprise needing it throughout the Basin with power, hummed andsang their monotonous song of industry. In front of the building alarge arc light made the immediate vicinity as bright as day. On everyside of all the buildings in the group where the little handful ofwhite men stood guard, similar lights had been placed by Abe at thebeginning of the trouble.
"Howly Mither, wud ye look at that?" came from Pat as Barbara, followedby Pablo, rode into the circle of light. With an oath from Texas Joethe two men ran forward, and as they came up to the riders the Irishmancried: "Fwhat the hell are ye doin' here? Fwhat's the matter? Did thimdivils go to the house first, or are ye crazy?"
With a laugh Barbara dismounted and, telling Pablo to tie the horses tothe hitch rack a short distance away, faced the astonished men."There's nothing wrong at the house, but I knew you must be lonesomehere so I came to see you. You don't seem a bit glad to see me!"
"Mither av Gawd!" groaned the Irishman.
Texas called to Pablo. "Bring those horses back here."
"Pablo," called Barbara, "do as I told you."
The Mexican leading the horses moved on toward the hitching place.Texas scratched his head in a puzzled way, while Pat grinned. "Will yeroll that in yer cigarette an' shmoke it, Uncle Tex?"
"I'll have to take a shot at that fool greaser for this," returnedTexas.
"You'll do no such thing," declared the young woman. "You know hecouldn't help himself."
"Be the Powers, ut's us that should know that same!"
"But honey, you can't stay here. There's goin' to be trouble--realtrouble."
"I know it, Uncle Tex, that's why I came to help."
"To help!" The two men looked at her in amazement.
Before they could find words for a question Pablo came running back tothem: "They're coming, Senorita! Senor Tex! They're coming!"
He was right. Texas Joe caught Barbara by the arm and with the threemen she ran into the building just as the crowd of Mexican and Indianlaborers reached the outer edge of the lighted space.
While still in the shadow of the night the crowd halted and thewatchers in the buildings could see them across the broad belt oflight--a stirring, restless mass of men, shadowy and indistinct. Nowand then a single figure in the white canvas jumper, trousers and widesombrero of the Mexicans, or wearing the blue overalls and black shirtdecorated with many brightly colored ribbons and the green, yellow ororange head cloth of the Indians, would detach itself from the maincompany and--coming nearer--would stand out with sudden startlingclearness, disappearing again as suddenly in the dark mass as it againmoved farther away.
Here and there in the confusion of dusky moving forms a face wouldappear as someone, looking up at the electric light caught its raysfull upon his swarthy features; or the watchers would catch the gleamand flash from a weapon, a belt buckle or an ornament as the mob of menmoved uneasily about. Still farther away the restless, stirring masswas dissolved in the darkness of the night.
"They're palaverin' about the lights," said Texas to his companions."Can't jest figure the deal under Abe's illumination. They're all plumbanxious, but they's nobody wishful to make himself conspicuous."
"Oh, why doesn't Abe come; why doesn't he come?" exclaimed Barbara.
"Av the saints will only kape thim cholos considerin', the lad may githere yet."
Even as the Irishman spoke the crowd, seemingly agreeing upon a plan,moved forward slowly in a body. When they were well within the lightedspace Texas drawled: "Right here's where I feel moved to address themeetin'," and throwing open the door he stepped out upon the platform,which was built to the height of a wagon-bed above the level of theground with steps at each end.
Standing thus in the bright light of the arc that sputtered over hishead, he was seen instantly by every eye in the crowd. As if by commandthey halted, standing motionless, their dark faces turned toward theold plainsman.
Texas spoke in their own tongue. "Good evening, men. Why do you comehere at this time of the night? What do you want?"
There was an angry shifting to and fro in the mass of men, and aMexican standing well to the front answered: "What should we want,Senor Texas, but our pay? We have worked four--five--seven weekswithout money. We must have money to buy food--clothes--tobacco."
"Do not the commissaries in the camps supply you with all that youneed? Surely you can wait a few hours longer. To-morrow you will bepaid every cent."
"Manana, manana; always to-morrow! The superintendent promised othertime--'to-morrow.' The superintendent lied. Now we will not wait forto-morrow."
Cries of approval greeted the bold speech.
"But we cannot pay you to-night. We have not the money here."
"That is too bad for Senor Worth, then. If he cannot pay he should havetold us so that we could work for the Company. The Company can pay!"
"But Mr. Worth will pay to-morrow morning."
A chorus of angry, jeering yells greeted this repeated promise, withcries of "Pronto!", "Esta dia!", and "No manana!"--"Now!", "To-day!",and "Not to-morrow!" The movement toward the building began again.
Instantly the arms of the man on the platform were extended and the mobsaw in each hand the familiar Colt's forty-five of the old time West.
The forward movement was checked.
"Men!" cried Texas, in his deliberate way, "you cannot come any nearerthese buildings. There are Americans here--friends of Mr. Worth, whoare ready to shoot when I give the word. I can kill twelve of youmyself before you can get to this platform. Go away quietly and in themorning you will get your money. Come one step nearer this building andmany of you will die."
The moment was intense. A shot, a yell, a sudden movement would haveprecipitated a tragedy.
In the full glare of the light against the blackness of the night, thecrowd of dusky-faced, picturesque laborers hesitated. Standing on theplatform under the arc that sputtered and sizzled--his back to thebuilding--the single figure of Texas Joe was ready with menacingweapons. Behind the brick walls the handful of armed white men werewaiting--watching. Miles away in the desert, Abe Lee was lying woundedand alone under the still stars, and somewhere in the night WillardHolmes, desperately holding his seat in the saddle, was forcing hisalready exhausted horse toward the end of his mission.
As the muscles of a tiger work and twitch when the beast makes readyfor its spring, a movement agitated the mob, and a low growling murmurcame from the mass of men. Texas spoke sharply. "Ready, you fellows inthere! If they start let them have it."
The murmur swelled in volume into an angry, inarticulate roar. Themovement increased. An instant more and it would launch the mob in amad rush.
Suddenly, as a beast checked in its spring, they were still andmotionless.
By the side of the old frontiersman on the platform under the lightstood Barbara.
"Let me speak to them, Tex."
Without pausing for the astonished man to reply she spoke to the mob inSpanish, her voice rising clearly and sweetly.
"Do you know me, friends?"
From different points in the crowd came the answers.
"Si, Senorita." "It is the daughter of Senor Worth." "Among the poor inRubio City La Senorita was an angel of mercy."
"I remember many of you," Barbara continued. "Over there I see JoseGallegos, whose wife and baby were ill. How is the little family now,Jose? Manuel Cortes, do you remember when you were hurt by a wickedhorse and I would come to see the wife and children? And Pablo Sanchez,do you know how long you were without work until with father's help Ifound a place for you? Francisco Gonzales, I helped you bury yourmother and gave money to the priest that masses might be said for hersoul. And you, Juan Arguello, and Francisco
Montez--I remember you all,and I am glad to see you. But I am sorry that you come to destroy myfather's buildings. Why do you wish to do that?"
The Mexicans whom she called by name stirred uneasily but did notanswer. Those who had known Barbara in Rubio City were few among thewhole number of laborers, and to these others she was only the daughterof the man who was robbing them of their pay.
The one who had so far acted as spokesman answered angrily. "Must wesay again what we want? If you are, as they say, an angel of mercy,give us our money and we will go away."
Cries of "Si, si!", "Bueno!", "Muy pronto!", "El Dinero," and "Give usour money!" arose on all sides.
"You shall have your money to-morrow--every penny. Cannot you waituntil to-morrow morning?"
The impatient cries were louder now. "La Senorita also say 'manana.'All the rich say all time to the poor 'manana,' and manana never come.Give us our money now." The cries were increasing in volume as manafter man joined in the chorus of threatening protest.
White and trembling, Barbara realized that she could do nothing more.Texas said, in a low voice: "For God's sake, honey; get inside beforethey break loose! Go now! NOW!" His voice rose into a sharp command,and his steady hands again brought the deadly revolvers into position.
The young woman reluctantly drew a step backward in obedience, thensuddenly, with wide eyes staring over the crowd into the darknessbeyond and extended hand pointing, she sprang forward to the very edgeof the platform.
"Texas! Texas! Look, he is coming! Abe is here!"
Overcome with emotion she swayed and would have fallen, but Texascaught and steadied her. Every man in the crowd turned quickly towardthe rear. A horseman, shadowy and indistinct beyond the circle oflight, was riding toward them. As the newcomer pushed his horse nearerand they saw that it was Willard Holmes, Barbara uttered a cry andturned away, but the quick eye of Texas Joe had seen that theengineer's horse was staggering with exhaustion and that the man couldscarcely keep his seat in the saddle.
"Wait, honey," he said, delaying the young woman. "This may pan outyet."
Barbara paused but did not turn toward the approaching engineer. SlowlyHolmes forced his horse, reeking with sweat and dust, into the crowdthat opened for him to pass and closed in behind him with excitedexclamations as the men saw that the rider reeled in his saddle--hisface haggard and drawn with pain and his useless left arm tied to hisside.
But Barbara still turned away her face.
Coming so close that his leg almost touched the edge of the platform,the engineer--as though he saw no one but her--held out the blackleather bill-book.
"Miss Worth! Barbara!"
With a cry she turned as the rider sank and would have fallen had notTexas, reaching out, lifted him bodily from the saddle to the platformwhere Holmes sank unconscious.
Barbara, with wonder and horror in her face, stood as if turned tostone, while Pat and Pablo quickly carried the still form of theengineer into the building. Unable to move, the girl followed them withher eyes until Texas, who had caught up the leather bill-book,exclaimed with an oath: "Look, it's the money!"
She looked at him as though she did not comprehend and he held thebundle of bills toward her. "It's the money, the money! You tell them!"
Mechanically Barbara took the money and turned to the crowd that stoodsilently wondering what it all meant--waiting to learn whether theincident had anything to do with their pay.
Under the powerful light she held up her two hands filled with bills."Look!" she cried. "Look! Here is the money for your pay. My fathersent it. Now will you believe?"
Shouts and cheers of understanding burst from the crowd.
"It is for you that it is here," continued the young woman. "Will yougo away now and come back in the morning--each man for what is his?"
"Si, si, Senorita! Gracias, Senorita!" Laughing, talking andgesticulating the crowd dissolved and moved away.
Before the dispersing laborers had passed beyond the circle of lightBarbara was kneeling beside Willard Holmes.
And when they would have taken the engineer to the hotel Barbara said"No"; he must be taken to her home.
Texas had just finished dressing with rude surgery the wound in theengineer's shoulder, and Barbara--standing by the bedside--was lookingdown into the still face when Holmes slowly came back to consciousness.His opening eyes looked up full into the brown eyes that regarded himso kindly. For a moment neither spoke, but a slow flush of color creptinto the girl's face.
By some strange freak of his half awakened intellectual faculties,Holmes was living over again the incident of his meeting Barbara on thedesert the morning after her first arrival in Kingston. "Is it reallyyou, or is it some new trick of this confounded desert?" he muttered."I never saw a mirage like this before. I don't think the heat hasaffected my brain!"
To Barbara the words had the effect of suddenly blotting out all thathad come between them and of putting them both back again to the daywhen they had "started square." So she answered as she had answeredthen: "I assure you that I am very substantial"--and added softly, "andI am here to stay, too."
"And you would never forgive one who was false to the work," mutteredthe engineer, and with the words his mind caught at the suggestion ofthe power that had enabled him to keep his seat in the saddle throughthe seemingly endless hours of torture, and he remembered everything upto the moment when he had handed the money to Barbara.
With an exclamation he tried to raise himself.
"Don't do that. You must lie still, Mr. Holmes," said the young woman.
Texas and Pat in an adjoining room heard and came quickly to Barbara'sside.
"I must get up, men!" cried Holmes appealingly, making another effortto raise himself. "We must go for Abe Lee. He's hurt--alone--out therein the desert. Why don't you move? Miss Worth, please--"
Texas Joe quietly forced him back on his pillow. "You've got to take iteasy for a little while, Mr. Holmes. Get a grip on yourself and tell usplain what happened. We'll move fast enough when we know which way togo."
When Holmes had told them briefly the story of the fight in Devil'sCanyon and how he had left Abe at Wolf Wells, Texas said: "Now Mr.Holmes, you just keep quiet right here. Barbara'll take care of you andwe'll have Abe home before noon to-morrow. Also, we'll arrange for alittle seance with them greasers what put you and Abe in this fix."
An hour later a light spring wagon with four horses, accompanied by aparty of five mounted men, moved swiftly out of Republic toward thesouth.