Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1912)

54 TEE MOTION PICTURE STORY MAGAZINE on the emotional Calif ornians. They were poorly prepared, without horses and guns, undrilled and unpaid, but a spirit of patriotism had been born in them, seeking a voice and a leader. Juan Alvarado rode into camp with that voice. They gathered round him for news of the capital. Slowly at first he retailed the news of Monterey : the iron hand of Chico, the curbing of the Dipatacion, the persecution of the missions and the flow of gold into the gobernador 's private purse. These were sufficient firebrands, but he needs must pour oil on the flames by recounting the arbitrary removal of the alcalde and the insults to his daughter. It was more than enough. Nothing moves swifter than a revolution among the Latins, when once it is started. The following day a dustcovered settler rode up to the Presidio and delivered a bulky document to the gobernador, then he turned and fled. It was a pronunciamiento , demanding the instant resignation of the gobernador and his retirement from the Territory of California, signed by Alvarado, Castro, Vallejo and other redoubtable federalists. A bomb could not have . struck Chico and his officialdom with more consternation. But the gobernador was the first to act. He jbiew from past experience that discontent, allowed to show its head, would call to the four winds of heaven; and his actions were prompt and efficient. The alcalde was arrested in his home and brought before the gobernador. This was acting on the wellknown principle of imprison the leaders, and count up your guns — not votes. Chico accused the old man of being the leader of discontent in the city, which was indignantly denied. "Very well, then," he said sweetly, " amigo mio, show your disinterestedness by bringing the leading merchants and caballeros before me and pledging their allegiance. ' ' "Am I to do this officially as alcalde, or as a private citizen ? ' ' asked the venerable Spaniard. "Officially, of course." "I have been degraded as an official, and they would not recog " began Galvez. "Then bring them in," demanded the gobernador, "as a patriotic citizen." "As a patriotic citizen," said Galvez firmly, "this I refuse to do, and, furthermore, as one, I tell you that you are a rascal, a thief of public moneys, a " "Clap him into the calabozo!" roared the gobernador, and the guards marched the former alcalde thru the town and between the gray walls of the prison, as a salutary lesson of what indiscreet patriotism was worth. But Cristobal Galvez had accomplished something, unheroic and trite tho it was. He was the first man in California to balk the gobernador 's will, and also the first to attempt an outspoken resume of his character — brief and truthful. Such biographers dont live long as such, however. Isabella had been torn from the arms of Cristobal, and left alone to her doubts and fears. She did not think that they would summarily harm her father, as this would be foolhardy in the face of popular indignation at news of his arrest. Still her doubts ran riot with her, and the beating of drums in the plaza, and the marching of troops back and forth, strung her nerves to the verge of tears. Then Olivia came to her, and in her calm companionship the serious situation was gone over. One conclusion alone could be come to : the revolution was on the edge of breaking out; a touch, a sour look would start it to seething, and Alvarado must be reached and warned. Late that night the two exhausted women, saddle-worn and feverish, were led into his tent. Their tale was soon told, and Alvarado, standing before them, drank in every word. His heart prayed that this was the time to act, to come to grips with naked hands, wanting muskets, but the voice of reason warned him : suicide for some, defeat for all, California lev