Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1915 — Page 2

The Land of Broken Promises

A Stirring Story op me m ext can Rmvotation

SYNOPSIS. Bod Hooker and Phi! Ds L»ncry are forced, owtnf to a revolution In Mexico, to «lvo up their mining claim and return to the United State* la the border town of Gadsden Bud meets Henry Kroger, a wealthy miner, who makes him ■ proportion to return to Mexico to acquire title to a very rich mine which Kruger hod blown up when he found he had been cheated out of the title by one Aragon. The Mexican had spent a large sum In an unsuccessful attempt to relocate the ▼eln and then had allowed the land to revert for taxea Hooker and De Lancey start for the mine. CHAPTER V. The Journey to Fortuna le a ecant fifty miles by measure, but within these eight kilometers there is a lapse of centuries in standsinds. As Bud and De Lancey rode out of battle-scarred Ague Negra they traveled a good road, well worn by the Mexican wood-wag-one that hauled In mesqult from the hills. Then, as they left the town and the wood roads scattered, the highway changed by degrees to a broad trail, dug deep by the feet of pack-animals and marked but lightly with wheels. It followed along the railroad, cutting over hills and down through gulches, smd by evening they were in the heart of Old Mexico. Here were men In sandals and women barefoot; chickens tied uj) by the legs outside of brush JacaleS; longnosed bogs, grunting fiercely as they skirmished for food; and half-naked children, staring like startled rabbits at tbe strangers.

The smell of garlic and freeh-roast-ing coffee was In the air as they drew into town for the night, and their room was an adobe chamber with tile floor and iron bars across tbe windows. Riding south the next day they met vaqueroa. mounted on wiry mustangs, who saluted them gravely, taking no shame for their primitive woodmi saddle-trees and pommels as broad as soup platea.

As they left the broad plain and clambered up over the back of a mountain they'passed Indian houses, brushbuilt and thatched with long, coarse grasses, and by the fires the women ground corn on stone metates as their ancestors had done before the fall. For in Mexico there are two peoples, the Spaniards and the natives, end the Indians still remember (he days when they were free. <■ It was through such a land that Phil and Hooker rode on their gallant ponies, leading a pack-animal well loaded with supplies from the north, and as the people gated from their miserable hovels and saw their outfit they wondered at their wealth. But if they were moved to envy, the bulk of a heavy pistol, showing through the swell of each coat, discouraged them from going farther; and the cold, searching look of the tall cowboy as he ambled past eteyed In their memory long after the pleasant “Adios!" of De Lancey had been forgotten. Americans were scarce in those days, and what few came by were rlding to the north. How bold, then, must this big man be who rode in front — and certainly he had some great reward before him to risk such a horse among ‘-the revoltosos! So reasoned the simple-minded natives of the mountains, gating In admiration at Copper Bottom, and for that look In their eyes Bud returned his forbidding stare. There Is something about a good horse that fascinates the average Mexican—perhaps because they breed the finest themselves and are in a position to Judge—but Hooker had developed a romantic attachment for his trim little chestnut mount and he resented their wideeyed gapings as a lover resents glances at his lady. This, and a frontier education, rendered him short-spoken and gruff with the paisanos and it was left to the cavalier De Lancey to do the courtesies of the road. As the second day wore on they dipped down into a rocky canyon, with huge cliffs of red and yellow sandstone glowing in the slanting sun, and soon they broke out into a narrow valley, well wooded with sycamores and mesqults and giant hackberry trees.

Th« shrill toots of a dummy engine came suddenly from down below and a mantle of black smoke rose majestically against the sky—then, at a turn «f the trail, they topped the last hill and fortune lay before them. la that one moment they were set hack again fifty miles—clear back access the line —for fortune was dmarlrsn. from the power-house on the creek bank to the mammoth concentrator on the hllL All the buildings were of, atone, square aad uniform. First a central flanked with offices and warehouses; then behind them barracks and lodging houses aad trim cottages ita orderly rows; and over across the •canyon loomed the huge bulk of the mill and the concentrator with its aerial ftramway aad endless row of sliding Only on the lower hills, where the roach country rock cropped up end nature was st Its worst, only there did the reel Mexico creep in and assert Itself in a crude huddle of half-Indian hafls; the dwellings of the care-free naby Jots!’* exclaimed De Lam mgy, surveying the scene with an aplprelslng eye. "this doesn’t look very

B y DANE COOLIDGE

Astksrs/ "Tkm Ffaktint fWT* ••HiJJmm Waters" *‘Tks Tseins% ** fits. Klustrmtioas by Doe J. Levin

much Ilka Mexico —or a revolution, either!** "No, it don’t,** admitted Bud; "everything running full blast, too. Look at that ore train coming around the hill!” "Gee, what a burg!” raved Phil; “say, there’s some class to this —what? If I mistake not, we’ll be able to find a few congenial spirits here to help us spend our money. Talk about a company town! I’ll bet you tbelr barroom ia full of Americans. There’s the corral down below —let’s ride by and leave our horses and see what’s the price of drinks. They can’t feeze me, whatever It is—we doubled our money at the line.”

Financially considered, they had done Just that—for. for every American dollar In their pockets they coaid get two that were Just as good, except for the picture on the side, l’hls in itself was a great inducement for a ready spender and* finding good com pany at the Fortuna hotel bar. Phil bought five dollars’ worth of drinks, threw down a flve-dollar bill, and got back five dollars —Mex. Tbe proprietor, a large and Jovial boniface, pulled off bis fiscal miracle with the greatest good humor and then, having Invited them to partake of a very exquisite mixture of his own Invention, propped himself upon his elbows across the bar and Inquired with an ingenuous smile: ‘‘Well, which way are you boys traveling, if 1 may ask?” “Oh, down below a ways,” answered De Lancey, who always constituted himself the board of strategy. “Just rambling around a little —how’s the country around here now?” “Oh, quiet, quiet!"' assured their host “These Mexicans don’t like the cold weather much —they,would freeze you know. If it was not for that zarape which they wind about them so!” He made a motion as of a native

"Which Way Are You Boys Traveling?”

wrapping bis entire wardrobe about bis neck and smiled, and De Lancey knew thkt be was no Mexican. And yet that aoft "which away” of his betrayed a Spanish tongue. "Ah. excuse me," he said, taking quick advantage of his guess, “but from the way you pronounce that word ‘zarape’ I take it that you speak Spanish." V

“No one better,” replied the host, smiling pleasantly at being taken at his true worth, “since 1 was born in tbe city of Burgos, where they speak the true Castilian. It is a different language, believe me, from this bastard Mexican tongue. And do you speak Spanish also?” be inquired, falling back into the staccato of Castile.

“No Indeed!" protested De Lancey In a very creditable Imitation; “nothing but a little Mexican, to get along with the natives. My friend and I are mining men, passing through the country, and we speak the best we can. How is this district here for work along our liner “None better!” cried the Spaniard, kheking his finger emphatically. “It is of the best, and. believe me, my friend, we should be glad to have you stop with us. The country down below is a little dangerous—not now, perhaps, but later, when the warm weather comes on.

“But in Fortune —no! Here we are on the railroad; the camp is controlled by Americans; and because so many have left the country the Mexicans will sell their prospects cheap “Then again, If you develop a mine near by, It will be very easy to sell It —end if you wish to work it, that Is easy, too. lam only the proprietor of the hotel, but if you can use my poor services In any way 1 shall be very happy to pteaee you. ▲ room? One of the beat! And if yon stay a week or more I will give you the lowest rate.” , They passed up the winding stairs and down a long corridor, at the esd of which the proprietor showed them

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, INI>.

Into a room, throwing opon tfio outor doors sad shuttsrs to lot thorn sea tho ■vtew from ths window. 1 "Haro is a little balcony,” ha said, stopping outside, "whore you can alt and look down on the plaza. We have tho band and music when tho weather Is fine, and you can watch the pretty girls from here. But you have boon in Mexico—you know all that!” And bo gave Phil a roguish dig. "Bien, my frten’, 1 am glad to meet you—” He held out his hand hi welcome and De Lancey gave his In return. "My name,” he continued, "Is Juan de Dios Brachamonte y Escalon; but with these Americans that does not go, as you say, so In general they call me Don Juan. “There Is something about that name—l do not know—that makes tbe college boys laugh. Perhaps It Is that poet, Byron, who wrote so scandalously about us Spaniards, but certainly he knew nothing of our language, for he rhymes Don Juan with ‘new one’ and ‘true one!’ Still, I read part of that poem and it is. In places, very interesting—yes, very interesting—but ‘Don Joo-an!’ Hah!” He threw up his hand in despair and De Lancey broke into a jollying laugh. “Well, Don Juan,” he cried, "I’m glad to meet you. My name is Philip De Lancey and my pardner here is Mr. Hooker. Shake hands with him. Don Juan de Dios! But certainly a man so devoutly named could never descend to reading much of Don Joo-an!” "Ah, no,” protested Don Juan, rolling his dark eyes and smiling rakishly, “not moch—only the most in-tereeting passages!"

He saluted and disappeared in a roar of laughter, and De Lancey turned triumphantly on hia companion, a selfsatisfied smile upon his lips. "Aha!” he said; “you see? That’s what five dollars’ worth of booze will do in opening up the way. Here’s our old friend Don Juan willing, nay, anxious, to help us all he can—he edes I’m a live wire and wants to keep me around. Pretty soon we’ll get him feeling good and he’ll tell us all he knows. Don’t you never try to make me sign the pledge again, brother — a few shots Just gets my intellect to working right and I’m crafty as a fox.

“Did you notice that coup 1 made —asking him if he was a Spaniard? There’s nothing in the world makes a Spaniard so mad as to take him for a Mexican —on the other hand, nothing makes him your friend for life like recognizing him for a blue-blooded Castilian. Now maybe our old- friend Don Juan has got a few drops of Moorish blood in his veins—to put it politely, but—” he raised his tenor voice and improvised—

“Jest because my hair Is curly Dat’s no reason to call me ‘shine!’” “No,” agreed Bud, feeling cautiously of the walls, “and Jest because you’re happy Is no reason for singing so loud, neither. These here partitions are made of inch boards, covered with paper—do you get that? Well, then, considering who’s probably listening. It strikes me that Mr. Brachamonte is the real thing in Spanish gentleman; and I’ve heard that all genuwlne Spaniards have their hair curly, Jest like a huh?”

But De Lancey, made suddenly aware of his Indiscretion, was making all kinds of exaggerated signs for silence, and Bud stopped with a slow, good-natured smile. “S-s-st!” hissed De Lancey, touching his finger to his lips; “don’t say It — somebody might hear you!” - “All right,” agreed Bud; "and don’t you say it, either. I hate to knock, Phil,” he added, “but sometimes I think the old man was right when he said you talk too much.” "Psst!” chided De Lancey. Bhaking hie finger like a Mexican. Tiptoeing softly over to Bud, he whispered in his ear: “S-s-st, I can hear the feller in the next room—shaving himself!” Laughing hearily at this Joke, they went down stairs for supper.

CHAPTER VI. t If the Eagle Tail mine had been located in Arizona —or even farther down In Old Mexico —the method of jumping the claim would have been delightfully simple. The title had lapsed. an«f the land had reverted to the government—all it needed in Arizona was a new set of monuments, s location notice at the discovery shaft, a pick and shovel thrown into the hole, and a few legal formalities.

But in Mexico It is different. Not that the legal formalities are lacking —far from it —but the whole theory of mines and mining is different. In Mexico a mining title Is, In a way. a lease, a concession from the general government giving the concessionnaire the right to work a certain piece of ground and to hold it as tong as he pays a mining tax of three dollars an acre pear year. But no final papers or patents are ever issued, the possession of the surface of the ground toes not go with the right to mine benath it, and in certain parts of Mexico no foreigner can hold title to either mines .or land. A prohibited or frontier cone, eighty kilometers in width, lies along the international boundary line, and In that neutral aone no foreigner can denounce a mining claim aad no foreign corporation can acquire a title to one. The Eagle Tail was just inside the acme

But—there is always s “but” when you go to a good lawyer—whtie for purposes of war and national aafetyforeigners are not allowed to hold land along the line, they are at perfect liberty to hold stock in Mexican- corporations owning property within the prohibited cone; and —here is where the graft comes in—they may even hold title In their own name if they first

obtain sorpre— permission from the chief egSCVtlv* Of tha republic. Not having any drag with tha chief executive, and not caring to risk their title to the whims of succeeding ad* ministrations. Hooker and De Lanoey, upon the advice of a mining lawyer In Oadsden, had organised themselves Into the Eagle Tall Mining company, under the laws of the republic of Mexico, with headquarters at Ague Negro. It was their plan to get some Mexican to locate the mine for them and then, for a consideration, transfer It to the company. The one weak spot in this scheme was the Mexican. By trusting Aragon, llonry Kruger had not only lost title to his mine, but he had been outlawed from the republic. And now he bad

Feeling Cautiously of the Walls.

bestowed upon Hooker and De Lancey the taßk of finding an honest Mexican, and keeping him honest until he made the transfer. While the papers were being made out there might be a great many temptations placed before that Mexican —either to keep the property for himself or to hold out for a bigger reward than had been specified. After his experience with the aristocratic Don Clpriano Aragon y Tres Palacioe, Kruger was in favor of taking a chance on the lower classes. He had therefore recommended to them one Cruz Men 1 dez, a wood vender whom he had known and befriended, as the man to play the part. ,

Cruz Mendez, according to Kruger, was hard-working, sober and honest — for a Mexican. He was also simpleminded and easy to handle, and was the particular man who had sent word that the Eagle Tail had at last been abandoned. And also he was easy to pick out, being a little, one-eyed man and going by the name of "El Tuerto.’’

So, in pursuance of their policy of playing a waiting game, Hooker and De Lancy hung around the hotel for several daye, listening to the gossip of Qon Juan de Dios and watehi&g for one-eyed men with prospects to sell. In Sonora .he is a poor .and unimaginative man indeed who has not at least one lost "mine or “proßpecto” to sell; and prosperous-looking strangers, riding through the country, are often beckoned aside by half-naked paisanos eager to show them the gold mines of the Spanish padres for a hundred dollars Mez.

It was only a matter of time, they thought, until Cruz Mendez would hunt them up and try to sell them the Eagle Tail; and it was their intention reluctantly to close the bargain with him, for a specified sum, and then stake him to the denouncement fees and gain possession of the mine. As this was a commonplace in the district —no Mexican having capital enough to work a claim and no American having the right to locate one—it was a very natural and inconspicuous way of jumping Senor Aragon y Tree Palacios’ abandoned claim. If they discovered the lead immediately afterward it would pass for a case of fopl’B luck, or at least so they hoped, and, riding out a little each day and sitting on the hotel porch with Don Juan the rest of the time, they waited until patience seemed no longer a virtue. “Don Juan,” said De Lancey, taking up the probe at last. “I had a Mexican working for me when we were over in the Sierras —one of your real, oldtime* workers that had never been spoiled by an education —and he was always talking about 'La Fortuna.’ 1 guess this was the place he meant, but it doesn’t look like it—according to him it waa a Mexican town. Maybe he’s around here now—his name waa Mendez.” “Jose Maria Mendez?” inquired Don Juan, who was a living directory of the place. “Ricardo? Pancho? Cruz?*' “Crux!” cried De Lancey; “that was it!” “He lives down the river a couple of miles,” said Don Juan; “down at Old Fortuna.”

’ “Old Fortuna!” repeated -Phil- .“1 didn’t know there was such a place.” “Why, my gracious!" exclaimed Don Juan de Dios, scandalized by such ignorance, “Do you mean to say you have been here three days and never heard about Fortuna Vlejs? this isn’t Fortuna! This is an AmerT can mining camp—the old town is down below. - “That’s where this man Aragon, the big Mexican of- the country, has bis ranch and store. Spanish? Him? No, Indeed—mitad! Ha is half Spanish and h»»f Taqni Indian, but his wife is a pare Spaniard—one of the few in the country. Her father waa from Madrid and she is a VlHanuevw-a vary bee■-

tlful woman la her day. with gnHss hair and the presence of a queen! -No. not Irish! My goodness, you Americans think that everybody with red h«ir is Irish! Whv, the most beautiful woman in Madrid have chestnut pair as soft as the fur of & dormouse. It is the old Castilian hair, and they are proud of it. The Senora Aragon married beneath her station —it was in the City of Mexico, and she did not know that he was an Indian—but she la a very nice lady far all that and never omits to bow to me when she comes up to take the train. I remember one time —“

"Does Crus Mendes work for him?*' interjected De Lancey'desperately. "No, Indeed!" answered Don Joan patiently; "he packs In wood from the hills—but as I was saying—” and from that he went on to tell of the unfailing courtesy of the Senora Aragon to a gentleman whom, Whatever his present station might be, she recognised as a member of one of the oldest families in Castile.

De Lancey did not press his inquiries any further, but the next morning, instead of riding back into the hlUs, he and Bud turned their faces down the canyon to seek out the elusive Mendes. They had, of course, been acting a part for Don Juan, since Kruger had described Old Fortuna and the Senor Aragon with great minuteness. And now, in the guise ot innocent strangers,, they rode on down the river, past the concentrator with its multiple tanks, its gliding tramway and mountains of tailings, through the village of Indian houses stuck like dugouts against the barren hill —then along a river bed that oozed with slicking* until they came in sight of the town. La Fortuna was an old town, yet not as old as its name, sincd two Fortunas before it bad been washed away by cloudbursts and replaced by newer dwellings. The settlement itself was some four hundred years old, dating back to the days of the Spanish conquistadores, when it yielded up many muleloads of gold.

The present town was built a little up from the river in the" lee of a great ridge of rocks thrust down from the hill and well calculated to turn aside a glut of waters. It was a comfortable huddle of whitewashed adobe buildings set on both sides of a narrow and irregular road —the great trail that led down to the hot country and was worn deep by the pack-trains of centuries.

On the lower side was the ample store and cantina of Don Clpriano, where the thirsty arrieros could get a drink and puy a panoche of sugar without getting down from their mounts. Behind the store were the pole corrals and adobe warehouses and the quarters of the peons, and across the road was the mescal still, where, in huge copper retort and worm, the fiery liquor was distilled from the sugar-laden heads of Yuccas. This was the town, but the most important building —set back in the shade of mighty cottonwoods and pleasantly aloof from the road —was the residence of Senor Aragon. It was this, in fact, which held the undivided attention of De Lancey as they rode quietly through the village, for he had become accustomed from a long experience in the tropics to look for something elusive, graceful and feminine in houses set back in a garden. Nothing stirred, however, and having good "reason to avoid Don Clpriano. they jogged steadily on their way. “Some house!” observed Phil, with a last hopeful look over his shoulder. "Uh,” assented Bud, as they came to a fork in the road. “Say,” he continued, "let’s turn off on this trail. Lot of burro tracks going oat- —expect it’s our friend, Mr. Mendes.”

“All right,” said De Lancey absently ; “wonder where old Aragon keeps that bee-utiful daughter of hia — the one Don Joo-an was telling about. Have to stop on the way back and sample tbe old man’s mescal.” “Nothing doing!” countered Hooker Instantly. “Now you heard what I told you—there's two things yon leave alone for sixty days—boose and women. After we cinch our title you can get as gay as you please.” • “00-ee!” piped Phil, “bear the boy talk!” But he said no more of wide and women, for he knew how they do complicate life. They rode to the east now, follow ing the long, flat footprints of the bur ros, and by all the landmarks Bud saw that they were heading straight for the old Eagie Tail mine. At Old Fortuna the river turns west and at the same time four canyons came tn from the east and south. Of these they had taken the first to the north and it was leading them past all the old workings that Kruger had spoken about. In fact, they were almost st the mine when Hooker swung down suddenly from his horse and motioned Phil to follow. “There’s some burros coming,” he said, glancing back significantly; and when the pack-train - came by. each animal piled high with broken wood, the two Americans were busily tapping away at a section of country rock. A man and a hoy followed behind the animals, gazing with wonder at tbe strangers, and as Phil-bads them a pleasant “Buenos dias!” they came to a halt and stared at their industry in silence. In the interval Phil was pleased to note that the old man bad only one eye. (TO BK CONTINtTKD.)

Carlyle and Ceremony.

Thomas Carlyle and hi* wife were so wedding-frightened that It la sad to think of it Replying to a letter of his describing his fantastic terrors, she wrote: “star heaven’s sake get into a more benignant humor, or tbs incident will apt only wear a ▼enr original aspect bat likewise a vary ho&rt brwtkiiif t I

TIE BUY

By OLIVE BARTON.

(Copyright, mt by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) The great singes was spending her short vacation In an unusual way. It might be said also that it had been none of her own choosing. What did she know of baby food, or mending holes in Johnnie’s stockings as big as buckwheat cakes? How did she know how many days Flossie should wear the same petticoat? The whole three were in bed now, and the great singer relaxed luxuriously. She knew no one in the town, so there was little danger of callers. Her thoughts were as busy as the fingers of‘the little maid of all work, now doing dishes audibly In the kitchen. She was thinking how odd It was for her to be there at all. - A. telegram had been responsible* Sister Jane and her husband William had been called away by trouble in William’s family. . There had been no one else to ask to look after the children. She, had never even seen ther baby!

Steps suddenly sounded on the little front porch like so many bangs on a bass drum. Tillie, out In the kitchen, heard and was at the door before her temporary mistress could stop her. “Is this where Miss Farrell is staying?” asked a man’s voice. “Joe!” exclaimed Miss Farrell impatiently. “Will he never learn that there Isn’t a bit of use Jn chasing after me, wherever I go?" Joe stamped off the snow noisily and came inside. He came in big, glowing and clumsy. The little room seemed full before he got farther than the doorway. Peggy; In her chair before the fire, half turned—Just enough for him to see the top-loftical expression.

“Peggy!” he exclaimed delightedly, coming forward. "Good evening, Joe,” evenly. “You chose a nice night to come so far. Won’t you sit down?” ’Joe sat down on the other side of the fireplace. “You look awfully . sweet, Peggy. Aren’t you glad to see me?” .

“No!” deliberately. “I—l wouldn’t have come—only I thought of something after—after we’d been talking the other night." She didn't answer. “You see,” shifting uneasily, “if you wopld marry me, you could go ahead with your singing Just the same as ever. You could sing Just as well as Margaret Farrell Sturtevant, as you can as Margaret Farrell. Now, couldn’t you? That wouldn’t be interfering with your career, would it? and, Peggy, you used to care a little for me!"

She watched the fire a minute, relenting. “It’s hard to be crosß with you, Joe.* You just won’t let people, will you? I’m going to be extra nice now and explain. "You see, Joe, your plan won't work for a hundred reasons. You love a home. You’re a regular home man if there ever was one. I can’t make a home. It isn’t in me. I hate everything about a house. I love my musle better than anything on earth, and I can’t give it up.” What she really meant was that the Intoxication of public homage was a sensation she would not care to renounce.

“All right, my girl, you’re the doctor!” Joe got up and locked at his watch. “I didn’t suppose it was mnch use, but I thought I’d make one more try. ,1 won’t bother yon again, ever. Good-night, Peggy, I’ve jnrt time for my train.” He was gone! Peggy tamed out the light and sat watching the fire. “I guess I’Jl get the baby her bottle and go to bed,” she pawned. A week passed. Peggy was getting expert on mending kneeleas stockings, sorting clothes and bathing babies. It never seemed to be a bother any more. Then one night the baby got sick, very sick.

The doctor and trained nurse hastily summoned took it philosophically, saying there was sn equal chance of life and death. But Peggy, a poor, white; stricken thing, never leaving the side of the little crib, thought the world waa ending. Morning brought a change for the bettor. The baby would live! Peggy slipped silently away to her room and sat thinking in the cold, wintry dawn. Mn Joseph Btnrtevant was just settling himself for a nice winter’s morning nap. The telephone rang. He wan awake in an instant. “Is that you, Joe? This Is Peggy! I have changed my mind. And that’s all Pm going to ten yon until yon come out and hear for yourself!”

Wasn't Only One With Religion.

“Yaasah!” triumphantly said old Brother Cuddybump. "De revival was a glorious success! Twns a high day in Zion and de bozaunera. o’ de redeemed waa ringin' loud ams cl’ar, and dar wasn’t no trouble a-tall twell a moved over yuh sum Tumlinvilie dess receat —’gunter shout tb'oo a meggyphone dat de Lewd had done saved him sum his sins. •- “ Dat’s an right, muh bredder, hollared Pahson Bagster. *but yo’ll hatter ’speace wid dat hawa! Yu* tea* de sum drfTrimTa^d 1 i? to give