Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1915 — Page 2

The Land of Broken Promises

A Stirring Story of the Mexican Revolution

BPNOPBIS. Mug Hooker and Phil De Lancey are ■ttiMT*. owing to a revolution in Mexico. « UP their mtninc claim and return to the -United States In the border town of Qetoton Bud meets Henry Kruger. * wealthy ■Baer, who makes him a propo■MHli to return to Mexico to acquire title to a very rtoh mine which Kruger had 'blown u» when he found be had been cheated oet of the title by one Aragon. The Merino a subsequently spent a large Sue tn an unsuccessful attempt to reIsoate ths vein and then allowed the land to revert for taxes. Hooker and Le Lanoey antve at Fortuna near where the setae, known as tbs Eagle Tall. Is located They engage the services of Crus Mentos, who has been friendly to Kruger, to acquire the title for them and get a *entot to do prehmtnary work. Aragon protasis and accuses them of jumping his cialm. Bud discovers that matrimonial onto make it impossible for Menden to secure a valid title to the land VML who has beooeao interested in JunBea's daughter, Gracia, decides to turn Wmrißen sad got ths title tn bis own

CHAPTER IX—Continued. Undoubtedly, In his own way, he was in love—but he would never ad ■Mt it, that he know, too. So he sank down on the blankets and swore harshly, while Da Lanoey stared at him in unfeigned surprise. "WeU. then.” he went on. taking Bud's answer for granted, “what*re you making such a row about? Cant I go to a dance, with a girt without you jumping down my throat?” “W*y, sure you can!** rumbled Bud, now hot with a new indignation; "but after getting me to go into this deal against my win and swearing me to some damn-fool pledge, the first thing you do is to make friends with Aragon and then make love to his daughter. Is that your idea of helping things along? D’ye think that’s the way a pardner ought to act? No. I tell you. it is not!** “Aw, Bud.** protested De Lancey plaintively, “what’s the matter with you? Be reasonable, old man; 1 never meant to hurt your foulings!” “Hurt my feelings!" echoed Hooker scornfully. “Huh. what are we down hero for, anyway—a Sunday school picnic? My feelings are nothing, and they can wait; but we’re sitting on a mine that’s worth a million dollars mebbe—and it ain’t ours, either—and when you throw in with old Aragon and go to making love to his daughter you know you’re not doing right! That's all there is to it —you’re doing me and Kruger dirt!" “Well. Bud,* said De Lancey with mock gravity, "if that's the way you feel about it I won’t do it any more!” “1 wish you wouldn’t,“ breathed Bud, raising his head from hie hands; “it sure wears mo out. Phil, worrying about it." "Wen, then. I won't do it.” protested Phil sincerely. "Bo that’s settled —now who’s going to turn Mexican dtlsen?” “Butt yourself." said Bud listlessly. *m match you for It!" proposed De Lanoey, diving into his pocket for money. "Don't need to," responded Bud; "you can do what you please.” “No; FU asatch you!" persisted Phil. "That was the agreement—whenever tt was an even break we’d let the money talk. Here's your quarter—and if I match you 111 become the Mexican cittwa. AJO set? Let ’er go!” Ho Hipped the coin Into the air and ought it in his hand. "Hoads!" bs called, without looking at It. "What you got?" "Heads!" answered Bud, and Phil ehnekod his money into the air again and touched as it dropped into his palm.

"Heads she is again!” he cried, (hovlsc the Mexican eagle; "I never 4M aee the ttsoe when I couldn’t match you, anyway. So now, old socks, you ean keep right on being a Texan and hating Mari earn like horny toads, and I’ll deMMDsoo the Bugle Tall the minute the tinea is up. And I won't go near the Aragon outfit unless you're with ns— is that a go? AU right, •hake hands on it, pard! I wouldn't guarral with you tor anything!" “Aw, that's all right," mumbled Bud, rising and holding out his hand. “I knowed you didn't mean nothing.** He aat down again after that and gazed 1! inertly out the door. -Say, Bud.** began Phil, his eyes sparkling with amusement, “I've got something to tell you shout that dance last night. H I didn't put the crusher on Mr. Phils Luna and Manuel del Rayl Wow! I sure wished you were there to aee me do it! -

**Thto Felix Luns is the son of an eld sugar planter down in the hot country somewhere. He got run out by the rorottoeos and now ha*s up here trying to snake a winning with Gruels An«an —uniting two noble families, sad all that junk. Well. sir. of all the esneeftsd. awoDedwp little squirts you ■ever saw In your life he’s the limit, aad yet the old man kind of favors -But this Manuel dal Ray is the captain of the rurales around here and a genuine Mevtoen fireeater —all buckskin and fierce mustachlos, and smells Rhe chili peppers and garlic—and the two of 'ess were having it back and forth as to who got the next dance with Qreda. . < . -WMI, yqn know how It la at a Mexican dance—everybody is supposed to Bp introduced to everybody else -end •when I saw those two young turkey

By DANE COOLIDGE AofAor e/ f—i" Wttm” "TKu T»xiau», '* Etc. Illustrations by Doe J. Lavin

(Cwuto 19M. to Ae* A-

cocks talking with their hands and eyebrows and everybody else backing off, I stepped in close and looked at the girl. ’’And she’s some girl, too, believe me! The biggest brown eyes you ever saw in your life, a complexion like cream, and hair—well, there never was such hair! She was fanning her self real slow, and in the language of the fan that means: ‘This don’t interest me a bit!* So, just to show her I was wise, I pulled out my handkerchief and dropped it on the floor, and when she saw me she slapped and began to count the ribs in her fan. That was my cue—it meant she wanted to speak with me—so I stepped up and said: *

* ’Excuse me, senorita, but while the gentlemen talk—and if the senora, your mother, will permit—perhaps we can enjoy a dance?’ “And say, Bud, you should have seen the way she rose to it. The girl Is a sport, believe me, and the idea of those two novios chewing the rag while she sat out the dance didn’t appeal to her at all. So she gave me her hand and away we went, with all the old ladies talking behind their fans and Manuel del Rey blowing up like a volcano in a bunch of carambas or worse. Gee, it was great, and she could dance like a queen. "But here’s the interesting part of It —what do you think she asked me, after we’d had our little laugh? Well, you don’t need to get so grouchy about it —she asked about you!" “Aw!" "Yes, she did! So /ou see wimt you get for throwing her down!" / "What did she ask?" "Well, she asked” —here he stopped and laughed—“she asked if you were a cowboy! ” “No!” cried Bud, pleased in spite of himself; “what does she know about cowboys ?“ “Oh, she’s wise!” declared Phil; "she’s been to school twice in Los Angeles and seen the wik’ west show. Yes, sir, she’s just like an American girl and speaks English perfectly. She told me she didn’t like the Mexican men—they were too stuck on themselves —and say. Bud. when I told her

She Gave Me Her Hand and Away We Went.

you were a genuine Texas cowboy, what do you*think she said?” -W*y, I don’t know,” answered Bud, smiling broadly in anticipation; “what did she say?” “She said she’d like to know you!” -She did not!” came back Bud with sudden spirit Then he laughed the thought away, a great burden seemed to be lifted from his heart, and he found himself happy again. CHAPTER X. To an Americsun, accustomed to getting things done first and talking about it afterward, there Is nothing so subtly irritating as the old-world formalism, the polite evasiveness of the Mexicans; and yet at times, they can speak to the point with the best of us. For sixty days Don Cipriano Aragon had smiled and smiled and then, suddenly. as the last day of their mining permit passed by and there was no record of a denouncement by Crux Mendes, be appeared at the Ragle Tail mine with a pistol tn his belt and a triumphant sneer on hisJips. Behind him rode tour Mexicans, fully armed, and they made no reply to De Lancey*s polite -Buenos diss!” -Take your poor things.” burst out Aragon, pointing contemptuously at their tent and beds, “and your low, pelado Mexican —and go JThis mine no longer stands in the name of Crux Mendes, and I want It for myself! No, not a word!” he cried, as De Lancey opened his mouth to explain. -Nothing! Only go!” "No, senor,” said Hooker, dropping his hand tohis six-shooter which hung low by his leg and stepping forward, “we will not go!” --- “What?” stormed Aragon. “you ”

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSsjgL AER,* IND.

“Be careful there!" warned Bud, suddenly fixing his eyes on one of the four retainers. “If you touch that gun I’ll kill you!" There was a pause, in which the Mexicans sat frozen to their saddles, and then De Lancey broke the silence "You must not think, Senor Aragon,” he began, speaking with a certain bitterness, “that you can carry your point like this. My friend here is a Texan, and if your men stir he will kill them. But there is a law in this country for every man —what is it that you want?” “I want this mining claim,” shouted Aragon, “that you have so unjustly taken from me through that scoundrel Mendez! And I want you to step aside, so that I can set up my monuments and take possession of it." “The Senor Aragon has not been to the agente mineral today,” suggested De Lancey suavely. “If he had taken the trouble he wouldjnot—” "Enough!” cried Aragon, still trying to carry it off cavalierly; "I sent my servant to the mining agent yesterday and he reported that the permit had lapsed." "If he had taken the pains to inquire for new permits, however,” returned De Lancey, “he would have found that one has been issued to me. I am now a Mexican citizen, like yourself.”

“Yon!" screamed Aragon, his eyes bulging with astonishment; and then, finding himself tricked, he turned suddenly upon one of his retainers and struck him with his whip. “Son of a goat!” he stormed. "Pig! Is this the way you obey my orders?” But though he raved and scolded, he had gone too far, and there was no putting the blame on his servant. In his desire to humiliate the hated gringos he had thrown down all his guards, and even De Lancey saw all too clearly what his intentions in the matter had been. “Spare your cursing, Senor Aragon," he said, "and after this,” he added, "you can save your pretty words, too —for somebody else. We shall remain here and hold our property.”

“Ha! You Americans!” exclaimed Aragon, as he chewed bitterly on bis defeat. “You will rob us of everything—even our government So you are a Mexican citizen, eh? You must value this barren mine very highly to give up the protection of your government But perhaps you are acquainted with a man named Kruger?” he sneered. “He would sell his honor any time to defraud a Mexican of his rights, and I doubt not it was he who sent you here. Yes, I have known it from the first—but I will fool him yet! "So you are a Mexican citizen, Senor De Lancey? Bien, then you shall pay the full price of your citizenship. Before our law you are now no more than that poor pelado, Mendez. You cannot appeal now to your consul at Gadsden —you are only a Mexican! Very well!”

He shrugged his shoulders and smiled significantly. “No,” retorted De Lanoey angrily; "you are right—l cannot appeal to my government! But let me tell you something, Senor Mexicano! An American needs no government to protect him — he has his gun, and that is enough!” “Yes,’ added Bud, who had caught the drift of the last, “and he has his friends, too; don’t forget that!” He strode over toward Aragon and menaced him with a threatening finger. “If anything happens to my friend," he hissed, “you will have me to whip! And now, senor,” he added, speaking in the idiom of the country, “go with God —and do not come back!” “Pah!" spat back Aragon, his hate for the pushing foreigner showing in every glance; “I will beat you yet! And I pray God the revoltosos come this way, if they take the full half of my cattle —so long as they get you two!” i “Very well." nodded Bud as Aragon and his men turned away, "but be careful you do not send any!”

“Good!” he continued, smiling grimly at the pallid Phil; “now we got him where we want him—out In the open. And I’ll just remember them four paisanos he had with him —they’re his handy men, the boys with nerve—and don’t never let one of ’em catch you out after dark.” De Lancey sat down on a rock and wiped his face. “Heavens, Bud,” he groaned, “1 never would have believed it of him — I thought he was on the square. But it just goes to prove the old saying—every Mexican has got a streak of yellow in him somewhere. All you’ve got to do is to trust him long enough and you’ll find it out Well, we’re hep to Mr. Aragon, all right!” “I never seen one of these polite. palavering Mexicans yet" observed Bud sagely, “that wasn’t crooked. And this feller Aragon is mean, to boot But that’s a game,” he added, “that two can play at I don't know how you feel, Phil, but we been kinder creeping and’ slipping around sd long that I’m all cramped up inside Never suffered more in my life than the last sixty days—being polite to that damn Mexican. Now it’s our turn. Are you game?”,,. . ' “Count me in!” cried De Lancey, rising from his rock. “What’s the “Wall. we’ll go into town pretty soon,” grinned Bud. “and if I ran , across old Aragon, or any one of them four bad Mexicans, I’m going to 'make a show. And as for that big brlndle dog of his—well, he’s sure going to get roped and drug If he don't mend his ways Come on, let’s ketch up our horses and go In for a little time!” “I’ll go you!” agreed Phil with enthusiasm, and half an hour later, each on his favorite horse, they were clattering down the canyon. At the turn of the trail, where It swung into the

Aragon lane, Bud took down his rope and smiled In anticipation. . "You go on ahead,” he said, shaking out his loop, "and I'll try to put the catgut on Brindle.”

“Off like a flash!” answered De Lancey, and, putting the spurs to his fiery bay, he went dashing down the street, scattering chickens and hogs in all directions. Behind came Bud, rolling jovially in his saddle, and as the dogs rushed out after his pardner he twirled his loop once and laid It skilfully across the big brlndle’s back. But roping dogs Is a difficult task at best, and Bud was out of practise. The sudden blow struck Brindle to the ground and the loop came away unfilled. The Texan laughed, shifting in his saddle. “Come again!” commented Bud, leaning sidewise as he coiled his rope, and as the womenfolk and Idlers came

“No, Senor,” Said Hooker, Dropping His Hand to His Six-Shooter.

rushing to see what had happened he turned Copper Bottom in his tracks and came back like a streak of light “Look out, you ugly man’s dog!" he shouted, whirling hie rope as he rode; and then, amid a chorus of Indignant protests, he chased the yelping Brindle down the lane and through a hole In the fence. Then, with no harm done, he rode back up the street smiling amiably and looking for more dogs to rope. In the .door of the store stood Aragon, pale with fury, but Bud appeared not to see him. His eyes were turned rather toward the house where, on the edge of the veranda, Gracia Aragon and her mother stood staring at his antics.

“Good morning to you, ladles!” he saluted, taking off his sombrero with a flourish; “lovqly weather, ain’t it?” And with his tongue in his cheek and a roguish glance at Aragon, who was struck dumb by this last effrontery, he went rollicking after his pardner, sending back a series of joyous yips. “Now that sure does me good,” he confided to Phil, as they rode down between cottonwoods and struck into the muddy creek. “No sertse in it, but it gets something out of my system that has kept me, from feeling glad. Did you see me bowing to the ladies? Some class to that bow—no? You want to look out —I got my eye on that gal, and I’m sure a hard one to head. Only thing is, I wouldn’t like the old man for a father-in-law the way matters stand between us now."

He laughed boisterously at this witticism, and the little Mexican children., playing among the willows, crouched and lay quiet like rabbits. Along the sides of the rocky hills, where the peons had their mud-and-rock houses, mothers came anxiously to*open doors; and as they jogged along up the river the Chinese gardeners, working in each separate nook and eddy of the storm-washed creekbed, stopped grubbing to gaze at them inquiringly. “Wonder what’s the matter with them chinks?** observed Bud, when his happiness had ceased to effervesce; “they sit up like a village of prairie dogs! Whole country seems to be on the rubber neck. Must be something doing.** “That’s right,” agreed PhU; “did you notice how those peons scattered when I rode down the street? Maybe there’s been some Insurrectos through. But say—listen!” tl He stopped fcte horse, and in the silence a bugle-call came down the wind from the direction of Fortuna. “Soldiers!” he said. “Now where did they come from? I was in Fortuna day before yesterday, and —well, look at that!” From the point of the hill just ahead of them a line of soldiers came into view," marching two abreast, with a mounted officer In the lead. _____ “Aha!” exclaimed Bud with conviction; “they’ve started something down below. This is that bunch of federate that we saw drilling up at Agua Negro.” admitted De Lancey regretfully; “I guess you’re right for once — the open season for rebels has begun.” They drew out of the road and let them pass—a long, double line of shabby infantrymen, still wearing their test year’s straw hate and summer uniforms and trudging along In flapping sandals. In front were two men bearing Innterns, to search out the way by night; slatternly women, the inevitable campfollowers, trotted along at the sides with their, bundles and babies; and as the little blown men from Zacatecas, each burdened with hte heavy gun and

a job lot of belts and packs, shuffled patiently past the Americans, they flashed the whites of their eyes and rumbled a chorus of "Adios!” “Adios, Americanos!" they called, gazing enviously at their fine horses, and Phil in his turn touched his hat and wished them all Godspeed. "Poor devils!” he murmured, as the last tottering camp-followers, laden with their burdens, brought up the rear and a white-skinned Spanish officer saluted from his horse; “what do those little pelones know about liberty and justice, or the game that is being played? Wearing the same uniforms that they had when they fought for Diaz, and now they are fighting for Madero. Next year they may be working for Orozco or Huerta or Salazar.” "Sure,” muttered Bud; “but that ain’t the question. If they’s rebels in the hills, where do we get off?"

CHAPTER XI. The plaza at Fortuna, ordinarily so peaceful and sleepy, was *- alive with hurrying men when Bus end Phil reached town. Over at the rtatlon a special engine was wheezing and blowing after its heavy run and, from the train of commandeered ore cars behind, a swarm of soldiers were leaping to the ground. On the porch of the hotel Don Juan de Dios Brachamonte was making violent signals with his hands, and as they rode up he hurried out to meet them..

"My gracious, boys,” he cried, “it’s a good thing you came into town! Bernardo Bravo has come over the mountains and he’s marching to take Moctezuma!" "Why, that doesn’t make any difference to us!" answered Phil. “Moctezuma is eighty miles from here —and look at all the soldiers. How many men has Bernardo got?” "Well, that I do not know,” responded Don Juan; “some say more and some less, but if you boys hadn’t come in I would have sent a man to fetch you. Just as soon as a revolution begins the back country becomes unsafe for Americans. Some of these low characters are likely to murder you if they think you have any money.” "Well, we haven’t,” put in Bud; "but we’ve got a mine—and 1 we’re going to keep it, too.” “Aw, Bernardo Bravo hasn’t got any men!" scoffed Phil; “I bet this is a false alarm. He got whipped out of his boots over in Chihuahua last fall, and he’s been up in the Sierra Madres ever since. Probably come down to steal a little beef.

"Why, Don Juan, Bud and I lived right next to a trail all last year and if we’d listened to one-tenth of the revoltoso stories we heard we wouldn’t have taken out an ounce of gold. I’m going to get my denouncement papers tomorrow, and I’ll bet you we work that mine all summer and never know the difference. These rebels won’t hurt you any, anyhow!” "No! Only beg a little grub!” added Bud scornfully. “Come on, Phil; let’s go over and look at the soldiers —it’s that bunch of Yaquis we saw up at Agua Negra." They tied their horses to the rack and, leaving the solicitous Don Juan to sputter, hurried over to the yard. From the heavy metal ore cars, each a rolling fortress in itself, the last of the active Yaquis were helping out their women and pet dogs, while the rest, talking and laughing in high spirits, were strung out along the track in a perfunctory line. If the few officers in command had ever, attempted to teach them military discipline, the result was not apparent in the line they formed; but any man who looked at their swarthy faces, the hawklike profiles, and deepset, steady eyes, would know that they were fighters. After all, a straight line on parade has very little to do with actual warfare and these men had proved their worth under fire. To be sure, it was the fire of Mexlean guns, and perhaps that was why the officers were so quiet and unassertive; for every one of these big, upstanding Indians had been captured in the Yaqui wars and deported to the henequen fields of Yucatan to die in the miasma and heat.

But they had come from a hardy breed and the whirligig of fortune was Aying fast—Madero defeated Porfirio niaz; fresh revolutions broke out against the victor and, looking about in desperation for soldiers to fill his ranks, Madero fell upon the Yaqute. Trained warriors for generations, of a race so fierce that the ancient Aztecs had been turned aside by them in their empire-founding migration, they were the very men to.whip back the rebels, if he could but win them to hte side.

So Madero had approached Chief Bule, whom Diaz had taken under a flag of truce, and soon the agreement was made. In return for faithful service, Mexico would give back to the Indians the one thing they had been fighting a hunrded and sixty years to attain, their land along the Rio Yaqui; and there they should be permitted to live in peace as their ancestors had done before them. And so, with a thousand or more of hte men, the crafty old war chief had taken service in the federal army, though his mind, poisoned perhaps by the treachery he had suffered, was not entirely free from guile. (TO BK CONTINUED.)

Daily Thought.

As the flowers carry dewdrops, trembling on the edge of the petals, and ready to tali at the first waft of wind or brush of wing of bird, so the heart should carry its beaded words of thanksgiving, and at the first breath of heavenly favor let down the shower perfumed with the heart’s gratitude. —Poacher

CONDENSATIONS

Forty thousand persons are employed by the clothing manufacturers In Leeds. It is estimated that throughout the world blind men outnumber blind women in the proportion of two to one. Government experts are investigating Sweden’s alum shale deposits in the hope of obtaining an illuminating oil. Agriculturists in Egypt have succeeded In raising a new cotfon, brown in color and stronger than any heretofore produced there. Cuba is spending $1,300,000 in constructing 2,000 houses for workmen, to cost $650 each. The workers would become owners by paying a small monthy rent. t Fifty Hungarian servant girls went on silence strike in Budapest, vowing not to speak a word until their employers allowed them two calling nights weekly. The Philippine government has minted a special coinage for use in the Cullon leper colony.. The coins are of aluminum, and Include pieces of one peso, and 20, 10, 5,1% centavos. They are accepted at face value for all business carried on within the colony, but are of no value elsewhere.

UNIMPORTANT IF TRUE

The man who can seldom gt~ canned. -j And some people think undertakers make overcharges. Hitch your water wagon to a star, driver, and let 'er go. , And we suppose the price of eggs will begin to go down now. Funny, but when blacksmiths go on strike they just quit striking. Ride on the water wagon today and you won’t have a headache tomorrow. Well, the first four years of the new century have been hummers, haven’t they? Some people demand a great deal with the expectation of compromising on a little. The man who talks about it least is the one who is apt to stay on the water wagon the longest. What has become of the old-fash-ioned man who claimed to understand the Mexican situation? Mather and girls are knitting for the Belgians, and father has <£o buy a new pair of socks every week. You may look for an improvement in some of the paragraph columns, now that the new almanacs are out. A story is told of a tight-wad who refused to buy a calendar for fear he would not live the year out and would be unable to use it all up.—Washington Herald.

SOME SLOGANS OF SUCCESS

It takes a lot of skill to land the "big fish” with a "light line.”, "Well begun is half done,” but, remember, it’s only "half done.” Don’t put too much "con” in "conversation” lest your friend put in the “shun.” Speech being a “vehicle of expression,” don’t forget that sometimes a “brake” saves a "break.” To make ideas pay, study this formula: I-nspiration, D-evelopment, E-nlargement, A-pplication, S-uccess! It sometimes pays to also cultivate the "man below." There is no telling when he may become the "man above.” A recipe for enthusiasm: Good news; new goods. New news; good goods. —Hazen Conklin, in St. Louis Post-Dispatch. >

TIMELY THOUGHTS

A regiment of golfers would, of course, be commanded by 7 Colonel Bogey. ' r . 4Headline —“Czar’s Soldiers to Push Over Carpathians.” Oh, let ’em stand, Nick. The monarch who today tries to be another Alexander is apt to be considered merely a smart Alec. —Boston . Transcript

STARS AND STRIPES

Do not look backward unless you Intend to travel that way. In the race of life rascality often appears to be the best sprinter. The man who loses could never successfully run a gambling house. J The dead beat is usually very much alive when creditors are ifi pursuit It is better to break a New Year resolution than never to resolve at aIL