Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 March 1915 — Page 2

The Land of Broken Promises

A Stirring Story of the Mexican Revolution

SYNOPSIS. Bud Hooker and Phil De Lancey are forced, owing to a revolution In Mexico, to give up their mining claim and return to the United Staten. In the border town of Gadsden Bud meets Henry Kruger, a wealthy miner, who makes him a proposition to return to Mexico to acquire title to a very rich mine which Kruger had blown up when he found he had been cheated out of the title by one Aragon. The Mexloan subsequently had spent a lairge sum of money tn an unsuccessful attempt to relocate the vein and then allowed the land to revert for taxes. Hooker and De Lancey arrive at Fortuna, near where the Eagle Tall mine is located. They engage Crux Mendes to acquire the title for them and begin preliminary work. Aragon accuses them of jumping his claim. Hooker discovers that matrimontal entanglements prevent Mendes from acquiring a valid title. Phil, who has been paying attention to Gracia Aragon. decides to turn Mexican and acquire the title. Aragon falls In his attempt to drive them off the claim. Rebels are reported tn the vicinity. A rich vein of gold Is struck and work on the mine is stopped until the title can be perfected. Phil is arrested by Manual del Key. captain of the ruralee and suitor of Gracia s. He is released on promise to •*•/**»£ from Gracia. Phil Is forced to enlist in the ruralee. He asks Bud to take care of Gracia. The rebels are defeated In .a fierce battle near Fortuna Phil deserts and returns to the United States. Bud turns Mexican and takes steps to secure title to the mine In his own name.

CHAPTER XlX—Continued. He looked the adobe house over thoughtfully, listened long to the news of the border and of the ruralee’ raid on their camp, and retired to the rocks for the night. Even Bud never knew where he slept—somewhere up on the Aide—ln caves or clefts In the rocks—and not even the most pressing Invitation could make him share the house for a night. To Amigo, as to an animal, a house was a trap; and he knew that the times were treacherous.

So indeed they were, as Hooker was to learn to his sorrow, and but for the Yaqul and his murderous knife he might easily have learned it too late. It was evening, after a rainless day, and Bud was cooking by the open fire, when suddenly Amigo vanished and four men rode In from above. They were armed with rifles, as befitted the times, but gave no signs of ruffianly bravado, and after a few words Bud invited them to get down and eat

“Muchas gracias, senor,” said the leader, dismounting and laying his rifle against a log, “we are not hungry.” “Then have some coffee,” Invited Hooker, who made it a point to teed every one who stopped, regardless of their merit; and on fie more the Mexican declined. At this Bud looked at him sharply, tor his refusal did not augur well, and it struck him the man’s face was familiar. He was tall for a Mexican and heavily built, but with a rather sinister cast of countenance. “Where have I seen you before T” asked Bud. after trying In vain to. place him. “In FortunaT" t “No, senor,” answered the Mexican politely. “I have never been In that city. Is It far!*' “Ten miles by the trail,” responded Hooker, by no means reassured, and under pretext of inviting them to eat, he took a look at the other men. If they had not stopped to eat, what then was their errand while the sun was oinking so low? And why this sullen refusal of the coffee which every Mexican drinks? Bud stepped into the house, as if on some errand, and watched them unseen from the Interior. Seeing them exchange glances then, he leaned his rifle just Inside the door and went about his cooking.

It was one of the chances he took, jiving out in the brush, but he had come to know this low-browed type .of semi-bandit all too well and had small respect for their courage. In case of trouble Amigo was close by in the rocks somewhere, probably with his gun in his hand —but with a little patience and circumspection the unwelcome visitors would doubtlesp move *on. So he thought, but instead they lingered, and when supper was cooked he decided to go to a show-down—and if they again refused to eat he would send them on their way. “Ven amigos.” he said, spreading out the tin {dates for them. “Come and eat!” The three low-brows glared at their leader, who had done what little talking there was so far. and, seised with a sudden animation, he immediately rose to his feet “Many thanks, senor.” he said with a crinjing and' specious politeness. “We have come far and the trail is long, so we will eat The times are hard for poor men now —this traitor. Madero, has made us all hungry. It is by him that we poor working men are driven to Insurrection —but we know the? the Americans are our frienda Yea, senor, I win take som? of your wyana and thank you.” * He tilled a plate as he spoke and lifted a biscuit from the oven, continuing with his false patter while the others fell to in silence. “Perhaps you have heard, senor,” he went on, “toe saying which is in the land: Mucho trabajo. paco dinero; no hay frijoles, viva Madero! [Much money; no beans, long 4bgrja ; f •** ' _ . Ilvv MlWdiwUsy ■——

By DANE COOLIDGE

Aaffor of "Ths T«Meaa. ** Etc. Illustrations by Don J. Lavin

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“That, In truth. Is no jest to the Mexican people. This man has betrayed us all; he has ruined the country and set brother against brother. And now, while we starve because the mines are shut down, he gathers his family about him in the city and lives fat on the money he has stolen." He ran on in this style, after the fashion of the revoltosos, and by the very commonplace of his fulminations Bud was thrown completely off his guard. That was the way they all talked, these worthless bandit-beggars —that and telling how they loved the Americanos —and then, If they got a chance, they would stick a knife in your back. He listened to the big man with a polite toleration, being careful not to turn his back, and ate a few bites as he waited, but though it was coming dusk the Mexicans were in no hurry to depart. Perhaps they hoped to stop for the night and get him In his sleep. Still they lingered on, the leader sitting on a log and continuing his harangue. Then, in the middle of a sentence, and while Bud was bending over the Are, the Mexican stopped short and leaned to one side. A tense silence fell, and Hooker was waked from his trance by the warning click of a gunlock. Suddenly his mind came back to his guests, and be ducked like a flash, but even as he went down he heard the hammer clack!

The gun had snapped! Instantly Hooker’s hand leaped to his pistol and he fired from the hip pointblatfk'at the would-be murderer. With a yell to the others, one of the Mex 1 cane sprang on him from behind and tried to bear him down. They struggled for a moment while Bud shot blindly with his pistol and went down fighting. Bud was a giant compared to the stunted Mexicans, and he threw them about like dogs that hang on to a bear. With a man in each hand he rose to his feet, crushing them down beneath him; then, in despair of shaking off his rider, he staggered a few steps and hurled himself over backward into the fire. A yell of agony followed their fall and, as the live coale bit through the Mexican’s thin shirt, he fought like a cat to get free. Rocks, pots and kettles were kicked in every direction, and when Hooker leaped to his feet the Mexican scrambled up and rushed madly for the creek. But, though Bud was free, the battle had turned against him, for in the brief interval of his fight the other two Mexicans had run for their guns. The Instant he rose they covered him. Their chief, who by some miracle had escaped Bud’s ehot, gave a shout for

Threw Them About Like Dogs That Hang Onto a Bear.

them to halt Cheated of .his victim at I the first he was claiming the right to kin. As'Hooker stood blinded by the ; smoke and ashes the fellow took deliberate aim— and once more his rifle snapped. Then, as the other Mexicans’ stood agape, surprised at the failure of the shot, the cannonlike whang of a Mauser rent the air and the leader crumpled down in a heap. .An instant later a shrill yell rose from up the canyon and, as the two Mexicans started and stared. Amigo came dashing In upon them, a spitting pistol In one hand and his terrible “wood-chopping" knife brandished high In the other. In the dusk his eyes and teeth gleamed white, hta black hair seemed to bristle <1 th fury, and the glint of hla long knife made a light as he vaulted over the last rock and went plunging on their track. For, at the first glance at this huge, pursuing figure, toe two Mexicans had turned and bolted like rabbits, and now. as the whirled to after them. Bud could h—r tharn squealing and scrambling

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

as be hunted them dowu among the rocks. ’ It was grim work, too, even for his stomach, but Hooker let the Indian follow his nature. When Amigo came back from his hunting there was no need to ask questions. His eyes shone so terribly that Hooker said nothing, but set about cleaning up wnp. After he had washed the ashes from his eyes, and when the fury had vanished from Amigo's face, they went as by common consent and gazed at the body of the chief of the desperadoes. Even in death his face seemed strangely familiar; but as Hooker stood gating at him the Yaqul picked up his gun. "Look!" he said, and pointed to a bullet-splash where, as the Mexican held the gun across his breast. Bud’s pistol shot had flattened harmlessly againet the lock. It was that which had saved the Mexican chief from instant death, and the jar of the shot had doubtless broken the rifle and saved Bud, in turn, from the second Shot. -TT" AH this was in the Yaqui’s eye as he carefully tested the action; but, when be threw down the lever, a cartridge rose up from the magazine and glided smoothly Into the breech. With a rifle full of cartridges the ignorant Mexican had been snapping' on an empty chamber, not knowing enough to jack up a shell! For a moment Amigo stared at the gun and the man, and hie mouth drew down with contempt. “Ha! Pendejo!" he grunted, and kicked the corpse with his foot But if the Mexican had been a fool, he had paid the price, for the second time he snapped his gun Amico had shot him through and through.

CHAPTER XX. In a country where witnesses to a crime are imprisoned along with the principals and kept more or less indefinitely in jail, a man thinks twice before he reports to the police. With four dead Mexicans to the Yaqui’s account and Del Rey in charge of the district. Hooker followed his second thought—he said nothing, and took his chances on being arrested for murder. Until far into the night Amigo busied himself along the hillside, and when the sun rose not a sign remained to tell the story of the fight. Men, horses, saddles and guns—all had disappeared. And, after packing a little food In a sack, Amigo disappeared also, with a grim smile in promise of return. The sun rose round and hot, the same as usual; the south wind came up and blew into a bellying mass 6f clouds, which lashed back with the accustomed rain; and when all the earth was washed clean and fresh the last trace of the struggle was gone. Only by the burns on his hands was Hooker aware of the fight and of the treachery which had reared its head against him like a snake which has been warmed and fed. Nowhere but in Mexico, where the low pelado classes have made such deeds a subtlety, could the man be found’ to dissimulate like that false assassin-in-chief. To pause suddenly In a protracted speech, swing over and pick up a gun, and halt his victim for the shooting by the preparatory click of the lock —that indeed called for a brand of cunning rarely found in the United States.

There was one thing about the affair that vaguely haunted Hooker —why was it that a man so cunning as that had failed to load his gun? Twice, and with everything in his favor, he had raised his rifle to fire; and both times it had snapped in his hands. Certainly be must have,been inept at arms —or accustomed to single-shot guns. The reputed magic of the swift-fir-ing rifles evidently had been his undoing, but where had he got his new gun? And who was he, anyway? With those two baffling questions Bud wrestled as he sat beside his door, and at evening his answer came. ; The sun was swinging low and he was collecting wood down the gulch for a Are when, with a sudden thud of hoofs, a horseman rounded the point and came abruptly to a. halt It was Aragon, and he was spying on the camp.

For a full minute he scanned the house, tent and mine with a look so snaky and sinister that Bud could read his heart like a book. Here was the man who had sent the assassins, and be had come to view their work! Very slowly Bud’s hand crept toward his six-shooter but slight as was the motion, Aragon caught It and sat frozen to his place. Then, with an inarticulate cry, he fell flat on his horse’s neck and went spurring out of sight The answer to Bud’s questions was very easy now. The Mexican who had led the attempt on his life was one of Aragpn-’s bad men, one of the four gunmen whom Hooker had looked over so carefully when they came to drive him from the mine, and Aragon had fitted him out with new arms to make the result more sure. But with that question answered there came up another and another until, in a sudden clarity of vision, Bud saw through the hellish plot and beheld himself the master. As man to man, Aragon would not dare to face him now. for he knew that he merited death. By his sly approach, by the look in his eyes and the dismay of his frenzied retreat he had acknowledged more surely than by words his guilty knowledge of the raid. Coming to a camp where he expected to flfid all dead and still, he had found .himself face to face with the very man he had sought to kill How, then, had the American escaped destruction, and Perhaps, 1* his ignorance, Aragon

wu raging at his hirelings because they had shirked their task; perhaps, not knowing that they were dead, he was waiting la a fever of impatience for them to accomplish the deed. However it was, Bud saw that he held the high card, and he was not slow to act. In the morning he saddled Copper Bottom, who had been confined to the corral for weeks, and went galloping Into town. There he lingered about the hotel until he saw his man and started boldly toward him. Surprise, alarm and pitiful fear chased them-, selves across Aragon’s face as he stood, but Bud walked proudly by. "Good morning, senor!" was all Bud said, but the look In his eyes was eloquent of a grim hereafter. And instead of hurrying back to guard his precious mine Hooker loitered carelessly about town. His

The Artillery Drove Them Back.

mine was safe now—and he was safe. Aragon dared not raise a hand. So he sat himself down on the broad veranda and listened with boyish interest to Don Juan’s account of the war. “What, have you not heard of the battle?” cried portly Don Juan, delighted to have a fresh listener. “Agua Negra has been taken and retaken, and the railfoad will soon be repaired. My gracious! have you been out in the hills that long? Why, it was two weeks ago that the rebels captured the town by a coup, and eight days later the federate took it back. "Ah, there has been a real war, Mr. Bud! You who have laughed at the courage of the Mexicans, what do you think of Bernardo Bravo and his men? They captured the last up train from Fortuna; loaded all the men Into the ore cars and empty coaches; and, while the federate were still in their barracks, the train ran clear into the station and took the town by storm.

“And eight days later, at sundown, the federate took it back. Ah, there was awful slaughter averted, senor! But for the fact that the fuse went out two hundred Yaqul Indians who led the charge would have been blown into eternity. “Yes, so great was the charge of dynamite that the rebels had laid tn their mine that not a house in Agua Negra would have been left standing if the fuse had done its work. Two tons of dynamite! Think of that, my friend! “But these rebels were as ignorant of its power as they were of laying a train. The Yaquis walked into the town at sundown and found it deserted —every man, woman and child had fled to Gadsden and the rebels had fled to the west. “But listen, here was the way it happened—actually, and not as common report has it, for the country is all in an uproar and the real facts were never known. When Bernardo Bravo captured the town of Agua Negra the people acclaimed his a hero. “He sent word to the junta at El Paso and set up a new form of government All was enthusiasm, and several Americans joined- his ranks to operate the machine guns and cannon. As for the federate, they occupied the country to the east and attempted a few sallies, -but as they had nothing but their rifles, the artillery drove them back.

“Then, as the battle ceased, the rebels began to celebrate their victory. They broke into the closed cantinas, disobeying their officers and beginning the loot of the town, and while half of their number were drunk the federate, being informed of their condition, suddenly advanced upon them, with the Yaquis far in the lead. “They did not shoot, those Yaquis; but, dragging their guns behind them, they crept up through the bushes and dug pits quite close to the lines. Then, when the rebels discovered them and manned their guns, the Yaquis shot down the gunners. “Growing bolder, they crept farther to the front—the rebels became disorganised, their men became mutinous—and at last, when they saw they would surely be taken, the leaders buried two tons of dynamite in the trenches by the bull-ring and set a time-fuse, to explode when the Yaquis arrived. "The word spread through .the town like wildfire—all the people, all the soldiers fled every which way to ee-' cape—and then, when the worst was expected to happen, the dynamite failed to explode and the Yaquis nished the trenches at sundown." “Did those Yaquis know about the dynamite?” inulred Bud. repeated Don Juan, waring* the thrmght away; “not a word! Their commanders kept It from them, even

after they discovered the mine. And now the Indian* are making boast*; they are drank with the thought of their valor and claim that the rebel* fled from them alone. -The roadmaster came into town this morning on a velocipede and said 'that the Yaqul* are insufferable, thinking that it was their renown as fighters and not the news of the dynamite that drove all the soldiers from town. -However, Ague Negra is once more in the bands of the government; the track is clear and most of the bridges repaired; so why quarrel with the Yaquls? While they are, of course, nothing but Indians, they serve their purpose in battle." “Well, I guess ye* I" reeponded Bud warmly. "Serve their purpose, eh? Where were‘these Mexican soldiers and them Spanish officer* when? the Yaqul* were taking the town? And that was just like a dog-goned Mexican—setting that time-fuse and then not having It go off. More’n likely the poor yap that fired it was so scairt he couldn’t hold a match —probably never lit it, jest dropped the match and run. They’re a bum bunch, if you want to know what I think. I’d rather have a Yaqul than, a hundred of ’em!”

“A hundred of whom?” inquired a cool voice behind him, and locking up Hooker saw the beautiful Gracia gasIng out at him through the screen door. "A hundred Mexicans!" he repeated, and Gracia murmured “Oh!” and was gone. “Miss Aragon is very loyal to her country,” observed Don Juan, but Hooker only grunted. Somehow, since those four Mexicans had come to his camp, he had soured on everything south of the line; and even the cfiarmlng Gracia could not make him take back his words. If she had Intended the remark as a challenge—a subtle invitation to follow her and defend his faith —she failed for once of her purpose, for If there was any particular man in Mexico that Bud hated more than another it was her false-hearted father. Hooker had, in fact, thought more seriously of making her a half-orphan than of winning her good-will, and he lingered about the hotel, not to make love to the daughter, but to strike terror to Aragon. The company being good, and a train being expected soon, Bud stayed over another day. In the morning, when he came down for breakfast, he found that Aragon had fled before him. With hie wife, daughter and retinue, he had moved suddenly back to his home. Hooker grinned when Don Juan told him the news.

“Well, why not?” he asked, chuckling maliciously. “Here It'S the middle of the rainy season and the war going on all summer and nary a rebel in sight. Where’s that big fight you .was telling about —the battle of Fortuna? You’ve made a regular fortune out of these refugees, Brachamonte, but I fail to see the enemy." “Ah, you may laugh," shrugged the hotel-keeper, “but wait!. The time will come. The rebels are lost now —some day, when you least expect it, they will come upon us and then, believe me, my guests wIU be glad they are here. What is a few weeks’ bill compared to being held for ransom? Look at that rich Senor Luna, who was here for a time in the spring. Against my advice he hurried home and now he Is paying the price. Ten thousand pesos it cost to save his wife and family, and for himself and son his friends advanced ten thousand more. I make no evil prophecies, but It would be better for our friend if he stayed on at my poor hotel.” , “Whose friend?” inquired Bud bluffly, but Doh Juan struck him upon the back with elephantine playfulness and hurried off to his duties. As for Hooker, he tarried In town until he got his mall and a copy of the Sunday paper and then, well satisfied that the times were quiet and wars a thing of the past, hp ambled back to the Eagle Tall and settled down for a rest.

Flat on his back by the doorway be lay on his bed and smoked, reading his way through the lurid supplement and watching the trail with one eye. Since the fight with Aragon’s Mexicans all his apprehensions had left him. He had written briefly to Phil and Kruger, and now he was holding the fort. It had been a close shave, but he had escaped the cowardly assassins and had Aragon in his power. Not by any force of law, but by the force of fear and the gnawing weakness of Aragon's own evil conscience. Aragon was afraid of what he had done, but it was the suspense which rendered him eo pitiable. On a day he had sent four armed Mexicans to kill this Texan —not one had returned and the Texan regarded him sneeringly- This it was that broke the Spaniard’s will, for he knew not what to think. But as for Bud, he lay on his hack by the doorway and laughed al the funny page. As he sprawled there at his reading. Amigo came in from the hills, and he, too, was content to relax. Gravely scanning the colored sheet, his dark face lighted up. ' It was all very peaceful and pleasant, but it was not destined to test (TO BE CONTINUED.)

Real Boss.

Wigg —“ Young Bjones thinks he te a born leader." Wagg—“Oh, many a fellow who thinks he was born to command marries a woman who was born to countermand." —Philadelphia Record.

Is In. All Men’s Power.

It te prodigious the quantity at goad that may be done by one man ft he win make a business of It— Benjamin Franklin. ' ~ ~

HARD LUCK IN HUGGET

By HAROLD CARTER.

(Copyright. 1915. by W. Q. Chapman.) Women certainly are queer. They act in the most unexpected ways, and when you think you’ve roped them they’re up and away like a wild maverick. Now there was Miss Rose Crawford, who kept books for Jim Riley. First he thought he’d got her and then he thought he hadn’t, and then, just when he thought he had—well! We’d heard a new preacher was coming to Nugget, and naturally the boys were interested. Doctor Hadley, who had been with us six years, had been thought a good deal of. His Saturday night illustrated lectures on the wonders of nature had proved a live wire. Jim Riley had won. the prize Doctor Hadley offered for the best collection of lizqfd* and Tom Bullen's wife got the prize he gave for the best cake baked for the church sociable; and so, with the parson gone, we saw all our innocent pastimes nipped in the bud unless Mr. Frank Cunningham 'turned out a sociable sort of man like his predecessor. The minute he steps off the train, however, he looks so queer we see something is wroifg. He looks about him surprisedltke. “Where’s your outlaws?” he asks. "There ain’t been none here for these ten since they passed the antigambling laws,” says Tom. . ' “Why don’t you carry pistols?” the parson asks, still more surprised. "They’s taxed too high,” I explains. "Times is hard in Nugget.” “What, don’t you shoot up tenderfeet who take drinks of lemonade?” he demands. “Everybody drinks lemonade, mister,” explains Jim Riley. "This is a prohibition county.” Naturally this didn’t make too good an .impression on us, especially when he preached a sermon against outlaws from the pulpit the first Sunday. The boys had another thing against him, too. He’d asked Miss Rose to go bug-gy-riding with him on the Wednesday, and as Jim Riley had been monopolizing her a good deal, we didn’t like the butting-in feature. However, Miss Rose went with him. “He didn’t talk about nothing but outlaws," she said to us. “He thinks we’re hiding the vice of Nugget from him to prevent his breaking it up. He says if he spots it he’s going to smash it.” / “So that’s why he come nosing round my back door on Sunday before church!” exclaimed Jim, hotly. “Wanted to see if I was violating the temperance laws, eh?” Well, after another week had gone by things was getting unbearable. None of us wanted to lay hands on the parson, but we saw he hadn’t come to Nugget in an understanding spirit Moreover, he was bothering Miss Rose, and we didn’t like that. “Now I tell you how it is, boys,” says Tom Bullen. “What he wants is to prove himself. He’s like a young horse that hasn’t been broke. He’s like a soldier going into battle, who think* he’s a hero and has to learn that it will take all his heroism to keep from running away. If once he gets up against what he’s looking for he'll sing pretty small and possibly turn out to be a good feller.” And then he outlined his plan to us. We were to stage an attempted abduction. It was three nights later, before the moon come up, that we carried out the plan. Jim and Tom lay in wait at the parsonage corner, about the time when Miss Rose used to walk home from the store. We knew the parson would be waiting for her, to say good evening and to offer to escort her, and the rest of us was hiding in Ephraim’s store across the street, to see the fun. Just as Miss Rose was. passing the parsonage Jim and Tom leaps out and grabs her. Scream? I never heard a girl holler like it Jim said afterward it scared him into thinking he was really trying to abduct her. “Help! Help!” she cried at the top of her voice. ? , - Suddenly the parsonage door opened and Mr. Cunningham'came out. “Wh-wh-what’s the matter?” he stammered.

It was so dark some of us had taken the opportunity to creep up close, and I tell you It faflrly scared me stiff to think a man could be such a coward. The parson was positively shaking' with fright, and he looked as if hj was going to turn tail any instant “You leave that young lady alone," he mumbled; and then he caught sight of Miss Rose’s face. Next instant he had landed like a catapult right into the pair of them. Before he knew it, Jim was lying in the road with a cut lip and Tom was leaning against the wall with a bruised eye. But the parson was at them again, and there wasn’t nothing to do but to turn tail. We ran, the lot of us, and we was afraid every instant the parson would land one of us blows across our necks. But he tailed off and went back to Miss Rose, and that was the last we saw, except that we heard he took her home and told her she wasn’t never to go out alone after dark tn such a vicious town agate. Miss Rose wasn’t at the store next day, and by nightfall everybody knew she was to marry the parson when the banns had been read. He got perkier than ever afterwards, and-Jim agreed we’d made ja bad. mistake, inaotaocounting for the power of love over a man. Anyhow, we’ve got a sew parson In Nugget now, and Jim’s trying to interwrt Mm in