Dodge City times., 1884-04-24
MY FAIR ROAD COMPANION.

my FAIR ROAD COMPANION,
At Perotc, where we halted for n re-
lay and refreshments, ali nv fellow
passengers took Leave Of me. very
solemnly assuring ,ne that. if assaied
Dy The ladrones or robbers, If would he
much better for me 10 take matters
quietiy,anr. suffer myself to be genteellv
Plunder1d than to run the risk OF hav-
ing I'D J throat cut for resistance. rs
had somewhat boldly proclaimed il was
ny intention of doing. thanked them
for their advice, and replied that |
would take the matter into serious con
Sideration
AT Perote, repeat, all who had been
my companions from Vera Cruz took
leave OF me, this beng the end of their
Journey In that direction: but there was
one new passenger here 10 90 forward
whom, to my agreeable surprise. found
10 be beautiful young lady, some
twenty years of are
Senorita Paula, "a | subsequently as
certaned her name 20 be, was indeed
one OF those rare beauties seldom met
with except in works of fl i,tion-tall.
graceful, with n profuSiOn of long.
oiack halr-solt, clear. melting dark
SJes-featurcs rs perfect rs ever came
from the hands of the SCULPTOR, and
WIN an animation the most fascinating
varying IN expression with every
cnanging mood Of the intellectual pos
sess"r. "A glance at her bewitching
DARK eyes showed me that She was one
VINO was naturally Of Il social disD0si-
tlon; and rs we ratified away from the
gloomy town, 'ool, the liberty of open
ing conversations
They tel me, sad !. that the
route between here and Mexico is very
dangerous one to travol.N
There Is Little to fear she rep!.e
with sweet smile and in a meIodiouS
tone. except from tbe pro essional
robbers, and they seldom harm any one
VINO makes no resistance"
I'll seems strange 10 me. re oined.
that you McNicans should take such
anlngs rs a matter uf course. and deem
resistance very impolitc WAY OF treat
ING the knights OF the road. instead OF
boldly asserting your rights and abat-
ing the evil by Il manly spirit OF resist
-lnce. For myself. must consider it
the most co~ardly OF proceedings for
ary respectable party 10 set out pre-
pared 10 quietly gratifk, the cupidity
OF the fdaroacS, and unprepared to treat
them to their Just deserts.
Every Traveller. senor.' she replied,
'should, before setting ont, count the
cost OF his journey; and, us of course. it
as natural he should value his life high
~, II seems TO me natural that he
should pay Il certain sum for positive
safety, rather than put that lfe in
jeopardy. For instance. in travelling
from Vera Cruz to Mexico. if he will
hrst reckon that SO much is the fare bv
the dlligencia, and that so much Will be
required for entertainment On the WAY,
and so much for the contingency YOU
speak of, he will then have the exact
cost between the two points; and if he /
will look nj the whole a> the sum total
of his Journey he will not seem to be
robted 10y any one party more than
another
THAT, | replied, .'maN be. believe
is, the Mexican mode of doing business.
butdoes not tally with the pre- oEcei,e ed
ideas of foreigners
Blu: every one.' replied the fair
speaker. 'should conform To the Gus
toms of the country he visits.
And DO yoa. then, 90 prepared for
this highway robbery. and have YOU no
lear in thus jouneying by yourself?"
''Well. senior. what can do? am,
as you perceive. an unprotected lady.
tnp ant.f.,
make the journey between Perote and
Che Capital some two or three times a
year, and YOU certainly could Got eX-
pect me TO go prepared to resist an
armed band. As to fear. | will moi
deny have my share OF that, but. so
far, L have never met with any rough
treatment. and of course l trust to the
saints that my fortune will ever be rs
propitious."
"And have you really been rot bed on
your journey back and forthg' | in
quircd.
Il think have paid my share to the
JGdrOnes for my transit through their
country" she laughed.
''And you expect 10 continue a repe-
tition of the same for the rest of Your
life?''
''Who knows?' she replied. al
least hope to be always prepared.
''And your fellow Travellers said /,
''have you never seen any disposed to
resist these unlawful acts9'
''OIce, senior, an American and an |.
Eng ishman who were in the same dill
gencia with me fred upon the robbers,
killing one and wounding two"
.'And did the robbers fire back?'
ayes, but fed Immediately, and fort |
unately injured none of our party?''
las | should have expected, =" returned |
l. ''You were not robbed on that occa-
sion, l suppose:?"
I'VE were not, senior. but the two !
foreigners subsequently paid dearly for
their resistance. for in ourneying back |
and forth both were killed, separately
and at different times, near the same
spot. You see these crosses by the side |
of the road. senorH'
II have observed them frequently. |
but here they seem TO be much more