Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-08-02

fierce. Big black beard and Jet black
rolling eyes and white teeth and thick
black hair and fine features. A most
romantic looking gentleman, and one
of the mildest l ever saw while he was
awake. But when he was asleep, oh,
myi No one else in the house could
sleep then, for he had all his fights
over again, and yelled and swore and
growled and made unearthly noises
like five or six cats fighting at once.
He could not help that. of course, poor
fellow. When he was awake he was a
very nice gentleman.
''Supposing you wanted to go to
place where you are not known in
Cuba. What then, senor?"
Senor-In that case get a pass. In
fact. everywhere l go in the country l
have to get pass.
"HoW?"
Senior Why, go to person know
and ask for pass and pay for it.
who is the person."
Senor-Ah, that would be telling.
What kind of person."
Sonora farmer.
''Are the farmers all in league with
the brigands?"
Senor-Yes, think can safely say
all of them are. They are worse than
the brigands, long way; for while the
brigands are with them they are with
the brigands, and when the soldiers
come to chase the brigands the farmers
are Tor the soldiers. They are for
both sides and for none.
Don't the brigands rob the farm
ers?"
Senor-Oh, yes.
"How?'
Senor-When the sugar cane is all
ripe and dry in the fields the brigands
send a note to each farmer asking for
800. 5000 or $500.
Ills that an assessment on the value
of the crop"
Senor-No. The value of the crop
makes no difference. The brigands
want their money and must have it,
whether the farmers profit be much
or little.
''Supposing the farmer refuses?"
Senor-He would be crazy to do that.
His sugar cane is all dry. 1t extends
for miles and match touched to it
would make it blaze like prairie fire.
Nothing would be saved. Much better
for the farmer to pay the money and
have the brigands guard his crop for
him, for the soldiers could not guard it.
How if the farmer could not raise
the money!"
Senor-Oh, he must raise it some
how or other. There are no two ways
about it. He must raise the money.
what benefit does brigandage con-
fer on tho farmer?"
Senor-None at all. They have to
pay to support the brigands.
Then they are only on the side of
the robbers through fear?"
Senor-That is all.
why don't the authorities go to
lows? Are they in league with them?"
Senor-No, not in league with them,
but they don't go the right way about
it. They hear OF brigand camp and
start the soldiers out for it, and then
the farmers give the robbers notice
and they pack up and move about fif-
teen miles and camp again. There is
really no serious attempt to capture
them, for even if brigand is captured
he escapes again Immediately.
''How?"
Senor-The civil judges connive at
his escape, and in courts where the
judges are honest, as is now and then
the case, the clerk or some other official
loses the papers and the witnesses are
spirited away, so it is hopeless mat
ter trying to convict one of them.
lis there no way of stopping all
thisp"
Senor-There is.
'.How?"
The young senior rubbed his thumb
over his forefnger with a swift out
ward motion and smiled and shrugged
his shoulders.
Money, money, money" he said.
Offer a reward for each and you could
get all their heads in one wig. They
are all known. When Blanco was
Captain General of the island, eight
years ago, the brigands dared not say
boo. He caught them by the score
and killed sometimes thirty a day in
MORO Castle. If aptain-General
Marin was any kind of a man he
could do the same"
'.Does Marin get money for allow
ing the bandits to ply their trade in
peace?"
Senor-No. not Marin. But the
judges do. Some OF these are appoint
ed by the Spanish Government, others
by the civil governments of the-various
provinces, and others again are elected
by vote in which One-third of the
adult male population take part The
judges who are elected are the worst
of all"
How do voters qualify?"
SenOr-RY education and nrnnertv