The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-04-25
AN ADVENTURE IN MEXICO
DY FRANK II. CONVERSE.

Twelve thousand dollars was big sum
to carry on ones person in such lawless
country as Mexico, at the time of which
l speak-when they were running the
first railway through from Pas del Norte
to the capital.
For then the country was overrun with
desperadoes of every description, of
which horse thieves and desperate ad-
venturers of all kinds were only the milder
types. The diligencia was ''held up
about once month, and quite frequently
the driver was in collision with the road
agents, or ''banditti, as they called them
1t was this latter fact, in part, which
led me to make my journey from Orvieto
to Pachuca-then the temporary terminus
Of the railway-on horseback, though a
desire to sec something of this most
romantic part of the beautiful country
had some influence upon my decision.
was then the paymaster for this
division, and was conveying the amount
of which | told you to the general super
intendent at the terminus, with instruc-
lions to get it there as soon as possible
a strike having been threatened among
the Mexican laborers. And SO, mounted
on tough little horse of the mustang
breed, / set out with my money in a
small valise strapped to the saddle
and hidden from view by an old fash
Toned cloak it was my fancy to wear
while travelling
Well, if you have ever been in Mexico,
you can readily understand how delight
full horseback journey must be at the
pleasantest time of the year through some
of the most charming scenery in the
world.
The road wound through fertile valleys
and between lofty mountain ridges, past
coffee and sugar plantations and beautiful
haciendas belonging to the Weather
residents Here and there were pictur-
esque villages nestled at the base of the
lofty hills, while far away against the
clear blue sky were the twin peaks o!
Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl, covered
with perpetual snow.
Nothing Of special interest happened
till the third day, when I reached the lit
tie hamlet of Tampasca, some thirty mile
from Pachuca, my destination My hors
was beginning to flag bit, and, desirou
of giving him a rest, resolved to lay b,
for the rest Of the day, if l could finc
proper accommodations, and finish IN,
Journey upon the morrow.
But wretched pulqueria, or drinkin,
house Of the lowest order, was the onl
stopping place could find. And tn
sinister appearance of the half doze
brigandish looking vacqueros and cabal
leros Longing about the entrance dc
cided me that this at least was no sal
place for an American with twelve thor
sand dollars in gold in his possession
stay-even long enough to bait his hors,
As sat in my saddle debating what W,
best to do under the circumstances,
mounted horseman rode slowly past. "
exchanged quick glances. l saw at ont
that he was European bona darl
smooth, keen visaged man, with pair
intensely black and glittering eyes, whic
seemed to bore one through like gimle
Refining up his horse, he lifted his vic
brimmed hat courteously. 81 beg yol
pardon" he said, t'but l sec you are
American and stranger as well. Elst
lowering his voice-s'you would har,
ly be seeking Refreshments for man ar
beast in this hole, where the brigar
Manuel Speros makes his headquarte
whenever he happens this way"
Now, had heard of this Manuel sin
coming to Mexico, and as you may be 6
s,red, had no desire to meet him, pa
ticularly with such a sum of money in 4
possession. And, as briefly as possible
explained the situation, giving my nc
acquaintance, who introduced himself
John Gordon, to understand that | W
taking an equestrian trip through Il
particular section simply from freak
my own.
'sYou will come home with me"
said at once. ''My hacienda is small, /
can at least make you comfortable, a
countryman of my own is peril
godsend."
Overriding my protestations, which
confess were rather faint, Gordon, W
gentle insistence, led the way and as
rode slowly through the outskirts of
village, he told me by snatches somethi
of his personal history, which l found
tremely interesting, though of course
too long to give in anything like detail
1t is sufficient for the purposes of