The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-02-01
4 Flower Of the Crazed.
\ By John Adams.

that the "Pacifico" ever had in their
employ. At home in New York he was
a club member, one Of the bright and
shining lights in the Engineers union.
and, lastly, engaged to marry Miss
Kent, daughter and heiress Of old
duff" Kent. Kirby had her picture,
and once, in n fit of unwonted friend
illness, showed it to me. She was not
so very pretty-too thin and fragile
for that. But it was sweet, pure
spirited face, and thought then that
Kirby was lucky man.
At that time we were travelling
along at pretty rapid rate in the
Acapulco direction and surveying out
more miles per day than you would
believe, were to tell you. Under the
circumstances, all the tents and equip
ment, including the commissary de-
chief, with his wife Juana as cook.
were moved along with us each day.
This quick work only lasted, of course,
so long as we were in good survey
ing country; soon we got to the ST.
erras, or Guerrero, mountains, ard
then we had to call showdown and
take things more quietly.
Old Juana, in spite of her age and
flesh (she weighed close on to 25o),
had held out pretty well, considering
the amount of cooking she did and
the way in which she had been hus-
tied across the state of Guerrero. No
sooner had we reached the "Buena Fe"
canyon, however, than she gave out
completely and said that she must
have an assistant cook. Kirby turned
the matter over to me. / asked Juana
if we should bring her down man
cook from the City of Mexico. mo.
senor;" she would have no rude, awk-
ward man pottering about her tent
and braseros. If the senior would give
leave, Consuelo would willingly come.
Consuelo was her niece, and very
good and simpatica girl, too. She was
now in Chilpancingo with her mother,
but would surely come to her old Tia
Mt the word. How much would the
senior pay for the services that Con-
suelo would lend? Fifteen pesos?
Good; then the girl should be notified
at once.
About a week later Consuelo ar
rived. She was not much on the cook
though her frijoles refritos were
good-and l do not think she ever did
more than wash the dishes and keep
the brasero going. But she was, out
and out, the handsomest savage have
ever seen, with her six feet of strong,
beautiful body, and the eyes and face
OF d ---edy queen. Lot. Of such
women are to be seen throughout
Guerrero, but I do not remember a
grander woman in all my trips than
Consuelo. Not that am much in ia
vor Of big, handsome, blaek-eyed wom-
en-; they generally have the devil in
them somewhere, and sooner or later
it breaks out. But even so, you could
not help admiring Consuelo.
Our total force comprised about 80
men, over half of whom were MeXi-
cans and peones. Being pretty well
up on the genus Mexicano, had long
ago informed old Juana that we would
have no flirtations in camp; If Con-
suelo wished to remain and gain her
SIS per month she must have nothing
to say to the men. 1t was against dis
cipline, and Senor Kirby would not
have it. Juana smiled quietly and
,,,,tl ln,
need have no care; he does not know
Consuelo. 1t would be q brave man
who attempts to molest her in her
work." So went away, convinced, in
spite of my knowledge of the Mexican
character.
At this time we had emerged from
the canyon and were surveying across
a swampy, Misunderstanding bit of
country. We had our breakfast and
turned out every morning at sun-up,
and l can tell you that it was bitter
cold work, ut that. In spite of our
heavy clothes we all shivered steadily
until the sun got up well beyond the
mountains, after which we would bake
Until \1uCiS SiSdt
fun in railroading over tropical coun.
tries, assure youD And then soon
the rainy season burst on us. which
added to the discomfort Of things
Many day we worked in Shiny, un-
healthy water, up to our knees-some.
times up to our waists. This, quite nat
urally, was not conducive to good
health. and the men began to sicken-
particularly the Mexicans, who have
no stamina, anyway. We white men,
got along all right, even though we
had slight touches of chills and fever
and we worked along steadily, doing
double work to each man, and cover.
ing ground nicely, in spite of all the
drawbacks.
Soon we drew out of the worst coun'
try; the Mexicans got well enough tc
work again. and Kirby hustled us along
at good rate, in spite of the fact that
he was even then shaking and burning
by turns with the Guerrero fever.
argued with him, but to no avail, try
Y a u III