The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-08-29
CHAPTER vI.-(continued.)
By II. S. Garfield

copyrighted, 1901, by D
CHAPTER VI.-(Continued)
We'll, it's evident that they are far
away by now and looking for them in
Mexico would be equivalent to looking
tor q needle in haystack, with the
difference that in this case the needle
has q Winchester carbine under its
right knee and there are good many
aeedles. Where did you say that those
cattle crossed?"
Bout TO- mile up de bank f'om de
ARROYO"
''But there is no ford near that
,point."
'Yass; dey ees fo'd deed not know
est till see de tr-racks, but dey ees
TOD: shot"
"A secret ford, Ell? That explains a
4 good many things in the loss of cattle
that we have never been able to I'M
derstand. That will do, Juan. Go
hack to your work and don't say any
thing to the other hands. Well have
TO DIX things with Senior Vavara,
guess
0lynn's indolent eyes were blazing.
He cared little about the value of the
host cattle, though it was of consider
able amount but for the fourth time
within year the noted Mexican
~smuggler and bandit had. outwitted
him and his associates and he was
,8rowing FESTIVE under it. The white
men held council of war. In their
talk these facts developed:
Ramon Vavara, supposedly former
omcer of the Mexican army, had ap-
peared upon the Rio Grande two years
before, coming from no one could say
where, further than that it was some
splace in the far interior of the strange
republic. He was not more than
thirty years old, handsome, an expert
"horseman, seemingly immune to ia
tgue and Of great daring and indus
try. He had gathered abut band of
some fifty frontier Mexicans, men with
No consciences, no fear and Intimately
acquainted with every road, path, hill,
prairie and cactus thicket in all that
armed, he had begun his career as
'smuggler, laughing at the few customs
omcers on either side of the river and,
In fact, protected in his wrong-deing
BY Americans and Mexicans alike.
They got from him cheaper goods and
-salved their consciences with the
thought that they were only doing as
their betters do in every port of the
world. Had Vavara stuck to snug
Cling he would have met with little
opposition. It was, however. too slow
. method of getting rich and he be-
.1Hn cattle-lifting. For hundred miles
up and down the river he kept the
fanchmen in state of dread. He stole
always from the American side, in
1tantly crossing the beeves into Mex
tco. Once there he was safe from pur-
suit, as neither state rangers nor
United States regulars dared to ira
worse that steam into foreign terri
tory for fear of international complica-
lions. Time and again they had re-
.oeived information of an intended
raid and rushed to the scene Of opera
lions, only to find broad trail lead
ing to the river, ending on this side
and beginning again on the other.
Once two rangers, made reckless by
chagrin, had followed into Mexican
territory. They disappeared into the
line Of hills and they did not come
hack. Members Of Vavara's band were
scattered in twos and threes among
the ranches on either side of the Rio
Grande. They hired themselves as cow
hands and it was impossible to identify
them until the harm had been done.
He kept with him always, however,
force of twenty to twenty-five picked
1ghters, sufficient to repel any ordin-
ary attack by customs guards or SOL
dIers.
In the conference on the rancho gall
fery it was noticeable that both Glynn
and Allyn, having vented their spleen
IN string of vigorous oaths, waited to
hear what Maude had to say. They
although he did not know that
they knew-that he was an expert in
the kind of war they had in contempla-
ton. He remained silent for five min
Htes, thinking deeply.
s.Come. old man, said Glynn at last.
LET us know what you have in your
head. Can't you think of any way to
xet at this devil and fix him SO that he
VIII let other folks property alone?"
~ well, z Maude answered slowly,
there is but one way to fight a man
IKE that. You must use the same
weapons, II he were in love with a
woman, now. and trusted her we might
aeconplish his ruin easily. have
1sard 81 such things being done"
No use,' said Allyn HE hasn't
aoush ssoul 81 him to love anybody.
HecaEss only FOR money and the cloth
~ ana food md drink that money will
rhen, Afauds went on, get after
- III the way he gets after u.s. You
% Tint he has = man on pretty nearly
Ilil rancho within a hundred miles