Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-07-22

49, ana the Tue pas
sengers. bored and bothered by a
long voyage in a hot climate, we're
only too glad to be amused. They
listened to his tales OF Mexico and
Mexican travel and pl ed him with
uuestiOns-ail save the girl who
had been to Mexico and who sank
deeper behind her paper and smiled
to herself when the we'll known
voice came to her, strong ana
steady above all minor noises.
"Friioles and chill, sir, are In
plain English, beans and red pep
per. There may be a viler dose
in the world, but l pray my pro-
tectlng saints that | may never De
called upon to taste it."
The talk thickened and the WO-
man behind her paper smiled more
broadly. He was really telling
the truth in spite. of the tempta-
ton Of a credulOus crowd. Yet,
she had suspected him once OF
speaking falsely. So strong had
been that suspicion, she had gone
away from home to break up a
friendship that was growing dan
gerously dear. To fall in love
with a man whose word could not
be absolutely believed in would be
q slap in the face that her self're'
spect might lind it difficult to sus-
tain.
ais it true that the century
plant blooms once in a hundred
years and then dies I" some one
asked.
f.FOr that / cannot speak posi-
lively. / was told though that 1t
really lives about twelve years
And l dare say the natives know
all about it, because they draw
their national drink from the heart
of the big Maguey. Cut out the
heart before the blooming and the
Juice collects in the hollow. One
plant yields from 100 to $50 gal
IOns.D
VWhy, how large is the plant 7
%sGood size. The leaves are ten
. or twelve feet long,"
"And this Juice is pulque ~
ttNO, sir ; this is aqua NELL
It must undergo a twenty-fouI
hour fermentation before it be.
comes the pulque."
cit seems an easy drink tt
make,n some one remarked Vag
uely.
eff it was not it would not b
made in Mexico" was the dry re
spouse.
"Oh, Mexico is waking mp"
ayes, unfortunately. MANN
is so much more Testful than pusl
and progress"
The girl behind the paper star
ted a little. A laugh from the biI
crowd brought her back to her sur
roundings in time to catch tn
question.
o'But, man alive, didn't 20.
have a single adventure in tina
land of romance z"
"No," he said slowly. "Mexic
is not so much that way as it use
to be. I did have what you nigh
call an adventure, too, but as
was more profitable than p%erilOul
perhaps I had better not mentio
it."
"Out with it, man."
"Then don't blame me If it fall
rather fiat. I suppose you hav
all heard of the Opals of Irapuat
NOT only the most beautiful ]
the world, but the most costly
we'll. This is an opal from Irapui
to. He took of ring as be spOl
and it was passed admiringly fro
hand to hand. fThat represen.
the profitable part of my advel
ture ; now for the peril. l WI
riding one night along a lone.
road that skirted a great hacienC
when I was startled by the shri
scream Of a woman. l face
around and caught the quick be
Of horses hoofs. The woml
screamed again, but this time Il
cry was cut short as though q bar
had been clapped rudely over b
mouth. The drumming hoOfs DIRE
rapidly nearer. OF course I q
derstood that the scOundrel hi
stolen the girl and was making 1
the mountains as fast as horse deI
could carry him. But what was
to do about itf A Mexican is \
only a good shot he is alwa.
ready to shoot. II I attempted
stop him the contents Of q rev'
yer would be all / could expect
capture, whereas I dare not We
tnre 3 shot myself for fear Of XII
ing the, girl / meant to rescue.
just then the moon threw its fl