The Washington times., 1904-07-24
CHAPTER III.
A Stranger in a Strange CITY


l might recount the many incidents ~
my journey 70 the City of Mexico. but
they have little to do with the nara
ton or the events which are to follow.
More than once ! found myself in a
tlght place. / was led out OF nv way
oy my guide. entrapped by bandits. ar
rested as spy starved. scorched by
the sun, and made a target for guerrilla
bullets. IL was a wonder that 7 e.
capped with my life
II would seem that the fates were
against me- and had 1 possessed less
courage and determination I fully he
lieve that ] would have been tempted TO
turn back But. after all. a danger once
passed. does not invite one TO turn back
70 meet ii again l was nearing my
destination all the time, and / was en-
couraged by the thought that my jour
ney would soon be at an end.
1t may have been well for me that
did not know what difficulties were be-
fore me, and that the greatest danger
was to be encountered after 1 had
reached the capital.
The Mexican, Fernandez, recommend
ed by Martin, did not disappOint me in
proving himself 10 be a villain. Not
only was he a coward. falling me at a
honest and treacherOus. believe that
he would have deserted me entirely had
il not been that he was afraid OF losing
the hundred pesos 1 had agreed TO pay
him.
i knew that ne wOcld rob lie did OPP
pOrtunity offer. and was constantly on
nv guard. Night after night I lay with
pistol under my head, and slept. as it
were. with one eye open Few persons.
/ dare say. ever had the misfortune 10
be inflicted with a worse guide than this
| fellow; who, though in my pay. and un-
der every moral obligation 10 serve me,
was secretly my enemy.
| I even cOnsideTed-after We left san
| Luis Potosi where he nearly succeeded
| in betraying me into the hands Of the
| Conservatives as being a Liberal-the
| advisa bflity Of holding court and con-
shutting myself both judge and execU-
tor Had I really been attached 10 the
Liberal cause 1 would have been per-
/ fectly justified in shooting him
| 1 did not, however, resort TO this ex-
IRENE measure, but when we reached
! QueTetaro. much 10 his surprise, paid
/ him OF in full and discharged him.
deeming it less dangerous TO travel with
out him. ! sincerely hoped that / would
never see him again, but l was not yet
rid Of him, for l was 10 have other evil
! denccs of his treachery. as it afterward
| turned out
/ But in the end he met a fate he de-
served; for soon after Miranon made his
| second expedition TO Vera Cruz, Fernan-
/ DEE was taken by the guerrilla leader.
| Carbajal, and shot near Tlascala-
| / can only say that Martin served me
/ well. / owe IL 10 him that 1 succeeded
/ who warned me against Fernandez, and
/ in one instance enabled me 10 change
my plans and SO defeat him in his at
! tempt 10 betray me into the hands OF
/ the Conservative general. ROmulO de la
/ Vega. After this act Of good faith
was willing TO give him credit for having
/ been deceived in Fernandez, when he
! induced ne TO employ him.
! 1t was the last Of July, and the rainy
] season had already set in. before We
! reached the capital W. We're rather
/ long on the journey. as we had been
/ obliged TO deviate from our direct route
/ and 10 remain In cOncealmeht once OF
twice for a short time until armed par
ties had moved past us.
The last of our journey was through
! a country which had already felt the
/ hardShips Of war. It had been run over
! and plUndered by the armies OF both
parties. Towns in some places were in
/ ruins. Part of San Luis. POtosi had been
destroyed. and from there on We trav-
in the wake of an army. The field:
were neglected. houses deserted. work
| suspended. and in the towns masses
We're being said in the churches.
| Continued Next Sunday)