Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-02-28
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j. j. Smith, Mexican miner In
commercial life, has had some adven.
turous experiences along the southern
border. Some of his stories, which he
narrated in an offhand, colloquial man.
ner the other day over his coffee at the
club, are interesting.
In speaking of the character Of that
country, he said man might be asked,
What Is your name?" and, respond
ing, Smith" 1t was considered no af-
front to be asked next, What was
your name in the States?" The ques-
ton would be put with cool candor, for
deception Is supposed to be the natur-
al atmosphere of that locality, and the
stranger with a clear past record is
rarity
Smith stated that cowboys meet
lonely plain stretches, and it is gen.
orally attributed to their being thrown
from their ponies. The Mexican miner
assigned more definite reason for the
disappearance, however, having had
close calls himself to quit the world,
but not through the medium of frac-
tous pony. He had had trouble with
Yaqui Indians, but the Yaquis were
really amiable in comparison with the
freebooter of the blistered alkali
plains. His own personal experience
was that the half-naked Indian, CLASH
fed as lower in civilization, was appre-
Gladly less dangerous than a pictures
quely caparisoned Spaniard.
Smith was travelling one day over a
stretch of country where mans best
friend is his lariat and his gun; where
the longest shadow is cast by the cac-
tus, where there is no evidence of ami
NAL life but buzzard circling in the
air, and where the distant, dim outline
of an adobe hut or of mountain looks
friendly.
A figure appeared against the hori-
zon, and as it grew more distinct it
proved to be the outline of rider
and horse. Soon bronzed face under
dark sombrero was visible.
Smith stealthily put his hand on the
trigger of his revolver.
"Buenos dias, senor," said Lopez,
the enchanting rider, bestowing fine
Spanish smile on the Mexican miner.
Smith returned the salutation
In another instant, in a mere trice
Of time, the lariat of Lopez cut it's
course through the air (for the genial
greeting was mere decoy), but Smith
had already drawn his revolver and
shot the horse of the Spaniard. The
horse fell over and rolled upon Lopez,
momentarily holding him fast. Lopez
alternately called on the saints to aid
him and begged Smith for mercy. The
came to the freebooter's rescue, but
his mercy was rpt withheld, and Lopez
went on his way rejoicing.
If Smith had been less vigilant, the
lariat of Lopez would have done it's
purposed work, and Smith would have
disappeared as mysteriously as the
cowboys of current history; the cause,
not fractions pony, but a fatally GER
tain lariat.
Time slipped by. Smith had occa-
sion again to traverse the arid table
land under a brilliant tropical sun
This time not single horseman but
a whole company was discernible in
the distance, and when the riders came
in full view the cavalcade was headed
by none other than the adventurous
Lopez. This time the greetings that
were exchanged were more sincere.
Not an outlaw made a move against
leader had warned them. Lopez re-
membered too distinctly the certain
aim of Smith-possibly, also, his
mercy.