The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-10-10

funeral and one of those unfortunate
dishonored widows. The scene shifts
to the man on the trail riding
southwark seeking salty in Mexico.
McGee entered Mexico at Eagle
Pass taking the mountain trail lead
ing west of chihuahua.
On hot August afternoon he was
riding down a valley, his horse pick
ing it's way cautiously among the
stones of the trail which was cross
ed and recrossed by swift mount
ain stream dozen times TO the mile.
The trees were clothed in luxuriant
foliage. The pomegranates were in
full bloom, the bright red blossoms
standing out with a background of
dark green. Now and then he pass
ed few Mexican women squatting
by the edge of the stream, washing
clothes by rubbing them over the
surface of fiat stone, while their
naked children played and splashed
in the water near by.
McGee was mentally oblivious to
the Gorgeous beauty Of nature and
the picturesque native women
whom he passed. Fear and remorse
were weighing too heavily upon
him to notice any of these things.
He kept his eyes steadily on the
trail ahead, with a mad desire to
penetrate farther and farther into
Mexico, and loose himself forever
from his own people.
Keeping the course of the stream
the mountains were gradually left
behind, then the foothills and at
last came the rolling plain stretching
away to the savanns whose sands
absorbed the water of the mountain
stream.
Before taking the trail crossing
the vast stretch of savanna or desert
region, McGee took the precaution
of inquiring at the last rancho the
places where water was located in
the desert. The old Mexican who
lived at the rancho courteously in
formed him of the various oroyos
and approximately estimated the
distance between each.
His trip across the desert was
hard. Vegetation was sparse:
farther in Spanish bayonet and pal
mettos took the place of the hardy
mescete and sagebrush. Arriving
at the first oroyo indicated by the
old Mexican, McGee found the dis
tance correct enough, but instead Of
finding water it proved to be ar
oroyo seco (dry). Pushing on to the
next where he thought surely there
would be water, he found it as dry
as the first. Burning with thirst
tired and covered with alkali dust
his horse weakened from fatigue
and lack of water, and with miles O
; desert still to be crossed, McGe'
: was discouraged and thought lucl
) was against him. Whether the ole
t Mexican purposely deceived h n
because he was a hated gringo O
! wheter he did it in ignorance, Niece
l never knew. A man of less X
3 perience than McGee or one of
+ superstitious nature, thus hardened
+ with remorse would certainly hav'
$ perished. But McGee was neithe
t superstitious nor inexperienced
t Having been in the saddle ever,
;. since he was old enough to ride an(
= knowing the strength and enduranc
of horse, he was able t. conserv
+ the animals strength as well as hi
Y own until he reached water t h
o following day.
l Looking out across the desert b
Y saw family outlined in the distanc
I the cliff-like hills where the city Q
o chihuahua lie S; banked up thes
It hills and far away on the sk7lin
were the blush peaks of the Tar
!. ahumare range.
n Arriving at chihuahua, a wear
: dust stained traveller, MeGee sol
IL his horse receiving about one thir
IS of its real value, and immedjatel
II started to find employment. Th
Il Spanish and French business men t
e whom he applied were polite i
J. declining his services, on the ground
|. that he was not familiar with tn
e Spanish language, but when he az
It piled to Mexican firms he was hel
is in unveiled open contempt. II
t. wardly he cursed these Mexican
a but down in his heart he knew tn.