The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-06-21
Copyright. 1910. bg Frank A. Munsey.,
CHAPTER TX.

Not the least of the causes which
have brought Mexico to the brink OF
che abyss H. the tendless quarrel be-
tween church and state, which has al
most destroyed the sanctity OF mar
riage and left, besides. a pitiful her.
ttage of deserted women and father.
less children as its toll.
Many an honest laborer has peoned
himself to pay the priest for his mar
Tiage, only to be told that It iH not
legal In the eyes. OF the law: and many
another, married by the Judge has
been gravely informed by the padre
that the woman ia only his mistress,
and the children born out of wedlock.
So that nows 70 be:sufe that she sts
welded, q woman must be married
twice, and many Q couple, on account
Of the prohibitive fees. are never mar.
ried at ALL
Cruz Mendez was no different from
the men of his class, and he believed
honestly that he was married to the
comely Maria: but Hooker could have
enlightened him on that point II he
had cared to do It. -
Bud was playing game, with the
Eagle Tail mine for a stake; and, be-
ing experienced at poker. he stood pat
and studied his hand. Without doubt
Mendez had lost his usefulness as q
locator OF the mine. since Maria was
not his legal wife ;and could not sign
the transfer papers as such. Accord.
Ing to the law of the land. the woman
now living with Aragon's mayprdottac
was the 'legitimate" wife Of the con-
tract. and she alone could release title
to the mine once Mendez denounced
the claim.
But MehdeE hAd~ not yet denounced
the claim-though Tor, period Of
some thirty days. yet he had the 9ex-
elusive privilege 6f doing soG;atid Bud
{ did not intend that he should.
Meanwhile they must walk softly.
ioavins Aragon 70 .still hug the .delu-
sion that ne would soon, through mis-
mayordoMo. have them In his power
and when the full sixty days Ct Cruz
Mendez's mining permit had expired
they could locate the mine again.
:But.how-and through whom? That
was the question, that Bud was study.
ing upon when Phil rode up the trail.
and IN his abstraction he barely re-
turned his gay greeting.
Well. cheer up. old top!" cried De-
Lancey. throwing his bridle-reins to
the ground and striding up to the tent.
What ho. let down the portcullis, me
lord seneschai! And cease your vain
repining, A,gernon--onrtpapers are all
OK. and the lawyer says to 60 ahead,
But that isn't half the news! Say. .we
had q dance up at the hotel last night
and met"
Yes--sure you did," broke in Bud;
"but listen to this!", And he told him.
ofrEl Tuerto's matrimonial entanglo-
merts.
why, the crooked devil!" exclaimed
De- Lancey. leapins up at the finish.
"Oyexla Meldezl"
Don't say q word" warned BUD,
epringing 10 the tent door to intercept
him, Hof you1l put -ug out OF buSineBs!
tbs nothing" he continued In Spanish
asMendex cams ont fof his house. ...hutT
put Don Felipe'af ihorse In the corral
when, he is cool.'"'
f'Sis senor--withs great pleasureir
smirked Mendez. running, To- ixet the
horse, and aftef he had departed Bud
turned back ana shook his head. g
we can't afford TO quarrel With Mf..
Mendez." he said !. because II Aragcfi
ever gets hold -off him we're ditohed.
jest let everything run ON like we'd
overlooked something until, I,sths+Sixty
days are up-then, II 1ga sEe ts awssiitys
sufkh 10