Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-07

I
him to college, and since he could get
his lessons without much study he de-
voted his spare time to mischief Be
fore the close of his sophomore year
he was caught laying a fuse to set Off
a cannon cracker under the chair or
one of the professors and expelled.
Going home under such circum-
stances was not to Jacks taste. SO he
enlisted in the United states navy.
But, exciting the antagonism of a petty
officer, his life on shipboard was not a
happy one. One evening when the Of
ficer was giving him tongue flashing
Jack knocked him down and jumped
into the water The ship was lying at
anchor at Vera Cruz, and under cover
OF the darkness that was coming on
Jack swan ashore, and, although
posse was sent after him, he was not
found, and his ship sailed without him.
This was at the time when Madero
was depoSed from the presidency OF
Mexico and General Felix Diaz was
making himself prominent in the af-
fairs of that country, famous for its
revolutions. Jack enlisted under Diaz.
was captured in arms and with num-
Der of others set apart to be shot. Be
ing an American citizen, he would
have had an excellent chance for his
life by applying to the American con-
sui to interfere in his behalf. But by
this course he you'd be turned over to
the United States navy to be punished
for mutiny and desertion, either one of
which was pretty serious onense.
But Jack, who seemed born for trou-
BILE, made more for himself. Just be-
fore the prisoners were to be shot they
were given an opportunity to enlist in
the federal army in the service of
Huerta, and Jack availed himself Of
it, thereby again becoming a deserter.
The new recruits soon found them
selves in the City of Mexico, where
Jack lived the life of an inactive sol
der. During this time he picked up
enough knowledge of the Spanish Ian
guage to be able to converse in it. His
for hairbreadth escapes
rendered his stay at the capital irk-
some, and he persuaded himself that
the Constituencies were the true
friends of good government, and their
activity also attracted him.
Fortunately, as he considered 1t, he
was sent out with his regiment to OPP |
pose General Villa and at the first OPP !
pOrtunity deserted to join the forces |
Of that chief. adding one more to his |
offenses punishable with death. This |
was Jacks last desertion, for he was |
with a number of others in |
arms against the Huerta forces and
lgain ordered TO execution.
Jack, now being in the interior,
thought he might claim to be an Amer
can citizen without being turned over
70 the navy. so he sent in a protest
against being executed on that ground.
An order came for him to be taken to
he commander of the force that cap
ured him, and he appeared before that
officer for examination. During the
questioning Jack incidentally referred
o his having been student at a uni
-ersity in the United States. At this
he officer pricked up his ears and
lSked if he was competent to prepare
boy for college. Jack said that he
vas. The officer asked him to repeat
in the Latin language. and
lack gave him the first few lines OF
Tergils "Aeneid." This appeared TO
satisfy the officer, who said to the
,uard who had brought the prisoner to
lin:
Leave him with me. He is a Unit
d States citizen
When the guard had departed the
General told Jack that he had a son
iXteen years old who desired to enter
ne of the United States universities
nd IF Jack could get him ready to do
o within a year his life would be
pared; if not he would be turned over
o the Mexican army officials to be shot
or deSertiOn.
Jack. who had not been so far from
cath since he deserted from the Unit
d States navy. accepted the terms
lady. Besides, a year was q long
rhile for Mexico to remain under one
Overnment, and quite likely Huerta
'ould within the period give place to
mother.
The general turned Jack over to his
rderly, who was ordered to take him
, his hacienda. not far distant. On
eaching the hacienda the prisoner
ltor was received by the major domo. !
.amon Casio, crafty looking man. OF
alf Spanish. half Indian, blood. II.
ltroduced Jack to the family, includ-
lg his pupil.
Or for fear he would add another TO
IS many assertions. The moment he
IT eyes on the generals daughter.
osa, two years older than her broth
:. Alfonso. the candidate for college.
@ was perfectly satisfied to stay
here he was. Rosa was Il dark eyed
eauty. with an olive complexion
nged with red and a mellihuous 4
Dice. 1t was not long before she
armed just how many executions the
ltor had hanging over him. and she
we'd him for every one Of them sen
rately. Indeed, she loved him so /
ell that before he had been under
lie same roof With her very long she {
lded another desertion TO his record.
lack sized up the pupil. whose name =
as Alfonso, and was not SO we'll
leased with the condition on which