Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1914-06-05

headed for Aqua Negra across the line.
It was grim place to look at, this
border town of Aqua Negra, for the
war had swept it twice. A broad waste
OF level land lay between it and the
American city, and across
this swath, where the Mausers and
guns had twice moved, lay
the huddle Of low houses which
marked the domain of Mexico.
Pussy little customs officials, lurk-
Ing like spiders in their cooped-up
guardhouses, rushed out as they
crossed the deep trench and demanded
their permit to bear arms The mo-
ment they crossed the line the air |
seemed to be pervaded with Latin ex-
citability and Indian jealousy, but De |
Lancey replied in ford Spanish and |
before his polite assurances and full
some compliments 1t was dissipated In |
q moment
Good! Pass on, AMIGOS" cried the
beady-eyed little jefe, pasting label
on their pack. "Adios, senor," he
added, returning Pills salute with a
military flourish, and with scornful
glance at Bud he observed that the
gentleman was muy caballero.
HUH" remarked Bud, as they rode
on through the town, we're in Mexico
all right, all right. Talk with both
hands and get busy with your eye
brows-and holy Joe. look at them
pelones!"
The pelones referred to were a
squad Of Mexican federal soldiers, So
called from their heads being shaved,
and they were marching doggedly to
and fro through the thorny mesquit
bushes In response to shouted orders
from an officer. Being from Zacatecas,
where the breed is short, they stood
about as high as their guns; and their
| crumpled linen suits and tapping san
dals detracted sadly from the soldierly
effect.
Big and hulking, and swelling with
them over slowly, and spoke his hid
den thought.
II wonder" he said, turning to Phil,
chow many of them l could lick with
one hand?"
well, they're nothing but lot OF
petty convicts, anyway" answered De
Lancey, "but here's some boys ahead
that I'll bet could hold you, man fol
man. husky as you are, old fellow"
They were riding past store, now
serving as an improvised barracks
and romping about in the streets were
, pair of tall Yaqui Indians, each deco
rated with cartridge-belt about hi
hips in token Of his military service
And group of others, summing
| themselves against the wall, looked u
at the Americans with eyes as fearles
! as mountain eagles.
Eyes, that's right" admitted But
$ returning their friendly greeting, "bu
: We'll never have no trouble wit
0 them"
|, well, these Nacionales are not 8
: bad" defended Phil, as they passe
the state soldiers Of Sonora on tn
y street, "but they're just as friendly a
n the Yaquis.'
O "Sure," jeered Bud, when they'1
b sober! But you get bunch of 'el
S drunk and ask EN- what they think {
O the gringos! No, you got to show m
t, I've seen too much of EN-"
d "You haven't seen as much of 'el
r as l have, yet," retorted De Lance
e quickly. 1--WE been all over the repu
70 lie, except right here in Sonora, and
IS swear these Sonorans here look goo
4 to me. There's no use holding
crouch against them Bud = the
lie haven't done us any dirt"
n mo, they never had no chance
1t grumbled Bud, gazing grimly to tt
to south But wait till the hot wealth
"a comes and the revoltosos come out
Id their holes; wait till them Chihuah1
greasers thaw out up in the Sierr
/: and come down to get some fire.
]: mounts. Well, I'll tell 'em one thing
la he ended, reaching down to pat b
x horse, they'll never get old Copp
is Bottom here-not unless they ste
ir him at night. It's all right to be chez
full about this, Phil, and you keep rig
IN on being glad, but l got a low-do1
r; bunch that we're going to get in bat
It, well, I've got just as good huncl
er came back De Lancey, that we're ,
st ing to make a killing"
ng Eyes, and speaking about killing
Wv said Bud, you don't want to overlo
MS that"
de He pointed at group Of dism;
tied adobe buildings standing out
at the edge of the town and f1anked BY