The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1914-05-29
THE LITTLE
MEXICAN
b. DANIEL c. HALE

was in Mexico examining Il NINE
for New York capitalists when frcSi-
dent Madero was assassinated Ia
IIuerta took his place.
Fortunately for me, | had completed
my work when the revolution broke
ont and managed to get a tram loI
Vera cruz. where | intended to en-
bark for the United states. 1t was
not Il pleasant journey by any means.
80 one knew whether the new COY
prnment would permit the tram TO 90
through or intercept it on the way lor
The purpose of getting it, hands on an
enemy or whether adherents OF the
old regime would take revenge on
some one who had been prominent IN
bringing about the change. At a niue
station barely ten miles from vera
cruz the train stopped and remained
stationary so long that | concluded to
walk the rest Of the way.
Everybody went about armed. ana
was no exception To the ruIe. But |
had my vouchers about me tlat ! was
= United states citizen. and | relied
for safety more on being able 10 prove
myself a foreigner than ON my arlna-
mcnt. though | confess il would nave
Dapn better for me 10 have been al
most any Other foreigner than 4 @Ilil@o.
ann Il good walker and believed |
unuld be able 10 do the distance IN
TWO TO two and a half hours. !
stepped ont briskly. enjoying the
~~trctchin" of my LEGS far more than
sitting in Il train which for all any one
could find out might remain where II
tin another revolution had been
lccompli. he'd. As | walked | remcm-
Eprcd that | was on the road Cortes
and his adventures passed over when
they were beginning their memorable
march to the capital of Montezuma. ]
looked ahead. fancying that | could
sec their head of column coming up
the declivity.
| didn't see the mailed Spaniard. but
| did see the back of a man-rather a
boy he Saemed-walking ahead of me
and in the same direction | was going.
| soon caught up with him. and from
his dark complexion. his coal black
and long lashes | knew him TO
he n Mexican. There was no n near
us. ana | ~accosted him in Spanish.
| spoke indifferently. bidding
him good day and remarking that il
Il fine morning.
lie seemed very shy. But the Me1i
can people have not that self reliance
common among US of the United
and | did not expect him 10
meet me halfway. Besides. he was
boyish looking and even for Il boy del
in appearance. The only sign or
ru@gedncsS about him was Il color IN
cheeks. He looked at me askancc
and rs though he had no desire for my
company until | told him that ! was a
of the United States. when he
began to ask me questions about how
he should get from Vera Cruz to IN
American port. when and to Wha;
point tie steamer sailed. what was the
fare and other information desirable
for one who intended TO make the
journey.
| told him what | knew on the sub
icct and then began to talk about 9th
cr things. I found him willing to Goa
except upon the subject of the
revolution. No sooner did | mention
anything. however remotely connected
with the revolution. than he shut, up
like an oyster.
Occasionally | would glance aside ut
him when ! knew he was not aware Of
it and say on his face indications that
he was under the influence Of some
powerful emotion. | would have liked
to gain his confidence that | might
what moved him. but | did no
believe this possible, 50 ! did not try.
However, as we proceeded on our way
together he ceased to appear anxious
to get rid of me. and before we reach
cd Vera Cruz he seemed to consider
me something Of Il protector.
Finally | vcntured to ask him about
what he would do ut Vera Cruz. ana
he told rae le vas going to sail ON the
first vessel leaving for the United
replied that ! was going
also and we would be fellow passen-
gers together. When we We're enter
ing the city he surprised me by hand
ing me his purse and asking me TO buy
steamer ticket for him
Fortunately for US both a steamer
to sail early the next morning.
and we wee permitted 10 20 aboard Ut
once. The young nan retired TO his
Stateroom. and | saw him no more
that day.
In the morning | was walking the
deck while the ship was making some
knots an hour over the gulf. |
saw coming up the companionway the
counterpart of the boy who had been
my fellow traveller the day before.
I;ut this person was a girl. The first
thing that caught her eye on emerging
from below was the stars and stripes
flying from the peak. a relieved eX-
preston came over her face. and |
knew she was saying to herself.
''Thank heaveni"
"Aha. senOsita." ! said. II suspect
cd yesterday hat you We're not mas
culine."
"Oh. Senor." she replied. you were
very good to me. At first ! wished to
get rid Of you. but at last | felt that