Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-10-01
The Land of Broken Promises
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Seventeen thousand rounds OF the
precious thirty.thirties had. been de-
Hyered 10 the excited miners and now,
except for what few the Americans had
saved, there Was not a cartridge In
camp Very soberly the superintendent
assured the leaders that he had no
more; they pointed at the full belts OF
the American guard and demanded
them as their right: and when the
Americans refused TO yield they few
into a rage and threatened.
AL in all, II was a pItiful exhibition
Of hot-heAdedness and imbecility. and
only the firmness Of the superintend-
ent prevented = real splitting OF blood.
The Mexicans retired In a hun and
broke into the cantina, and as the
night camo on the valley re-echoed TO
their drunken shoutings.
Such was war as the Sonorans con-
ceived It. when Hooker, standing his
guard IN the corredoT, encountered
Gracia Aragon on her evening walk.
he could scarcely conceal a grin.
What are you laughing at, Senior
Hooker?" she demanded with asperity.
is Il so pleasant. with a houseful OF
frightened women and screaming chill
dren. that you should make fun Of our
piight?"
NO. indeed" apologiLed Bud: moth
ing Ike that. Sure must be bad In
there-l stay outside myself But
reckon it'll soon be over with. The
harfr1Au ha-a t. uAxt ~
all their ammunition and reckon the
rebels have done the same. Like as
not they'll all be gone tomorrow. and
then you can go back home"
"Oh. thank you for thinking about
me-" she returned with a scornful curl
OF the lip. But IL all men were as
open as you, Mr. Hooker. we women
would never need TO ask a question.
This morning you told me | did not
know what was talking about--now
presume you are thinking what cow
ards the Mex.eans are!
"Oh. knowi You need not deny It,
You are nothing but great big-Te-
jano! Yes. was going to say brute.
but you are friend OF dear Pills. and
so I will hold my tongue. II II wasn't
for that, I'd" She paused. leaving
him to guess.
oh, I do wish he were here" she
breathed, leaning YEARLY against the
white pillar OF an arch and gazing
down through the long arcade.
1T was so close in there" she con-
tinued, Il could not stand 1t q minute
longer These Indian women, you
know-they weep and moan all the
time And the children am so sorry
for them. / cannot go now, because
they need me; but tomorrow-n Phil
we're here-I would leave and ride for
| the line.
Have you seen Del Rey today? No
/ Then all the better-he must be polio
ing the town. IL Is only OF. him | an
afraid. These rebels are hothing-
agree with youl MOI am not angr!
with you at all now! But tomorrow
Just at dusk, when all is still as 1t Il
at this time, then. II Phil we're her
| would mount my brave horse an
ride out by the western pass"
She ended rather inconclusively, lei
ting her voice trail OF wistfully as sh
waited for him to speak, but somethin
within moved Hooker to hold hi
peace, and he looked out over the tow
|, without commenting on her plans.
, was evident TO him that she was dete
mined to enlist his sympathy and II
yolye him in her wild plot, and eac
time the conversation veered in ths
direction he took refuge In a stubbor
+. silence.
What are you thinking OF, NJ
q Hooker" she asked at last, as b
gazed into the dusk. Sometimes
, scold you and sometimes l try
= please you, but never know what yc
think! did not mean that when
!, said could read your thoughts--yc
are go different from poor, dear Phil
IN "M-m-m," mumbled Bud, shifting h
feet, and his face turned little grir
- "Aha!" she cried with ill-conceal,
70 satisfaction. you do not like me
y call him like that, do you? Poor, de
n. hil,'-like that! But do you kno
m why / do It? It Is to punish you Z
IN never coming near me-when l sign,
to you-when l waited for you-lol
e. ago! All. you we're so cruel! l wal
be ed to know you-you were a cowbC
as and thought you we're brave enoul
a TO defend me-but you always 70
"a right by. Yes. that was it--but Pl
Is. was different! He came when Sc
re- for him; he sang songs to me at nigh
err he took my part against Manuel (
Rey: and now"
yn "Yes!" commented Bud brusk
es with his mind on dear Phil's" fnii
he and she turned TO peer into his fac
as 80 that is IT." she said. You
lily not trust me. You think that am I
ng your friend-that will serve you
,es he was served. Is that what you {
nd thinking?"
IN Something like that" admit
to- Hooker. leaning lazily against I
to mud wall. only reckon don't thl
just the way you do
n - a