Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-08-13

town has been put under martial law
and the captain Is In full charge They
quarreled over the favor OF lady, and
now your friepd is in jail"
4 didn't see him when ] come by,@
observed Hooker.
"Ah. no-nOt in the carcel-in the
Quartet. the guardhouse OF the
rurales!"
:Much obliged" nodded Bud. and
rode on through the town. The street
Of the Mexican quarter was filled
with strange people hurrying to and
fro; long pscktrains loaded with
trunks and curious bundles came
swinging up from below; and pair OF
rurales, looking fierce under their
huge sombreros stood guard by the
Quartet door.
Where is the captain" demanded
Hooked. After requesting him to hang
his pistol-beIt on his saddle-horn. a
sergeant showed him in 10 the chief.
Manuel del Rey was very busy with
papers and orders, but as the Ameri-
can appeared in the doorway he rose
and greeted him with bow.
"Ah, good morning, senor," he said,
with one swift glance to read his mood.
You are in search of your friend
MOI"
Isl, senor," answered Hooker, but
with none of the animosity which the
captain had expected. Where is he?"
II regret very much,' began the of
ficer, speaking with military Formally
but it is my duty to inform you that
the Senior De Lancey has left Fortuna.
Last night he did me the honor to en-
list in my company of rurales-he is
now on his way to the north to assist
in guarding the railroad"
"What?" shouted Bud, hardly able
to believe his ears. But when the cap
tain repeated it he no longer doubted
his Spanish.
but why?" he cried; why did he
join the rurales?"
"Ah, senor," shrugged Del Rey, was
he not a Mexican citizen? Very well,
then; he could be summoned for mill
tary service. But the circumstances
were these. Your friend came yester-
day to this town, where | am at pres
ent military commander, and made an
unproyoked assault upon my person.
For this, according to law, he should
have been shot at sunrise. But, not
wishing to occasion unpleasantness
with the Americans now residing here,
offered him the alternative of mill
tary service. He is now enlisted as
rural for term of five years"
Five years." exclaimed Hooker;
and then, instead of starting the eX-
pected rough-house-upon which the
rural guards were prepared to jump on
his back-he simply threw down his
hat and cursed. Not anyone in par
ticular, but everything in general;
and at the end of it he turned once
more upon the watchfud captain.
"Dispenseme, senor." he said, this
is the truth, is it?"
Isl, senor,T returned Captain deg
Rey. "T3ut before leaving with his de-
yOul WAOhC tAAAo ANSSO@1
which he requested me to deliver to
you"
He offered with flourish sealed
envelope, from which Bud extracted a
short note.
Dear Bud:
When you get this shall be far away.
I must have been mad, but 1t is too late
now Rather than be executed 1 have
enlisted as rural But shall try to be
brave for her sake. Take care of her,
Bud-for mel PHIL.
Bud read it through again and medi-
tated ponderously. Then he folded II
up and thrust it in his pocket.
"Muchas gracias, senior captain he
said, saluting and turning upon his
heel; and while all the Mexicans mar
veled at the inscrutable ways of Amer
icanos, he mounted and rode away.