Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-08-06


and then De Lancey broke the silence.
You must not think. Senior Ara
gon,' he began. speaking with a GER
tain bitterness, that you can carry
your point like this. My friend here is
a Texan, and II your men stir he will
kill them. But there is law in this
country for every man--what is It that
you want?"
81 want this mining claim" shouted
Aragon. that you have so unjusty Ia
ken from me through that scoundrel
Mendez! And | want you to step
aside, so that can set up my monu-
ments and take possession of IT,"
THE Senior Aragon has not been TO
the agente mineral today" suggested
De Lancey suavely. III he had taken
the trouble he would not"
Enough" cried Aragon, still trying
to carry It of cavalierly; 81 sent my
servant to the mining agent yesterday
and he reported that the permit had
lapsed."
IF he had taken the pains to in
Quire for new permits, however" re-
tul htu LIZ l<duCtyp NC "Oulu hhNC
found that one has been issued to me.
am now a Mexican citizen. like your
self"
"You!" screamed Aragon, his eyes
bullying with establishment; and then,
finding himself tricked, he turned sud
denly upon one of his retainers and
struck him with his whip.
son of goat" he stormed. pig!
Is this the way you obey my orders?"
But though he raved and scolded. he
had gone too far. and there was no
putting the blame on his servant. In
his desire to humiliate the hated grin
gos he had thrown down all his guards,
and even De Lancey saw all too clear
ly what his intentions in the matter
had been.
Spare your cursing. Senior AragoD,"
he said, and after this" he added.
you can save your pretty words. too
for somebody else. We shall re-
main here and hold our property"
Hal You Americana" exclaimed
defeat. You will rob US OF every
thing-eyen our government. So you
are a Mexican citizen, Ell? You must
value this barren mine very highly 10
give up the protection OF your govern.
ment. But perhaps you are acquainted
with a man named Kruger?" he
sneered.
He would sell his honor any time
to defraud a Mexican Of his rights,
and | doubt not it was he who sent
you here. Yes. have known 1t from
the flrst-but / will fool him yet!
so you are a Mexican citizen, Senior
De Lancey? Bien. then you shall pay
the full price OF your citizenship. Be
fore our law you are now no more than
that poor pelado. Mendez You cannot
appeal now to your consul at Gads
den-you are only a Mexican! Very
well!"
He shrugged his shoulders and
smiled significantly.
No" retorted De Lancey angrily
you are right cannot appeal to my
government! But let me tell you some
thing, Senior Mexicanol An American
needs no government to protect him
he has his gun, and that is enough"
Yes added Bud, who had caugh
the drift of the last, "and he has hi
friends, too; don't forget that!" HI
strobe over toward Aragon and men
aced him with a threatening finger.
"If anything happens to my friend.
he Kissed. you will have me to whip
And now, senor," he added, speaking
in the idiom of the country. go will
God-and do not come back!"
"Pah!" spat back Aragon. his hat
for the pushing foreigner showing II
every glance; 81 will beat you yet
And / pray God the revoltosos com
this way, II they take the full half O
my cattle-so long as they get 20
twol"
Very WE'LL" nodded Bud as Arago
and his men turned away, but
, careful you do not send any"
Good" he continued, smiling grim
ly at the pallid Phil; now we got hiI
:, where we want him-out in the opeI
And I'll Just remember them four pa
|, sanos he had with him-they're hi
I handy men. the boys with nerve-an
don't never let one of 'em catch 20
out after dark"
b De Lancey sat down on a rock an
wiped his face.
:, Heavens. Bud" he groaned,
d never would have believed 1t OF him
II / thought he was on the square. 81
It Just goes to prove the old saying
every Mexican has got a streak OF ye
low in him somewhere. All you'y
got to do is to trust him long enoug
t. and you'll find 1t out. Well, we're he
1t to Mr.. Aragon, all right"
y Il never seen one OF these polit
q. palavering Mexicans yet" observe
f. Bud sagely. that wasn't crooked. Al
k this Teller Aragon is mean, to boo
But that's a game" he added, ''thi
IN two can play at. don't know how yc
d. feel, Phil, but we been kinder creepir
IL and slipping around so long that l.