The Huttig news., 1914-06-27


 the huddle of low houses which marked the domain Of Mexico.
 Pussy little customs officials, turk 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 f1orid Spanish and before his polite assurances and frl. some compliments 1t was dissipated in moment.
 "Goodi Pass en, amigos" cried the beady-eyed little jefe, pasting label on their pack. "Ados, senor." he added, returning Phirs salute with a military flourish, and with scornful glance at Bud he observed that the gentleman was muy eaballero.
 "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 detraeted sadly from the soldierly effect
 Big and hulking. and swelling with the pride of his kind, Hooker looked them over slowly, and spoke his hid- den thought.
 T wonder he said. turning to Phil.. "how many of them I could lick with one hand?"
 Well, they're nothing but lot of petty conyicts, anyway" answered Dc Iancey, @but here's some boys ahead that I'll bet could hold you, man for 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 a pair of tall Yaqui Indians, each deco rated with a cartridge-belt about his hips in token of his military service. Laughing and grabbing for holds, they , frolicked like a couple of boys until finally they closed in grapple that re vealed sudden and pantherlike strength.
 And a group of others, summing themselves against the wall, looked up at the Americans with eyes as fearless as mountain eagles.
 Yes, that's right admitted Bud, returning their friendly greeting. but we'll never have no trouble with them"
 Well, these Nacionales are not so bad" defended Phil, as they passed the state soldiers of Sonora on the street, but they're just as friendly as the Yaquis."
 Sure" jeered Bud, when they're sober! But you get bunch of 'em drunk and ask 'em what they think of the gringos! No. you got to show me I've seen too much of 'em.
 "You haven't seen as much of 'em as I have, yet" retorted De Lancey- quickly. I've been all over the repub- lie, except right here in Sonora, and swear these Sonorans here look good to me. There's no use holding a grouch against them, Bud = they haven't dOnp uG any dirt ''
 ''No, they never had no chance" grumbled Bud, gazing grimly to the south. But wait till the hot weather comes and the revoltosos come out of their holes: wait till them Chihuahua greasers thaw out up in the Sierras and come down to get some fresh mounts. We'll. I'll tell 'em one thing" he ended, reaching down to pat his horse, they'll never get old Copper Bottom here-not unless they steal him at night It's all right to be cheer full about this, Phil. and you keep right on being glad. but l got a low down hunch that we're going to get in bad" ]"
 Well. I've got just as good a huneh," :" came back De Lanoey. that we're go- ing to make killing"
 Yes, and speaking about killings" said Bud, you don't want to overlook that"
 He pointed at a group of disnan- tied adobe buildings standing out on the edge of the town and fianked by a segment of whitewashed wall all spat- tered and preached with bullet-lsoles.
 There's where these prize Mesicans of yourn pulled off the biggest killing in Sonora. was over here yesterday with that old prospeetor and he told me that that wall is the buIl.ring. After the first big fight they gathered up three hundred and fifty men more or less, and throwed 'em in trench along by the wall-then they bbwed it over on 'em with a few sticks5of dyna- mite and let 'em pass for bu,<ed Nc crosses or nothing. Excuse me- if they ever break loose like that--we might get planted with the rest" t
 ''By love, old top" exclaimed Do Larcey, laughing tcasingly. you've certainly got the blues today. Eere,