The Huttig news., 1914-07-25
The Land Of Broken Promises
A Stirring Story of the Mexican Revolution

Mira said Bud, laying his finger upon the smirking visage of one of the comic characters, look. and l will tell you the story"
 And so, with laborious care, he translated the colored fun, while the little Mendezes squirmed with excite ment and leaped with joy Even the simple souls of Fl Tuerto and Maria wer moved by the eomieas, and Men dez became so interested that he learned the words by heart, the better to explain them to others.
 But as for Mexican treaehery, Bud could find none of it. In fact, finding them so simple-hearted and good-na- tured, he became half ashamed of his early suspicious and waited for the return of Phil to explain Don Cipri- amos complacency.
 But the next Sunday, as Bud lay reading in his tent, the mystery solved itself. Cruz Mendez came up from the house, hat in hand and an apologetic smile on his face, and after the GUS tomary roundabout remarks he asked tBC DoSS as idNOI II Wodiu iCto him the page of comic pictures.
 "Seguro!" assented Bud, rolling over and fumbling for the funny sheet; then. failing to find it instantly. he in- quired: What do you want it for?" | An, to show to my boyi" explained Fl Tuerto, his one eye lighting up with pride.
 "Who-Pancho"
 "Ah, no. senor," answered Mendez simply. my boy in La Fortuna. the one you have not seen.''
 Bud stopped fumbling for the paper and sat up suddenly. Here was a new light on their faithful servitor. and one that might easily take away from his value as dummy locator.
 "Oh!" he said, and then: How many children have you Cruz?"
 Cruz smiled deprecatingly, as par ents will, and turned away.
 By which wom&n?" he inquired, and Bud became suddenly very calm. fear ing the worst For if Cruz was not legally married to Maria, he could not transfer the mining claim.
 By all of them" he said quietly.
 Five in all," returned Cruz-"three by Maria, as you know-two by my first woman-and one other I dosnot count him."
 Well, you one-eyed old reprobatel ' muttered Bud in his throat, but he passed it off and returned smiling to 1 the charge.
 Where does your boy live now?'' he asked with flattering solicitude, the better to make him talk, "and is he cid enough to understand the pie stures?"
 "Ah, yes!" beamed Mendez. he is twelve years old He lives with his mother now-and my little daughter. too. Their mamma is the woman of the mayordomo of the Senor Aragon- a bad man, very ugly-she is not mar ried to him."
 But with you" suggested Bud, re- garding him with steely stare
 "Only by the jadge!" exclaimed Mendez virtuously. Tt was love- match, and the priest did not come so we were married by the judge. Then this bad mayordomo stole her away from me-@the pig-and mar ried Maria instead Maria Is a good woman and 1 married her before the priest-but I love my other children, too, even though they are not lawful.
 50 you married your first wife be- fore the judge" observed Bud cynical ly, and this one before the priest But how could you do that, unless you had been divorced?"
 'Ah, senor," protested Mendez, hold ing out his hands, you do not under stand It is only the church that can really marry-the judge does 1t only for the money. Maria is my true wife and we have three nice children but as I am going through La Fortuna should like to show the picture paper to my boy
 Bud regarded him in meditative si lence then he rose up and began de- termined search for the funny sheet.
 All right he said, handing it over, and here is pa loche of sugar for your little girl-the enc in La Fortuna. It is nothing" he added, as Mehdez began his thanks.
 But oh. you marrying Mexican" he continued, relapsing into his mothei tongue as El Tuerto disappeared; you certainly have dished us right"