Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-11-17
By JOHN Y. LARNED


found, and his ship sailed without him.
This was ut the time when Madero
was deposed from the presidency OF
Mexico and General Felix Diaz was
making himself prominent in the al
fairs of that country, famous for Its
revolutions. Jack enlisted under Diaz,
was captured In arms and with num-
Der of others set apart to be shot. Be
ing an American citizen, he would
have had an excellent chance for his
life by applying to the American con
sui to interfere in his behalf. But by
this course he gould be turned over to
the United States navy to be punished
for mutiny and desertion, either one OF
which was pretty serious onense.
But Jack. who seemed born for trou-
ble made more for himself. Just be
fore the prisoners were to be shot they
were given an opportunity to enlist III
the federal army in the service OF
Huerta, and Jack availed himself OF
It, thereby again becoming deserter.
The new recruits soon found them
selves in the City Of Mexico, where
Jack lived the life Of an inactive sol
der During this time he picked up
enough knowledge Of the Spanish Ian
guage to be able to converse in 1t. His
disposition for hairbreadth escapes
rendered his stay at the capital irk-
some, and he persuaded himself that
the Constitutionalists We're the true
friends Of good government, and their
activity also attracted him.
Fortunately, as he considered 1t, he
was sent out with his regiment to op-
pose General Villa and at the first OPP
portunity deserted to join the forces
of that chief, adding one more to his
offenses punishable with death. This
was Jacks last desertion, for he was
captured with a number Of others In
arms against the Huerta forces and
again ordered to execution.
Jack, now being in the interior.
thought he might claim to be an Amer
ican citizen without being turned over
to the navy. so he sent In a protest
against being executed on that ground.
An order came for him to be taken to
the commander of the force that cap
tured him. and he appeared before that
officer for examination. During the
questioning Jack incidentally referred
to his having been student at a uni
versity in the United States. At this
the officer pricked up his ears and
asked If he was competent to prepare
boy for college. jack said that he
was. The officer asked him to repeat
something in the Latin language, and
Jack gave him the first few lines OF
Vergil's "Aeneid." This appeared to
satisfy the officer, who said to the
guard who had brought the prisoner to
him:
Leave him with me. He Is Unit
ed States citizen"
When the guard had departed the
general told Jack that he had son
sixteen years old who desired to enter
one of the United States universities
and If Jack could get him ready to do
so within a year his life would be
spared; II not he would be turned over
to the Mexican army officials to be shot
for desertion.
Jack. who had not been SO far from
death since he deserted from the Unit
ed States navy, accepted the terms
gladly. Besides. year was a long
RI In
government, and quite likely Huerta
would within the period give place to
another.
The general turned Jack over to his
orderly. who was ordered to take him
to lis hacienda. not far distant. On
reaching the hacienda the prisoner
tutor Was received by the major domo,
Ramon Casio, crafty looking man, Of
half Spanish. half Indian, blood. He
introduced Jack to the family. includ
ing his pupil.
There was no need to watch the tu-
tor for fear he would add another to
bis many assertions. The moment he
set eyes on the generals daughter,
Rosa, two years older than her broth
er, Alfonso. the candidate for college,
he was perfectly satisfied to stay
where he was. Rosa was dark eyed
beauty, with an olive complexion
Hinged with red and mellifiuous
voice. It was not long before she
Learned Just how many executions the
tutor had hanging over him. and she
loved him for every one Of them sep
arately. Indeed. she loved him so
we'll that before he had been under
the same roof with her very long she
added another desertion to his record.
Jack sized up the pupil. whose name
was Alfonso, and was not so well
pleased with the condition on which
his lie hung as he had been. The
boys physiognomy did not indicate
brain capable Of taking In the studies
In which the better grade Of American
universities require candidate for
matriculation to be proficient.
Rosa was as bright as Alfonso was
dull. Knowing what Jack had to do
to save his life. she turned in and help
ed him. When Jack had given him a
coaching Rosa would take hold Of her
brother and give him another-that Is,
when she could make him take the
dose.
Jack soon proved that Alfonso was
so stupid that he could not be prepared
for college In three times the period
granted for the purpose. II the tutor
were to be turned over to be executed
because he could not fit his pupil for
college In one year death was sure to
follow. Alfonso was not only stupid;
he would not try to learn. Rosa. who
knew her father to be uncompromis'
Ing when his word had been passed,
begged her brother to apply himself
to his studies, but to no purpose.
Every one who has any knowledge OF
lovers knows that the longer they are
opposed In their love the more deter
mined they become not to be baked
in 1t, and If there Is Il penalty for Low.
ing the more reckless they are In In.
curing 1t. Moreover, the greater the
penalty the more sure they are to rem
der themselves liable to 1t. AS for
Dick, who had already incurred as
many deaths as could be counted on
the fingers Of one Of his hands, 1t Is
not to be expected that he would re-
frain from adding one more for the
thumb