The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-06-01
CHAPTER I.


The e%iow.ronlng winters sun rose
coldly. lar 10 the south. riding up
from behind the saw.to0thed Sierras
Of Mexico to throw a silyory halo on
Gadaden. the border city. a hundred
miles OF desert lay In In path-a waste
OF broken ridges, dry arroyos. and
sandy plains-and then suddenly. as
n by magkc, the city rose cleaning In
the sun.
II wal a big city. for the West. and
swarming with traffic and men. Its
broad main street. lined with brick
b%Cildings and throbbing with automo-
biles, ran from the railroad straight TO
the south until. at a line. II stopped
short and was lost IN the desert.
That line which marked the sudden
end Of growth aud progress was tho
border OF the United States the desert
vas Mexico. And the difference was
not IN the land. but In the government
Az the morning air grew warm and
the hOar frost drippcd down from the
roofs the idler " the town crept
forth, leaving chill lodgings and stale
saloons for the street corners and the
sun.
Against the dead wall Of a big store
the MeXicans gathered in shivering
groups. their blankets wrapped around
their necks and their brown ankles
bare 60 the wind. On another corner
a bunch OF cowboys stood clannisbly
aloof, eying the passing crowd for 9th.
ers OF their kind.
In this dun stream which flowed
under the morning sun there were min.
Ing mon, with highlRGed boots and
bullying pockets: graybeards. with the
gossip OF the town In their cheeks;
hobOes. still wearing their eastern
caps and still rustling for a quarter 20
eat IN; somboreyed refugees and sol.
dies Of fortune from Mexico-but
idlers all. aud each seeking his class
and kind.
II any women passed that way they
walked fast. looking neither 10 the
right nor to the left. for they, too. be.
ing so few. missed their class and
kind.
Gadsden had become n city OF men.
hugelimbed and powerful and with a
questing look IN their eyes. a city OF
adventurers gathered from the onds of
the world. A common calamity had
driven them from their mines and
ranches and glutted the town with
men. for the war was on in Mexico
n from the farthormost corners Of
Sonora they still came. hot from some
new scene of murder and pillage, to
add 20 the gen sral discomfort
As the day wore ON the crowd ln
the bank corner, where the refugees
made their stand. changed It's com
pleXion, grew big, and stretched far Up
the street. Men stood in shifting
groups, talking. arguing. gazing mood
lily at those who passed.
Here were hnwk.eyed Texas cattle
men, thinking OF their scattered herds
at Mahabi or III Tigrc; mining men,
with idle prospects and deserted mines
as far south az the RIO Yaqui. mill
men, ranchcrs and men Of trades; all
driven in from below the line aud all
chatting az tho leash. While Il hundr ID
petty chiefs stood out against Madcro
and lived boy ransom and loot. they
must cool their heels In Gndsden and
wait for the end TO come.
Into this seething musB Of the dis.
possessed. many OF whom had lost q
fortune by the way. thora came two
more, with their fguea stll Dr. wa and
red from hard riding through he cold.
They stepped forth from the marble
entrance 81 The big hotel and swung
On down tho street 60 see the town.
They walked slowly. gazing into tho
strange faces Dr. tho vague hope OF
finding some fr.cnd and Gadsdon. not
10 be- outdouo, looked them over curl.
ously and wondered whence they had
come
The bunch Of cowboys. etill lettering
on tho corner. glanced sC0rnfully at
the smaller man. who spurted a pair
Of puttoos-aud then al tho big mans
feet. Finding them oncased In pros
pectnr's ahOoa IbeY stared dumbly NJ
his ~wlnd-burued ilce and muttered
among themselves.
lie was tail. aud broad across the
shoulders. with "iareeeluF blue eyes
and a mop OF light hair and ho walked
on bis toes tln lcgged swayiuf from
bic hips lke % man on horseback The
rumble of comment r0He up again ~
be rncked past aud then a cowboy
voice observed
"ll bet ye he's q cow-punchl"
Tho hig man looked back az them
m"ocklngly out Of the corner OF bis eye
and went ca without q word.
Il " the boast Of cowboys that they
cam tel another puncher 40 o. glance.
Hut they ntr not alone lu this-there
are other crafts hat leave their mark
end other men as shrewd. a group OF