The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-06-13
APT TX.

MOI the least OF the aus which
have brought Mexico To the brink OF
the abyss Is the endless quarrel be
tween church and state, which has al.
mos destroyed the sanctity OF mar.
riage ami left. besides, a pitlful her.
itage OF deserted women aud father.
less children as It's toll.
Many an honest laborer has peoned
himself TO pay the priest for his mar.
rage, only to be told that II is not
legal In the eyes OF the law and many
another. married by the Judge. has
been grayely informed by the padre
that the woman is only his mistress.
and the children born out OF wedlock.
So that now. 90 be sure that she il
welded. a woman must DO married
twice, aud many a couple, on account
Of the prohibitiye fees, are never mar.
ried ut all.
Cruz Mendez was no different from
h men Gf his class. and he believed
honestly that he was married to tho
comely Maria: but Hooker could have
enlightened him ON that point II he
had cared to do H.
Bud was playing a game. with the
Eagle Tail mine for a stake; and, be-
ing eXpertsneed At poker. he stood pat
and studied his hand. Without doubt
Mendoz had lost bis usefulness as a
locator Of the mine, since Maria was
not his legal wife and could not sign
he transfer papers as such. Accord.
ing 10 the Law OF the land. the woman
nov living with Aragon's mayordomo
vas the legitimate wife OF the con.
tract. and she alone could release title
20 the mine once Mendez denounced
the claim.
But Mendez had not yet denounced
the claim though for a period OF
some thirty days Yet he had The eN.
elusive privilege OF doing so-and Bud
did not intend that he should.
Meanwhile they must walk softly,
leaving Aragon TO still hug the delu.
sion that he would soon, through HIS
mayordomo. have them In his power
and when the full sixty days Of Cruz
Mendez's mining permit had expired
they could locate the min again.
but how-and through whom? That
was the question that Bud was study.
ing upon when Phil rode up the trail.
and In hts abstraction he barely re.
turned his gay greeting.
Well cheer up. old top!" cried De
Lancey. throwing his ~bridle.reins 10
the ground and striding up TO the tent
What no, let down the portcullls. me
lord seneschal! And cease your vain
repining, Algernon-our papers are an
o. X. and the lawyer says to 80 ahead.
But that isn't halt the news! Say, we
had a dance up at the hotel last night
and J met"
"Yes-sure you did" broke In Bud;
but listen 10 this" And he told him
Of ~ Tuerto's matrimonial entangle.
ments.
why. the crooked dewitt" exclaimed
De Lancoy. leaping up al the finish.
"oyesl Mendez!"
Don't sly a word" warned Bud,
spriuging 10 the tent door to intercept
him. ''or you1l put US out OF businessl
Il Is nothing. he continued In Spanish
as Mendez came out OF his house. but
put Don Felipe's horse In the corral
when he Is cool"
Isl, scnor-with great %pleaEurel"
smirked Mendez. running TO get the
horse, and after hes had departed Bud
turned back and shook his head.
We can't afford TO quarrel with Mr.
Mendoz, he said. because II Aragon
ever gets hold OF him we're ditched
Jest let everything run on like we'd
overlooked something until the sixty
days are up-then. II We get away
with IL. well locate the mine our
selves"
yes. but how"
well. they's two ways" returned
Bud either hunt up another Mexican
citizen or turn Mexican ourselves"
Turn Moxlcan!" shrllled PIN. and
then he broke down and laughed
well you're a great one. Bud be
chOrtled you sure arel"
4 come down here 10 get this mine,
said bud laconically.