The daily Alaskan., 1914-01-08
THE LITTLE MEXICAN
By DANIEL C. HALE

dent Madero was assassinated and Huerta took his place.
 Fortunately for me, had completed my work when the revolution broke out and managed to get a train for Vera Cruz, where I intended to en- bark for the United States. It was not a pleasant journey by any means. No one knew whether the new gov ernment would permit the train to go through or intercept it on the way for the purpose of getting its hands on an enemy or whether adherents of the old regime would take revenge on some one who had been prominent in bringing about the change. At little station barely ten miles from Vera Cruz the train stopped and remained stationary so long that concluded to walk the rest of the way.
 Everybody went about armed, and I was no exception to the rule. But l had my vouchers about me that was a United States citizen, and I relied for safety more on being able to prove myself a foreigner than on my arma- ment, though I confess it would have been better for me to have been al- most any other foreigner than a grtRgo
 am a good walker and believed 1 would be able to do the distance in from two to two and half hours, l stepped out briskly, enjoying the stretching of my legs far more than sitting in train which for all any one could find out might remain where It was till another revolution had been accumulated. As I walked l remem- bered that was on the road Cortes and his adventurers passed over when they were beginning their memorable march to the capital of Montezuma. ] looked ahead, fancying that ] could see their head of column coming up the declivitg,
 1 didn't see the mailed Spanlard, but l did see the back of a man-rather a boy he seemed-walking ahead of me aud in the same direction was going. soon caught up with him, and from his dark complexion. bis coal black eyes and hong lashes l knew him to be a Mexican. There was no one near us, and I aecosted him in Spanish, which l spoke indifferently, bidding him good day and remarking that 1t --.,r |, EDn yNOru1Du
 He seemed very shy. But the MeIi- can people have not that self reliance common among us of the United States, and did not expect him to meet me halfway. Besides, he was boyish looking and even for Q boy del icate in appearance. The only sign Of rurgedness about him was a color in his cheeks. He looked at me askance and as though he had no desire for my company until told him that I was a citizen of the United States, when he began to ask me questions about how he should get from Vera Cruz to an American port when and to what point the steamer sailed, what was the fare and other information desirable for one who intended to make the journey,
 l told him what knew on the sub feet and then began to talk about oth- CT things. l found him willing to con- verse except upon the subject of the revolution. No sooner did l mention anything. however remotely connected with the revolution. than he shut up like an oyster.
 Occasionally 1 would glance aside at him when l knew he was not aware of it and saw on his face indications that he was under the influence of some powerful emotion, I would have liked to gain his confidence that might learn what moved him, but I did not believe this possible, so l did not try. However, as We proceeded on our way together he ceased to appear anxious to get rid of me, and before we reach ed Vera Cruz he seemed to consider me something of a protector,
 Finally l ventured to ask him about what he would do at Vera Cruz, and he told me he was going to sail on the first vessel leaving for the United States. I replied that l was going also and we would be fellow passen- gers together. When We were enter ing the city he surprised me by hand ing me his purse and asking me to buy his steamer ticket for him.
 Fortunately for us both a steamer was to sail early the next morning, and we were permitted to go aboard at once. The young man retired to his stateroom. and 1 saw him no more that day.
 Tn the morning l was walking the deck while the ship was making some ten knots an hour over the gulf. 1 saw coming up the companionway the counterpart of the boy who had been my fellow traveller the day before. But this person was a girl. The first thing that caught her eye on emerging from below. was the stars and stripes dying from the peak. A relieved eI- pression came over her face, and 1 knew she was saying to herself, Thank heavenp'
 "Aha, senoritar' 1 said. q suspect ed yesterday that you were not mas culine."
 "Ob seuor" she rpDIind. "vou vera