The Colorado statesman., 1915-10-16


everything out of this country and our
only hope to get anything to eat was
on your side of the river Now that is
gone. and-ahi Dios, | do not know
what we are going to do. | will not
permit Amelia to go hungry" he add
ed fiercely. IF it needs be will sac
rifice my life to get her food"
You should not talk like that" ad-
monished Amelia, who had finished
her work, as she came towards US.
1T is a sacrilege to talk like that.
God will punish you" Amelia sat
besides me and began to chatter laugh
ingly about the two goats she owned.
Initiating their gestures with her pret-
ty hands. she told how the goats but
ted one another in an effort to cap
ture some delicacy which she offered.
She told me of Pedro, a pet horned
toad which she had owned for five
years.
He will come whenever l call him."
she added. Pedro! Pedro! Pedro!
Vente pa aca."
Almost Immediately the little fiat
head of the Intelligent pet peeped
through the open doorway. The glar-
ing sunlight played upon the colors
on his fat belly. He scrambled over
the threshold and came running to-
wards his mistress. She picked him
up and held him lovingly to her cheek.
"Pedrito. Pedrito," she cried caress-
ingly. Il love you SO much!" and she
walked to the other end of the room
where she fed him a large piece of
tortilla.
We'll, Ramon, l must be gr'-y
now," | said. Let's get my horse.
You don't know how much | enjoyed
you and your wifes company, and
how refreshed l am with the meal"
But it is early yet" Amelia pro-
tested.
Il must be back in Brownsville by
five o'clock" replied. In few min
ute5 Ramon had saddled my horse
and brought it to the door of the hut.
He and his wife, the horned toad,
the four dogs and the two little goats
were all there to see me off. l stuck
my hand in my pocket to reach for
| money, and found l had two dollars.
| held them out to Ramon.
No! No! No!-valgame dios-im.
possiblel You were my guest and
cannot accept your money"
| | knew by the earnestness in his
voice that my money would not be ac-
cepted. so going into the cabin as
though 1 had forgotten something. l
threw the two dollars on the bedding.
Then 1 mounted my horse and rode
away. Ramon and his wife remaining
in the doorway until l disappeared
around the corner of the hills.
The End Of the Story.
Four days later Floyd Gibbons of
the Chicago Tribune and l were rid
ing from Brownsville to Harlingen
where Col. R. L. Bullard. commanding
the American troops along the Rio
Grande. was stationed. We stopped at
a farmhouse on the way to get a
drink of water An old American
rancher. whom we knew, met US at
the gate.
Are you the fellers looking out for
news?" he queried.
Yep" answered Gibbons. I'VE are
going over to see Colonel Bullard"
the gate. You can give him a mes
sage from me. Tell him that killed
one of the greaser bandits last night"
rs that so?" commented Gibbons
Did he attack you?"
Nope"
Was he armed?"
Nope. But / caught him running
off with two of my chickens and q
bag of corn. He said that he was
hungry and was taking the stuff to
his wife, but they all pull that kind
of stuff around here. They put sor-
rowful tale when you catch them, and
If you turn around they will knife you
in the back"
"Humph," said Gibbons. "Will you
let us see him."
Sure" invited the old farmer.
Come right along" and he led the
way to a clump of mesquite beyond
his chicken coop.
There is the old devil" he pointed
to the pathetic figure of a small Mex
lean huddled there on the ground
t'ston.. dead.
ktcSei him over with my foot and
beneath the clots of blood which were
plastered ON his once pleasant face
recognized Ramon.
Poor Amelia!" gasped aloud.
Whats that?" tie farmer asked.
Nothing" said as / walked away.
We got our drink of water, mounted,
and rode away.
The old farmer sure enough got
one of the bandits said Gibbons
laughing.
Shut up. damn you" answered,
much to his surprise.