The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-10-20
CHAPTER i--contlnued.


tent watching the little parties OF rebel
horse riding the line on the lookout
for the Americans who should succeed
On ovading the law that prohibited gun
running; for in those days almost any
enc would take chance With rife
worth It's weight In coined silver and
cartridges selling openly for fifteen
cents apiece. And gun running was
made easier by the reason OF the fact
that the smuggier must be caught red
handed In the act OF carrying the arms
across the very line itself; for any
American citizen could legally own y
thousand rifles within ten feet OF the
boundary.
ITS the Same old tale, OF course"
reflected kynAston as he trotted lei.
surely down the gentle slope that led
TO the Santa Mesa fats. from which
the land sloped south 10 the Great
Ranges. where the miners were pray
ing for peace that should allow them
to work undisturbed the great orc
beds that held the wealth Of the ages.
Twenty miles. suppose, and then
o ride back What is II, corporal"
Corporal Welsh had come back from
the point" OF three men that was
riding In advance OF the party to give
timely warning OF any rebels who
might be on the road
ITS firing. sir. think. OF to the
southeast, Listen, sir"
II vas firing beyond doubt The
men sat with intent faces. listening TO
the sporadic sputter OF the shots The
scratch OF a match as man lit ciga-
rette broke the silence.
kynaston raised his right hand over
his head. the fist clenched. and raised
and lowered It quickly thrice The
little squad automatically formed In
column OF twos and broke into a
steady trot. following closely ON the
heels OF their Officer as he pushed on
up tho valley which, they well knew.
opened out beyond tho trees.
Up, up, up they pushed till the live
oaks gave place TO pinyon pines, and
the pines TO powders. There, where
the rocks ran out into scrub and the
rcd earth showed like q blood stain
against the setting sun. they saw and
heard again the cause OF the firing.
Far away against tho southern sky
they saw the tall hats of the villa
rcvolutionists outlined among the
grass stems and the dark shadows OF
the mesquit. Occasional flashes OF
red FIRE from the summit 0; the hill
showed where their line was formed.
Instinctively. kynaston looked for
the men at whom they were firing, To
his left he saw q stirring among the
boulders, even az he watched he saw
the defenders move out In an attempt
70 gain the American side OF the line.
There were about twenty OF them !,
they came down the hillside as a tree
falls, intent only on gaining the sure
refuge OF the line OF pollard willows
that marked the limit OF Mexican ter
ritory. That the Villistas were after
them could not BE- doubted, for the
rush OF maddened horsemen swirled
down the hill as chips~ suck into 4
whirlpool, The fleeing Carranxistas,
seeing tho intent In their enemies
gait. and knowing right we'll what
would happen should they come to
hand grips with their pursusrs. poured
across the International line almost IN
front OF kynaston. The leader. q very
much bsdraSglcd captain OF infantry,
came forward somewhat breathiessiy
Senior captain, kiss your hands
and feet"
kynaston had the grace to look at
those sefsame hands and feet, and,
seeing that they were In condition to
be embraced as was suggested. grinned
behind his hand as he made answer.
j am very glad 10 meet you. You
are familiar, presume, with the re.
Quiremcnrs Of International Law when
an armed party crosses the line OF q
neutral state Surrender must be
made Al once. and your party will b.
interned at come point 10 be desig
mated later by the proper authorities
''of q certainty" Re reached baes
and. casitching his silycYmounted
maciiete. Swung II forward gracefully
Senior" be said. behold my httli
Sword,"