Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-11
CHAPTER
A JOURNEY AND A DARK MAN

JOURNEY AND A DARK MAN
A LAIRE's preparations for the journey
"A TO La Feria were made with little de-
lay. Owing TO the condition OF affairs
across the border. Ellsworth had thought
Il well TO provide her with letters from the
most influential Mexicans In the neighbor-
hood; what Is more, in order to pave her
way toward settlement OF her claim he
succeeded in getting a telegram through to
Mexico City--no mean achievement, with
most OF the wires In rebel hands and the
remainder burdened with military business.
But Ellsworth's influence was not bounded
by the Rio Grande,
II was his advice that Alaire present her
side OF the case to the local military author
lties before making formal representation
TO Washington, though in neither case was
he sanguine OF the outcome.
The United States. indeed, had abetted
the rebel cause from the start. Its em.
barge on arms had been little more than
pretense OF neutrality, which had fooled
the Federals not at all. and II was an
open secret that financial assistance to the
uprising was rendered from some myster-
lous northern source. The very presence
OF American troops along the border was
construed by MeXicans as n threat against
President Potosi and an encouragement to
revolt, while the talk OF Intervention, in
vasion and war had intensified the natural
antagonism existing between the two peo-
pies
So II was that Ellsworth. while he did
his best to see TO II that his client should
make the journey in safety and receive
courteous treatment, doubted the wisdom
OF the undertaking and hoped for no prac.
tical result
Alaire took Dolores with her. and for
male escort she selected, after some delib-
Grafton, Jose Sanchez, her horsebreaker.
Jose was not an ideal choice. but since
Benito could not well be spared, no better
man was available. Sanchez had some
force and initiative at least, and Alaire had
no reason TO doubt his loyalty.
The party went to Pueblo by motor-an
unpleasant trip, for the road followed the
river and ran through a loyesome country,
unpeopled save for an occasional goatherd
and his family. or n glaringhot village of
some half-dozen cubical houses crouching on
the river bank as II crowded over from
Mexican soil, This road remained much as
the first OK carts had laid II out; the hills
were gashed by arroyos some OF which
we're difficult to negotiate. and in conse-
quence the journey was, from an automo-
bilist's point OF view. decidedly slow The
first night the travellers were forced to
spend at a mud jacal. encircled, like some
African Jungle dwelling, by a thick brush
barricade.
Jose Sanchez was In his element here
He posed, he strutted. he Dragged. he strove
TO impress his countrymen by every device
Jose was, indeed, rather handsome fellow
with n bold insolence of bearing that
marked him as superior to the common
pelador and. having dressed himself elab
orately for this journey, he made the most
| OF his opportunities for showing or. Moth
ing would do him but n bale, and baile
he had. Once the arrangements were made
other Mexcans appeared mysterously until
there were nearly score, and until late
into the night they danced upon the hard
packed earth of the yard. Alaire fell
asleep to the sounds OF feet scuffiinR and
scraping in time to a wheezy violin
Arriving at Pueblo on the following day,
Alaire secured her passports from the Fed
eral headquarters across the Rio Grande
while Jose attended to the railroad tickets
On the second morning after leaving home
the party was borne southward into Mex.
leo.
All morning the monotonous journey con.
tinued-a trial OF Alaire and Dolores, but
TO Jose Sanchez a red-letter experience. He
covered the train from end to end making
himself acquainted with every one and
bringing to Alaire the gossip that he picked
up.
II was not until midday thar the first
interruption occurred then the train pulled
in upon a siding and, after an intermlnable
delay, II transpired that a northbound
troop train was expected.
Jose brought this intelligence: Soon YOU
will behold the flower of the Mexican army "
he told Alare. You Will see thousands OF
Longorio's veterans. every man of them a