The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-06-01
CHAPTER l--contlnued.

Day after day he had sat by his
tent watching the little parties OF rebel
horse riding the line on the lookout
Tor the Americans who should succeed
in evading the law that prohibited gun
running; for in those days almost any
one would take a chance with a rife
worth its 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 smuggler must be caught red.
handed in the act OF carrying the arms
across the very line itself: for any
American citizen could legally own a
thousand rides within ten feet OF the
boundary.
It's 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 sluped south TO the Great
Ranges, where the miners were pray.
ing for peace that should allow them
TO work undisturbed the great ore
beds that held the wealth OF the ages.
Twenty miles. | suppose. and then
q ride back What IL 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.
It's firing. sir. | think, OF TO the
southeast. Listen, STR"
II was firing beyond a doubt. The
men sat with intent faces. listening TO
the sporadic sputter OF the shots. The
scratch OF a match as a man III a ciga.
rette broke the silence.
kynaston raised his right hand over
his head. the fist clenched, and raised
and lowered II quickly thrice. The
little squad automatically formed In
column OF twos a..d broke into a
steady trot, following closely on the
heels OF their officer as he pushed on
up the valley which, they well knew,
opened out beyond the trees.
Up, up, up they pushed till the live
oaks gave place 10 piuyon pines, and
the pines 70 powders. There, where
the rocks ran out into scrub and the
red earth showed like a hlood.staln
against the setting sun. they saw and
heard again the cause % the firing.
Far away against the southern sky
they saw the tall hats OF the Villa
revolutionists outlined among the
grass stems and the dark shadows OF
the mesquit. Occasional flashes OF
red fire from the summit OF the hill
showed where their line was formed.
instinctively, Kynaston looked for
the men al whom they were firing. To
MS left he saw a stirring among the
bouIders; even as he watched he saw
the defenders move out IN an attempt
TO gain the American side OF the line.
There were abol' twenty OF them;
they came down "a, hillside as a tree
ialls, intent only Ga gaining the sure
refuge OF tho line OF nOllarl wii!ows
that marked the limi. OF Mexican ter.
ritory' That the Nillistas we're after
them could not be doubted, for the
rush or maddened horsemen swirled
down he hill as chips suck into a
whirlpool. The fleeing Carranzlstas,
seeing the intent in their enemies
gait, and knowing right well what
would happen should they come TO
hand grips with their pursuers. poured
across the international line almost in
front OF kynaston. The leader, q very
much ~bedraggled captain OF infantry,
came forward somewhat breathlessly.
Senior captain. | kiss your hands
and feet"
kynaston had the grace 70 look at
those selfsame hands and feet, and,
seeing that they were In condition 10
be embraced as wa suggested, grinned
behind his hand as he made answer:
Il am very glad TO meet you. You
are familiar, | presume. With the re.
quirements OF international law when
an armed party crosses the line OF q
neutral state? Surrender must be
made at once. and your party will be
interned at some point 10 be desig
mated later by the proper authorities
'Of u certainty" He reached back
end, unhitching his silver.mounted
Bachete. swung Il forward gracefully
Senior" he sale. behold my little
swordl"