Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-09-24
Chapter XXI.
: Intervention--In the Open.

q
through the flap Of field-service
tent, Strengthened his we'll set-up
frame, and searched with careful eyes
the far-flung vista presented by an
p open valley of the Rio Grande. The
blue hills of Mexico were already
stepped in shadow, but the setting sun
was still high enough in the heavens
TO flood with light the waters of the
river and the gentle slope on the
American side of the frontier to which
chung that quaint mixture of pictures
que adobe huts and ugly modern
3 buildings, known as the town Of San
Jose.
To say that San Jose was known"
on that day OF March, 1916, is, per-
haps. not strictly in accordance with
actual fact. 1t might be found on
the most recent maps OF Texas; its
existence was undoubtedly recognized
by a section of the inhabitants of the
border state, and it was beyond all
question the cause OF some anxiety
to the commander-in-chief of the
United States troops scattered
throughout the vexed region. But
the notoriety OF San Jose began and
ended therel No one in the wide
world-least of all the handsome
young cavalry officer now turning his
back on its crudities, and scanning the
undulating country which fell away
toward the overnight have sus-
<pected that worldwide fame was
about to be thrust upon it.
The camp lay athwart a rough road
which led from the town to the river
and reaching Mexican territory by i.
trestle bridge. Certain signs of a.
tivity were toward. Some of the
troopers were grooming their horses
and distributing forage for the nights
feed, others were cleaning their arms.
Others were drawing rations. Field
kitchens smoked and pipes were
alight.. Soon the horses would be
picketed and the men gathered in
lively groups, eating their evening
meal. A trumpeter. was blowing the
first call to mess. Indeed the cheer
ful notes had brought Dick Markham
from his tent, time having stolen a
march on him while preoccupied with
regimental accounts.
A gaunt-looking troop sergeant-na-
jor, whose appearance suggested that
steel springs and leather had replaced
bones and flesh in his anatomy, noted
the officers attitude. He strobe near.
''No news Of the patrol yet, sirf"
he inquired, hating at the salute, sls'
None, Smithson," said Markham.
rThey ought to be showing up soon.
Have a cigarette
A certain silent constraint endured
for. minute while the two blew
wreaths of smoke into the thin air.
The same thought dwelt in both
minds, and neither cared to give ut
terance to it, That placid, brooding
landscape was deceptive. At any in
slant red-fanged war might spring
~rom some hidden lair. They had to
be prepared for. it daily, hourly--pre-
pared in the pitifully inadequate way
possible to one depleted troop OF
regiment charged with guarding 100
miles of, the frontier.
"All the others are in" said the
officer at last.
He was not asking question, but
merely stating casual item of the
days doing. Captain Markham need
ed no information as to anything that
happened within the bounds Of his
small command.
Eyes, sir said Smithson, sweeping
a wide amphitheater of hills, river and
valley in one comprehensive glance.
81 have changed the guard at the
bridge, and your orders as to the
sentries are being carried out. Each
post on the TANKS is advanced quar-
ter of mile, and pickets are station
ed at the most convenient points"
Clearly this weatherbeaten soldier
was talking for the sake of saying
something which would conceal a
gnawing doubt.
81 wonder what has become of that
Mexican push" murmured Markham,
looking again at the jumbled mass
of the, hills "The generals informa-
ton sounded quite definite. This
new rebel, Sebastian Pancho, is
known to have come north from Chi
huahua."
Il have no use for those Mexican
Bandits, sir, takin' 'em as such"
growled the sergeant-major, but |
must admit that they are frst-rate
movers, They are here today, and
so miles away tomorrow. If they
could fight as we'll as they can change
location, they'd be nightly tough
proposition"
And then as the sergeant-n1ajor
thought OF the bureaucrats in Wash
ington and the crying needs of the
army that were neglected, he con-
tinued:
"Wish ! had bunch OF them
Washington fellers in the recruit
squad! I'd like to see secriterry on
guard OH dark night, when every
rock looks like crawling Mexican,
and each rustic in the sage makes
him believe that a, long, sharp knife
is about to be buried in his gizzardp
The officer smiled.
"Ah, WE'LL" he said, eff it came to
real showdown, neither you nor I
would change orr job for the tallest
stool in the war department, Here
comes the patrol now" and, try as
he might, Dick Markham could not
conceal the new note of relief in his
voice.
The two men chatted about regi-
mental matters until a corporal and
three troopers walked their tired
horses up the slope from the bridge
= Lhc small party dismounted at a
little distance, and the corporal came
4 on, alone. He saluted, and stood at
attention.
1--WE made the full round SIR he
t|f