The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-11
CUTTING
RED TAPE
By F. A. Mitchell


hVed In little town nor mora tho,
mile from the Texas border. Alon.
lnat border were strung United States
troops to protect the Americans from
mcursions of the Mexicans
The bandit generals were as morc,.
iess toward their own men Nc IN rho
VitiAehs. When u deserter was cought
MS captors did not take the trouhla to
convene court martial to fry him
lucy stood him up and shot him.
was among such rank growth thar
the delicate flower of love spranq m
between young Nunez and penita Al
Narez. Nunez was not mean sniritad
cowardly citizen Quite likely had be
not been honest he would have been n
oahuit' Tor he feared no man and like
most Mexicans, when he was injured
ulu not trouble the courts as nlaintifr
against his inJurer. but settled the
matter out of court. taking pains TO
get the drop on the defendant. Never
'ueiess Nuhez was not bully and was
never known TO fight without good
cause.
one day bandit troop invaded the
territory where the lovers lived. The
topoers took everything they could get
thelr hands ON without payment, and
no effort was made to stop them ex-
cept by conccaling the stores. But
thcre was one thing taken which could
not be bought with money and to the
taking of which resistance was made
a bandit saw little Pepita with her
pretty red cheeks and her dark eyes
irihged with long lashes. fell in love
with her and determined to possess
her.
Nunez had gone away for some pur
pose and when he returned was told
that while Pepita was walking In the
outskirts of the town man from the
bandit force was seen to swWp down
upon her and carry her Off. Her
shrieks were heard 10y the whole town
nut so great was the terror of the ban
dts that not n finger was raised to
save her.
NuncZ returned but short time aft
er the abduction. Without dismount.
Ing he hurried of after the bandit and
soon came within hearing distance of
Pepita's cries The bandit did not stop
within the camp, but kept on toward
forest not far distant. Nunez sent a
shot after him, but he was not within
range. The bandit dropped pepita and.
instead OF turning aud facing his pur.
suer. changed his course to the Texas
line.
Nunez took up Pepita. who revived
speedily from the shock she had re-
ceived. placed her on his horse ana
took her home. Then he went to the
bandit chief and asked that the mis-.
creant who had crossed the border he
demanded of the American troops that
he might be punished for his attempt
ed crime. The chief. who restricted
his men to taking nccessaries, at once
went to the border and, raising a white
flag, crossed to the headquarters Of the
colonel commanding the United States
troops. There he found the colonel
In campaign uniform-namely, wooden
shirt, trousers and boots-and made a
formal demand for the culprit
Now, there was much red tape among
the troops, which was unknown on the
other side Of the line. The colonel was
responsible to the general, the general
to the secretary of war, and the sur.
render OF n man who had crossed the
border to Mexican authority was at
tended with much difficulty. The colo
mel told the chief that he must refer
the matter to the general, who was
some 900 miles distant. If the general
directed that the fugitive be surrender
ed the colonel would cheerfully obey
the order.
While the negotiations were going
on group OF United States troops
was standing a few hundred feet
north Of the border line and a group
Of Mexicans a few feet south OF the
line. Among the Americans was the
man who had carried off Pepita. He
had taken refuge among them, as In
medieval times one sought for his life
took refuge in sanctuary, though the
soldiers were by no means sacred per
sons The chief of the bandits was IN
the coloneis tent making his applica- I
tlon for the culprit
The interview being unduly proiong
ed, the MeYicans. who were aggrieved
at the abduction. became impatient.
Among them was the lover. chafng al
the delay.
When the colonel Informed the ban
dit chief that he must refer the matter |
between them to the general the chief
asked what would be done supposing
the general refused to give up the cul-
prit The colonel said that in that !
case nothing could be done. The chief
turned toward the group OF Mexicans
standing south Of the border line. took
off his great conical hat and waved 1t.
A pug Of blue smoke was seen. and
A shot was heard The chief. turning
to the colonel, said;
"My request is withdrawn You
may keep the man.
He whose fate had been bound up In