The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-08-16
MDI2EX EEACFA

Nl'ubl' we N'ulb IuNc W ilulNA
around Texas, l presume"
around Texas?" 4
Eyes. You see, Texas is n bad coun.
try; 1t Is full of-barbariaus who know
how to fight. If It were not for Texas,
we would have the United States ut
our mercy" After some consideration,
he venturcd this opinion: ave could
afford to pay the Texans for allowing
us To ride through their country. pro-
vlded we stole nothing and paid for
the cattle VIC ate. Well, Longorio Is
Il great one for schemes he Is talking
over the telegraph with somebody ut
this moment. Perhaps it Is the presl-
dent Of Texas"
"You are n poor man, are you not?'
Alnlre inquired.
"Mlserably poor"
"Would you like to make n great deal
Of money!
"Dlos! That Is why Pm n soldier"
81 will pay you well TO get me two
horses"
But old Pancho shook his head Wig
orously. 'Impossible. General Lon
gorio Is going to marry YOU. We NIL
got drunk last night to celebrate the
wedding. Yes, and the priest Is watt
ing
II will make you rich"
"Ho! wouldn't live TO spend n single
peso. Felipe dlsobeyed orders, and
the general shot him before he could
cross himself. Boom! The poor fell
low was passed In n minute. No. We
will all be rich after we win n few
battles and capture some American
cities. I am an old nan l shall leave
the drinking and the women to the
young fellows. and prepare for my old
age"
Seeing that she could not enlist Pan
cho's aid, Alaire begged him to fetch
the priest.
"You wish spiritual comfort. ne
nora?"
Perhaps"
swell, he doesn't look like much Of
n priest, but probably he will do. As
for me, I don't believe in such things.
Churches are all very well for ignorant
people. but we Mexicans are too intel
ligcnt We are making an end OF them.'
The priest was a small. white-haired
man with u gentle, almost tirnid face,
and at the ome when he appeared
before Alaire he vas In anything but
n happy frame Of mind. He had undcr-
gone, he told her. n terrible experience.
His name was O'Aialley. lie had come
from Monclava. whence the rebels had
banIsiied him under threat Of death.
He had seen his church despoiled of It's
valuables, his school closed; he HIM
self had managed to escape only by II
miracle. During his flight toward the
border he had suffered every l~ndlgnity.
and finally Longorio had intercepted
him and brought him here, practically
In chains.
"What n situation! What chaos!"
he lamented. 1.-The land Is overrun
with bandits; there Is no law. no nu-
thority. no faith religion Is made n
mockery. The men are becoming inf.
dcls and atheists, and In many places
they will not allow us to give comfort
ever to their women"
as 1t as bad as thatl"
Father O'Malley shook his head snd-
~. you've no idea. What do you
think of a people who forbid the men,
ton of Gods name In their schools?
That Is what the revolutionists are
doing. Candeleria claims that the
churches are the property Of the state.
He confiscates them, and he charges
admission. He has banlshed all ex-
cept a few of us priests. and has
shamefully prosecuted III Sisters OF
Mercy. Oh, the o%utrages! Mexico Is.
today. the blacklist spot on the map
Of Christendom." His voice broke.
THAT Is the freedom. the liberty. the
democracy, for which they are fight.
Ing. That Is the new Mexico. And
the fcderals are not n bit better. This
Longorio. for instance, thls-wolf-he
brings me here, as his prisoner, to sol
cmniZe an unholy marriage! He treats
me like n dog. Last night l slept In n
filthy howell"
"Oh! I'm sorry" Alalre exclaimed.
"But I'm half crazed with my OWL
troubles. You must come into the
house; the best / have Is yours. You
shall be us much my guest as l can
make you, and-perhaps you will help
me to escape"
"Escape?" The little man smiled
~mournfully. you are watched and
guarded, and so am I. Even IL you
got away from here, what then? You
can't Imagine the condition Of the
country"
II won't marry him." Alalre cried,
with n shudder. ~ won't"
HE can't very we'll force you to do
SO. But remember. these are war
times; the n Is n fiend, and he puts
no restraint upon his desires. II he
Is madly bent On having you. how can
you prevent III In normal times he
would not dnre inJure one so promi.
nent as you, but now" Father
O'Malley lifted up his hands. ~ only
wonder that he suggests a lawful mar
riage. Suppose you refused VIII he