Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-06-18

ogniZe ms old friends not only those
well-remembered landmarks but every
tree and boulder on the way-even
that s~low-plodding ox-cart with its
heavy wooden wheels. primitively
spokeless. and its Mexican driver with
his goad trudging beside The yoked
beasts, vas like a brightly colored IL
day.
They, ut least, don't change she
said Ia koi!Ian, nodding toward the
cart with its load of straw.
NO" he agreed with a thoughtful
frown "the only thing that resigns the
Greaser To the march of civilization is
an opportunity To do murder with a
modern magazine rifle or run guns and
ammunition across the border in a six
cylinder machine!"
"Where Is the border-I mean, the
boundary line:" Parr inquired.
"I1l show you in a minute" Patria
answered.
And presently. as the car topped a
long. slow upgrade. gaining an emf
hence that overlooked much of that
rolling countryside, she pointed out a
bridge that spanned n gulley off To the
right.
That's the boundary line she said I;
that arroyo; beyond the bridge is
Mexico"
as there much Of that sort of thing
going on hereabouts !"-Parr turned
TO Pillsbury-"gun running. | meanf"
Il hardly think 80. Things have
woods. Its a. the southeast. along the
Rio Grande. that the most of the trou-
bic has occurred. to date.
Three miles beyond the point where
the road forked, one arm running down
10 the bridge nj the border, the car
drew up in front of the Claiming ha-
cienda. a c%eEtury-old structure built
upon rambling lines of Spanish archi-
lecture.
With a cry of delight Patria felt her
self folded in the aged arms Of Rod
mans mother-a slight and delicate
little woman who had for many years
been a second mother To patria. the or
phaned, only when the little girl went
East To complete her education yield
ing place 10 Mrs. Wrenn in Patria's af-
fections.
And Mrs. Pillsbury proved not to
have changed in the least.
Then there was Bess Morgan wait
ing 10 greet her-a tow-headed little
imp ten years ago. today "A slender and
dignified young woman whose serene
pOlSe did not in the least detract from
her ability 10 ride harder and faster
ard shoot s%traighter than any man or
woman within two days Journey of
the Claiming ranch.
Sister of Bud Morgan. now foreman
of the Claiming cowpunchers-an up
standing youngster of five-anl-twenty
-Bess lived with her mother and
brother some twenty miles from the
hacienda. She had ridden over to wei
come an old rival for the affections Of
Rodman P%illsbury.
Their ancient enmity thawed 10 the
warmth OF a spontaneous kiss; aud the
relief, impcrceptible to any but an
other woman, with which Best re-
ceiyed the news of Patria's betrothal
TO Donald. provided ven more com
PORTING To Patria In re-
spect 10 the affections OF Rodman.
ACROSS THE BORDER.
While the hacienda slept in peace,
that primitive oxcart pursued labori-
ously its patient, creaking way across
the bridged arroyo me the desert
country beyond toward Il far-flung line
Of mountains which doomed against
the horizon in serrated array like the
frozen profile OF a stormy sea.
Distancing the oxcart as fast as
willing hoofs could run. a horseman
who, leaving the station aimlessly
shortly after the departure Of Patria's
party for the hacienda, had spurred
his steed to its swiftest pace as soon
rs he felt secure from observation, ar
rived In the. early evening at a stray
Cling row of adobe huts which figured
us the nearest Mexican village.
Twilight was still bright when he
dropped from his tagged animal and
sought u of the dwellings which
wore n slightly less unkenpt appear
ance than its fellows.
In the doorway of this hut, some
what contenptuously watching the
evofutioEs of a squad Of ~listless Mexi-
can infantry In the village plaza, stood
a gentleman in the field uniform Of
an officer of the japanese army.
Hearing the thud Of hurried foot
steps in the deep dust of the street,
the japanese turned toward the ap-
preaching horse an expectalt eye.
We'll. GomeZ?" he said in Spanish.
'Exccllency, | have 10 report that
the Claiming girl. with Captain Parr
and Il small company Of friends ar
rived from the East this afternoon"
The Japanese nodded gently. MANY
thanks" he said l. an Indifferent
voice you will he duly rewarded for
your vigilance. Goodnight"
As the Mexican disappeared in the
gathering darkness, the Japanese
siIote his palms together sInartly.
In rpSpDuSp "A why LITTLE JaprupSp