Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-09-22

presidents palace? That is good. One
can never believe all one hears"
"Why do you ask?" Alaire was Gu
rious.
81 was thinking it would pay us TO
60 there. If your soldiers march upon
Mexico City, it would be a brilliant
piece of strategy for General Longorio
to invade the United States, would it
not? 1t would be funny to capture
Washington and hold your president
for ransom, eh?"
every funny" Alaire agreed dryly.
"How would you go about it,"
Pancho shrugged. '"That is the
trouble. We would have to march
around Texas, 1 presume"
"Around Texas"
eyes. You see, Texas is bad coun-
try it is full of-barbarians who know
how to fight. If it were not for Texas,
we would have the United States at
our mercy" After some consideration,
he ventured this opinion: eve could
afford to pay the Texans for allowing
us to ride through their country, pro-
vided we stole nothing and paid for
the cattle we ate. Well, LOngOrio is
great one for schemes; he is talking
over the telegraph with somebody at
this moment. Perhaps it rs the presi-
dent of Texas"
"You are poor man, are you not?"
Alaire inquired.
"Miserably poor"
"Would you like to make great deal
of money!"
"DiOs That is why I'm a 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 all
got drunk last night to celebrate the
wedding. Yes, and the priest is wait
ing"
Il will make you rich"
"Ho! wouldn't live to spend single
peso. Felipe disobeyed orders, and
the general shot him before he could
cross himself. Boom! The poor fell
low was passed in a minute. No. We
will all be rich after we win a few
battles and capture some American
cities. l am an old man; shall leave
the drinking and the women to the
young fellows, and prepare for my old
age"
Seeing that she could rot enlist Pan
chos aid, Alaire begged him to fetch
the priest.
"You wish spiritual comfort, Sc
,nora?"
perhaps"
swell, he doesn't look like much of
a priest, but probably he will do. AS
for me, don't believe in such things.
Churches are all very well for ignorant
people, but we Mexicans are too intel
ligent we are making an end of them"
The priest was a small, white-haired
man with gentle, almost timid face,
and at the moment when he appeared
before Alaire he was in anything but
happy frame of mind. He had under
gone, he told her. terrible experience.
His name was O'Malley. He had come
from MOnclava, whence the rebels had
banished 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 a
miracle. During his flight toward the
border he had suffered every indignity,
and finally Longorio had intercepted
him and brought him here, practically
| in chains.
what situation! What chaosw
he lamented. 1.-THE land is overrun
with bandits; there is no law. no au-
thority, no faith; religion is made a
mockery. The men are becoming inf
dels and atheists, and in many places
they will not allow us to give comfort
even to their women"
rs it as bad as thai =
Father O'Malley shook mis- head sad
ly. you've no idea. What do you
think of 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 banished all ex-
cept a few of us priests. and has
shamefully prosecuted our Sisters of
Mercy. Oh, the outrages! 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 federals are not bit better. This
Longorio, for instance, this-wolf-
brings me here. as his prisoner, to sol
emnize an unhcly marriagel He treats