Rock Island Argus., 1917-11-22
Tn e Daily
Short Story
IN MEXICO.
BY Oscar Coz.

q slim, well built young American.
YOU got to decide son between me and
| this fellow"
/ The fellow" was evidently Mexi.
can guide He lay on the ground m
conscious. but moaning at intercals
/ De Gastra fingered a package 10
which he seemed to attach much i'm
| poFtanee. Maybe it is Just as we'll
said De Castra. poking the guide care
/ lessly with the toe of his boot. "that
there are only two Of us left now that
We have lostone of our mules. Ne
don't really need this fellow any long
ter anyhow, SO let's be getting along
! You don't mean TO say You can
think OF abandoning the poor wretch
out here in this desolate region?F said
John Martin.
De Castra shot a glance at young
Martin. His selfish nature was puY-
zled at some OF the traits exhibited
by the Young American, who had made
Iquite a name for himself as CORES
pendent for one Of the big American
newspapers,
He won't live long. anyway" said
the Mexican.
"Confound it ALL" broke in Martin
Cant you>be human enough 10 give
him chance. Let's fasten him to one
of the mules and carry him TO the
inearest town.
| Not by a long shot! I've got nv
reputation to make yet, and I've gct 10
get this dispatch to my paper in short
notice, It's all well enough for YOU.
Iyou have already made your name
r'Besides, remember ii was veur
mule that died, and these two are
mine Now. If you want to besensible
and leave this thing here. why. you can
have one of these mules to ride: other
| wise / take them both and you have to
DO what you can to get yourself out
/ Of your scrape What do YOU care
about the life Of one of these low breed
Mexicans for, anyway" said De Cas-
/ ira.
Isn't he a MANI said Martin. what
will you sell me one of the mules for?r
What! Sell you one of my mules
SO you can stay with that fellow?
Never! Come along and you can ride
lone, or else, as l said before, / go and
the two mules with me-
Martin was white with rage and In
dignation rs that your final ofTer?p
"It IS"
Then deliver me from ever meeting
!. again such mean piece of humanity" :"
NJ Have 1t your own way said De
4 Castra angrily.
I Mounting one Of the mules. he start
ed to ride away, leading the other
That was too much for Martin and.
throwing caution to the wind, he made
n one spring for De Castra, pulling him
: to the ground.
= There the men were locked IN each
8 others arms and began a struggle for
. mastery.
De Castra was much larger man
than Martin, but Martin was clean OF
# limb and athletic, having had good
+ training while in college as well as
= special training in a fine city gymnas-
\ Ium. Il was not very long before il
: was plain that Martin would be The
: victor, but the meaner nature OF tbs
= Mexican took advantage of q rnomen-
: tary slip Of the young American, and
; in q moment Martin was looking intg
! the mouth Of his opponents revolver
Now, said the latter, you are 9
= dead man or you remove your hands
$ from me"
Il He well knew Martin had lost his
% revolver few days bofe, SO felt surs
- of his advantage.
He kept his revolver Ieyeied at Mar.
/ Tin till he was safely seated on his
fmule, when he aagin rtartet off. lead.
ing the second one.
Martin realized as the Mexican pass
ed out of sight that he surely was in
~ quandFy. Here he was left in desc
y late spot miles from a village and
a sick man on his hands. He sat dow
! to try TO think out some plan when h,
T noticed the guides eyes were open ans
IS an Intelligent look IN them.
Where De Castra gomez he said Z
II Martin.
Il, He's left US in the lurch and goni
i on on the trail to the northeast" 4"
Ct 4ou sure he gone on that trail?7
sdb Certain. I could watch him for
b. long distance in this level country"
The guide sat on the ground. moan
lng and Wringing his ahnds.
r Speak, fellow" said Martin 'fIs
Of ne taken the trail that leads to tn
ed camp Of Villas cutthroat bandits?"
tel The guide nodded his head in re
lg sponse aud again dropped to th
ut ground in a swoon.
a Martin raised him as gently as pos
It. sible to his own shoulders and stag
g. sered along with him to the neares
00 village. reaching it Just before be va
e. utterly exhausted.
he AS for De Castra. he was neye
heard Of again. So it was conclude
that he had received foul play at til
.el hands OF the men he had SO often vii
.g led ln his neMsnaner- arLicIas