The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-06-23
CHAPTER XII.
The ouzman Incident.

SN&tdteb AIStGCHI
Ricardo GuZman did not return
from Romero. The man had disap-
peared, it seemed. completely and mys-
teriOusly. At first the facts appeared
plain: a citizen of the United States
had been lured across the border and
done to death by Mexican Soldiers-fOr
it soon became evident that Ricardo
was dead. The outrage was a casus
beli such as no self-reSpecting people
could ignore; so ran the popular YER
dict. The OminOus mailed serpent
which lay along the Rio Grande stirred
itself.
OF course, the people of Texas were
delighted that the Iong-delayed hour
had struck; accordingly. when the
state department manifested it's will
ingneSs to allow Don Ricardo ample
time in which to come to life in pref
erence to putting q further strain upon
international relations, they were both
surprised and enraged. Telegraph
wires began to buzz; the governor of
the state sent a sarcastic message to
the national capital. offering to dis
patch company of Rangers after
Guzman's body, just to prove that he
was indeed dead, and that the Mexi-
can authorities were lying when they
professed ignorance of the fact.
This offer not only caught the popu-
lar fancy north of the Rio Grande, but
| it likewise had an effect on the other
| side of the river, for on the very next
day General Luis Longorio set out for
Romero to investigate personally the
rancher's disappearance.
Now, throughout all this public
clamOr, truth, as usual, lay hidden at
the bottom of its well. and few even
of Ricardo's closest friends suspected
the real reason for his murder.
JOnesville, of course, could think OF
talk of little else than this outrage
and Blaze Jones, as befltted it's lead
ing citizen, was loudest in his criticism
of the governments policy. Blaze's
conception of diplomacy was peculiar
IF Potosi didn't talk straight thai
consul Oughta bent a gun bar'l ovel
the old ruffian's bean and teIephoneC
for a couple hundred battIeships. w,
Americans are cuSsed with notions O.
brotherly love and universal peace
BAIL We're bound to have war, Dave
some day or other"
Dave nodded his agreement. eyes
But-everybody has the wrong idea o
this Guzman killing. The, federal OH
GERS in Romero didn't frame it up.
mo? Who did,"
''Tad Lewis"
Jones started. "What makes yo
think that?"
Listen! Tad was afraid to let Or
bina come to trial. Ricardo's dead an
the other witness is gone. Now draw
your own conclusions"
Jones was amazed. 'Say, Dave" b
cried. ''that means your case has blow
up, eh?"
Absolutely. Lewis has been sellin
, wet stock to the federals, and b
: probably arranged with some OF the1
{ to murder Ricardo"
Blaze cursed eloquently. I'D like t
I hang it onto Tad; I'd sure clean hous
5 down his way if 1 was positive
! 81 sent a man over to Romero" Dav
I explained further. HE tells me Rical
do is dead. all right. There's a ne,
g grave in the little cemetery above th
p town. but there hasn't been a death 1
D Romero lately" The speaker watche
3 his friend closely. eff we had RicaI
dos body on this side it would pr
e an end TO all the lies. and perhal
force Colonel Blanco to make know
T the real facts. It might even mean
case against Tad Lewis"