The Lamar register., 1917-08-15


you If father asks him. You go along
with Dave"
'Tm too busy" Blaze demurred.
"and I amt feeling good. l had bad
dreams all night"
81 don't want you around me here
this morning. That new dressmaker
is coming"
Jones rose abruptly from the table.
81 reckon my business can wait.
Hustle up, Dave" A few moments
later, as they were saddling their
horses, he lamented: "What did 1 tell
| you? Here l go, on the dodge from g
dressmaker. 1 s'pose I've got to live
like a road-agent now, till something
happens"
Don Ricardo Guzman was an Ameri-
can, but he spoke no English. An ac-
cident of birth had made him a citizen
of the United States-his father hav-
ing owned a ranch which lay north
instead of south of the Rio Grande.
Inasmuch as the property had fallen
to Ricardo, his sons, too, were Yam
KEGS in the eyes of the law. But in
all other respects Don Ricardo and
his family differed not at all from the
many Guzmans who lived across the
border. The Guzman ranch comprised
a goodly number of acres, and, since
live stock multiply rapidly, Its owner
had in some sort prospered. On the
bank of n resaca-a former bed of the
Rio Grande-stOod the house, an adobe
structure, square, white and unprOtect-
ed from the sun by shrub or tree. Be
hind it were some brush corrals and
a few scattered mud jacals, in which
lived the help.
Ricardo had just risen from a siesta
when his two visitors rode up, and he
made them welcome with the best he
had. In the cool of the afternoon Ri
cardO rode with his visitors, and then.
cordial relations being now estab-
lished. he began to divulge Information
Of value 10 Law.
Yes, he had endured many depreda-
tions from thieves. 1t was shameful,
but doubtless God willed that n certain
amount Of stealing should go on in
the world. The evildoers were GER
tainly favored by nature in this local
ity, for the great eXpanSt of brush
country to the north and east offered
almost perfect security, and the river,
TO the south, gave immunity from pur-
suit or prosecution. The beeves were
driven north into the wilderness, but
the horses went to Mexico, where the
war had created market for them.
The federnls had plenty of money to
buy mounts.
Whom did Don Ricardo suspect7
The old man was noncommittal.
Suspicion was one thing proof was
quite another; and conviction was diff
cult under the best of circumstances.
Why, even a cows recognition of her
own calf was not evidence for a court,
and alibis were easily proved. Unless
the thieves were caught I'm the very
act there was no case against them,
and-por Dios l-one could not be for
ever on guard. Who could tell where
the malefactors would strike next2
Now, in Mexico one could afford to
kill an undesirable neighbOr without
so much formality- But, thank God
Don Ricardo was not a Mexican. No,
he was a good American citizen. II
was something to make him sleep well
in these war times.
"Just the same, I'll bet he'd sleep
better if the Lewis outfit was cleaned
up" Dave ventured, and Blaze agreed.
Guzman caught his enemy's name,
and nodded.
"Ahl That sin verguenza He sells
arms to the Cundeleristas and horses
TO the Potosistas. Perhaps he steals
my calves. Who knows?
"Seuor Lewis doesn't need to steal.
He has money" Jones argued.
"Truei But who is so rich that he
would not be richer? Lewis employs
men who are poor, and he himself is
above nothing. /, too, am friend of
the rebels. Panchito, the Liberator,
was a saint, and give money to the
patriots who fight for his memory.
But I do not aid the tyrant Potosi with
my other hand. Yes. and who is richer,
for instance, than Ssnor Eduardo Aus
tlnT'
You surely don't accuse him of
double-deallng with the rebels?" Blaze
inquired curlously.
81 don't know. He is a friend of
Tad Lewis, and there are strange sto-
ries afloat.
Inst ,yI4t the. -tg,r.;., ,,-,r, I,,,,-