Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-08-16

to surrender his life, at an fnstant's
notice, for his country. But now as
his eyes rested on the scene before
him he wondered whether he was
right. One drop of the blood that had
flowed in the veins of these American
youths was worth more than a hun
dred illiterate and degenerate MeN-
cans, like Lopez and his band, that
had taken their lives.
These men had given their lives to
a band of bandits and thieves; miser-
able cutthroatS, who believed the
world should support them without
their having to work for it, and who
sought to accomplish this by melting a
rebellion in the hopes that they would
finally obtain control of the govern
ment. Then the entire country Of
Mexico would be in their hands to
treat as they saw fit.
If the Mexicans were content to sit
undisturbed and permit Lopez and his
bandits to rob and kill that was some
thing which did not concern the United
States. But, when he crossed the
border and trespassed on United States
territory, killed American citizens and
robbed and burned their homes, in adj
dition to assaulting American women,
it was time for the government at
Washington to intervene. And, IL they
did not. then there was something
wrong with that government. some
where.
Believing he was acting for the best,
the Major had taken his troops across
the border. Later he had received in
structions from Washington to delay
ha I'M nj Ia
had disobeyed the orders because he
believed the debt that Pedro made the
night of the Discovery outrage should
be paid in full, and the Major wanted
to assist in collecting that debt
These men, whose bodies were now
scattered before him, some of them
torn and shattered and many disfig-
ured beyond recognition, had believed
it their duty to demand payment from
Lopez and his band. and, when he had
asked his company how many of them
stood ready to follow him, every one
of his men had stepped up.
True, they were young men. many
of them, and they doubtless had wives,
mothers, sisters and sweethearts at
home waiting for their return. Per-
haps the world did have need for them
in the handling of its affairs, but,
their country had needed them, too,
and, true Americans, all of them. they
had unfiinchingly gone forward to
avenge the wrongs that had been done
to American men, women and chill
dren on the border. Instead, they
had given their lives. But, out there
In Diablo Pass, in the stiffness of the
night. surrounded by the dead. the Ma
jor made a solemn vow that the death
of every one of his troopers would be
avenged. Lopez would pay for this
days work, with his miserable life,
and, unless the Inevitable hand of
fate prevented him, the Major would
collect the debt and see to it that he
was paid in full.
These thoughts and the dishearten-
ing spectacle before him, together with
his wounds and long period of fasting.
seemed to unbalance the mind of the
brave man. He managed to pull HIM
self out of the pit dug for him by his
men and staggered to one of the bod
les. He stopped and taking the can
teen from the poor fellow, Quenched
his thirst. 1t refreshed him. But 1T
did not ease his puzzled and tired
brain. His wound panied him, and he
was conscious of a peculiar feeling In
his head Strange objects seemed to
appear before his gaze. They came
quickly and departed as suddenly. Mys-
FERROUS visions seemed to haunt him,
as he stood there helpless and alone.
1t must be sickness. Perhaps it was
the fever. He had seen thousands of
soldiers afflicted with this dreadful dis
ease; he had seen hundreds die with
1t. Just then, he would have well
coined anything that would have re-
lfeved him from his pain.
For some time he stood there won
dering in which direction to go. He
knew the canyon; for had he not led
his troops to this very spot? But, his
memory slowly failed him, and, though
he racked his poor fevered brain he
was at a loss to know which way
to turn. Finally. dazed and delirious,
he wandered afmlessly into the desert.
The poor slave Pedro, who had been
dragged to the torture chamber by
the Mexicans. had been tortured al
most to the point of death. One of
the guards pressed button, which re-
leased one of the huge blocks in the
wall. They picked up his body and
threw it through the aperture. 1t
struck a large opening. and then slid
down between the walls into a pool in
an underground chamber It was the
room where Liberty was being held
prisoner. and, just as Pedro's body
struck the water, she was about to
scoop up some of the water to quench