The Raymer enterprise., 1917-09-20
@D REX BEACH

| IaHcHo shrugged. nat IL the
trouble. We would have to march
around Texas. / presume"
Around TpxasT
"Yes. You see, Texas Is bad coun.
try: 1t Is full of-barbarlans who know
how to fight. II It were not for Teas,
we would have the United States at
our mercy After some consideration,
he ventured this opinion: ave 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 Is the presi.
dent of Texas"
"You are poor man, are you notf'
Alnlre inquired.
"Mlserably poor"
"Would you like to make a great deal
Of money!
"Dios. That Is why I'm a soldier.
Il 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 a single
peso. Felipe dlsobeyed orders. and
the general shot him before he could
cross himself. Boom The poor fel-
low was passed In minute. No. We
will all be rich after we win a few
battles and capture some American
cities. ! am an old man; l shall leave
the drinking and the women to the
young fellows. and prepare for my old
age"
Seeing that she could not enlist Pan.
cho's aid, Alaire begged him to fetch
the priest.
you wish spiritual comfort, se
norni"
Perhaps"
"Well. 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 small, white-haired
man with gentle, almost timid face,
and at the moment when he appeared
before Alaire he was In anything but
a happy frame Of mind. He had under.
gone. he told her. terrible experience.
His name was O'Malley. He had come
from Monelava. whence the rebels had
banished him under threat of death.
He had seen his church despoiled Of Its
yaluables. his school closed; he him
self had managed to escape only by n
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 a situationl What chaos -
he lamented. ''The land Is overrun
with bandits; there Is no law. no nu.
thority, no faith; religion is made a
moekery. The men are becoming inf.
dels aud atheists. and In many places
they will not allow US to give comfort
even TO their women"
SIS II as bad as that?"
Father 0'Malley shook his head sad
ly. you've no idea. What do you
think OF people who forbid the men.
tlon 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 coniscates them, and he charges
admission. He has banlshsd all ex.
cept a few OF US priests, and has
shamefnlly prosecuted our Sisters of
Mercy. Oh. the outragesl Mexico is.
today. the blaekest spot on the map
Of Chrlstendom." 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 a bit better. This
Longorio, for instance, thls-wolf-he
brings me here. as his prisoner, to SOL
emnize an unholy marriagel He treats
me Ike dog. Last night slept In a
filthy howell"
"oh I'm sorry" Alalre exclaimed
But I'm half crazed with my own
troubles. You must come into the
house; the best ! have is yours. You
shall be as much my guest as l can
make you. and--perhaps you viii help
me to escape"
"Escapei" The little man smiled
mournfully. "You are watched and
guarded, and so am I. Even II you
got away from here, what then? Yon
can't imagine the condition of the
country"
Il won't marry hlm. Alaire cried,
with shudder. II won'ti"
lie can't very well force you to do
so. But remember, these are war
times; the man Is fend and he puts
no restraint upon his desires. II he
Is madly bent on having you, how can
you prevent 1t? In normal times he
would not dare injure one so promI.
nent as you. but now" Father
oMalley lifted up his hands. II only
wonder that he suggests a lawful mar
ringp Snnnnsa Won rofncna lI-il ha