The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-09
CUTTING
RED TAPE
By F. 4. MICHEL

n mile from the Texas border Ai"h-
thar border were strung United States
troops to protect the Americans from
incursions of the MexicanS.
The bandit generals were as merei-
less toward their own men as to the
citizens. When deserter was cansht
his captors did not take the trouble to
convene court martial 10 try hlih-
They stood him up and shot him.
IL was among such rank growth that
the delicate flower Of love sprang up
between young Nunez and fepiIa Al
yarcz. Nunez was not a mean spirited,
cowardly citizen. Quite likely had ne
not been honest he would have been
bandit, for he feared no man and. Ike
most Mexicans. when he was injured
did not trouble the courts as plaintin
against his inJurer, but settled the
matter out of court. taking pains to
get the drop on the defendant. Never
thclcss Nunez was not bully and was
never known to fight without good
cause
one day bandit troop invaded the
territory where the lovers lived. The
robbers took everything they could get
their hands on without payment, ana
no effort was made to stop them ex-
ccpt 10y conccaling the stores But
there was one thing taken which could
not be bought with money ana TO the
| taking of which resistance was made.
a bandit saw little Pepita with her
pretty rcd cheeks and her dark eyes
friuecd with long ashes. fell in love
with her and determined to possess
! her
Nuucz had gone away for some pur-
| pose aud when he returned was told
that while rcpita was walking in the
| outskirts of the town man from the
| bandit force was seen to swoop down
/ upon her ana carry her Off Her
| shrieks were heard 10y the whole town,
! but 50 great was the terror of the ban
| dts that not finger was raised to
save her.
Nmcz returned but short time aft
er the abduction. Without diSmount
! ing he hurried off after the bandit and
! soon came within hearing distance of
! Pepitas cries The bandit did not stop
within the camp, but kept on toward
! a forest not far distant. Nunez sent a
I shot after him, but he was not within
range. The bandit dropped pepita and,
instead of turning and facing his pur-
sucr, changed his course TO the Texas
line.
Nunez took up Pepita. who revived
speedily from the shock she had re-
| ceived. placed her on his horse and
took her home. Then he went to the
! bandit chief and asked that the mis-
] creant who had crossed the border be
| demanded of the American troops that
he might be punished for his attempt
| ed crime. The chief, who restricted
! his men TO taking necessaries, at once
went to the border and, raising a white
flag. crossed to the headquarters of the
colonel commanding the United States
troops. There he found the colonel
In campaign uniform-namely, wooden
shirt. trousers and boots-and made a
formal demand for the culprit.
Now, there was much red tape among
the troops, which was unknown on the
other side of the line The colonel was
responsible to the general, the general
to the secretary of war, and the sur.
render of man who had crossed the
border TO Mexican authority was at
tended with much difficulty. The colo
mel told the chief that he must refer
the matter to the general. who was
some 200 miles distant. If the general
! directed that the fugitive be surrender
ed the colonel would cheerfully obey
| the order.
While the negotiations were going
on group of United States troops
was standing few hundred feet
north of the border line and group
! or MeNicans few feet south of the
line. Among the Americans was the
man who had carried off Pepita. He
had taken refuge among them. as In
medieval times one sought for his life
took refuge in sanctuary. though the
soldiers were by no means sacred per
sons. The chief of the bandits was In
the coloneHs tent making his applica.
tlon for the culprit.
The interview being unduly prolong-
ed, the Mexicans. who were aggrieved
at the abduction. became impatient
Among them was the lover, chatting at
the delay.
When the colonel informed the ban
dit chief that he must refer the matter
between them to the general the chief
asked what would be done supposing
the general refused to give up the cul-
prit The colonel said that In that
case nothing could be done. The chief
turned toward the group OF Mexicans
standing south Of the border line. took
on his great conical hat and waved f.
A pun of blue smoke was seen. and
shot was heard. The chic. turning
TO the colonel. said:
MY request is withdrawn You
may keep the man."
He whose fate had been bound nm IN
SO much red tape was a dead body
rha ~.