Gunnison news-champion., 1920-01-30

Williams gasped.
The sheer audacity Of the thing was
inSedible. Yet. what could he OF
other Americans expect from the bum
Cling way the whole Mexican prob
lem" seemed to have been handled at
homef
But what has this to do with my
arrest?' he savasely demanded.
~Everything.- bluntly retorted Har-
dinge. You were an interioper and
q trespasser on property now owned
and about TO be operated by the UNI
ted Kingdom Exploration company. Or
ders were issued by Governor General
Moreno himself that you should be
brought In. II you came back TO FL
Tigre. You returned and Captain
Manuel Pacheco. one Of Moreno's own
stan. was sent to carry out the order.
That Is why you are here"
Il see" bitterly exclaimed the pris-
oner. But why was not taken BE-
fore the jefe politico and warned about
this new lawr'
Governor Moreno has suspended
the civil statutes until the province b
entirely pacified."
Then why was I not taken before
him?'
"Ah! ! think you will scarcely be
anxious to face n military tribunal
composed Of General Moreno's officers,
Willlams-at least. II you still possess
the discretion with which have al.
why's credited you"
"why not! What have to fear
from him or his officersf
''You ought to know. Captain
Pacheco did not return to Zapatilli0
with his command. did her
II realize Il. But what has that to
do with mer
You are accused Of numbering him
this morning."
"Rnts I"
THE military court" evenly re-
sumed Hardinge, II am Informed. will
accord you hearing this afternoon
probably within an hour. You know
what that signifies as well as I. You
were armed and arrested BY Captain
Pacheco. He was murdered-tbey
have brought In his body. You are
accused. The lieutenant Of the com.
mand. who succeeded to Pncheco's
title. the sergeant and other officers,
n well as some Of the privates, were
giving their testimony before the court
when was admitted to the carcel."
Buck Williams laughed contemptu-
ously.
THAT 10 why can,e," severely
continued Hardinge, ito see II I could
help you ont Of this ugly mess. I've
fought you. but don't particularly
wish to sAe you backed against the
wall Of the carcel and shot to death at
sunrise tomorrow morning. I'm .
persistent enemy. williams, but not q
vindictivs one. Now. what do you say
TO my former proposition about get.
ting out Of Mexicor'
III that's the best card you have
up your sleeve with which to hoodwink
me out Of FL Tigre. Hardinge. you'd
bstter 60 back to your exploration
company and wait for Aoreno's 6rins
squad to shoot. Why. man. it's ab-
surd! I was tied, hand and foot. on
the hack Of . horse. when Pscheco
kicked o6. How can they reason ]
killed q man In such circumstancesr'
They don't need any reasons-au
excuse u enough" laughed Hardinge
brutally. "Pacheco was well and
strong when be left. He died In some
wsy mot Jet determined just after
striking Jon. The physician who per
formed he autopsy says he was mur.
dered."
Does that prove I killed himr
"Who elsef Pacheco's own men
certainly did not-they worshiped him.
You are against the guns, Wtnjame-
literally. But II you want to be Oh.
stinate. don't fancy I'm trying to per
suade you to do the only thing that
win let me help you. Your mine OF
your life-take your choice-or lose
them both II Jon want tol But when
you look into the rides Of the firing
squad admit to yourself at least that
did'aL could to save you"
Thank you." dryly answered the
prisoner. But why this sudden 80.
licitude. Hardinger'
-Purely . matter Of expediency-
IN onchOr 10 Ieewaro, We'u say. Gov
ernor Moreno has already issued Ms {
legal title to El Tgre. II the provj'
sional government b permanent. wen
need nothing more. II Il fails, We viii
then have your transfer Of title to N
and continue operating 1t ~ Il nothing
had happened The exploration com
pany i interested In mining mot poll
tics"
~But zee no reason to believe that
you can Do what you promise or will
Why should ! permit myself to b
frightened into transfefring . title b
. five-nillion-dollar mine-and per
haps be shot down. Just the same. be
tween here and the borderf II I'm
up against brace game. Hardinge
20 ahead with Il have associates d
the United States who put money init