Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-07-02

mol" The defiance in the prison
er's voice was unmistakable.
II supposed, Williams, that you had
been in Mexico long enough to under
stand the unstable character of the
government. But you are evidently
unaware that since your departure
from the state of Sinaloa it has Sc
ceded."
81 had not heard Of it."
"Nor that General Juan Moreno Is
now the provisional governor Of the
provinceY
"It's all news to me-"
II imagined it would be. Now, let
Gus with you, Williams. AS governor
of this province, General Moreno has
declared titles to all property held or
acquired by Americans within the past
ten years void, and they have been
confiscated. Hereafter no American
can acquire, nor hold, by purchase or
otherwise. property in Sinaloa. during
the existence of this provisional gov
eminent, at least This decree has
the support of Moreno's advisors and
the approval of a large majority, at
least, of the residents of the province.
You see where you are, don't your
Williams gasped.
The sheer audacity Of the thing was
Incredible Yet, what could he or
other Americans expect from the bun
CLING way the whole Mexican prob
lem" seemed to have been handled at
home?
But what has this to do with my
arrest?" he savagely demanded.
Everything" bluntly retorted Har-
dinge. you were an interloper and
a 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, if you came back to Ell
Tigre. You returned and Captain
Manuel Pacheco, one of Moreno's own
staff, was sent to carry out the order.
That is why you are here"
II see," bitterly exclaimed the pris-
Oner. But why was / not taken be-
fore the jefe politico and warned about
this new law?"
Governor Moreno has suspended
the civil statutes until the province Is
entirely pacified"
"Then why was I not taken before
him?"
"Ah! I think you will scarcely be
anxious to face a military tribunal
composed of General MOreno's officers,
Williams-at least, If you still possess
the discretion with which I have al
ways credited you"
"Why not? What have I to fear
from him or his officersT"
"YOu ought to know. Captain
Pacheco did not return to Zapatillio
with his command, did he"
81 realize it. But what has that to
do with me?"
"You are accused Of numbering him
this morning"
"RatS!'
"The military court" evenly re-
sumed Hardinge, Il am Informed, will
accord you hearing this afternoon
probably within an hour. You know
what that signifies as we'll as I. You
were armed and arrested by Captain
| Pacheco He was murdered-they
have brought In his body. You are
accused. The lieutenant of the COM
mand, who succeeded to Pacheco'S
title, the sergeant and other officers,
as we'll as some of the privates, were
| giving their testimony before the court
when was admitted to the carcel."
Buck Williams laughed contemptu-
ously.
"That liz why I came" severely
| continued Hardinge, Ito see If could
help you out of this ugly mess. I've
fought you, but I don't particularly
wish to see you backed against the
wall Of the carcel and shot to death at
persistent enemy, Williams, but not a
vindictive one. Now, what do you say
to my former proposition about get
ting out of Mexico?"
"If that's the best card you have
up your sleeve with which to hOOdwink
me out of Ell Tigre, Hardinge, you'd
better go back to your exploration
company and wait for Moreno's firing
squad to shoot. Why, man, it's alb
surdi I was tied, hand and foot, on
the back OF a horse, when Pacheco
kicked off. How can they reason
killed man in such circumstancesT
'"They don't need any reasons-an
excuse is enough" laughed Hardinge
brutality. "Pacheco was well and
strong when he left. He died in some
way not yet determined just after
striking you. The physician who per
formed the autopsy says he was muir
dered."
Does that prove killed himf
"Who else? Pacheco's own men
certainly did not-they worshiped him
You are against the guns, Williams
literally. But if you want to be OBJ.
stinate, don't fancy I'm trying to per
suade you to do the only thing that
will let me help you. Your mine OF
your life-take your choice-or lose
them both If you want to! But wher