New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-28


me-" A long pause, then:
Ut was after thai. some time after that,
that took Joe Askew. II was the admins
traitor OF the San Fernando ranch at Lerdo.
kept him sixteen days Mis- ransom was the
amount eff that balance due me. And it was
paid, senorita--there are certain relations be-
tween certain mines and certain ranches-by
the very men who had refused me that bal
ance before
Another period of bordering. Then
at is true too that | have taken to cat
for my men-from Americans and Mexcans
alike But not in pure robbery, senorlta
but as need in a bitterly fought and
poverty stricken revolution. | have not only
not been the enemy Of Americans, but nave
been their friend, their protector There are
many of your countrymen who have lived
here who will tell you that but they do not
write for your press.
In 1912. when Orozco on the stam-
pede and the situation looked bad, l ordered
all American families from the surroundings
to concentrate in Torreon. put twenty cars
at their disposal when cars were like the very
breath of our fighting life. I gave them all
l could possibly get together of eatabes.
gave them mozos to do the work and an es-
cort of my best men. And sent them
through, like this, to the border. In 1915
again | sent out hundreds Of families under
MY protection. And later, again. Truly, seno-
rita, tell you that I, Villa, alone, have been
responsible for the saving of hundreds of
American lives and millions of American dol
lars Millions of pesos Of silver have been
carried by me in safety from American mines
to the main line OF railroads: and yet your
people call me Villa the bandit This weighs
upon me- This injustice weighs. wish your
people instead Of Judging me through your
papers would actually try me before tri
bunal I would ask for nothing better than
that, to be judged for my deeds before an
open court"
Again the heavy sigh. Silence. Then the
laugh The Jefe was on his feet.
mo matter senorita For I man in
everything 'disiIlusionado de la vidc' (disil-
lusioned with life). Let us give you some cot
fee until the time of supper, and then [ will
present you to Villa the worker, the organ
izer. the farmer and builder"
TT,HE family came in to be presented.
The present Senora de Villa is gentle,
pretty. Mexican woman about thirty. She
wore white percae dress, and her hair was
brushed back softly into small knot at the
nape Of her neck Her voice was exceptionally
low, almost whisper.
Then there was Augustin. Villa Oldest son.
Augustn is nine. Then Octavio, about seven,
and two little girls. Each child came up and
bowed very prettily and then over to
Villa and took his hand and kissed it. He
patted them ALL but it was clear from the
first moment that Augustin. the Oldest holds
the biggest part of his fathers affection.
"This boy, senorta,' said the Jefe, "can
ride any horse on the ranch And shoot
show your rifle to the senorita, my SON."
Augustin produced from behind the piano
huge rifle. 1t was bigger than he Sc
big he could hardly handle it alone He laic
it across his fathers knees and tugged tC
take off its case Then its wrappings Their
the leather breech protector. He held up ths
long, shiny gun barrel proudly.
But that isn't twenty-five"
"Of course not" scorned Augustin, age'
nine. 'It is thirty thirty
Eve are 'plwos hombres here, senorta,
said Villa And then: ''To-morrow, my litt
son, you can invite the senorta to shoot a
the target with you in the orchard, and Sc
who shall win
The invitation accepted The gun wrappe
and retired to it's peaceful post behind tn
piano The children sent out to play. An
we went across the sun drenched patio to TIL
dining room.
This is another big, plain, square room 0
white walls and tile floors It's only furniture
huge table with d bench either side, an
a hat rack. A window cut in one wall, with
shelf below. gave to the kitchen One had