The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-11-23
CHAPTER !
Old Friends,

tF1HF En-
Old Friends.
Richard Gale reflected that his so
journ in the West had been what hi!
disguised father had predicted
idling here and dreaming there, with
no objective point or purpose.
It was reflection such as this, only
more serious and perhaps somewhat
desperate, that had brought Gale down
to the border. For some time the
newspapers had been printing news
Of the Mexican revolution, guerrilla
warfare, United States cavalry pa.
trolling the international line, Ameri.
can cowboys fighting with the rebels,
and wild stories Of bold raiders and
bandits. Regarding these rumors Gale
was skeptlcal. But a. opportunity,
and adventure, too, had apparently
given him a wide berth In Montana,
Wyoming, Colorado, hi had struck
southwest for the Arizona border,
where he hoped to see some stirring
life.
1t was after dark one evening in
early october when Richard arrived
in Casita. There was a jostIlng, jab.
bering, sombrerOed crowd Of Me1icans
around the railroad station. He felt
as If he were In a foreign country.
After a while he saw several men Of
his nationality, one of whom he en-
gagged to carry his luggage to a hotel.
OF the many people encountered by
Gale most were Mexicans. His guide
explained that the smaller half Of
Caslta lay in Arizona, the other half
In Mexico, and of several thousand
inhabitants the majority belonged on
the southern side Of the street, which
was the boundary line. He also
said that rebels had entered the town
that day, causing good deal Of ex.
citement.
Gale was almost at the end Of his
financial resources, which fact occa.
stoned him to turn away from q pre-.
tentiOus hotel and ask his guide for
cheaper lodging house. When this
was found, a sight Of the loungers In
the office, and also a desire for com.
fort, persuaded Gale to change his
travelling clothes for rough outing
garb and boots.
"Well, I'm almost broke" he solilo.
qulzed, thoughtfully. "The governor
said wouldn't make any money. He's
right--so far. And he said I'd be
coming home beaten. There he's
wrong. I've got a bunch that some.
thing II happen to me In this Greaser
town."
He went out into the wide, white,
washed, high-ceiled corridor, and
from that into an immense room
which, but for pool tables, bar and
benches. would have been like
courtyard. Bare-legged, sandal.footed
Mexicans in white rubbed shoulders
with Mexcans mantled In black and
red. There were black-bearded,
coarse-yisaged Americans, some gam.
bling round the little tables, others
drinking. There were khakf-c1ad cav.
alrymen strutting in ana out.
At one end Of the room, somewhat
apart from the general melee, was a
group o. six men round little table
fcur Of wrom were seated, the other
two standing. These last two drew
4 second glance from Gale. The
sharp-featured bronzed faces and |
piercing eyes, the tall, slender, loosely !
jolnted bodies, the quiet, easy, reck.
less air that seemed to be a part Of |
the men-these things would plainly |
have stamped them as cowboys with.
|out the buckled sombreros, the col.
ored scarfs the hlgh.topped, high.
heeled boots with great sllver.roweled
spurs.
he satisfied his hunger In a restau.
rant adjoining and as he stepped
back Into the saloon q man wearing
q military cape jostled him. Apollo.
giles from both were instant. Gale was
moving on when the other stopped
short AZ II startled. and, leaning for.
ward. exclaimed:
Dick Galel II this isn't great!
Don't you know mel"
1--WE heard your voice somewhere"
'eplled Gale, maybe I'll recognize
'ou II you came out from under that
,onnet."
For answer the man. suddenly mani.
esting thought Of himself, hurriedly
rev Gale into the restaurant, where
% thrust back his hat to disclose 4
andsome sunbuned face.
George Thornsl So help me-"
"'Ss-ssh. You needn't YELL" inter.
upted the other. as he met Gales
utstretched hand. There was a close,
ard, strainlng grip. Il must not be
scognlzed here. There are reasons.
Il explain in q minute. Say, but It's
ne to see you! Five years, Dick, five /,
ait since I saw you run down Uni. 4
!Fsity field and spread.eagle the I
hole Wisconsin football team"
Don't recollect that replied Dick, n
ushing. George, I'll bet you I'm i
adder to see you than you are to
. me. It seems 20 long. You went a
b the army, didn't your"
7 did. I'm here now with the II
nth cavalry. But-never mind me. r
latsre you doing way down hereY o,
On the square. George. ! don't
N any more why I'm here than Y,
1-Jou know" *. III