Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-11-03
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from Mexico into the States. They
were all women, and one of them was
dressed as nun. Quite by accident
/ saw her face. 1t was that of a
beautiful girl. 1 observed she kept
aloOf from the others. l suspected a
disguise, and. when opportunity af-
forded. spoke TO her, offered my serv-
ices. She replied to my poor efforts at
Spanish in fluent English. She had
fled in terror from her home, some
place down in Sinaloa. Rebels are
active there. Her father was cap
tured and held for ransom. When the
ransom was paid the rebels killed
him. The leader of these rebels was
a bandit named ROjas. ROjas saw
the daughter made Off with her. But
she cOntrlved to bribe her guards, and
escaped almost Immediately before
any harm befell her. She hid among
friends. Rojas nearly tore down the
town in his efforts to find her. Then
she disguised herself and travelled by
horseback, stage and train to Caslta.
"She had no friends ere, no money
She knew ROjas was trailing her.
This talk l had with her was at the
railroad station, where all was hustle
and confusion. No one noticed us, so
| thought. / advised her TO remove
the disguise of nun before she left
the waiting-room And got boy to
guide her. But lie fetched her to this
house. l had promised to come in
the evening to talk over the situation
with her.
Il found her, Dick. and when I saw
her-I went stark, staring, raying mad
over her. She is the most beautiful,
wonderful girl ever saw. Her name
is Mercedes CaStaneda, and she be-
longs TO one Of the old wealthy Span
iSh families. She has lived abroad
and in Havana. She speaks French
as we'll as English. She is-but I
must he brief.
"Dick, think, think! With Mercedes
also it was love ut first sight. Ny
plan is to marry her and get her far
ther to the interior, away from the
border. 1t may not be easy. She's
watched SO am !. RojaS must have
got word to his friends here; yeSter.
day his gang of cutthroat rebels ar
rived. and today he came. When /
learned that, ! took my chance and
left camp; hunted up priest. He
promised to come here. It's time he's
due. But I'm afraid he'll be stopped.
You see, we're over the line"
"Are we in Mexican territory Dow?"
queried Gale, sharply.
II guess yes, old boy. That's what
complicates it. Rojas ard his rebels
have Casita in their hands. If Mer.
cedeS Is really watched-if her iden.
tity is known, which l am sure is the
case-we couldn't get far from this
house before I'd be knifed and she
seized"
"GOOd heavens. Thorne. can that
sort or thing happen less than a
line" asked Gale, incredulously.
ut can happen, and don't you forget
it. You don't seem to realize the
power these guerrilla leaders, these
rebel captains, and particularly these
bandits, exercise over the mass Of
MexicanS. I've seen ROjas. Hes a
handsome, bold, sneerine devil, vainer
than any peacock He decks himself
in gold lace and silver trappings, In
all the finery he can steal. He spends
gold like he spills blood. But he is
chiefly famous for abduCting women.
The peOn girls consider it an honor
to be ridden off with. Rojas has
shown a penchant for girls Of the bet
ter class"
ThOrne wiped the IRrspiratiOn from
his pale face and bent dark gaze
out OF the window before he resumed
his talk.
Consider What the position of Mer-
cedeS really is. RojaS can turn all the
hidden underground influences TO his
ends. Unless l thwart him he'll get
Mercedes as easily as he can light a
cigarette. But I'll kill him or some
of his gang or her before I let him
get her. .rhis is the situation,
old friend. I've litde time to spare.
| I face arrest for deSert!on. ROjas Is
in town. l think ] was followed to
this hotel. The priest has betrayed
ma or mas been stopped. Mercedes is
here alone, waiting, absolutely de-
pendent upon me ts save her from
from She's the sweetest, love
liest girl III few moments
sooner or later therell be hell here |!
Dick. are YOU with meT
Dick Gale drew long, deep breath.
A cOldness. Il lethargy, and indiifer-
ence that had weighed upon him for
months had passed out of his being.
On tie instant he could not speak,
but his hand closed powerfully upon
his friends. ThOrne'S face changed
wonderfully, the distress, the fear, the
appeal all vanishing III a smile Of
passionate gratcfulneSS.
Then Dicks gaze attracted by some