Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18

nON CRUZ called us to come out into the
patio and If any of these men felt surprise
at seeing us they never showed the slightest
trace of it,
I knew several Of the men personally and
these came to me, took off their big straw
sombreros and shook hands with my wife and
me. Cruz introduced the others that / did
not know, and these shook hands, said they
were pleased to know us, were at our orders
and their homes were at our service "a STAN
dard form of greeting: then they stood in a
silent group smoking. Not one word was men,
toned about the unfortunate incident Of the
fight, and never in my association with these
men did they ask anything concerning 1t.
How different from us Americans
We arranged our food in the saddle bags.
Nothing was carried but tortillas, but this
plain little cake can carry an army across a
wilderness. We also carried a blanket each,
strapped on behind the saddle, and Don Cruz
provided US with horses. There was. a little
branch-line railroad in this town, used for
freight mostly but it ran at varied intervals;
sometimes not coming to town for week.
lust before dusk the 20 men, my wife, Don
Cruz and rode out from the patio Of the
house Don Cruz insisted on accompanying us
for days ride Now as the streets were
village We decided to make bold move. Our
little army rode at walk straight through
the center of the pueblo. We marched triple
file there were six men in front of me, one
on each side, my wife directly behind me with
a man or each side of her and followed by 10
men in the rear. Don Cruz led the way.
Every man carried one more pistols: all had
rifles in saddle scabbards. Some including
myself and Don Cruz, carried two pistols, a
rifle, double cartridge belts and two belts Of
rifle shells crossed over the chest, bandoleer
fashion. Plenty of ammunition and heavy
weight to carry.
Somehow I did not have trace Of fear,
and my trust was well founded. We passed
by the plaza, that TENED with people out for
the evening air. Sitting on prominent bench
was Anacleto, the chief of the arsenal, and
two others. Standing behind them were two
of the bandit gang from the mine.
If ever men turned a different color from
establishment, these men did. They apparently
had been discussing me when we rode abreast
of them. Anacleto turned purple, and then,
feeling his authority, shouted: Chief of the
arsenal arrest that man and woman!'
The chief looked from the presidente to
our little company and back again. Then he
started toward us. One of the men in our
rear man that knew to be a loud-talking.
shouting cursng mule freighter, detached
himself from the others and rode toward the
arsenal chief. He leaned in his saddle and
said something quietly. The chiefs eyes grew
large, and then he gave us startled look.
Julio, the old man. rode back into our group
and the chief was left standing in the street.
noticed several men lingering their guns
and 1 half drew mine but nothing happened.
The group in the plaza continued to regard us
in amazed way, but did not make any
attempt to stop our progress.
T AFTERWARD learned what Julio had told
the chief. 1t was this. "Jefe. you are my
nephew and my brothers. true son, but do not
interfere, for I will be the first to shoot, and
your own father would do the same if he
were alive Vamos!"
We rode about an hours ride from Santiago
and stopped. I had noticed several men from
cur party pausing along the roadside at about
every 500 meters. Now these men came riding