The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-08-17

tVE H1U, UcAU OF awe. ] nave prom.
Used a thousand pesos for informa.
ton alone. Listen. I will tell yor
one little story that happened only
last night, and then, sefor, you can
decide whether we have here q real
bandit or not. Just before dawn this
morning has it taken place. and the
soldiers are still keeping It secret,
but shall tell you"
For a moment Morales regarded
the silent group in the candlelight.
Then again his thin lips moved.
1.-TWO nights ago Lopez, a Mexican
rider, offered to guide the soldiers
TO where FL Coyotes camp lay. BY
chance or treachery the bandits had
already learned Of their coming and
fed. The soldiers got nothing but q
few abandoned horses, some blank.
cts and embers of campfire. But they
learned something of the bandits
habits. Things that may be Of
value. Bueno! In any case Lopez
had earned his reward.
Yesterday little boy came bear.
ing note to Lopez. A folded paper
some stranger had given him in the
road, and the paper said in Spanish
that before the full moon died Lopez
himself would die"
The Spaniard ceased and played
idly with few crumbs that lay be-
fore him. Last night, under cover
Of darkness. Lopez came to my ha-
cienda. He was leaving, he told me.
He trcmbled. Dios, how frightened
he wasl There could be no safety
for him in all the borderland. I gave
him his thousand pesos in American
gold" Again the Spaniard stopped,
as il sunk in reverie.
WELL" asked the major At last.
what happened!"
Nothing very important" Before
dawn this Lopez is found in the
Verdi road. a bullet through his
throat and the bag of gold cut open.
A few coins lsy scattered over the
man.. as If in contempt. A gesture.
nor"
He turned toward Radcliffe. "Such
is our bandit. He has terrorized
this land too long, and until the
troops of your country will help our
Mexican soldiers, I fear we will
never get him. But I have good
friends in Washington. Each day I
am. expecting word that Major
Blount's cavalry will help drive out
this thief and killer"
Across the table from Radcliffe
. heavy, red-faeed man of fifty was
listening intently. He had been in.
PRODUCED a. d.. Price. and in the
pause that followed he raised his
voice. A singularly pleasant voice.
it seemed to Radcliffe. with just Z |
trace Of southern drawl. II could
never see why our troops should
come into the picture. Morsles," he
began. This Coyote 10 a bandit,
technically. and deeds like last: |
nights have IN ugly sound. But
everybody who knows the border
country will admit that II It weren't
for FL Coyote the little ranchers
about here would have been gobbled
up slick and clean BY you big fel.
lows long ago. You would own the
whole border world. Al il Is. this
bandit. If you want to call him that,
has 20 Tar kept the big fish from
eating the little ones"
Morales showed no slightest sign
OF irritation. "Bueno. But perhaps
the big FISH believe that foe the good
OF the border country Il would do
no harm If these little fish we're
eaten up. Today 10 the day Of eff.
cient things, no? You Americans
have taught u that. And it IL not
efficient for every hundred acres Of
land to have q ranchhouse and fam.
lily when ! can control half . million
acres without all the waste Of money
that these little ranchers bring. 81. |
long ago they would have been
driven out had il not been for this
Fl Coyote protector Of theirs. This
country Is for great herds Of cattle.
!! has been that since 6fst my an.