The Mucker

lf after his own ideas of what should constitute the uniform of a general-id

red with yards of gold braid. Upon his shoulders were brass epaulets such as are connected only in one's mind with the ancient chor

e his lieutenant narrated the thrilling fact

os?" he asked of

y were. Then Pesita

Villa?"

great ones of the earth? I did not even know where was the great General Pesita until now I am brought into his graciou

d said. He turned his shoulder toward the

Orobo Rancho, eh? Are you

y looking for employment upon an Ameri

country?" asked Pesita. "Wha

was flyin' south an' winter was in de air, an a

mystified. "Ah, the duc

simp-I blows,"

erican even before a despised gringo. "But the large-faced dick-what mig

ick'-dat's a fly co

." Pesita beamed at this eviden

't no bird-Fla

ame to t

ined, "that the police chased him o

eyebrows. All wa

he not say

said Bridge. "H

ddin'," admo

ly burst upon Pesita.

That is why I could not understand him. He speaks the language

an; but Bridge was quick to see a possible loophole for escape for his friend in Pesita's be

e are a great many Germans there. My friend is a native, so he don't speak G

and rifles. They are my very good friends. Take Miguel and the gringo away"-this to the soldi

assed out of hearing

of them. You have no business in Mexico except to seek work. I give you work. You are big. You are strong. You are like a bull. You stay with me, senor, and I make you captain. I need men what can talk some English and look like gringo. You do fine. We make much money-you and I. We make it all time while w

"an' it listens all right to me's

E

frien' a ca

his eyes in holy horror. Take a grin

l all gringo. I become savior of my

t one. If any big stiff thinks he can croak little ol' Bridge while Billy Byrne

is gringo?"

t," cri

dividual as this stranger-someone who was utterly unknown in the surrounding country and whose presence

e escort to El Orobo Rancho. Maybe he help us there after a while.

g fer?" asked Billy. "He'

e church. Just like Huerta would have done it if they'd given

you. Why he's got a wife an' kids-you wouldn't want to leave the

inned ind

ng low. "I let Miguel and your honorable

dly in the belief that some complimentary title had been applied to h

ay to them that they will

d Miguel, Pesita beckoned to a soldier who leaned upon his gun at a short dista

ozales to me,"

uatted in the shade of a tree, chatting, laughing, and rolling cigarettes. He saluted one of these

of great service to us, for he is very friendly with the Germans-yet he looks like a gringo and could pass for one. We can utilize him. A

Pesita's following of a hundred

anavenoo?" a

"that a man of your education does not know where Gran

ad slipped my mind. My grandfather who was a great travele

aptain, that I shall send them upon their road with a safe escort in the morning, and you shall command the guard. Upon your life respect my promise, Rozales; but if some of Villa's cutthroats should fall upon you, and in the battle, while you were trying to defend the gringo and Miguel, both should be slain by the bullets

h my life, my general,"

d Pesita. "T

back toward the

ger from Granavenoo is a captain and that it is my wish that he be well treated, but not told so much as

nd departed. This tim

them. The latter were some little distance away. They made no objection when Billy approached the pri

side Bridge, and

idge. "Are we going to be h

" said Billy, "an' I'm a capt

een himself and Pesita while Bridge and Mi

way out fer us," said Billy. "

cried Bridge, "and talk like

s I was saying, I didn't want to do it unless you would stay too, but he wouldn't have you. He has it in for all gringos, and that bull you passed him about me being

he-hole, you were tellin

; "but, Lord, man! what could I do against the whole bunch? I might get a few of them; but they'd

looking hard at the ground. Bridg

in Rio," he said. "We'll meet ther

d to set you both loose in the morning and send you under safe escort-Miguel to his h

of the word ESCORT. He leaned far forward,

mmand the esc

lly. "What differe

oats. I have come and gone all my life without an escort. Of course your friend is different. It might be well for him to have company to El Orobo. Maybe it is all right; but wait until we learn who commands the escort.

think that, bo?"

senor," replied

Billy, "we'll

e on the watch, and if possible you might find the means to obtain a couple of revol

dom of the camp; "but," he concluded, "the general requests that you do not pass beyond the limits of the

at Bridge interpret his words for the benefit of B

rne, "if that stuf

er, "that the captain is now one of them, and may go and

to his post at headquarters. The guard h

the better. I'll blow over and mix with the Dago bunch, an' practice sittin' on my heels. It seems to be

y, remember Ri

lvers, senor,

lled off in the direction of the l

s looked up and smiled. Then

you. I am Captain Rozales." He hesitat

," said Billy. "Plea

es proceeded to introduce the

hers, for the most part, were pure-blooded Indians whose adult lives had been spent in outlawry and brigandage. All were small of stature beside the giant, Byrne. Rozales and two others spoke English. With those Billy conv

the slight backward movement of the body which also denotes determination. Billy knew, therefore, that Rozales was lying. He di

l. Why had the stranger desired to know who was to command the escort? He knew none of the officers personally. What difference then, did it make to him who

he was in conversation with Pesita, unburdening

f the escort," he advised.

oh-poohed

st shots-on ahead. They will stop at a place we both know, and about noon the Captain Byrne and his escort will ride back to camp and tell us that they were attacked by a troop of Villa's

ta. "It shall be done as you suggest. Go now, and I will sen

from the shadows at the side of Pesita'