Chasing Pancho Villa Read Online Free PDF

our family?”
    â€œYes. And the women you choose to associate with. Prostitutes. They’re women of no class or reputation. Why couldn’t you have been more like your brother?”
    â€œDo you really think we’re any better than they? Money, mother—that’s what makes the world go around. You of all people understand that,” he said, grinning at her.
    â€œHarrison,” Jonathan hissed from across the table. But too late.
    She ignored the comment, turning to look out the large window onto her lawns. “Beautiful, aren’t they, Harrison?”
    â€œMother, we have important matters to discuss,” he said. He was determined to talk about business, knowing that was the only thing she really understood. “You remember the problems with the government, don’t you? You should. Your activities nearly destroyed the company.”
    â€œYou are exaggerating, as usual,” she responded, finally turning her attention back to her son. “Only a simple misunderstanding. Too much trouble over nothing.”
    â€œNothing, mother?”
    â€œThe problem resolved itself, Harrison.”
    â€œResolved itself? You violated an international agreement on neutrality and disregarded the directives of the President of the United States. But for you it’s only a minor misunderstanding,” he said, suddenly white with anger.
    â€œEight months later we were in the war,” she told him. “As it turned out, we were actually contributing to the war effort. The French needed those munitions, but never got them. And we were forced instead to do business with bandits and revolutionaries.”
    â€œBandits and revolutionaries? What do you mean?”
    â€œOur man in Texas—Jackson Smith. You remember him. He negotiated with buyers in El Paso willing to pay cash. They were Mexicans who worked with Standard Oil. They agreed to get our munitions to a Mexican bandit called Villa. They took everything off our hands.”
    James was stunned by her matter-of-fact reply. “You don’t know anything about him? What does he intend to do with the munitions? Use them against our army?”
    â€œNo, Harrison. That bandit will use them against other Mexicans. Does that matter?”
    â€œIt matters,” James stated, incredulous.
    â€œYes, of course it does.” She gave him a smile of satisfaction. “We were paid in cash, Harrison.”
    â€œWhere is Smith now, Mother?”
    â€œHe no longer works for us,” she said, looking away.
    She was lying, but James didn’t press it. “Do you want to know what I do to keep you and your business associates out of jail, Mother? How much I must pay legal staff here and in France?”
    â€œYou?” She said with contempt. “I met personally with Senator Albert Fall from New Mexico. He resolved the problem for us. With no assistance from you, I might add.”
    â€œIn return for what, mother? A deal with a Mexican rebel?” James asked. “You’re fortunate the Germans and Butcher could come up with no proof it was our company that made the deal with the French. Mother, you were trying to circumvent international law and the President of the United States. Not even I could have gotten the company out of that mess.”
    â€œThe matter was resolved,” his mother said.
    â€œI think the American declaration of war took care of it.”
    â€œThat cargo would have been important to our war effort, but when the government finally released it from impoundment, the owners decided they needed to get rid of it quickly,” she said. “What could I do? We are only brokers, Harrison.”
    â€œGet rid of the evidence, eh?” he asked. “Mexicans bought it, you said? “
    She looked directly at him and smiled. “The consignment was not purchased by an American company, nor a French or English company either. Its destination was across the border. That is all I