The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-05-09

ability, their cedulaS Qe FeClmdau, OF
passports, signed by their local authorities.
We were seated in the patio smoking one
evening, when waiter came to say man
had called to be "put down." 1t was after
business hours, but he was shown in. He
was tall, well grown man, in the prime OF
life, dressed in the country fashion, holding
himself very straight, and with voice and
manner seemingly above his station. He
made his request for employment in an IN
dependent, straightforward way, which
pleased me. -.
"What do you think Of him." | said in
English to Clayton.
"Pardon me-" said the applicant, also in
English, correct, but not fluent, l under
stand your language"
| liked him for his honesty.
"You have papers; your cedula and all
that"
"No, have none. I stand simply on
nv merits, such as they are. / am accus-
toned to animals, strong, willing to work,
honest t. ~.
"That YOU had better leave us to say"
put in Clayton. We were still speaking in
aDo you doubt it, ?" said the stranger,
raising his voice, as if disposed to call the
! uuestioner to serious account.
Then, although the light was not good, |
recognized him. 1t was the stranger l had
seen at the station at Almanac.
"You are engaged" / said at once.
"Come tomorrow to the bull ring, our
headquarters, for orders"
He made courteous bow, and, without
| opoo L;no opa in left rs
"Well, Of all the idiotic proceedings"
cried CLAYTON at once-"to engage man
who has no papers; man who speaks
English -
@That ought to be in his favor"
"My experience is that the linguists of
an out-of-the-way foreign town are all
rogues. How comes he to know English? 1t
looks fishy."
"Your absurd mistrustfulness, Clayton,
is the worst trait in your character. You will
never be great man."
Rubbish. That is beside the question.
I protest against unemployment of this fel-
low"
"And insist upon it. was much taken
with his looks. Don't you agree with me,
Hinks?"
The "vet" never ventured an opinion
spontaneously; even when directly asked,
he hesitated. Now, he felt the sinews of
one arm slowly up and down, a favorite
habit of his when in doubt, as if he were
trying the tendons of suspicious horse,
and after time only said:
81 wonder what he knows about animals?
He may be Of use."
And he was, undoubtedly. Before he had
| L.. o,,n for t,popfv-
hours Enrique, as be was called, became
our right-hand man. We were now in the
full swing of purchase; daily we sat in
state at a long table in the arena of the bull
ring, and gave audience to high and low.
The dealers focked in-some with droves
Of mules; others with team or pair.
Now and again, a laboring man with tears
in his eyes, brought his one precious beast
his bread winner and familiar friend-and
sold him to US, or tried to sell him, for
double what he was worth. Enrique WIS
invaluable; he was profoundly knowing in
| animals, and up to all the tricks of the
trade. To save trouble, although I spoke a
certain amount of Spanish, we installed
him as Interpreter and 60 between; and "a
such he gave such soupd advice, and seemed
so trustworthy, that even suspicious Clay
ton began to appreciate him. Enrique
possessed, also, the rare gift OF organization
to a degree seemingly strange, unless 1t
were ths result of long practice added To
natural powers. Seeing this, and that the
rest OF the muleteers readily admitted his
superiority, gave him carte 6lancht.
Within week our men and animals wer',
brigaded; responsible headswere appointed;
/ 1 Il s,11, Il
orderly as those of a regiment of horse.
He went on with his duties steadily and
quietly, and he made no friends among the
muleteers; he seemed to talk to no one but
myself, and even with me, although | treat
ed him, as felt he was, quite as my equal, ,
he WAS singularly reserved.
Every night at varying hours visited
the ring, and found Enrique prompt always
! to answer my call.
/ Once, rather late, he was accompanying
me on my rounds, when tremendous
knocking at the outer gate made us both
start.
EGO and see, Enrique, what that Means
excuse me, Senior Captain. | will send
Aleiandro;" and with a strange alacrity
Enrique left me.
m yself reached the gate in time to hear
the following short colloquy:
"Who goes there? ?" from within.
"La uuttoridad (the authority. Open,
in the name OF the queeA."
Isabella was on the throne; Narvaez at
her right hand. The political air was
heavy with electricity, and all Spain was
under martial law.
81 am the master here" said /, at once
putting myself forward. "What is the
meaning of this intrusion"
The visitors consisted of posse of civil
guards, and at their head was a small
dried up atom of man, who seemed all
gray mustaches and gold headed cane.
81 am the chief of police of this city.
require to see all your muleteers. am in
formed you harbor here a dangerous rebcI
! chief"
| resented these peremptory tones, bu
with the instinct of obedience to despotic
rule, had ranged themselvesin row.
: "They are all here" said Don Cirllo
turning to me, as soon as he had inspected
each in turn by the light Of lantern
Gall your muleteers are here"
"All my muleteers are here" | repeated
Enrique was absent; but he was now oul
overseer, not muleteer. permitted my
self this slight evasion, for felt certain En-
rique wished to remain concealed.
at is very strange"
And then the intruders made a thorough
search OF the place, all to no purpose. Pres
emily, without word OF apology, they took
their leave.
On mentioning the affair to Clayton, al
his old suspicious of Enrique revived.
81 knew how it would be. You have
made 4 fatal mistake. You were particu'
larly desired to avoid any collision with
the local government, and yet your hasti
ness in engaging this fellow will compro
mise us seriously.
"You have always admitted Enrique was
worth his weight in gold to u.s."
ale will be dearer than that, if tn,
Spanish authorities, as l fear, order us tc