River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-05-24
MY MYSTERIOUS MULETEER.


then in progress IN the remote east.
Ii was at Almanac, the junction fo
Valencia aud Barcelona. that ! first saw
my mysterious muleteeT.
No muleteer was he then toall Outwar,
seeming; but dressed like a Spanish gen
tleman of the old school, wrapped in /
wide cape or cloak, which, when h
chose, completely enshrouded his face
This was not invariably; more than Onc'
| saw his features plainly enough. II,
was not alone. A strikingly handsome
girl, so like him that she was evidently hi
daughter, chung TO him in manner tina
betrayed evident anxiety and nervousness,
on his account. Her eyes, full Of loving
sOlicitude, We're continually turned to his
now and again she mOtiOned To him as il
: she wished him to cover up his mouth
with his cloak Was this for conceal
ment. OF was he an invalid.
They were rather a remarkable pair
Possibly il was the splendid SPANS.
beauty Of the girl that attracted me, but 1
found myself thinking Of them for the
remainder Of the journey. i looked out
for them on the platform al Puerta Muer-
Ia, but they were nowhere IN sight. Then
the pressure Of my own affairs drove
them quite out of my head, and for some
time / was 50 busily occupied that ] had
no leisure for vague dreams.
Puerta MueFta. when we reached n
might in truth have been dead a thOus-
and years. The houses were like crum-
bling mummies set up IN rows along the
deserted, dust Remembered streets; only a
stray felucha or two, with ragged sails,
Law in the harbOr. The warehouses were
all bearded up, the mole OyergTown with
grass. The great carayanserai or fonda
by the shore could have done no business
for years We had the greatest difficulty in
persuading its landlord that business had
come al last.
But in an hour or two all was changed.
4 Spaniard has keen scent for gain,
when money can he made without great
expenditure Of force. The town awOke
with start galvanized, rs il were, into
life by the action of English gold. The
shOpkeepeTs took down their shutters
merchants hitherto idle came To prOffer
their services; dealers without mules came
in crowds to propose contracts for their
supply.
NV duties brought me into close con
nectiOn with the people of the place
gOOd easy-gOing country folk, speaking a
provincial patOis, clinging To local cos
tume-a black, flat sombrerO, as wide as "A
cart wheel, a white sack, black sash, white
petticOat or kilt, fOOtless stockings and
r0pe-sOled sandals ON their horny feet
very temperate, not over industrious, but
patient and willing to work for very
moderate wage The times were hard 4;
recent political trouble and bad harvest
had brought many to the verge of want,
and men came in great numbers To be
"apuntado' -"put down" or noted Tor
employment by III. was perpleXed at
times To choose. but relied chiefly on my
own judgment of physiOgnOmy and
physique, provided all could produce as
proof OF responsibility, their " cedulas de
vicinidad," ON passports, signel by their
local authorities.
We were seated in the patio smoking
one evening. when waiter came to say a
man had called To- be- put down. lt
was after business hours, but hc was
shown in lie WAS a tall, well-grown
man, in the prime OF life, dressed in the
country fashion. heidng himself very
straight. with voice and manner seem
ingly above his station. Tie made his re
quest for employment in an independent,
straightforward WAY which rather 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.
understand your language.
liked him for his honesty.
. You have papers; your ccdula and all
that"
No, have none. stand simply ON
my merits. such a they are. | ann accuS-
toned to animals. strong, willing towork,
honest
That YOU had better leave u to say,
put in CLAYTON. We were still speaking
in English.
DO vcu doubt it. SIR said the
stranger, raising his voice, a. if disposed
10 call the questioner To serious account.
Then, although the light was not good,
| recognized him. II wa~ the stranger |
had seen at the station at Almanac.
You are engaged" | said at once.
Come tomorrow 10 the bull-ring, our
headquarter, for orders
lie made courteous bow. and without
speaking again. LETT Us.
Well. of all the idiotic proceedings,
cried Clayton at once to engage a man
who has no papers; man who speaks
English
That ought 10 be in his favor.
:. Nv experience Is that the linguiStS Of
an out-Of-the-way foreign town are all
roorIcS How comes he 10 know English
IL looks tishy."
Your absur,. mistrustfulness, Clay
ton. Is the worst trait IN your character
You will never be great man.
Rubbish, That Is beside the ques-
ton. protest against the employment
Of this fellow"
And insist upon H. l was much
taken with his looks. Don't You agree
with me, IIinks!'
The vet never ventured an opinion
spontaneously: even when directly asked
ne heSitated. Now. he felt the sin
eWs of one arm slowly up and down, 4
fayOrite habit of his when in doubt, a
II ne were trying the tendOHs of a Sus-
picious horse, and after time, only
said.
=. wonder what he knows about AMI
malSi He may be of use.
And he was undoubtedly. Before he
had been in our employment for twenty
four hours, Enrique, rs he was called, be-
came our right-hand man. We were
now in the full swing of purchase; daily
We sat in state at long table IN the
arena of the buII-ring, and gave audience
To high and low. The dealers fiOcked in
some with drOycs of mules: Others with
team or pair. Now and again, )
labOring man. with tears in his e =
brought his one precious beast n:
bread-winner and familiar triend-ant
sold him 70 u. or tried 10 sell him, tol
double what he was worth.
Enrique was invaluable; he was pro
foundly knowing in animals, and mp Il
all the tricks of the trade. To save trOu
bic, although | spoke a certain amount o
Spanish. We installed him as interprete
and go-between: and as such he gave sucl