The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-05-23

uOn. pTOleSC against the employment
OF. this fellow .,.,,.e,.,,,g
and Insist upon It. 1 was much
taken with his looks. Don't you agree
with ME, Hinks?" ae"y |
The "yet" never ventured an opinion
spontaneously; even when directly asked,
he hositated. Now, he felt the sin
ews OF one arm slowly up and down, a
fayorite habit of his when in doubt. as
if he were trying the tendons of sus-
picious horse, and after a time, only
said: s5s :
{" wonder what he knows about ami
mails? He may be Of USE"
And he was undoubtedly. Before he
had been in our employment for twenty
four hours, Enrique, as he was called, be-
came 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 f1ocked in
some with droves of mules; others with
q team or a pair. Now and again,
laboring' man, with tears in his eyes,
brought his one precious boast his
bread-winner and familiar friend
sold him to us, or tried to sell him, for
double what he was worth.
: Enrique was, invaluable; he was pro-
foundly knowing in animals, and up to
all the: tricks of the trade. To save trou-
BILE, although spoke a certain amount of
Spanish, we installed him as interpreter
and go-between; and as such he gave such
sound advice, and seemed so trustworthy,
that even suspicious Clayton began to ap-
preciate him. Enrique possessed also,
the rare gift of organization to degree
seemingly strange, unless it were the re-
suit OF long practice added to natural
powers. Seeing this, and that the rest Of
the mule-teers readily admitted his supe-
riority,I gave him carte blanche. Within
a week our men and animals were bri-
gaded; our stables were as we'll disci-
plined and orderly as those of regiment
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 treated him, as I felt he
was, quite my equal, he was singularly re-
served.
Every night at varying hours visited
the ring, and found Enrique prompt al
ways to answer to my call.
Once, rather late, he was accompany
ing me on my rounds, when a tremen-
dous knocking at the outer gate made us
both start.
$50 and see, Enrique, what that means :"
excuse me, Senior Captain. 1 will
send Alexandria" and with strange elacri-
ty Enrique left me.
I myself reached the gate in time to
hear the following short colloquy:
"Who goes there?" from within.
LA autoridad (the authority. Open,
in the name of the Queen.''
Isabella was on the throne; Narvaez at
her right hand. The political air was
heavy with electricity, and all Spain was
under martial law.
II am the master here,'' said I, 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 small,
dried-up atom of a man, who seemed all
gray .mustaches and gold-headed cane.
am the Chief of the Police in this
city. I require to see all your muleteers.
/ am informed you harbor here a danger
GUS rebel chiefs
resented these peremptory tones, but
even before could protest, the muleteers,
with the instinct Of obedience to a des-
potic rule, had ranged themselves in a
row:
"They arc all here?" said Don Ciri!o,
turning to me, as soon as he had inspect
ed each in turn by the light Of a lantern.
All your muleteers are here?"
"All my muleteers are here" repeat
ed. Enrique was absent; but he was now
our overseer, not mdleteer. permitted
myself this slight evasion, for I felt GER
tain that Enrique wished to remain con-
cealed.
cit is very strange!'
And then the intruders made thorough
search of the place, but all to no purpose.
Presently, without word of apology, they
took ther leave.
On mentioning the affair to Clayton, all
his old suspicious of Enrique revived.
II knew how it would be. You have
made 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 COM
promise us seriously.
*You have always admitted Enrique
was worth his weight in gold to u.s.
He will be dearer than that, if the
Spanish authorities, as fear, order us to
leave Puerta Muerta."
While he was still speaking, pair of
guards appeared, and one Of them served
upon me summons to appear immedi-
ately before the military governor Of the
town.
Till now, although employed by our
own government, our operations had been