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


We were party Of three Englishmen,
travelling by rail from Madrid to the east
coast, bound to Puerta Muerta, to buy
transport mules for certain little war
then in progress in the remote east .
twas at Almanac, the junction for.
Valencia and Barcelona, that I first saw
my mysterious muleteer. @
No muleteer was he then toall outward
seeming; but dressed like Spanish gen
tleman Of the old school, wrapped. ina
| wide cape or cloak, which, when he
chose, completely enshrouded his face.
This was not invariably; more than once
I saw his features plainly enough. He
was not alone A strikingly handsome
girl, so like him that she was evidently his
daughter, chung to him in a manner that
betrayed evident anxiety and nervousness
on his account. Her eyes, full Of loving
solicitude, were continually turned to his;
now and again she motioned to him as if
she wished him to cover up his mouth
ment, or was he an: invalid? S
They were rather a, remarkable pair.
Possibly it was the splendid Spanish
beauty of the girl that attracted me, butt
found myself thinking of them for the
remainder of the journey. looked out
for them on the platform at 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 SO busily occupied that I had
no leisure for vague dreams. VI
Puerta Muerta, when we reached it,
might in truth have been dead thous-
and years. The houses were like crum-
bling mummies set up in rows along the
deserted, dust streets; only
stray felucha or two, with ragged sails,
lay in the harbor.. The warehouses were
all boarded up, the mole overgrown with
grass. The great caravanserai 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 at last. .#
But in an hour or two all was changed.
A Spaniard has keen scent for gain,
when money can be made without great
expenditure of force. The town awoke
with start galvanized, as it were, into
life by the action of English gold. The
shopkeepers took down their shutters;
merchants hitherto idle came to prefer
their services; dealers without mules came
in crowds to propose contracts for their
supply. y $40 49,.
My duties broug ht me into close con-
nection with the people of the place;
good easy-going country folk, speaking a
provincial patois, clinging to local CO.'S
tume-a black, flat sombrero, as wide as
cart wheel, white sack, black sash, white
petticoat or kilt, footless stockings and
rope-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;
recent political trouble and bad harvest
had brought many to the verge of want,
and men came in great numbers to be
"apuntado''- y" put down. or noted for
employment by US. I 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, 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 a tall, well-grown
man, in the prime of life, dressed in the
country fashion, holding himself very
straight, with voice and manner seem
ingly above his station. He 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, 81
understand your language"
/ liked him for his honesty.
"You have papers; your cedula and all
that?n
"No, have none. 1 stand simply on
my merits, such as they are. am accus-
toned to animals, strong, willing, to work,
'That you had better leave US to say
put in Clayton. We were still speaking
in English.
"Do ycu doubt it, sir?" said the
stranger, raising his voice, as if disposed
to cali the .questioncr to serious account.
Then, although the light was not good,
I recognized him. It was the stranger 1
! had seen at the station at Almanac.
"You are engaged" l said at once.
& Come tomorrow to the bull-ring, our
headquarter, for orders"
He made courteous bow, and without
speaking again, left us.
"Well, Of all the idiotic proceedings, y
cried Clayton at once" to engage ii man
who has no papers; a man who speaks
English"
'sThat ought to be in his favor"