The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-13

h Fray Wno is my uOuMe
doctor Pleasonton, w.lo used to live
here"
"And where is Doctor Pleasonton
now %
"If didn't know you since you were a
boy, Id swear be was in this room; as it
is, l believe he is living in Philadelphia,
or rather at Chester, near there" sad the
captain.
"And the doctor lived here 2"
"Oh, yes !" with q snrug.
"IIow long since %
"About year."
FWent home with a fortune?" I said,
ironically.
"Well, yes" said the captain "The
fact is, he ran away with Scnorita Dmz,
the prettiest girl in the country, and what
made the matter noticeable was that she
was to have been married to Carlos Co.'S
tillo, a member of one Of our largest and
most Influential fami ies."
"Then, captain, he in no way resembles
me, for | never saw woman | would not
rather run away from, if | had my choice
between that and running away with
her."
The captain shrugged his shoulders
again--it was disagreeable habit with
him-and lighting our segars, we started
for the scene of the fandango.
1t was wide, whitewashed room, with
bar at one end, and an elevated platform
at the other, on which the musicians sat
close to the wall, and extending around
the room was row of benches, which
were occupied by Mexican girls, in dresses
conspicuous for color, and certainly be-
coming, if they were not fashionable. A
score of couples were on the floor, whirling
away in the mazes of a Mexican waltz, a
peculiar and graceful dance, where at GER
tain stages the partners disentangle them
selves, and stand facing each other, while
they sway their arms and bodies, in the
very poetry of motion.
The moment | entered, | saw | was an
object of attention to all, particularly to
the dark-eyed men, who watched me like
hawks, and discussed me from distance
in groups.
Telling me to make myself at home, the
captain, who could no more resist the OPP
portunity to dance than a child could a
sugar plum, disappeared, with his arm en-
circlng a dark-browed senorita.
The better to observe the dance and
avoid the crowd, took position in a
corner near the door, and from this van
tage ground began my favorite study Of
human nature. My seclusion did not les
sen the attention | at first attracted, for
the men still stared at me, and | found
myself the target for whole batteries Of
black eyes, as the senoritas swept by me
in the dance.
could not complain to the captain Of
this rudeness. and not wishing to inter
fere with his pleasure, determined to go
back to the hotel This resolve made,
buttoned up my coat, and walked out, un-
detected | hoped, but was mistaken.
had just got out of the light, when felt a
hand on my shoulder, and turning l saw
a tall man beside me.
"Why DO you detain me?" asked, MOI
; little surprised at the mans manner, for
though still keeping his hand on NY
shoulder, he did not speak.
"Ah, the voice-the same voice! Doc
tor Pleasonton, you are not good at dis
guises. We have caught you"
As he said this, saw he was right il
} using the plural pronoun, for there wer
four Mexicans around me, and dark as i
was my eyes caught the CLEAN Of thei
knives. protested that was not Doeto
Pleasonton-that | had never seen tht
gentleman; and | demanded to be per
mitted to 60 on in peace to the hotel.
They laughed at what they considered
) my falsehood, and in concert sprang OF
me and bore me to the ground. | was un
armed, but hatter myself four such mel
) could not have ovcrpowered me had
suspected their purpose. | did not los'
my presence of mind but tried to call 70
assistance. My cries were smothered by
gag, my legs and arms were bound, anc
the four men picked me up like hand
) barrow and carried me off
They must have walked an hour, whe,
they stopped before house, that in th'
darkness looked not unlike big packing
box. The door was opened, and | wa
thrown on the floor, while one of then
) struck light and then removed th
gag.
| again protested'ag ganst this treatment
and asked them to send for Captain Ham
mond, or any of the Americans in Sal
Diego, and pledged myself to reman
their prisoner If my statement was no
eorroborated.
I'All the Americans lie for each other
We know you, and will keep you here til
Senns Carlos Cnstillo RETURNS from Tuocnn