The Portland daily press., 1892-10-22
SEXTON GARCIA.


magnate who was making trip to the
Mexican capital. Their private car had
been cut off at town on the way the
day before, when leave Of absence had
been given to Arthur. He had strolled
about the old Mexican town and finally
made his way to the cemetery, where
he made the acquaintance of Sexton Vim
cente Garcia, who had told him yarns
for drinks, each yarn one drink, and had
entertained him as long as Arthurs flask
lasted with anecdotes of certain dead
persons whose tombs he pointed out.
Having another free day, Arthur went
Immediately to the cemetery, but not
finding Garcia there he went out on the
road in search for a possible place to
make inquiries, and seeing about block
off what looked like a grocery store he
went to it and entered. There leaning
up against the counter stood the sexton
talking away to the proprietor, who
paid seemingly but little attention to
him.
Arthur on recognizing his acquaint-
ance of the day before approached and
accosted him. Good morning, sexton
"Ah, valgame Dios good days, amigo.
trent" and the Mexican threw his arms
around Arthur then took his hand and
shook it earnestly How DIES do, frent?
sI'm well, answered Arthur.
Take drink quickly said the sexton;
then turning to the proprietor, "Agalne
favor dos capas' C'Do me the favor two
drinks''), but the latter shook his head.
The sections credit was exhausted.
"He won't do it, said Garcia 81
married his sister; he don't like me; you
ask him."
Deering put twenty-five cents on the
counter. and the sexton took both
drinks, as Arthur declined his, and also
inadvertently Garcia pocketed the
change.
"Ah, trent. much dam pleasure to see
you. | wonder all night bydam if | see
YOU again | feel like father to you
Got eight bits?''
Whats that asked the American.
Eight reales. One dollar; you got
that?"
Il think so" answered Deering.
Give it me. President Diaz give you
fine time: cost yon thousand dollar.
give it one dollar"
Il haven't any money to throw away
said Arthur.
"You want story, no, frent?'
Eyes, you know that
You starve for story and won't give
me dollar Bydam one time give five
thousand dollar for cross
We'll, give me that story"
No, you want me to give everything,
you give nothing. | got sickness, tisis.
You let me tell story and die. Medicine
cost two bits.
Il didn't know that you were i'll, said
Arthur alphabetically; heres quar-
ter; buy yourself medicine
"Ah trent, much thanks; you have
good, but dam slow heart. notice that
yesterday. buy mescal; after while
you give me more money and buy medi-
cine. Now give story:
Thirty years ago, bydam, very rich
merchant, plenty store, plenty business.
One time want to take $4,000 this town
to dam town over mountain. Diligence
go every day, but every day thief take
diligence. Then l think. take one
mule for me, one for money Early in
the morning, 8 o'clock, leave store |
think to myself. il dam thief take dill
gence on road, take me, too; so don't go
road; find new way. Bydam big fool.
In five days l lost. That very bad. Moth
ing to eat and plenty water. That make
sickness.
In memory of that sad occasion the
sexton took his third swig at the cup of
mescal that Arthur's quarter had bought
him
"Then | think If kill mule have
to walk. If kill other mule no can
money. Then | sit down and starve.
Die every day for five days. Then two
man come. yell, Viva, viva, amigos!
give me mescal, give me foodp One man
he ask me, How long you hungry Isay
Two weeks bydam. That think make
me very important. Abr he say, you
sanctifed now. Go to sky sure and he
hit me on head with carbine. When |
wake up find two little sticks tied to-
gether like cross on my thin stomach.
No haule, no none, all gone bydam."
Garcia drained the last drop of mescal.
How you think get home? Fly? No;
got no wings. l walk home. Ha! ha! ha!
That good joke You think l walk home
on my head? No. On my foots? Ha!
hal hal Two jokes; give me four bits.
Two jokes; that's cheap bydam."
Say, look here, sexton" said Arthur,
.you are trying to make fool of me.
After being starved for five days and
knocked On the head, how could you
walk, and if you knew the way, why
didn't you return before starving?"
"Ahr' said Garcia quickly, you for
ret had cross, and man with cross and
pydam sanctifed nearly saint, and a
saint can do anything he dam like.
hold my cross in front and follow; that
take me home. You don't know Mexico
trent. Miracle here every day. You like
more miras 81 story
No sand Arthur decidedly; 'but |
would like to learn something of the
habits and customs and peculiarities Of
these people--their home life