The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-25

ne was Iar IfOm DelnB batlsue0 WIFI
these desultory gains. They sufficed hi,
private wants, but with the grea,
schemes he had in his mind he needed
| gold by tho bushel. How to obtain /,
was a problem which sat on the throne
of his mind side by side with Chonita
Iturbi Moncada. He had reason to be-
lieve that gold lay under California, but
where2
He determined that upon his return
from Mexico he would take measures to
discover, although he disliked the meth
ods which alone could be employed.
But, like all born rulers Of men, he had
an impatient scorn for means with q
great end in view. There was no inter
mediate way of making the money. II
would be hundred years before the
country would be populous enough ~
give his vast ranches a reasonable value,
and, although he had twenty thousand
head of cattle, the market for their dis
posal was limited and barter was the
principle of trade rather than coin.
Toward the end of the month he hur-
ried to Monterey to catch bark about
to sail for Mexico. He embarked with
out writing TO Chonita.
The voyage lasted a month, tedious
and monotonous, more trying than his
inaction on land, for there at least he
could recover some serenity by violent
exercise. He divided his time between
pacing the deck when the weather per-
mitted and writing to Chonita. At San
Bias he posted his letters and welcomed
Thorough journey overland to the capi-
tai, but under a calm exterior he was
possessed of the spirit of disquiet. AS so
often happens, however, his fears proved
TO have been vagaries Of a morbid state
of mind and of that habit of thought
which would associate with every cause
an effect of similar magnitude. Santa
Anna welcomed him with friendly en-
thusiasm and was ready to listen to his
plans.
That willy and astute politician, who
was always abreast of progress and never
in its lead, recognized in Estenega the
coming man, and knowing that the
seizure Of the CALIFORNIA; by the United
States was only question Of time was
keenly willing to make an ally Of the
man who he foresaw would control them
as long as he chose, both at home and in
Washington. For the matter of that,
he recognized the impotence of Mexico
to interfere beyond buster with plans
any resolute Californian might choose to
pursue. But il was important to Es-
tenega's purpose that the governorship
should be assured to him by the central
government and the eyes of the Mexican
congress directed elsewhere. He knew
the value of the moral effect which their
apparent sanction would have upon re-
bellious southerners.
81 am at your SERVICE" said Santa
Anna, land the governorship is yours
But take heed that no rumor of your
ultimate intentions reach the ears of
congress until you are firmly established.
If they opposed you relentlessly, and
they keep their teeth on California like
dog on a bone bigger than himself, !
should have to yield; have too much
at stake myself. will look out that any
communications from enemies. includ-
ing Iturbi Moncada, are opened first
by me-"
Estenega wrote to Chonita again by
the ship that left during his brief stay in
the capital, and it was his intention to
go directly to Santa Barbara upon ar
irving in California. But when he
landed in Monterey he learned that she
was about to start, perhaps already had
done so, for Fort Ross, to pay visit to
the Rotscheffs. The news gave him
pleasure; it had been his wish to say
what he had yet TO say in his own forests.
And then the plan which had been
stirring restlessly in his mind for many
months took imperative shape. He de-
termined that if there was gold in Cali
fornia he would wiring the secret out Of
its keeper by gentle means or violent,
and that within the next twenty-four
hours.