The Princeton union., 1895-07-18
A GRINGO LOTHARIO,
&c Loved Chonitn. But He Did Not
.x, Ride Away.

Far out in the wilds of the Mexican
:Sierras, about one days travel west of
Guadalupey Calvo, the trail leading to
Morales leaves the ridge along which
it climbs and plunges down into the
depths of the Canon de Muerto, there
winding in and out amid the pines
and powders until it reaches the ford
vof stream, the Rio Chico, which
rushes through the gorge and on in it's
wild flight for the sea. Down this
trail, late in the afternoon of Il day
some few years ago, rode a young
man, Jack Rawlston, the new man
.ager of the Alta Mining Company,
then on his way to take charge of
their mines near Morales. He was
wrapped close in an oil-skin slicker
for the rain was falling as it falls
only in the mountains of Mexico.
Reaching the ford, he drew his mule
In under the shelter of an overhang
Ing bluff and impatiently awaited the
coming Of his men, whose shouts and
curses could be heard in the canon
side above as they urged to greater
speed some half dozen pack-anin,als
slowly picking their way down the
slippery trail.
AS they drew near, one Of the men,
PanchO, who acted as guide, hurried
to Rawlston's side and. pointing to
the stream, now rushing torrent,
cried, "Valgame Dios, the Little River
is very great this day! There is much
water sencr, and deep. We no can
cross; not until tomorrow, when it
will be well. ST, senor, en- Ia manana
'ssta 'ueno."
Yes, but tonight, man! We can't
camp here; there is not enough le! ell
ground to raise a tent on. Get us out
OF this" exclaimed Rawlston.
'Senor,' replied the man, as he
drew his wet serape closer about him,
ga little rancho lies down the river a
short way, where lives Juan Montana
Will the senor go there?"
"Will the senor 90 therew shouted
Rawlston. eyes, confound you, hom-
1bre, the senor will. Move on ...
With q cry of "Ad-e-lan-te! Vamo
nosr' and sW earring great mouth-tilling
Mexican Caths at his assistants as we'll
as at the mules, Pancho started the
train down the canon Oh it's way to a
little valley of just a few hundred
acres, nestled there where the gorge
Widened out as either wall spread
away in great broken ridges, sweep
ing grandly off to the south.
1t was hardly a rancho, this place
of Juan Montano's, only a few small
patches Of growing maize and frijoles,
amid which, in a grove OF pines, rest.
ed house Of logs " it'll q wide por-
tico roughly thatched with bundles OF
corn-stallls, while jacal-a rooted
palisade of poles, chinked and cover
ed with adobe mud-adjoined the
house at one side, serving as a kitch
zen.
AS Rawlston, leading the way, ap
proached from across the valley,a dos
gave the alarm, and an elderly man
Juan himself, lnuffled in serepe ant
slowly putting at cigarrito, came ou
into the portico, while at the low door
way Of the jacal, amid the whiffs o
smoke from the fire within, appeare,
a browll-faced woman and behind La
three girls, shyly peeping forth at til
stranger as he drew up and asked TO
accommodations for the night
Isl, senor," replied Juaan to his re
quest; "dismount and come in from tn
rain. My house is at your service; er
trar, senor entrar," and he took til
Winchester that RawlstOn hande
him, giving it lingering glance as h
placed it carefully against the wall.
"And supper, senor," he continued
"will you have supper? 81? sta 'ueno
and, reaching up, he seized one Of
number Of chickens perched beneat
the roof, wrung it's neck, tossed it
the woman, saying: "For the seno
and coffee and milk pronto! And gi1
to the mozos of tortillas and frijolt
a plenty" ~.
Turning and with Permit me, Sc
orr to Rawlston, who was engaged
removing his wet slicker, Juan Dire
the Winchester from it's scabbard al
critically examined it, exclaiming
he did so: "Muy bonito carbino, senc
Once possessed one;not like thi
,senor-a carbine-but caramba! an I
dian stole it-may the devil take i
soul-and I am too poor to buy anot
er. miss it much, senor, for it fl
nished me meat. Why, only yesterd'
morning two deer stood just ov
there eating the corn, but +
paused for an instant, then callt
"Chonita, mia, come here
A girl clad in simple garment
zrough material passed frcm the iac