Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-04-22

the frothing breakers, but the froth OF
the breakers did not portend money, as
does the froth On cup of tea, for none
came.
AS sat at the table we had used the
night before, making up the log list
from the measurers' tags, my hand hap
pened to stray underneath, and I felt
something smooth. Investigation proved
it to be cards-three kings and an ace,
held there by IA little watch spring ar
rangement screwed to the soft redwood,
They were underneath that part Of the
table occupied the night before by the
doctor.
I was dazed. So this was the reason
he won, and I had been fool enough to
believe that he played a straight
game. Calling Theodore showed him
the "hold out. He was greatly sur
prised and very angry, and suggested
that we pursue the doctor and recover
our money. This I decided to do, and
telling the men that pay day would be
put off until Monday, Theodore and
set off in hurry for La Chola.
We arrived in that pretentious village
about o'clock in the afternoon, and
Immediately repaired to the Meson de
Guadalupe, the only hostelry in the
place, to leave CUR horses. Hardly had
we passed through the grand portal of
the meson when Dona Carolina Men
doza, the proprietress, came toward me
with such troubled look that 1 asked
her in alarm what allied her.
"Ah, valgame Dios! Why did I trust
him, the sinverguenza, she walled.
"What is the matter, Dona Carolina" ?"
Iagain asked.
"Oh. senior, that picaro Jew has gone
away with all his rent and board bill
unpaid-more than $24-and that is not
all-he took my mare, the best horse in
the whole distrito." :" With this, the poor
woman broke down completely.
This was interesting, but not surpris-
ing news to me, and I eagerly asked
her when he had gone.
81 don't know the hour she sobbed.
II learned that he had gone only half
hour ago, when Iwent to put some clean
clothes in his room.''
Thereupon hastened to the Office of
the jefe politico, police officer with
combined state and municipal functions.
found him idly swinging in ham,
mock. On my approach he got up and
grasped me warmly by the hand and Of
fered me chair. Disregarding the Gus
tom of the country of going around
Robin Hoods barn before telling thing,
I Immediately proceeded to business, told
him all that have told you and asked
him what course had better be pursued.
cit is as I expected" he replied.
"Read this. - lie handed me an official
looking document, which proved to be
an official letter from the governor Of
Vera Cruz in regard to certain Max
Bergstein, who was wanted for two
crimes-the at,lluction Of girl and EN-
bezzlement. The description fitted Moses
exactly. 1t was be. without doubt.
Why did you not arrest iria nj once?
This description is perfect, " asked.
With shrug Of his shoulders he said !:
"Welly thought manana would do as
well as today. and still think So He
is gone now and off my hands. Que le
vaya bienl'
.'But are you not going to try and
catch him?" asked in astonishment.
"Senor Herbert" he answered, with
languid smile, "you are not acquaint-
ed with the customs of this country. We
Mexicans never fly in the face of Provi-
dence as you Americans do. When
fortune SO favors us as to kill fer
US a great quantity of trouble, we
never try to resuscitate that trou-
BILE. Besides in this case it would be
foolish to exert ourselves. Moses has, as
you say, Dona Cardinals mare, the fast
est horse i'll the district. He probably
started this morning, and, if so, is al
ready far down the Maneadero, perhaps
at Panuco by this time. You know there
are no telegraphs in this state, SO, ami
go, am sorry, but you had better bid
your thousand dollars adios, and be
thankful they were not more. However,
if you wish to cool your Indignation by
chasing DIR. Moses, take as many of my
soldiers as you wish. Regard my feel
ings, though, and if you catch him, don't
bring him back here Put him to some
good use, such as fertilizing the orchids.
for instance. You know the orchids
they grow high up in the tree. - And he
smiled significantly.
Thanking him for the offer, went
off to talk the matter over with Theo-
doro, who had learned that Moses took
servant and pack animal. He learn
ed further that some washerwomen had
seen Moses pass at 8 p. n. This news
encouraged me, and asked Theodore If
he thought we could overtake the doctor.
He studied awhile. eyes, he replied,
''but in only one way. If we can bor-
row Don Vicente's horse for you to ride
and I get little mule of mine from
over the hill in the milpa, think we
can catch him by morning. He cannot
travel very swiftly with his mozo and
pack animal. Besides he will go by the
coast, which makes long curve to the
west. We will follow wood trail that
I know and save an hours time between
here and Panuco.'
"Can we handle him, or shall borrow
some soldiers of the jefe, TheCdoro!"
'sSenor,' he answered, edo you re-
member the night you saved my life
from the woodchoppers? How we fought
back to back and whipped those nine
macheteros. And then you ask me IT we
can whip one man. will go alone and
bring him back. -
'sNo, Theo,'' replied, 1--WE will go
together. Let us eat. Then you can get
your little muls and will ask Don VI
cente for his horse. z"
Supper over, we soon procured our
horses, and with many blessings and
good wishes from Dona Carolina, we
started out.
Our way led along the main road, or
camino real, until we reached Tzatlan,
small village, where we struck the WOOD
trail. There we learned that about P.
m. Moses and his servant had passed.
Theodore had carefully studied the
ground from La Chola to Tzatlan, and
though the light was now failing rapid
ly we had no difficulty in recognizing
the track of Dona Cardinals mare.
We rode hard. At times the way was
bad, and we had to slacken our pace.
Occasionally we were forced to duck our