Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-04-15

ed his hat and, with courteous "Adios,
senor," passed off to the northward,
where the mountains loomed up in dark
and splendid grandeur. Arriving at the
rancho, he handed over the masters
horse to lounging Indian boy, quietly
ordered another to bring out the fresh
yoke of oxen, saying, The carreta is
heavy and our oxen grew weary" and,
taking neither rest nor refreshment, set
out to meet his master. They met four
miles from the ranch, ON the outskirts
of the wood. The Indians quick eye no.
ticed that the shovels and pickaxes still
lay in the bottom of the carreta, but the
box had disappeared. But not one word
did he utter. He understood that Sc
cret rested between him and his master.
The leaves hung limp with heat, all
sounds We're hushed save the dull thud
of the overripe figs falling to the ground
as they rode into the wide patio. The
joyous clamor of welcome accorded the
master awakened Marianita from her
dreamful siesta, and with smiles, sweet
words and caresses she waited upon the
weary traveller. but. like the faithful In.
dian servant, never questioned the OBJ
ject of his journey.
The vineyards had yielded up their
purple fruits, and the struggling vines
were trailing their gold and crimson
banners ON tho ground. Great piles of
pumpkins rose like golden thrones with
in, ha nnhxuobhoA n1a whit Ia
thrones of gold glowed in the loft above,
where sunkissed apples were heaped
high. Here, in garlands and festoons of
chill peppers, the autumn's royal colors
were hung aloft.
Don Tiburcio stood among group of
Indians without the open door of the
alamazen, from which came tho sounds
of fun and laughter, where the merry
Indian boys and maidens We're shucking
the ripened corn under tho supervision
of old Yiidor.
Don Tiburcio stood before long,
rough table, upon which were several
pans and one large pail. with huge
iron spoon. With a sharp knife he cut
into round Of beef at his side, dipped
the strips of meat into the large pail be-
fore him and, laying them within the
several pans around him. called out:
Here Juan, Jose, Pedro. Chapo, we
will give Don Coyote royal feast to-
day. should like to see the grin with
which he and his brothers will receive
this generous gift All, but his jaws will
grow too stiff to close upon our fat
young ducks again Nothing like dose
of cavalonga for Senior Coyote, eh, mu-
chacos?"
Thus, with merry jest, he passed
around the fateful poison and dispersed
his dusky helpers.
AS the sun sinks westward the shuck-
ing party emerges and passes out to the
kitchens and corrals. At sunset Don Ii
burcio's band of helpers return, singing
an old mission hymn, Domingo, who
has been mending the sheepfolds, at the
head. The little procession winds round
toward the alamazen, when, with one
accord, they all stop. Their song ends in
a shrek As if turned to stone they
stand and gaze!
There sits Don Tiburcio upon the low
bench, his eyes staring and CLASSY, his
jaws tightly locked, the whole figure
horribly upright and rigid. With cry
like wounded animal Domingo falls
forward upon his master. Mi senior,
mi senorl' he calls in harsh, choking
tones, then, without word, he puts his
strong arms around the rigid form. In
stantly the others leap forward, and they
bear him through Marianita's grove,
around to the veranda. Slowly they lay
him down, and at that moment the jaws
unlock-a shiver. a gurgle, the head
falls back-the CLASSY eyes stare upward
to the pitiless heavens!
Light footsteps sound down the wide
hall, gay voice calls out, "Papasito,
papasitol" The Indians start with appre-
hension one muscular youth springs for
ward. He will hold her by main force
if he must from the sight of that awful
horror Too late Marianita bounds for
ward; one inarticulate cry, she sways
and falls! When Domingo creeps for
ward and lifts the arm that lies stretch
ed across her father s breast, it falls back
heavy, lifeless. In death. as in life, Don
Tiburcio's priceless blossom rests safe
against his heart.
1t is many days after. The relatives
there are many Of them-haye all de
parted, after having filled the house
with loud lamentations and laid their
kinsman and his lovely daughter in
their double grave with all the solemn
pomp of church ceremonial.
Don Tiburcio's legal friends have
come, and they search for all that ru
mored gold. They find buried gold and
silver, but still they are not satisfied.
The amount is not adequate to their ex
pectations. There must be more.
Then some one remembers that Do
mingo was the confidential servant OF
Don Tiburcio, and they go out TO him.
where he sits in the sun and the wind
staring straight before him, always
staring, staring. He lifts his head ant
looks stupidity at them when they ques
tion him. AT length he understands
1 and in dull, monotonous tone and man
ner he tells of that journey to Los An