The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-05-08

will for me after l am gone tomorrow
for those old by-gones.'
"Vasquez said he believed he once
got hold somewhere in Arizona Of
blooded horse having my brand upon
it, and that it was the best animal he
ever had to realize when it must do its
utmost at speed to deliver its rider out
of danger Tn sorry, Mr.. Fillmore,
you were so much q victim of my way
Of doing business said the young man,
with the only tinge Of sorrow that es-
capped him that day, He told of the
pleasure he had had in reading Bret
Harte's stories in the last two weeks,
and regretted that he had not known
the fun and wit there was in Don
QuiXote in his early days.
AS he stood there, one hand on the
arm of his chair, q newspaper in the
other, and showing a courteous inter-
est in the efforts of the busting deputy
to find seats for his guests he was far
from formidable in appearance. How
ever terrible he may have looked,
when, shotgun in hand, he rode up to
the stage coach, or the wayside store,
the lonely traveller, or the isolated
ranch house, with his Gathering, GRIM
inal cavalry behind him, as ready to
blow out brains and cut threats as to
take plumber, he was now but short
broad shouldered, arlS-skinned, pleas
ant-faced Mexican, with nothing for
bidding about him. Indeed, his man
ner was engaging,
"I would rather talk of something
else, If it is agreeable to you, gentle
men, he said to a reporter who had
joined us, and began business at once
by asking Vasquez about his mental
condition.
ct am to be hanged tomorrow.
Very well. don't like it, but have
no choice Seer
''And he shrugged his shoulders and
smiled.
DO you feel that you deserve your
fate?" solemnly asked the reporter.
"'Well, that does not much matter,
he answered, lighting a cigar. While
l never killed anybody myself ] per-
mitted my men to do so and in the eye
of the law that is the same thing, so
suppose 1 deserve what is going tc
happen. Since I cannot help myself
am content
"'Do you believe in a hereafter
asked the solemn reporter.
Undo your he asked in return
his black eyes twinkling.
''The solemn reporter grinned, ant
so did Vasquez.
| 1.-The priest has been here. He says
there is another world. He is a goot
man and believes it. Very well. d.
not know But, seriously, I die {
| Christian, Catholic, as I have lived
| Will you pardon me, gentlemen, if
ask you to talk about something els'
than myself I am glad to see you.
| like company The weather is pleas
| ant, eh?'
HE leaned back in his rude chat
with an animated countenance, read,
| to chat, like one who wished to Will
| away dragging hours. He had abou
fourteen Of them left.
"The mans face was strong and firm
| He was in the prime of life and in per
feet health. His courage had beer
| proved in many bloody fight, and i
by numbering all his visitors it woult
have given him one chance in thou
sand of escape that chance would hav'
been taken and God thanked for 1t. Al
it was, he smiled cordially and accept
ed the inevitable with manly compo
sure.
His politeness was inexhaustible
The editor of one of the local paper
came in, greeted him with a boisterou
hilarity meant at once to cheer the con
| Il Nd 10 ha
tan journalists. his superior intimac,
with celebrated character. The edi
tor actually took copy of his pape
from his pocket, and, with the remark
T suppose you want to hear what I sal
about you Tonight sat down and rea
to VasqueZ three solid columns abou
his crime, the preparations for tn
hanging, and minute description G
the gallows, with mention of the othe
criminals who had stepped upon 1t.
"This performance appalled, the re
porters, but Vasquez bore it in silence
without vince or a frown.
SHERIFF Adams appeared and tn
Mexican retired into the shadow wit
him They whispered together, an
the sheriff seemed to be trying to dis
suade his charge from some purpose
But vasquez was resolute, and the OF
ficer retired with a deprecatory shrus
Soon there was a tramping of fee
without, the key turned and the iro
doors were thrown open, changing
Two men bearing a coffin and followe
by a black-coated undertaken, with
pair of trestles In his hand, came IL
The coffin--a fine one studded with 81
ver- headed nails-was placed on tn
trestles, and the brigand cigar
teeth, stepped up and inspected it wit
lively interest He half squatted an
ran his hand along the side.
It's too short he said, with a SUI
prise looking at the awed undertake
who assured him it was all right-tht
it should be measured at the top, M
near the bottom.
It's high cried Vasquez, with
J wave of his hand, pleased at the quail
ty of the coffin, which had been prov
ded by his friends. The undertake
thought he referred to the lid, whie
was rounded, and said that it was tt
fashion to make them that way.
, ooh, he doesn't mean that said Il
, editor scornfully. What he means
that it's nifty.
eyes, nifty agreed the Mexica
J glancing gratefully at the San jos
journalist for supplying the right wor
!, Yes, yes, it's nifty
! ''He put his hand inside, feltthe pat
ding, pressed the little pillow, and, wi
!, | on inward f1irt of his cigar observes