Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-11-13
TWO TRAVELLERS.

II one were to seek the site Of the Red
Lion that stood on the Harlem road over
a century ago, he could no more discover
it than he could the snow that fell at
the date Of which we write.
The Red Lion was an inn kept by a
jolly old Hollander named Peter Steen,
and directly opposite was the only gro
Gerry store on that part Of the island,
and this was presided over by Peters
brother, Helst. The brothers were very
dissimilar in temperament and appear
ance. Peter weighed over 200 pounds
was hard drinker, inveterate smoker
and great talker. Helst was Of small
stature, weighing only 100 and some
odd pounds, and he never drank spiritu-
Gus liquors nor used tobacco in any
form. Neither was he Of a loquacious
turn. Silent and meditative, he weighed
out his sugar and tea to his customers,
took their hard money, put it safely
away, and grew richer each year than
his laughing, rollicking brother Peter.
Every evening, after the store was
closed, Helst invariably went across the
way, and the brothers, taking chairs,
would, when the season permitted, sit
in front Of the tavern under the trees
and converse, while PETERS son, Dyke,
attended the bar.
It was the latter part Of the summer,
when the brothers were seated in their
accustomed places, that a couple OF
strangers were driven to the inn, and,
alighting, requested accommodations.
Peter slowly took his pipe from his
mouth and shouted for Dyke.
go yourself" said Helst. in an un-
dertone. "You'll never become rich if
you turn these matters over to others
You must mend your ways, brother, and
not put the care of the house on Dyke.
Come, be stirring" And he gave Peter
q gentle shake.
The latter laughed, and, arising,
went forward to attend to the wants OF
his guests. A small trunk and two shot
guns were the only baggage the travellers
possessed, and these were carried to the
inn and the strangers assigned room,
and while their supper was being pre-
pared Peter resumed his seat by his
brother.
"Do they seem like persons Of means?'
inquired Helst
"How can I tell?" replied Peter.
"They went to their chamber without
taking a drink"
IF had examined their faces" con-
tinued Helst, ~ think / should be able
to determine their quality. Your bust.
ness is not the kind to enable you te
| discover the depths of your customers
pockets. All, Peter, I fear you never
will accumulate large fortune!'
"Well, Dyke may if don't, !" replied
the brother. "He's like you, Helst-he
turns penny over twice before taking
it to see if it is good. F."
''Dyke is prudent lad, " said Helst.
"He may turn out we'll if he continues
to be so cautious. Brother, we have t.
be wary in this world"
s'Thank heaven, there'll be no occa
sion for it in the next!' replied Peter
And he laughed and blew great clouds
| Of smoke in Helst's face.
cts a nasty practice" cried thu
brother, coughing and moving little
apart, SO as to be out Of the reach O
Peters pipe.
cts great consolation sometimes,
replied Peter.
Its great waste Of money. How
4 .....al. 4 - .,o,, c,>o~I s,> FOL
"How should / know" replied Pete
in surprise. II never kept account. .
"Try it, !" remarked Helst dryly.
Just then a couple Of shots mad
/ Helst Steen bounce in his seat.
Its only the travellers dischargini
their guns, 4" said Peter.
IT must CO." replied Helst. $1,000
night. And the brothers separated.
Peter Steen found his guests to b
quiet but eccentric Englishmen, wit
seemed to take the world easy and pait
literally for all they ordered.
"What in the world can they wan
here?' inquired Helst. "Why don
they 60 to the city?''
"I'm sure / don't know" reptile,
Peter, land as they pay in homes
money I care not how long they tarry.
"They may be robbers" suggested
the timid Helst.
$50 they may" responded Peter
"but they haven't robbed me. and a
they are not sharp enough for you
don't see why we should complain"
| Fall deepened into winter, and tn
strangers still sojourned at the Re,
Lion. They went out cunning frequent
", and when they remained indoor
they read necessarily the newspaper
that Dame from England.
II have it," exclaimed Helst ON
evening to his brother. ''They ar
refugees from justice, and they read th,
newspapers to discover what efforts ar
being made to effect their capture. !"
Peter laughed boisterously.
"All Englishmen spend great dea
Of their lives III reading newspapers,
he replied. TITS characteristic Of tn,
nation. They are great readers, just a
| we Dutch are great smokers. =
II hope you may be correct" re
! sponded Helst, s'but I don't like thes'
persons hanging about here for no OBJ
| ject.
"They may have an object" sug
gested Peter They know best. :"
"But I'd like to know too"
'.Perhaps you'd better ask them, = re-
piled the practical Peter.