Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-04-15
HAWTHORNE, ESMERALDA COUNTY, NEVADA, APRIL l5 1896

III his mind. 1t had often been whisper
ed about that Don Tiburcio was possess
ed OF fabulous sums of money, real old
Spanish gold All who knew him were
aware that his pockets always jingled,
and some there were who told of his
counting out the pesetas and onzas by
handtuls, as another man would count
his reales. Don Tiburcio was well aware
that these whispers had been widely
spread through all of the Candado de
Los Angeles, and the story of the out
RACES committed against the property
Of his friends farther north had more
than sympathetic significance TO him.
Day after day he pondered, and his pur-
pose grew.
The rumors of war on the Rio Grande
became louder and louder, and at length,
when the grapes of Cucamonga were
taking on the purple hues of the distant
canyons, word was brought that the
stars and stripes of Los Estados Unidos
had been raised at Monterey Don I'll.
burcio said nothing, but the next day
announced to Marianita that he must
journey to Los Angeles. Close as was
the tie which bound these two, the ira
ditional pride and faith of her race per-
mitted no doubt nor further question
than the simple, "Am l to go with you,
papasito?" When the hesitating reply
came, "No. l cannot very we'll take
you, hiji mia," this proud little de-
scendant Of old CASTLE thought for only
moment, II wonder why" then dis
missed the subject from her mind, and
sent her father upon his journey with a
close abrazo and tender words of fare
we'll.
Don Tiburcio journeyed to the pueblo
without adventure or mishap Two
amigos viejos, apprised of his arrival by
one of his household servants, dined
with him al fIesco, and as they smoked
their cigaritos under the shadow of the
orange trees, California s position in the
present struggle between Mexico and
Los Estados was discussed with great
warmth. At length, when the lateness
of the hour penetrated the consciousness
of their heated spirits, the two friends
arose, and with the formal courtesy
which the closest intimacy never alters,
bade their host "buenas noches, Don
Tiburcio, voya V'd con Dios manana"
('Good night, Don Tiburcio, God be
with you tomorrow"o. He had not dis
closed, even to these two tried and true
old friends, the object Of his visit to the
pueblo.
In that darkest hour before the dawn,
when all his household slumbered, Don
Tiburcio arose, listened for a moment,
and finding all still crept cautiously out
into the wide hall of the house. Noise
lessly drawing the bolt Of the outer door,
he glided around the east corner of the
house to the servants quarters. Here
again all was still, save for the occa-
sional mutterings of the sleepers within.
Domingo r'swhispered Don Tiburcio,
and out of the darkness tall figure
arose and stole silently toward him.
With no further word or sign the two
passed away toward the stables. Here
Domingo drew out a cumbrous four
wheeled 'carreta del pals" which roll
ed out with dismal creakings. Hurried
ly oiling the numbering vehicle, so that
its complainings were instantly hushed,
he yoked to it pair of well fed, slow
moving oxen. Then, always with quick,
gliding motions, he saddled Don I'll
burcio's horse, and just as the day was
lighting up the crown of Ell Vieio Calvo
master and servant passed out of the
great gate, the master astride his favor
ite horse Paloma, his Indian attendant
walking beside the cumbrous carreta
which contained, besides large meta
box, with strong brass clasps, pickaxe!
and shovels of various sizes and degrees
of strength.
Slowly they wended their way TOWARD
the Rancho dc San Jose, and as they
rode tho golden glory of the day gildet
the crests of the Sierra Madre Rever
emily Don Tiburcio raised his broa(
sombrero, and the silent but observan
Indian clasped his arms and dropped hi
head upon his breast. The oxen STOOD
still With his eyes upon the glory
crowned sierra, Don Tiburcio chanteC
his morning prayer of praise and thanks
giving, to which the Indian added ;
low toned amen, and, quietly laying hi
hand upon the nearest of the oxen they
resumed their slow journey.
The sun rose high in the heavens, thu
purple canyons of the still distant noun
tains grew hazy with the day S heat, ant
the long line of hills to the south grew
faint and indistinct. Slowly, slowly the
sun passed over their heads and sanl
down below the level horizon. A coo
breeze came lightly toward them. The
glow of the sunset died, and the dusk
like mist, softly fell and wrapped
them within impalpable, invisible folds
through which the light breeze floate'
like the touch of a spirit that wanders.
In silence they journeyed, the Indian
moving like a shadow beside the SLOW
rolling carreta, while the stars flung
down soft white light like the CLEAN
of the blooms in the orange groves. lh'
Indian and the master, each in his owl
way, felt the silent power of the force
of the night. Perhaps within the In
dams untutored soul it stirred thu
uidar deDths of noetry Put he gave M