Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-06-18
while this shameless rogue Ine7z tina,

| turn to Frontera week later.
Among the passengers was one, a
man of not moro than thirty years of
| ge, who particularly attracted our at
tention. lie was large. handsome and
| coarse and had Indian blood in his
| his color and the thick, black eye
brows that gave Z tr1calent expression
| to his face. While I was wondering
who he might be, Molas made sign to
me to come aside and said:
"You see yonder man with the silver
buttons on his coat? He is Don Jose
Moreno. the son of that Don Pedro
Moreno who waylaid and robbed me of
the nuggets which the old Indian gave
me. Beware of him, lord, and bid the
Englishman do the same, for, like his
father, he is bad man."
While Molas was talking bell had
been rung for dinner, but waited tns
he had finished before going down. At
the door of the cabin met the captain,
a stout man with face like full moon
and a bland smile.
"What do you seek. senor?" he asked.
"My dinner, senor,'' answered.
cit shall be sent to you on deck" he
said, not without confusion. Il do not
wish to be rude, senior, but you know
that these MeXicans-I am a Spaniard
myself, and do not care-hate to sit at
meat with an Indian, so if you insist
upon coming in there will be trouble"
Not wishing to make stir, bowed
and turned away. Meanwhile, it seems
the cabin, asked the captain where I
was, saying that perhaps L did not
know that the meal was ready.
IF you refer to your servant, the
Indian" said the captain, II met him
at the door and sent him away. Surely
the senior knows that we do not sit at
table with these people,
Captain" answered Senior Stricl-
land, ''if my friend is an Indian, he is
as good a gentleman as you Or anybody
else in this cabin; moreover, he has
paid for a frst-class fare and has
right to frst-class accommodations. /
insist upon seat being provided for
him at my side"
Gas you WILL" answered the captain,
smiling, for he was man of peace,
''only if he comes there will be trouble"
And he ordered the steward to fetch me.
Seeing me in the doorway, Senior
saying:
''You are late to dinner, friend, but
have kept your place here by me. Sit
down quickly, or the food will be cold.n
1 bowed to the company and obeyed,
and then the trouble began, for all
present had heard this talk. Now, al.
most opposite me sat Don Jose Mo.
had told me. AS I sat down he
consulted hastily with a neighbor on
his right, then addressing the captain,
said in low voice:
''There is some mistake, it is not
usual that Indian dogs should sit at the
same table with gentlemen"
The captain shrugged his shoulders
and answered mildly:
Perhaps the senior will settle the
question with the English senior on my
left. To me it does not matter; / am
only poor sailor and accustomed to
every sort of company.
''Senor Strickland" said Don Jose,
s'be SO good as to order your servant to
leave the cabin"
''Senor," he answered, for his temper
was quick, Il will see you in hell be-
fore do So"
''Caramba," said the Mexican, laying
a hand upon the knife in his belt, you
shall pay for that, Englishman."
''When and how you will, senior. !
always pay my debts
Then the captain broke in in a strange
way. First he put his hand behind
him, and drawing large pistol from
his pocket, laid it by his plate.
''Senors, both" he said in a soft voice
and with gentle smile, Il am 10th to
interfere in the quarrel of two esteemed
passengers, but though lam only poor
sailor it is my duty to see that there il
no bloodshed on board this vessel.
Therefore, much as l regret it, / shall
be obliged to shoot dead the first man
who draws weapon" and he cooked
the pistol.
Now the Mexican scowled and
Senior Strickland laughed outright, for
it was a curious thing to hear a man with
a face like Il sheep growl and threaten
like wolf. Meanwhile, / had risen, for
this insult was more than | could bear.
''Senors," l said, speaking in Span
ish. ''as l see that my presence is un-
welcome to the ma jority of those here,
hasten to withdraw myself. But be-
fore go / wish to say something, not
by way of boasting, but to justify my
friend, the English gentleman, in his
action on my behalf. However well
born you may be, my descent is nobler
and more ancient than yours, and
therefore it should be no shame to you
to sit at the table with me, and least of
all should the Don Jose Moreno, whose
father is a murderer, highway rob-
Der and a man without shame, and
whose mother was a half-breed NEST
tia slut, dare to be insolent to me who,
as any Indian on board this ship can
tell you, am a prince among my own
people"
Now every eye was fixed on Don Jose.
His sallow complexion turned to
whitish green as he listened to my
words. and for Il moment he sank back
in his chat overcome with rage. Then
he sprang up once more, gripping at his
knife
You dog!'' he gasped. ''let me but
come at you and I'll cut your lying
tongue out"
'.You will do nothing of the sort,
Don Jose Moreno" answered, fixing
my eyes upon his face; what have
sid about your father is true; more,
there is Il man on board this ship,
whom, not three months since, he
robbed with violence. If the gentle.
mon. your companions. would like to
hear the story | can tell it to them. / |
am we'll able to defend myself. More
over, this vessel is manned by Indians |
who know me, and should any harra |
come to me or to my friend, Senior |
Strickland, / warn you that you viii |
not reach your home alive. Gentlemen, |
I salute you," and / bowed and left the |
cabin.
Friend. thank you," I said to the
senior when he came upon deck after |
dinner was ended. knowing who / |
am and seeing how I, in common with |
my race, am accustomed to be treated |
by such dogs as that, can you wonder
that am not fond of Mexicans?"
No, Ignatio." he answered. but as1 |
the same / advise you to be careful OF
this Don Jose. He is not man to kiss
the stick that beats him. and will make