Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-05-28

II you refer to your servant, the
indian. said the captain, Il 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 Strick-
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 first-class fare and has
right to frst-class accommodations. I
insist upon a seat being provided for
him at my side.'
''As you WILL" answered the captain,
smiling, for he was a 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:
lyon are late to dinner, friend, but
I have kept your place here by me. Sit
down quickly, or the food will be cold"
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
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; I am
only poor sailor and accustomed to
every sort of company.
''Senor Strickland" said Don Jose,
''be SO good as to order your servant to
leave the cabin"
''Senor," he answered, for his temper
was quick, II will see you in hell be-
fore I do So"
'Caramba," said the Mexican, laying
hand upon the knife in his belt. you
shall pay for that, Englishman.'
when and how you will, senior. 1
always pay my debts
Then the captain broke in in a strange
way. First he put his hand behind
him, and drawing a large pistol from
his pocket, laid it by his plate.
''SenorS, BOTH" he said in soft voice
and with gentle smile, 81 am 10th to
interfere in the quarrel of two esteemed
passengers, but though am only a poor
sailor it is my duty to see that there is
no blOOdShed on board this vessel.
Therefore, much as 1 regret it, shall
be obliged to shoot dead the first man
who draws a weapon" and he cooked
the pistol.
Now the Mexican scowled and
Senior Strickland laughed outright, for
it was a curious thing to hear man with
face like sheep growl and threaten
like wolf. Meanwhile, / had risen,
for this insult was more than I could
bear.
''Senors,'' 1 said, speaking in Span
ish. ''as / see that my presence is I'M
welcome to the ma jority of those here,
hasten to withdraw myself. But be-
fore go I 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 ia BILE 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
tia slut, dare to be inSolent to me who,
as any Indian on board this ship can
tell you, am prince among my own
people"
Now every eye was fixed on Don Jose.
His Sa1lOw complexion turned to a
whitish green as he listened to my
words, and for moment he sank back
in his chair overcome with rage. Then
he sprang up once more, gripping at his
knife.
You dogI" he gasped. 'slet 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
said about your father is true; more,
there is man on board this ship,
whom, not three months since, he
robbed with violence. If the gentle
men, your companions, would like to
hear the story I can tell it to them. 1
am well able to defend myself. More
over, this vessel is manned by Indians
who know me, and should any harm
come TO me or to my friend, Senior
Strickland, I warn you that you will
not reach your home alive. Gentlemen,
/ salute you," and 1 bowed and left the
cabin.
Friend, thank you," 1 said to the
senior when he came upon deck after
dinner was ended. knowing who 1
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 all
the same I advise you to be careful of
this Don Jose. He is not man to kiss
the stick that beats him, and will make
an end of you, and me. too, for the
matter of that, if he can"
do not be afraid, senior, I answered.
laughing; besides the steward and
Molas there are twenty Indians on
board, and they will watch that man
daU and NIGHT that he can never