The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-23

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the noise, rose from his chair,
stretched himself, yawned, and very
leisurely opened the doors, greeting
his customer with "Buenos tardes."
Responding in like manner, the
stranger held out foot to show the
plight he was in, the sole of his shoe
having parted company from the up
per leather, and revealing consider
able portion of the wearers sock. He
requested Rodriguez to repair the
shoe whilst he rested and dined at
the nearest restaurant, promising to
send for it towards sunset, before re-
Stunning his journey.
This is a small order to be reused
from ones necessary rest for" Rod
riguez thought, but ne was too sleepy
for anything but an asserting "Bue-
nos;' SO the stranger, placing his now
shoeless foot in the ssirrup, thanked
him and rode away.
Rodriguez closed the doors, threw
the shoe into an inner workroom, re-
turned to his chair, resumed his
SAUNDERS, and this time enjoyed them
undisturbed.
The strange senior was kindly en-
tertained at the restaurant, supplied
with slippers, refreshed with bath,
and his dusty clothes shaken and
brushed. After partaking of the in
evitable mate, and enjoying short
siesta, he was now dining, previous
to resuming his journey. A boy was
now despatched for the shoe, with
generous payment for the repair
"Ah, senor," said the mistress of
the house, "if it is that lazy Rodrig-
uez you have left your shoe with, it
will not yet be done"
"Not done!" he exclaimed; "but it
must be done, or what shall l do?"
"Quien sabe?" said the woman,
with her soft lisp and sympathizing
shake of her head. The boy returned
without the shoe, reporting Rodriguez
would do it tomorrow. This made the
senior very angry, and the boy was
sent second time to say he must
have it, however roughly stitched,
and he would wait one hour longer
for it. But the answer came that
Rodriguez was going to dine, his man
was drunk and unable to work, and
therefore the shoe could not be re-
paired until the morrow; the senior
had better stay all night.
at is impossible" said the senior,
who was now in a great rage, and or
dering his horse to be brought, he
rode off to see what he could do in
the matter Rodriguez took it very
coolly when asked the reason of the
delay. saying he had been "indis-
posed" which was perfectly true in
one sense, and he was now going to
ride out in the camp; it was too late
to work.
"But," said the stranger in a des-
pairing voice, sit is time | started;
what am l to do?"
''Quien sabe?" said Rodriguez, I'M
concernedly with a shrug of his
shoulders.
The stranger took good look at
him, and, without another word, rode
away, muttering to himself, however:
"I'll make you pay for this, my fine
fellow; you'll see me again before
many 'mananas,' if all goes WE'LL"
The mistress of the restaurant
found half worn pair of shoes which
fitted the senior, and for which-his
good temper being restored-she re-
ceived ample remuneration. Then.
after paying for his own refreshment,
and not forgetting that of his horse,
he left the place. Outside the little
town he drew in rein, turned round,
kissed his hand in the direction from
which he had come, saying: "a good
omenl other mems shoes Ahahl it is
very good. Adios hasta luego" (until
we meet AGAIN..
The last train passing through this
little town the same night brought
the resident Judge, who had been alb
sent few days. He was somewhat
agitated, and made instant inquiries
concerning man whose description
answered exactly to that of the shoe
less stranger, and whom he was most
anxious to seize and imprison. He
sent vigilantes to all the restaurants,
and on their return, hearing that such
a person had not only been in the
town, but had remained there for sew
eral hours, leaving only at sunset, he
exclaimed:
1.-THE rebel! he knew too we'll / was
far away. All! my bad luck"
IL.
An exciting time now followed. Ru-
mors of rebellion had been floating