Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-09-07
fatigues Of the evening, were all taking

L AuoO <hitCA = h1a tonhteu Wiz ihon1y
out to him and he found that il exceed
ed the amount agreed ON, the senor, in
the fullness Of his heart. insisted that J
join in their repast, an invitation that
] duly accepted La Lupita had 50 far
recovered from her recent excitement as
to develop very fair appetite. and ms
she munched away prettily ut a tortilla
there was only shade Of moodiness In
her face a. q reminder Of the rumpus
she had 10 lately raised But it was easy
to nee that the storm had only lulled,
not passed away, and that IL would take
very little provocation TO set the senorita
ON the warpath once more.
Under the circumstances ! did not
think il advisable to try to improve my
acquaintance with her; so, instead,
made myself as agreeable Ms knew
how to the company in general. There
was new complication in the situation
when. in the course of few minutes
after my arrival. who should walk in
but our outlaw leader, Billy the Kid.
He swung in, with his daredevil air
and pistols displayed, evidence that he
was parsonage 20 be respectfully treat
ed He made himself entirely at home,
picked mp guitar, strummed tune
aud sang u Mexican love song. then talk
ed in Spanish TO Lupita in a fashion de-
cidedly free and easy
Seeing that there was nothing TO be
done with Lupita, fell to talking with
the maestro. had some cigarette to-
bacco that hit his taste, and. after l had
made him present of a handful Of II,
be found bottle Of tequila among his
luggage, and, taking me to one side,
we had some drinks together, on the
quiet, very sociably. The mescal warm
ed his heart and loosened his tongue. To
make long story short, led him ON to
talk. and after he had aired his own
merits and the excellencies of his show
brought into the conversation the
topic Of the charming Lupita, who l took
good care should be well ont Of earshot
He expatiated upon her attractions as q
performer and actress, and then, TO
bring him to the point I was after.
complimented her beauty and acting
and asked him il her rush from the ring
with the dagger upraised was part Of
the play.
HE shrugged his shoulders No,
senor, I regret To say il was not twas
pity to waste such superb passion on
reality instead Of in the actress art, but
such is her nature The reason for her
strange behavior tonight ! do not fully
understand, but from words she let fall
it appears that she thought she saw
some one in the audience whom she re-
CARDS as deadly enemy. 1t is ever 80
with these gifted children Of genius and
beauty. The emotional nature predomi-
mates, and their tempers are not under
control. ! cannot deny that she has
given way to her anger before. but
never has she behaved so violently.
"'Do you suspect who the person may
be 80 hOnored as to have moved the
lovely senorita 10 such magnificent
outburst of passion asked.
"'Quicn sate Suspect may. but !
did not see him.
"'I saw him He was peering in at
the entrance TO the tent. Can you tell
me his name IL describe him to you?'
"'Yes, scnor, IL he is the man think
he is. What was he like
II described the face you had seen at
the entrance. The maestro listened in
tently.
Ibid he have q scar upon his face
on the left of the forehead?' he asked.
II had not spoken Of that, though
you had mentioned this characteristic
Of the face Yes, / answered. 1t was
directly over the left eyebrow.
"The maestro's shoulders lifted, and
he gave short nod. He seemed sud-
denly inspired with caution and reserve.
i think / know him, he said, and then
was silent said nothing, but waited.
I looked toward the bottle, and he filed
our glasses. We emptied them. Then
he spoke:
"'I feared. senior, who il might be.
He was Lupita's lover. who deserted heI
for another at Tucson. She swore to kill
him, but we got away without trouble,
and hoped we had seen the last OF
him, for l dislike such affairs. Now
that he is here and she knows il, any
thing may happen. Indeed he used
Lupita badly, and you know that jeal'
ous Mexican woman s resentment Is ter
rible. 1t spoiled the finest passage In my
performance, and the worst may be yet
to come. As TO this man. warn you al
friend have nothing to do with him.
Let him be neither your friend nor foe.
He is bold, dangerous and treacherous,
and there is i'll luck where he comes.
= "Senor Trinbajo felt his tequila and
evidently was started OH subject where
he felt personal grievance. He enter.
tanned me with some stories OF Lupita't
ex-lover, who seems to be pretty thor.
oughgoing mo good. But through all
this l had not got his name, which the
maestro clearly hesitated to pronounce.
was afraid that il ] asked for it ont,
right the maestro's suspicious would be
IrUused, and, finding was trying tc
pump him, he would give me no more
information. So mt a time when he
paused for breath l carelessly said, in
venting a name for the OCCASION:
! Dom you suppose that this Navarro
has made himself scarce and cleared
ont, now that Lnpita has discovered
him?'
Pardon, senior, he said quickly.
1t is not Of o Navarro speak. but ol
Gaspar Sangrado.
ION hearing the name the situation
became clearer to me. Lupita's enemy
| In the Mexican whom Captain Bestor
told you about, Carmcn's admirer, who
| b 30 unacceptable TO her father. had
found out all that could be learned, and
as it was getting late and the tequils
bottle was now much the worse fol
wear said good night and came away.
Felix paused, then added:
"Now we know 30 much about TIM
matter have you anything to propose"
''Carmcn's name. am to understand
was not mentioned during your CONVEX
sation. said
"Not once"
1--WE are both rather bound to see tn
old don and his daughter safe throug
a.