Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-08-31
By CLARENCE PULLEI.
Copyright, 1891. BY the Au.hor.i
CHAPTER v.

| sOmDrerO anu lts WeiRnt VI hliNeI Win
mings with mingled dignity and coDde
scension.
Como estanstedes caballeros?" How
do you do. gentlemen!) was his saluta
tion.
The station keeper nodded, with |
careless "Howdy," but Don Ramon
lifted his hat and bowed politely ant
tremendously. A monarch Of the Span
ish throne could not have received th'
homage Of distinguished subject will
more of majesty and graciousness.
The large man locked around ut TIT
faces Of our group, singled out the sta
tion keeper as the proper person to ad
dress. and, with overpowering affability
and condescension, inquired:
"Saben ustedes 81 Castellano?" (D'
you know Spanish!)
"Poquito. But talk United States
better" returned the station keeper
Don Ramon and Felix nodded to the
stranger TO signify that he might, il HI
chose, address them in Spanish will
the certainty Of being understood. Up
ON this the large man went Gil to deliv
er speech, which, translated into Eng
lish. ran Us follows:
Before you, sirs, behold the great
moral exhibition Of Den Justiano Trim
bajo, worldwide known as The master
In fea,s Of 6exteIity, of strength and o'
courage. and wLo HOW has the homer Il
address you. lis performances delight
ed great audiences IN Guaymas, Hcrmo
sillo, Tucson and many ether cities oI
Mexico and the United States. In hi
entertainments are exhibited wondorfu
feats in tumbliry, cun;crtioning. dane
ing and juggling There is clowniug,
most irresistibly laughter provoking. b,
Senor Rosccnomc. Here the painted
young Mexican at his left hand, by way
/, OF justifying the enconium on hi.
clowning. gave series Of grimaees and
rolled about in his saddle in n manner
intended to be convulsingly funny.
There are singing, poetic dancing
and superb acting by the Senorita Qua.
dalupe Trebcjendo de los Rios, known
to the world Of pleasure seekers Us Ii
Bella Lupi,a." He waved his hand
dramatically toward the dusky. hand
some girl, who, seated on her horse tt
his right, confronted the group Of mel
at the station door with a haughtiness
Of pose and expression and air OF su'
perb indifference that could scarcely
,.....lrl DO tha str1ts.1 do.
meanor Of the most renowned and nc
complished actress in the worlds great
cities.
"Of this wonderful combination oi
beauty and talent am the maestro, F"
he continued, and paused to let the i'm
portance Of this announcement have ita
full weight upon his bearers. Then he
resumed:
1--WE are Fastening onward TO fulfill
an engagement in Silver City, where we
are eagerly awaited, after which we
proceed eastward to delight and electri.
fy the people Of the populous cities Of
the Rio Grande valley. But our mission
is to give entertainment topeople wher'
ever we may stay. and not only to those
whose fortune it is to welcome Us III the
great towns; hence ! make this propo-
sition: Would il please the caballeros.
and the beautiful senorita"-here he
raised his hat and bowed profoundly &c
Carmen-''that my troop should give
performance here tonight? And would
they generously contribute OF theii
wealth to in some small meager reward
our efforts to please them!"
Again the maestro paused and looked
about him to observe the effect Of his
words, while, at his silent signal, the
orchestra within the wagon struck up q
lively air intended to inspire interest IN
the show.
"a circus out here Oh the plainF
"well, that beats my time" why
not:' Lets all chip in, boys, and help
the thing alongv' Here's dollar for
my sharcr' were ordinations and re-
marks that arose among the men about
the station door
The Snowman looked toward Don Ra.
mon, being evidently Of the belief that
the decision Of the matter would rest
with him. 1t is trait of the Mexican,
of high and of low degree alike. to be
interested in public shows and pageants
of every kind. and the maestro knew
that he could safely count on the chances
that even SO poor an affair as his pre-.
tentiously advertised exhibition would
not come amiss to the sturdy don tc
while away an hour or two of the even
ing at the station. And indeed after a
few minutes conversation with the
Snowman, Den Ramon informed us OF
the terms that would recompense the
maestro for an evening s entertainment.
II we would pay him so in cash, and
contribute provisions to serve his troop
of eight persons with supper and breal :
fast, the maestro would raise his show
tent in the space before the house an.
give performance for the edificataon
of all gathered ut the station.
There was no reason to doubt that
the money could be promptly raised,
but the supplying Of the troop with
provisions was q matter more difficult
to arrange, and the trouble In this re-
spect threatened to be insuperable The
station storehouse was the obvious
source Of supply to lock to for this pur-
pose, but from what the keeper had said
of his fears Of scarcity of provisions
there seemed little hope that he would
L.. <-<.,,, xr1,oS ho had IN feed the tray-
cling showmen. We had all become IN
terested in the maestro and his troop
and wanted to see the show which
promised agreeably to diversity the sus-
pense and tedium of our waiting at the
station amid the constant danger OF In
dian attack. The station keeper unex-
pectedly came to q decision favorable
10 our wishes. After stroking his beard
reflectively he turned to one Of his herd
es with the question:
"what do you say. Boneyi Shall we
spare the show people out Of our stock
enough bacon and -four and cohee TO
give them two rations all aroundl
Things are mighty unsettled just now.
and we'll have to take our chances Of
runnin short ourselves before the sup
ply team will get to rs again.
"Shall wei Yes, you bet" said
the man addressed. "It'll be many >
day before we have . Mexican circus
pull up to our door again and offer to
aive Ms . show. I'll risk the runnin