The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-16

regular cactus hedges, and on the tops
on the fluted gray-green columns three
r four buzzards perched motionless. On
the right by the roadside lay odd looking
piles OF rusty mining machinery, relics
! Of some abandoned enterprise, and far,
far away, above the family purple level
OF dry brush, the blue sierre stretched
along the horizon.
While l sat there, waiting and won
dering wherein lay the undeniable
charm of this dreary landscape, a
horseman rode up, tied his animal to
one Of the posts, and started to enter
the house, but catching sight OF me, he
stopped, touched his hat and came
towards me smiling.
| Don Juan Of the ROchin mine?' he
asked pleasantly. / rose. answered that
was Don Juan, but the mans face
was totally unfamiliar to me. and my
perplexity was evident, for he said:
You are wondering who l am, Don
Juan? 1t is true, we have not met be-
fore, yet we are hardly strangers" He
drew a chair up to the table, and said:
Il am Eraclio, the outlaw"
Era clio!'
| AT your service, senor," he answered,
amazed at my establishment. you ex-
pected to meet me yonder on the road.
yes? But really, it would not have been
worth while; l knew that you were the
only passenger, and that you do not ira
vel with more than a few dollars in
your pocket. Garcia's draft on Mazat-
Ian is of no use to me, for unfortunate
ly, circumstances do not allow me to
go there. As for your rifle and your pis-
| tol-you might have been tempted to use
| them, and-I bear you no i'll will. But,
| caramba! Why, don't they bring us
something to eat?'' and springing I'D
| with an oath, he went to the house and
gave some orders, which were obeyed
with eager alacrity. AS he stood by the
door, one OF his men came up and spoke
to nun. A huge, staggering desperate,
and 1T delighted me to note the su-
periority Of the grateful, agile and
youthful captain, over his bulky lieu
tenant. Eraclio looked SO simple and
= Thoroughbred beside the melodramatic
I bandit-he was Enthusiastically the COM
mander.
When he came back he unbuckled his
pistol belt and threw it down on the
bench between us, so as TO be much
nearer me than him, and as he did so,
he looked at me meaningly. 1t might
have been merely a trick, and so
prudently refrained from following his
example, though I liked the mans ap-
pearance, and instinctively felt that
had nothing to fear. He noticed my
hesitation at once, and said, with a
short hard laugh:
do you trust me, Don Juan well,
don't wonder! | have a bad name, and
perhaps If you knew as much about me
as l do myself you would trust me still
less. 1t is not altogether my fault,
though. Then changing the subject sud-
denly, he continued: Il suppose you keep
pretty well around up at the Rochin
mine! ., don't fancy l am trying to get
any information. / know you keep
large amount of silver there, and have
about 70 white men on whom you can de-
pend. Now, suppose | were to pay you
visit-hOw would you receive me!''
Why, about as roughly as we know
howr'
Even il had so men behind me?'
Unless you came with a whole army
behind you," l answered. l don't know
that the number would make much diff
ference. If you attacked the Rochin mine
We should defend it,
Good! That is one thing like about
English and Americans. Odds don't
frighten them. Now a little while since,
l went up to the Rosario and had in
interview with Schmidt, their superin-
tendent. How many are you? he asked.
o. he answered, 4 have only 25, so walk
in and help yourselves! Schmidt is not
coward, but once he was an officer in
the German army, and there he learned
that two men always beat one. Two
units always beat one, that's true, and
in large armies the average manliness is
at it's lowest. However, I'll get even
with him." He added with somewhat
cynical laugh. Il shall take good care to
have fewer men that he and force a
fight, for l don't like robbing without
some danger or excitement, it is too
much like thievings."
You draw rather nice distinctions" /
said. He frowned, and for a moment
seemed annoyed then he went ON. 80,
let us talk OF something else; it is so
rare nowadays out here to have
chance of passing an hour or two with
man Of education that l must make the
most Of it. You have been in Europe OF
course? Well, then, let us get as far
away from Los Hornitos as possible
All, Don Juan, | hate this life.' he add
ed passionately, and in an instant the
whole expression Of his face changed.
His fists were clutched ON the table be-
fore him, and his lips were drawn back
over his teeth until he looked more like
an animal about to spring forward than
like the handsome, good-humored young
fellow he had hitherto seemed to be. But
this expression vanished again as quiet
ly as it had come. He drank off tum-
blerful OF wine and lighted cigar, while
l reflected on the danger of irritating
such fearful temper. For an hour or
two we chatted very pleasantly. He was
especially interested in French affairs,
and begged me to give him a bundle Of
Fidards which l had just been review
ing and happened to have with me. had
heard that he was then Of Of good educa-
ton, and that he had Travelled for
number of years, but was not prepared
to meet one SO familiar with French