The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-20
A New Yarn by the
Old Cattleman.

! thar's no company save a Mexican who's
loohin' on. THIS Castiiian regyards my or.
rors-the same bein' freaucnt-as the most
humorous racket since the downfall OF Sam
to Ana.
"1ncensed at this yers Greasers ilI-timed
m%erriment. l bats him in the visase with
the butt Of the cue. An I'm some SUCCESS
full. He stops GRIMM an goes back'ards
on the floor. It's then provinces on him
as sanguine as cinnamon bars.
But the barkeep who gets conscience
stricken, cuts in on the bale an separates
out interests. Tharupon my victim wipes
the blood from his face. assoomes airs Of
dignity. an walks eff.
THAT Greaser's a p~'iiceman!' says the
barkeep. sort O. onder his breath.
LAS 1 hears his big six-shooter hit the
floor. it strikes me, most likely, he's some
| kind Of a dog-soldier. But It's little sech
! nominations weighs on ME. I oulls calmly
up on a poker table an goes to sleep.
Its meby s o'clock when I'm gently
shook. I opens my eyes an thar's that Of
fshul whom rehookss. He's ahasin'ly
p'lite, an explains that I'm onder arrest.
81 sets up on the poker table, yawns,
bats my eyes. an calls for nosepaint. This
!. ha'r of the dog Is prodooced an. my captor
SO far onbends as TO libate with me. | en-
quires In tones OF sarcasm why he don't
round me up when / chunks him with the
cue. He says he defers the pageant ontn
SuI-uf ~ as ~ NON SlIppIu Ii5 IN IAo
callaboose. Now the play is simple: We
sa'nterS over 10 Baca, the AIcGdo, an l has
jestice meted out No gent, says my p'lics-
man, can object to that.
(which this forbearance 80 works on
me, We has two more drinks. Then l psr-
forms my toilet an we're ready.
This Alcado is one OF the two or three
sports in Vegas with whom I'm on speakin'
terms: seem that q relative OF his an me
is classmates in the same bonesettin' semi
nary. Baca's teepee is jest across the
Plaza, an that jurist is at his post ready to
turn for us as Ne trails in. My captor
does the talkin'; does 1t In Spanish, the
same at that epock bein' to me as loocid a
tongue as Choctaw.
AS Baca listens 1 can see his wrath be-
gin to saddle up. Then he breaks loose an
shore burns the ground about that Con-
stable. Which the exhaustive way wherein
Baca skins him multiplies my respects four
fold for the Spanish language.
"tBaca grabs his pen an begina to get
action in a big book. giarin' meanwhilss at
the culprit who looks some asNen. 1 takes
= casooal sQuint over Baca's shoulder. Hes
writin' a charge ag'inst Jose Marie Galiea-
COS y Salizar." the same bein' my op-
pressor.
Whatever be you-aIl allowin' to dor
l asks, breakin' ground In the debate.
which I'm goin' to charge this scoun-
drel with assauitin' you q whole lot. An
you can gamble I'll give him the limit.
Then Baca onloads more epithets on the
officer who shore shakes in In moccasinx.
But 1 charges TO the rescoo. I insists
on calm the affair a draw. Baca, final,
is made to consent. though he's mighty
reluctant: as it is. he eases his feel!n's with
a last outhurst of Andaloosian profanity
that shrivels the dog soldier up complete.
Then Baca tells him to "vamosI"
Later my Greaser bushwhacks ne an
I'D - I'LL $500 "
seekin' inspiration at the time, 30 I takes
salizar along an restores his nerve. Which
l never sees a person more profoosely
thankful. l begins to reckon that meboy
In ways to me unknown l saves his life.
"Doorin' the brief balance of my stay
In Vegas, salizar performs as a guardian
angel. I'm havin' a hectic time: an l
argues since that Salizar shore enlists q
passed. OF scouts in my destinas. Time an
ag'in he shows up in most mysterious, fash |
ion at the croocial moment an bears me of
to safety. Fact! My fair-ha'red skelp
would be dryin' in q Mexican DOLBY If II
amt for the sIeepless tenderness of Salizar.
Dogs couldn't have been more faithful to |
my heels |
The day dawns when 1 breaks camp an |
leaves Vegas to the r'ar. an my goin' on
doubted Is a load off the mind Of Salizar
an mebby Baca's. / sees Salizar at the
bridge over the jim-crow river that waters
Vegas when 1 tells him. Tears stands In |
his eyes as IL Vegas, that a-away, Is on the
brink Of actooal loss As he shakes my |
hand, he explains in broken English that
he aims to leave me q keepsake an that |
I'll find 1t that svenin' in Kelly's Ticker |
room. the same bein' close by the bridge. |
It's thar waitin' for me-this present. she's
a Navajo blanket, red as a sunset an |
worth a dozen ponies. I've got that blan- |
ket yet. Thar you be- concloods Poets, as |
he signals to Black Jack: that's why when |
1 thinks Of Baca an the reedic'lous Sallzar |
amt none shore but Mexicans is capable |
Of virchoos.'" ALFRED HENRY LEWIS.
Copyright, 1so2 by R II. Russell.