The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-01-01

Cruz during the night in presentable con-
dition, even though we should awaken the
inhabitants from a peaceful slumber. than
to arrive in daylight with our physiOgno-
mics so punctured as to give us the ap-
pearance of runaways from a smallpox
hospital or pesthOuse.
We sadded up quickly, and after an
easy canter Of about an Hour, arrived at
the outskirts of the town. where we
awoke an indefinite number Of dogs, that
gave tongue forthwith.
A TRYING SEARCH.
Mendoza having relatives living near
by, branched off towards their lodgings,
before we had fairly reached the Interior
of the village, after indicating to us the
direction we were to take in order to
reach Mr.. Warmers dwelling, where we
were to stop, and to meet him, Mendoza,
during the day. He added some more or
less lucid explanations which we only
partly understood, he speaking Spanish
only. We had, however, no apprehension
as to our ability of finding Mr.. Warmers
house, as he was by far the most prom
inent inhabtant and property holder of
Santa Cruz. The town itself was small,
although many houses and huts were
scattered about on the outskirts. When
Wooster and reached what seemed to be
about the middle of the town | approached
house and shouted "Hellov' We dared
not dismount, because by this time we
were surrounded by a steadily-increasin
lot Of yelping, snarling ours, the like of
which | have never seen anywhere before
or since, except in the streets of Constan-
tinople. After repeating my call several
times, door at last was opened and a
man stuck out his head cautiously, asking:
What do you want"
81 want to go to Mr.. Warmers house."
/ answered in my best Spanish. q had
learned good deal of this language by
this time, but unfortunately not the pc
culiar expression required in this case)
Where did you say?" inquired the man
at the door; Ito whose house?"
l repeated the name distinctly: eel
Senior Warner"
There is no such person in this town."
said the old man, and slammed the door
to.
We rode a little farther, restraining
with difficulty our horses, made restless
by the snarling dogs, and came to the
church against which leaned another
smaller building that we took to be the
priests or sections habitaton. After he'll
loing without any result for some time, 1
spurred my horse through the bunch of
CANNES and rode up to the door near
enough to reach it with the butt of my
revolver, with which | gave several hardy
knocks. The door soon opened, showing
the features of an old woman, still half
asleep, who looked at me as if | were a
phantom. Upon my very polite request to
be shown the habtation of Mr.. Warner,
she shook her head and said there was no
such person in the whole village.
See here" said Wooster who was at
no time remarkable for great patience,
Mendoza said it was q very long house,
with large entrance gate in the middle
and corral on either end. Let us look
for it ourselves"
And indeed, we soon came upon
building that answered this description.
There was the long house with an ample
portal in the middle, a cattle corral ON its
LETT, and horse corral on its right. 1t
had now begun to dawn, and between the
bars of the gate we saw boy CARRYING
some sticks toward a rear building. We
hailed him and he came to the gate but
to our inquiry for Mr.. Warner he looked
blank and said he knew no such person.
DON SOLOMON.
Wooster was just beginning some re-
marks with the pnrpOrt that we had come
to a town of lunatics, or idiots. or both.
when a wooden shutter near the gate
opened in the wall and an intelligent look
ing young man said: Good day, gentle
men; are you looking for Don Solomon?
Are you from Babocomari; the fort, L
meanW
With great sigh of relief | answered.:
Yes, sir. we are from the fort ut Babo-
conlari, and are looking for Mr.. Warner"
That's he, that's Don Solomon" said
he; Il will be with you in a minute
So this was the secret that solved the
riddle of our unsuccessful search for Mr..
Warper's house. l may as well explain
1t fully for the benefit of such of my read