Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-04-29

had been apprehended and the watch
recovered, but the judge needed the
turkey sent as evidence in disposing
OF the case.
But the turkey is already cooked"
protested the distressed housewife.
with no thought but for her supper.
Isl, sonora; but the judge says to
send it as it Is, and he'll send it back
again before it's COOL"
So the judges wife sped the turkey
on its way, and within few minutes
her husband appeared with his friends.
II hope you didn't forget to cook
that turkey, Matilde," he said cheer
fully. II can almost forgive the rascal
that's got my watch for the sake Of
mole de guajolote."
Sobs choked Matilde's mortified re-
sponse as she realized that she had
twice been victimized, and the party
supped frugally, though not without
mirth on the part Of the guests.
The methods Of the ratero who en-
ters your office to sell you something
or to offer his services are quiet and
seductive.
A merchant dealing in curios was
attracted by tiger skin serape drap-
ed over the shoulders of stupid, low
country Indian passing along the
street. He called him into his Office,
examined the skin and began to dicker
for trade.
"Tll give you IS for It,"
mo, senior, I do not wish to SELL"
We'll, the thing isn't worth that;
too many tigers caught in traps for the
skins to be worth much anyway. How
ever, it's a fine skin. and I'll give you
ten for it, just double what you'll get
anywhere else."
"Pues, no, senior; I do not want to
sell. I wouldn't take a hundred for
this skin. It's all have to cover me
at night"
"Now, what do you tell me such a
lie for? You know you can buy three
serapes with the money. If you won't
be decent and make trade, why then
get out Of here and stop taking up
room and my time"
So the meek and obedient native set
forth under the very eye and wrath OF
the proprietor. Nevertheless as he
went he swept up fine new type
writer from a table that lay athwart
his path covering the whole movement
by skillful readjusting swing Of his
tiger skin, and he emerged into the
street with his prize folded to him un-
der the all enveloping cloak.
He was never found. The fences OF
thieves are too numerous and too
much on to the game for pursuit to be
easy. The unfathomable serape, like
charity, covers gracefully a multitude
! of sins, which the haven Of the pawn
shop afterward forgives outright.
An American woman whose stock OF
| household linen had been steadily
| dwindling was driven at last to ac-
cuse q long trusted chambermaid, with
unpleasant results. Within an hour
after the girl had gone ir tempest
Of indignant tears a group Of Ameri-
can neighbors gathered at the house,
believing that the lady was desperately
ill., dying or dead. 1t appeared that
the outraged damsel had made the
rounds Of the neighborhood, getting
money from one woman to fill a pre-
scription for her suddenly stricken
mistress, borrowing sheets from an
other for the dead and articles OF
clothing for the burial, even enough
white silk to make the shroud.
But in spite Of all that can truth
fully be said Of the ratero and his con-
freres the City Of Mexico is by no
means a nest Of thieves. 1t Is the care
less and the easily duped who suffer
and there are many Americans long
resident there who have never missed
more than the few articles Of clothing
a washer-woman might choose to
pawn.
Meantime the vigilance Of the police
is doing much to make the paths OF
dishonesty less easy to tread. Any
common Mexican in the street carry
ing something that does not obviously
belong to him is liable to be stopped
by a gendarme, and If he cannot sat
isfactorily account for his possession
Of the article he Is marched to the
comiseria, or station house, until the
matter can be investigated. For this
reason it is customary to provide a car
rador with a card explaining how he
came by what he carries, which card
must be signed upon delivery Of his
package.-Kansas City Star.