The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05

nation for catt1e-buyer.
A troop of young De la Tierras raced
to open the gate for them, and when
they drew near the casa, other De la
Tierras were ready to assist them out
and care for the horse. Don Pagare
rose from a seat on the long veranda
and taking a cigarette from between
his lips, made brief speech Of well
come.
Mrs. Gringus mentally noted the
cigarette. Somebody had told her
that the Don was everlasting
S% ly smoking-that he smoked as
ii a soporific when he went to bed
n and as an eye-opener when he
awoke: smoked before meals
as an appetizer and after meals
as an aid to digestion; smoked
when the temperature was nign
to cool off, and when it was low
to warm up; smoked for friend
ships sake, and then again for spite;
smoked when he was thinking and also
when he wasn't-while at other times
he smoked for the sake of smoking.
She perceived now that his face bore
the color and greasy appearance OF the
skin of q smoked ham, His fingers,
stained with nicotine, looked as IL they
had been dipped in iodine. The Don
was low-natured, but would have been
called well-fed. He wasn't bad look
lures, and brilliant black eyes; and he
seemed to take delight in showing his
milk-white teeth, which. Mrs. Gringus
was certain, were false. There was no
denying the fact, however. that the
Don was the pink of politeness. After
seating the Gringuses on the veranda,
and before they could enter protest,
he brought out a small table. on which
one of his children, following on his
heels set tray containing glasses and
a decanter of wine. This display of
hospitality was vain. for Joshua didn't
dare imbibe in his wife's presence, and
Mrs. Gringus abominated the sight OF
an intoxicant.
Don Pagare was profuse in his ex-
pressions of qualification at the honor
of the visit, and he experienced sincere
pleasure in furnishing all the informa-
tion desired. He was eager that the
Americans should meet his daughter,
Margarita, who had just returned from
q young ladies' seminary and spoke the
language of the visitors perfectly.
Margarita was unlike any De ia
TERRA picture the Gringuses had ever
framed in their minds. She was un-
commonly fair and grace personified.
Mrs. Gringus pronounced the girls
features angelic. Certainly her big,
lustrous, dark eyes were the kind that
conquered hearts and enslaved poets
She was the cultured one of the family
and spoke English with an accent that
was music to the ear. The remainder
of the De la TERRA femininity kept Sc
cluded.
How do you like to be back on the
ranch?" inquired Mrs. Gringus Of the
girl.
II love it," replied Margarita, "and
now l shall make my father fulfill his
promise to build an imposing Casa
de la TERRA. This ancient adobe does
not comport well with the beauty Of
our little kingdom. Do you not think
I am right?"
OF course they thought so, or at least
they expressed themselves that way.
Still. when they bade Don Pagare
"Adios," (Which was about all the
Spanish they knew, Mrs. Gringus
couldn't help heaving sigh, Poor
~MargaritaE On the way home Joshua
said, "Darned If I wouldn't like to
have a daughter like that!" happy
thought, tinctured with feeling akin
to mercy, fitted across his brain. His
boy at college figured in the thought
but he kept 1t to himself.
The magnificent De la TERRA grant
was used almost exclusively for cattle
raising. The wheat and barley patches
supplied nothing to the market; neither
did the old mission trees and vines, nor
the ill-kept garden in which the frijole
plant was prominent and in which also
grew those essential ingredients OF the
buxom tamale-corn, tomatoes and
peppers. In the trees and haysheds
abode the fowls which lent the quail
flying adjective to the torrid creation
with the corn husk wrapper and olive
heart.
On the uncultivated land mine Of
agricultural gold might Lave been
plowed UP; but the Don was not fond
of blowing and stuck TO cattle. while
his expenses ran further and further
ahead of his income. Americans on
small tracts had sowed bread and pros
pered, and were now planting fruits
that promised larger profits. while the
Don courted pleasure and avoided hfe's
serious claims. His to-day" was for
enjoyment; his Tomorrow for busi-
ness; but tomorrow" was always
coming.
The Don reached the unfortunate
stage where he could borrow no more
his cattle would hardly suffice to pay
the long overdue interest No matter.
1t was folly to worry and he concluded
to offer band of steers to Gringus
for the needed "dinero."
Unusual circumstances brought his
neighbot~ Unexpectedly to the rancho.
Two of Joshua's best cows had been
hlltcu Oy mountain llOuS anu the
Yankee rode down to enlist the sons
of De la TERRA in a hunt for the COM
mon enemy.
I'm nearly as much afraid Of them
greasers now as of mountain lions,'
declared Mrs. Gringus, as her husband
left her at the door. Them De la
Tlerras know mighty well about their
mortgages and they haven't got a
spark of love for you. Them's the
KIND of people that lays in wait and
stabs in the back. or shoots from be-
hind. Be careful. Joshua. I've actu-
ally had dreams of a horrible fuss be-
tween you and the Don!"
Gringus acquainted the Don with
the facts of the invasion by wild
beasts, and the Spaniard summoned
lis own tongue.
"Pronto,'' he cried, and the boys
proceeded to the stable, to return