The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-05-01
Blumng an
Outlaw
BY C. b. LEWIS
Copyright, 1905, bs McOurs, Philips d Co.

OulldW, anu IL WIS tue popular DeIlcI
that he stood in with the police. At
any rate, they had not interfered with
his operations to any extent, and he
walked the streets of the town as free
as any other man. One day Jose ap-
peared at the mine He walked
straight to the superintendent Office
and doffing his hat said:
"Senor Barnes. l beg you to excuse
me. My name is Jose Favara.
should have called on you weeks ago,
but have been busy in other directions.
l am now here to do business with
you"
'Well, what is your businessT que
ried the superintendent, although he
had pretty fair idea Of 1t.
ITO arrange to draw my monthly sal
airy, senior"
"For performing what servicesr
For leaving your mine in peace"
''In other words, you mean to levy
tribute on usY'
1.-THE senior hits the nail on the head
at the first blow. My terms are 5000
per month in cash. l shall call for It
myself. II accepted you will be under
my protection. If not
You will make trouble for usT'
1.-THE Senior Barnes hits the nail
again. like to do business with an
Americana"
Jose Favara was told that he would
have to wait few days until his prop
osition could be submitted to the pres
ident and board of directors In New
York. He was agreeable. He went
away bowling and smiling, and Ar.
Barnes sat down and wrote letter
The proposition was extortion pure
and simple. The authorities could be
appealed TO, and would doubtless do
something. Nevertheless the fact re-
manned that Jose was a bigger man
in that district than the authorities.
He could harry and harass. He could
scare every peon out of the mine In
two weeks. He could capture every
mule and driver engaged In transport
ing the ore over the mountains. He
could do lots of things to make the sit
uation unpleasant, and the superin-
tendent recommended that a monthly
salary be paid. He added that 5000 per
month was dog cheap.
The president and his board looked
upon it as rather funny case, but fol-
lowed the advice of Mr. Barnes. From
that time on for two years Jose Favara
regularly appeared on the 10th Of each
Il ,ls~.
Twice during that time the poems would
have struck for higher wages had he
not appeared and threatened them
with his vengeance. A Mexican lawyer
discovered what he thought was a flaw
in the title of the New Yorker and
not Jose sent him word that he was
after his scalp. 1t was conceded that
the outlaw earned his wage.
Things were going ON satisfactorily
when the old president died and Mr..
Nervely was elected in his place. While
the dividends were large, Mr.. Nervely
wanted to increase them. He saw a
way to do it by looping off and cutting
down. A cut of 10 per cent was made
in wages and salaries, and the 5000 per
month to Jose Favara was cut of en-
tirely
When Mr.. Barnes wrote that this
move would bring trouble, he was d.
rected to arm his staff and fight. When
he asked for rifles dozen old con-
demned Springfield muskets were sent
him, but not a single cartridge. He
wrote for cartridges, but was answered
that the president would soon take q
trip to Mexico in his private car and
would visit the mine and give further
instructions in person. Mr.. Nervely
had been known in trade as hustler
As president of silver mine he deter
mined to be hummer.
Jose Favara called. as usual, on the
10th of a certain month to be told that
his salary was nix. He had been dis
charged. Mr.. Barnes entered into par
ticulars with him, even to stating the
probable date of the arrival Of the
president Jose was impressive and
imperturbable. He smiled the same
old smiles and bowed the same old
bows. He knew he had earned his
money, but If he felt sore he gave no
sign Of it. He went away saying that
he might call again, and things went
on as usual for three weeks.
Then President Nervely arrived. 1t
was twenty miles over to the railroad,
and he had to make this distance on
the back of burro, but he made 1t.
He arrived at the mine at o'clock in
the afternoon. At the poems came up
from the shaft and announced that
there was strike on. There were
400 of them Next morning Jose Fa
vara appeared He wanted to know
II his salary was TO be restored
President Nervely battered himself
that he was a fighter If not an actual
fighter, then he was a good buffer He
had been bluff1ng for thirty years and
had the ART down pat. The miners
might strike, and be hanged to them.
They might be out for week. but they
would then be tumbling over each 9TH
er to get back. AS for Jose Favara, he
was an outlaw, blackmailer an ex-
tortioner Not another cent should he
draw from the treasury. If he made
one little move against the peace and
harmony of the New Yorker the maj
esty of the law would be invoked and
he would fnd himself behind prison
bars. He was talked to in the plainest
English. Mr.. Nervely talked in a LOUD
voice. He conveyed the idea that be
1~1 l. 4
himself out and was taking rest
Jose quietly asked:
"Am |, then, to understand that my
services are no longer required?"
"Of course you are"
But about this striker"
II can settle it without your help"
And as to what l may do with my
band?"
"Poof! Look here. my man, let me
give you a pointer: Don't come mon
keying around here unless you are
aching to get hurt If the law won't
protect us we will protect ourselves
Do you savey?'
The outlaw did He bowed and smil-
ed and took his departure. 1t was a
cold bluff. and he meant to call it when
the proper time came
''Do you think he will try to make US
troubles" asked the president of the
superintendent when Jose had depart
ed
"Sure to-"
II don't think bluffed him out
However. there are the muskets."
"And not cartridge for one OF
them"
Cartridges are awfully expensive.
think that empty muskets will do the
trick. Nothing like bluff If you rub
it in hard enough"
The strike had lasted four days. with
all quiet around the mine, when Jose
Favara rode up. 1t was early in the