Connecticut western news., 1906-04-05

you"
 Well, what is your business?' que "ied the superintendent, although he had pretty fair idea of it. ITO arrange to draw my monthly sal ary, senor."
 For performing what servicesr "For leaving your mine in peace" 'In other words, you mean to levy tribute on us?
 "The senor hits the nail on the head at the first blow. My terms are $200
 myself. If accepted you will be under my protection. If not You will make trouble for us?' '"The Senor Barnes hits the nail again. I 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 lowing and smiling, and MT. 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- mained that Jose was 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 monthly salary be paid. He added that $20O per month was dog cheap.
 The president and his board looked upon it as rather funny case, but fol lowed the advice of MT. Barnes. From that time on for two years Jose Favara regularly appeared on the 10th of each month and received his salary" Twice during that time the peons 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 would have made cost and trouble had not Jose sent him word that he was after his scalp. It was conceded that the outlaw earned his wage. Things were going on satisfactorily whea the old president died and Mir. Nervely was elected in his place. While the dividends were large, MT. Nervely wanted to increase them. He saw way to do it by looping off and cutting down. A cut of 10 per cent was made In wages and salaries, and the $200 per month to Jose Favara was cut off en- tirely.
 When Mr. Barnes wrote that this move would bring trouble, he was di- rected to arm his staff and fight. When te asked for rifles a dozen old con aemned Springfield muskets were sent Alm, but not single cartridge. He wrote for cartridges, but was answered that the president would soon take trip to Mexico In his private car and would visit the mine and give further instructions ip person. Mir. 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 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 impassive 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 1t. He went away saying that he might call again, and things went on as usual for three weeks. Then President Nervely arrsseq. It was twenty miles over to the railroad, and he had to make this distance on the back of a burro but he made 1t. He arrived at the mine at o'clock in the afternoon. At the peons came up | from the shaft and announced that there was a strike on. There were 100 of them. Next morning Jose Fla vara appeared. He wanted to know ! if his salary was to be restored. President Nervely fattered himself
 that he was fighter. If not an actual 1 fighter, then he was a good buffer. He I had been blufing for thirty years and had the art down pat. The miners might strike, and be hanged to them. | They might be out for a week, but they would then be tumbling over each oth- | CT 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 find himself behind prison
 bars. He was talked to in the plainest
 English. Mir. Nervely talked in Lld ! voice. He conveyed the idea that he | owned the earth When he had tired | himself out and was taking a rest
 Jose quietly asked:
 Am ], then, to understand that my services are no longer requiredT "Of course you are" But about this striker? | "I can settle 1t without your help" And as to what may do with my | band!"
 'Poofl Look here, my man, let me | give you pointer: Don't come mon-
 keying around here unless you are
 aching to get hurt. If the law won't l protect us we will protect ourselves | Do you saveyY'
 | The outlaw did. He bowed and smil-
 cd and took his departure. It was a
 cold bluff, and he meant to call it when
 the proper time came.
 Do you think he will try to make us
 trouble?' asked the president of the
 superintendent when Jose had depart | ed.
 Sure to-"
 | 'I don't. I think I bluffed him out | However, there are the muskets" And not cartridge for one of
 them"
 Cartridges are awfully expensive.