Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-19

and his eyes spread until they were
as big and as blue as q pair Of Delft
saucers. For a whole minute he star
ed, and then one eyelid closed in a
wink that was certainly not Spanish.
You're right, my boy, says he,
you have an engagement. You will
dine with me at once. Here, Jose he
commanded In Spanish, stir up that
lazy cook and set the table for two.
land now,' says he. turning again
to me, sit down here and tell me all
about it. What part of Gods country
are you from anyway
I'm from Peoria, Ill., I said; how
about your
He jumped up and danced around
me like baby elephant.
!"'Shake, old man. he yelled, put her
there, put her there! I'm your long
lost brother! I'm from Mattoon, dear
old Mattoon, sweet old Mattoon-ever
been there?
Sure says I, dozens O. times. But
what in the devil is a man from Mat
toon doing as lost brigand in Spain ?
I don't understand it.
Neither do !, my son, neither do
I; but I don't mind tellin' you all I,
know about it.
by this time we were seated at a
rough wooden table and several dishes
of smoking Spanish mixtures stood
between US. The terrible Senor
Muerto was hungry, and he said little
but try some Of this or you'll find
this pretty good until the edge Of his
appetite wore off. Then he opened
bottle Of excellent wine and between
bites told me his story in shorthand.
"T was born In Mattoon, said he.
My father was carpenter, and a
good one. I was good for nothing.
1 ran away from home when was 16.
Got q job as assistant to a travelling
patent medicine peddler. He did some
sleight Of hand work on the side.
"T learned all the tricks. Quit him
and tied up with a real magician.
Learned all he knew and went in bus
iness for myself. Got married to the
prettiest woman in Kentucky. She had
q tongue like g. buzzsaw. United States
wasn't big enough to hold both of us
in peace, SO I came to Europe.
leave exhibitions in England, Ger
many, France, four or five years be-
fore struck this country. Was max
in short cut from San Sebastian to
Leon when I was captured by these
brigands. Didn't have but a few pese-
tas and nobody would put up dollar
to ransom me.
"Bunch was disappointed. Was
goin' to shoot me to get rid o me.
turned 'em a few sleight Of hand tricks
an they changed their minds. Got
down on their knees to me. Their old
chief had just been hung-they wanted
a new boss. Insisted on givin' me the
Job. had to take It. They was scar
ed to death of me, but they wouldn't
let me go.
"'Been two years at 1t now. Hear
I've got bad name outside, but it's
all based on what the other chief did
and what my men do when I amt
lookin'. couldn't hurt fly
Must be very romantic and
thrilling life,' I said.
"Thrillin' fiddlesticks' said he. My
dear boy, I'm the tiredest man in Spain,
and that's the limit. I'm worn out
twiddlin' my fingers. I guess I'd
get 80 excited over game O. croquet
I'd kick out all the wickets.
Romantic nothin' It's a tanner
Job than shootin' flies at railroad
lunch stand. That's why I'm tickled
to death to see you. I'm so doggone
lonesome and homesick I'd welcome
sick cat from Illinois. let alone man
from Peoria.
"'And you're goin' to stay with me
a while. Yes, I'm sorry he says, but
I'm mighty glad Of 1t. My gentle
lambs wouldn't let you go If I wanted
'em to- an like as not they'd stick
knife in you If I suggested It,
"Tt's a limited monarchy I'm run
min, old man, an want you to stay
here and learn me how to play golf.
see you know the game an we've plen-
ty Of room. Maybe 1t would take off
some Of this fat
"Well, knew Flores would be crazy
about me, but I stayed, and the senior
certainly treated me like a prince. In
return I taught him how to play golf,
and when he confided to me that he'd
be glad to give up his job as boss bri-
gand II he could do 1t without CIV
ing up his head I fixed up scheme
to escape.
Every day we extended our links
little further away from the noun
tains and quit playing the game ac-
cording to the rules. 1t was distance
we were working for, not points. The
chiefs men didn't like the risk and
they kept reminding him that there
was a big price on his head, but he
just laughed at them. They thought
that danger was enough to hold him
to them, not to mention his share Of
the profits, and never suspected him
of trying to escape.
"But one day when all but two Of
the brigands were out on an expedition
we worked the trick that had caused
my capture-made long, straightaway
drives like couple Of boys playing
long taw. Gradually we played our
way on to'Flores's lands, had the luck
to run into an automobile party and