The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-10-08

Few 10 the locality, seemed properly I'M
pressed. That it was the ghost Of Carlos
Martinez, murdered nearly hundred years
ago at the big bend in the cation, was con-
coded by all; but there was dispute as to
Why 1t showed itself only on Friday nights,
and why it was never seen by any but a
Mexican. Never had "Gringo" seen it.
The Mexican stranger was appealed to: Did
this not prove that the murder had been
done by Mexican9 The stranger affected
70 consider the question.
Martin surveyed them with outward i'm
ipassiveness and inward contempt. A real
Iist, cynic, and an absolute genius with
Colts As, he was well known along the
border for his daredevil exploits and reck-
less courage. The brainiest men of the
Secret Service, Lewis, Thomas, Sayre, and
even Old Jim Lane, the local chief, whose
fingers at Ell Paso felt every vibration along
the Rio Crande, were not as we'll known
except to those who had seen the inside of
government northumberland they were
quite satisfied to be eclipsed. But the
Service knew of the ghost, as it knew every
thing pertaining to the border, and gave it
no thought. Martin once in spirit of
savage denial had wasted the better part of
several successive Friday nights in the San
Miguel, but to no avail. When told that
the ghost showed itself only to Mexicans he
had shrugged his shoulders eloquently and
laughed, also eloquently. "A Greaser," he
replied, "is one half fear and superstition,
and the other half is imagination. There
amt no ghosts, but know the Gyease,s have
seen EN-. III ever see one and he keeps on
being one after shoot I'll either believe in
EN-, or quit drinking"
He was flushed, and restless with devil
try. His sixth glass always made him 50;
and tonight there was an added stimulus
He believed the strange Mexican to be Juan
Alvarez, who was so clever that the Govern
nent had never been able to- convict him.
Alvarez was fearless and Martin, eager to
test him, addressed the group with the blunt
terseness for which he was famed.
"Greasers are cowards," he asserted,
quietly, and with smile which invited
excitement.
The group was shocked into silence,
quickly followed by unrest and words.
Martin did not move a muscle, the smile
was set, but between the half-closed eyelids
crouched Combat on its toes. The Mexi-
cans knew it was there without looking for
1.-THE tone of his voice, the caressing purr
of his words, and his unnatural languor
were signs well known to them. Not
criminal sneaking back from voluntary
Punishment in Mexico, who had seen those
signs ever forgot them, if he lived
de Sehor ees mistak," came the reply,
as quiet and caressing as the words which
provoked it. The strange Mexican was
standing proudly and looking into the
squirting eyes with only grayness of face
and tigerish litheness to tell what he felt.
"None ever 60 through the San Miguel
after dark on Friday" purred Martin,
through his smile.
~ 60 tro de cafion mex Friday night.
Eef do, then you max apology to me. :"
The Mexican stepped forward: II TAX
thees gloov an leev Get at de big ben for
you to 6n'," he said, tapping one of Mar
tins gauntlets which lay on the bar. "You
geev me Get bafo' I go?"
eyes; at nine o'clock tomorrow night"
Martin replied.
The Mexican, cool and smiling, bowed
and left the room, his companions fastening
after him.
"Well, by George!" breathed the bar
tender. "I1l bet twenty-five dollars he
DON'T"
Martin slowly turned his head: "I1l
take that, Charley" he replied.
Johnny Nelson was always late and on
this occasion he was later than usual. He
was to have joined Hopalong and Red at
Dents at ten o'clock in the morning of the
last Friday Of the month, and it was after
nine at night when he loped through San
Felipe without pausing, and struck east for
the canon. The dropping, narrow canon
trail was serious enough in broad day.
light, but at night it was foolhardy to at
tempt its passage unless one knew every
turn and slant, which Johnny did not
know.
Half an hour ahead of him on another
trail rode Juan, smiling with satisfaction.
He had come to San Felipe expressly to get
look at the canon on Friday nights. and
Martin had given him an entirely unex-
pected excuse to enter it, for which he was
grateful, even while he knew that the Ameri-
can had tried to pick quarrel, and, falling
in this, hoped the treacherous canon trail
would nd the border Of man entirely too
clever and active for the good Of the Service.
Old Jim Lanes fingers touched wires not
.N2sl>l9s