Gunnison news-champion., 1911-10-06


generally conspsrssor.like nen witl
these dark doinss we're noticed sftei
q while. and talked about
Quite a number Of letters arrived
addressed to MIR Dicky Maloney" on
'senor Dickee Msloney" 60 the con
siderable pride Of Pssa That SO mans
people should desire to write 70 him
only confirmed her oWn suspicion thai
the light from his red head shons
around the world AS 20 their con
tents she never fel; curiosity There
was wife Cor you'
The one mistake Dickv made IN
Puerto Rev was to run out Of money
sf the wrong time Where bis money
came from was a puzzle for the sales
Of his shop we're newt to nothing but
thai source failed ana al peculiarly
unfortunate time n xas when the
comandaute. Don senor el Curonel Fin
carnacion Casablsnca looked upon the
little saint seated IN the shop and felt
his heart 60 pitspat
The conandante. Who was versed IN
oil the intricate arts OF gallantry. hrst
deIicately limited at his sentiments hy
donnirg III dress rrifo-m and STRUT
tirg M and aowu ssrcelv before her
window pasa. glancins demBrely with
her SANITY ewes instantly perceived
bis resemblance 10 her parrot Chichi
and was diverted 10 the extent of
smile The comsndante saw the smile.
which was not Intended for him. Con
vinced of an impression made he en-
tered the sbop. confidently. and sd-
vanced 70 open compliment Paza
froze; b. pranced she famed royalty
he was charmed 10 iniudicious per
sistence. she commanded him TO leave
the shop: he tried 10 capture her hand
and-Dickv entered. broadly smiling.
full of white vine and the devil
Five minutes later he pitched the
comandante out the door upon the
stones of the street. senseless That
Ave minutes Dicky had spent IN pun
ishing him scientifically and carefully
so that the pain might be prolonged
as far as possible.
A barefooted policeman who had
been watching the affair from across
the street. now blew a whistle and
squad Of eight soldiers came running
from the cuartel Just around the cor
the offender they stopped and blew
more whistles. which brought out re
endorsements Of twelve
Dicky. being thoroughly imbued with
the martial spirit. stopped and drew
the comandante's sword which was
girded about him, and charged his foe
He chased the standing army four
squares. playfully proddinG its squeal
ing rear. and hacking its bare. ginger
colored heels. He WAS not so success
ful with the civic authorities. Eight
muscular, nimble policemen overpow-
cred him, and conveyed him, trium-
phsntly but warily TO Jail "El Diablo
Colorado" they dubbed him, and de-
rided the military for its defeat
Dicky, with the rest of the prison-
ers, could look out the barred door at
the grass Of a little plaza, a row OF
orange trees, and the red tile roofs
and dobe walls Of q line Of insignif-
cant tiendas. At sunset, along a path
across this plaza, came Q melancholy
procession Of sadfaced women bearing
plantains. bread, casaba and fruit
each coming with food to some wretch
behind those bars TO whom she still
chung. Thrice a day. morning, noon
and sunset, they were permitted to
come Water was furnished her guests
by the republic. but no food
For two DAYS succeeding Pasa came
at each appointed time and brought
him food He eagerly inquired each
time II letter or package had come
for him. and she mournfully shook her
head
On the morning OF the third day she
brought only a small loaf of bread
There were dark circles under her
eyes. She seemed ss calm as ever.
'By jingo" said Dicky. who seemed
to speak In English or Spanish as the
whim seized him, this is dry proven
der. muehachita. Is this the best you
can dig up for fellow"
Pasa looked at him as a mother
looks at beloved but capricious
babe
Think better of IT," she said. In a
low voice; since for the next meal
there will be nothing The last cen
tavo Is spent" She pressed closer
against the grating
Pasa lowered her voice TO almost a
whisper. And. listen, heart TO nv
heart" she said. Il have endeavored
to be brave. but ! cannot live withou,
thee. Three days now
Dicky caught a faint CLEAN of steel
from the folds OF her mantila. For
once she looked in his face and saw I,
without . smile. stern. menacins and
purposeful Then he suddenly raised
his hand and his smile came back IN.
. gleam Of sunshine. The hoarse sig
nal Of an incoming steamers sfrer
| sounded in the harbor. Ddcky ca1e<
to the sentry who was pacing befor,
the door.
What steamer comes--
The Catarfna"
Or the Nesuvius lfne,-
Without doubt of that line
Go you. picarf1la.- said Dlcky. toy
eusly to Pasa. to the Americas con