The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-08-20


upon the Sinking visage OF one OF the
comic characters. look. and | will tell
you the story"
And so, with laborious care, he
translated the colored fun, while the
little Mendezes squirmed with excite
ment and leaped with Joy. Even the
simple souls OF I'll Tuerto and Maria
wer moved by the comicas, and Men.
deg became SO interested that he
learned the words by heart, the better
to explain them to others.
But as for Mexican treachery, Bud
could find none of IL. In fact. finding
them so simple-hearted and goodna'
tured, he became half ashamed OF his
early suspicious and waited for the
return OF Phil to explain Don Ciprt
amos complacency.
But the next Sunday, as Bud lay
reading in his tent. the mystery solved
itself Cruz Mendez came up from the
house, hat In hand and an apologize
smile on his face. and after the Gus.
tomary roundabout remarks he asked
the boss as favor II he would lend
him the page OF comic pictures.
"Seguro!" assented Bud. rolling over
and fumbling for the funny sheet;
then, failing to find 1t instantly. he In
quired: What do you want It for
"Ah, to show to my boyl" explained
FL Tuerto, his one eye lighting up with
pride.
"Who-Pancho?"
"Ah. no. senor," answered Mendel
simply, my boy in La Fortuna. the
one you have not seen"
Bud stopped fumbling for the paper
and sat up suddenly. Here was a new
light on their faithful servitor. and one
that might easily take away from his
value as a dummy locator.
"Oh!" he said, and then: How
many children have you, Cruz?"
Cruz smiled deprecatingly. as par
ents will. and turned away.
by which woman" he inquired. and
Bud became suddenly very calm. fear
ing the worst. For II Cruz was no,
legally married to Maria. he could not
transfer the mining claim.
by all OF them" he said quietly.
Five in ALL" returned Cruz-"three
by Maria. as you know-two by my
first woman-and one other. do not
count him."
We'll, you one-eyed old reprobate!
muttered Bud In his throat, but he
,,a,gad 10 on and raturpad apuilinV "a
the charge.
where does your boy live now
he asked with fattering solicitude. the
better to make him talk. and Is he
old enough to understand the pic
tures?"
"Ah, yes!" beamed Mendez. he Is
twelve years old. He lives with his
mother now-and my little daughter
too. Their mamma Is the woman OF
the mayordomo OF the Senior Aragon-
a bad man. very ugly-she is not mar
ried to him"
But with you" suggested Bud. re-
garding him with a steely stare.
"Only by the judge!" exclaimed
Mendes virtuously. 1T was love
match, and the priest did not come
SO we were married by the Judge.
Then this bad mayordomo stole her
away from me-the pig-and ! mar
ried Maria instead Maria La a good
woman and I married her before the
priest-but love my other children.
too, even though they are not lawful"
$50 you married your first wife ber
fore the judge" observed Bud cynical
ly. and this one before the priest But
how could you do that, unless you had
been divorced?"
"Ah. senor," protested Mendez. hold
ing out his hands. you do not under
stand. It Is only the church that can
really marry-the Judge does II only
for the money. Maria h my true wife
and we have three nice children
but a. Am going through Ia Fortuna
should like to show the picture paper
to my boy"
Bud regarded him in meditative 81
lence. then he rose up and began de-
termined search for the funny sheet.
IAN right" he said. handing It over.
''and here is a panoche OF sugar for
your little girl-the one In La Fortuna.
II is nothing" he added. as Mendez
began his thanks.
But oh. you marrying Mexican" he
continued. relapsing into his mother
tongue as Ell Tuerto disappeared; you
certainly have dished US right"