The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-07-31
titul woman In her day. with golden

red hair Is lrlSn! why, tne noSt Dedu-
tiful women in Madrid have chestnut
hair as soft as the fur OF a dormOuse.
1t Is the old Castilian hair, and they
are proud Of 1t. The Sonora Aragon
married beneath her station-it was
in the City of Mexico, and she did not
know that he was an Indian-but she
is a very nice lady for all that and
never Omits to bow to me when she
comes up to take the train. l remem-
Der one time"
Does Cruz Mendez work for him p
interjected De Lancey desperately.
mo, indeed" answered Don Juan
patiently; "he packs in wood from the
hils-but as l was saying" and
from that he went on to tell OF the un-
failing courtesy OF the Sonora Aragon
to a gentleman whom, whatever his
present station might be, she recog-
nized as a member OF one Of the oldest
families in CASTLE.
De Lancey did not press his In
quires any further, but the next morn
ing, instead Of riding back into the
hills, he and Bud turned their faces
down the canyon to seek out the elusive
Mendez. They had, Of course. been
acting a part for Don Juan, since kru-
ger had described Old Fortuna and the
Senior Aragon with great minuteness.
And now. In the guise Of innocent
strangers, they rode on down the river,
past the concentration with it's multiple
tanks, it's gliding tramway and noun
tains OF tailings, through the village OF
Indian houses stuck like dugouts
against the barren hill-then along q
river bed that oozed with Stockings un-
til they came In sight Of the town.
La Fortuna was an old town. yet not
as old as its name, since two Fortunas
before it had been washed away by
cloudbursts and replaced by newer
dwellings. The settlement itself was
some four hundred years old, dating
back to the days OF the Spanish con-
quistadores. when it yielded up many
muleloads Of gold.
The present town was built little
up from the river in the lee OF great
ridge OF rocks thrust down from the
hill and we'll calculated to turn aside
glut of waters. 1t was comfortable
huddle OF whitewashed adobe build
ings set on both sides OF narrow and
irregular road-the great trail that led
down to the hot country and was worn
deep by the pack-trains OF centuries.
On the lower side was the ample
store and cantina Of Don Cipriano.
where the thirsty arrieros could get q
drink and buy a panoche of sugar
without getting down from their
mounts. Behind the store were the
pole corraIs and adobe warehouses
| and the quarters Of the poems. and
across the road was the mescal still,
where, in huge copper retort and
worm, the fiery liquor was distilled
from the sugar-Iaden heads of Yuccaa.
This was the town, but the most I'M
portant buildfnsEset bsek 10 tho
shade of mighty cottonwoods and
pleasantly aloof from the road--was
the residence Of Senior Aragon. 1t was
this. In fact, which held the undivided
attention Of De Lancey as they rode
quietly through the village. for he
had become accustomed from long
experience in the tropics to look fol
something elusive, graceful and femi
nine In houses set back in garden
Nothing stirred, however, and having
good reason to avoid Don Cipriano
they logged steadily on their way.
Some housed" observed Phil, Will
last hopeful look over his shoulder
"Uh," assented Bud. as they CAM
to a fork in the road. Say" he con
tinued, lets turn of on this trail
Lot of burro tracks going out-ezpec
it's our friend, Mr.. Mendez."
"All right" said De Lancey an
sently; wonder where old Arago'
keeps that beautiful daughter OF his
the one Don Joo-an was telling about
Have to stop on the way back ant
sample the old mans mescal."
Nothing doing!" countered Hooke
instantly. NOW you heard what
told you-there's two things you leav
alone for sixty days-booze and Won
en-. After we cinch our title you ca
get az gay as you please"
"Oo.ee!" piped Phil, hear the DO
. TALK" But he said no more OF win
) and women, for he knew how they d
/, complicate lie.
They rode to the east now, follow
} ing the long, fat footprints OF the ou
: ros. and by all the landmarks Blu
saw that they were heading straigl
3 for the old Eagle Tail mine. AT o.
q Fortuna the river turns west and
a the same time four canyons came
+ from the east and south. OF thet
q thew had taken the Arst to the mort
8 and It was leading them past all Il
l old workings that Kruger had spoke
t about. In fact, they were almost
O the mine when Hooker swung dow
o suddenly from his horse and motdon'
IS Phil to follow.
"There's some burros coming"