Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-12-17

great Garcia and gave the old man .
note. II was In English. and the old
hidalgo couldn't make 1t out very we'll.
His son Luis had Just come home
from college at Santa Clara. and old
Miguel gave him the note to read
taking great pride In Luis learning.
Lius read the note. "This says,
papa, that you owe Mr.. Cohn in Los
Angeles, n thousand pesos, and he
would be much obliged II you would
come and pay"
"What?" roared Miguel. II owe
Send one of the men for my horse.
Bring me the old dapple gray. He
has carried me through many trou-
bles."
When the vaquero came back with
the gray, old Miguel was waiting.
He had his sword-a relic of his army
days-ready to make fast to the great
silver-garnished saddle, for this was
an errand to clear his honor Of an In
suit, Fearing a tragedy, Luis followed
him at a discreet distance.
The old man galloped hotly to town
and rode his horse straight into the
%pawnshop and banged on the counter
with his saber.
Come out!" he cried.
Cohn appeared at the inner door.
Sinking and rubbing his hands.
Whats this insult?" demanded old
Miguel. throwing the bit OF paper
down on the counter. Cohn picked 1t
up tremulously.
"You say l owe you n tho""and
pesos" said the old don sternly.
WELL" said Cohn. Struggling his
shoulders. ."Mr. Pancho he left the
note"
He hastened to the safe and brought
our poor Pancho's clumsy forgery.
Luis, who had quietly entered after
his father. took the forged note and
read. t
This says" he announced. shat
you, papa. have promised to pay
Pancho Warren one thousand pesos.
Mr.. COIN says that Pancho brought
the paper in here and got the money"
The truth dawned on old Miguel.
and It was an angry red dawn. His
eyes blazed, but he was too thorough
ly a gentleman to denounce the for.
gerry there. Pancho should answer to
him privately. first.
With Luis following, but not daring
to say a word, Miguel rode on down
Main street. Near the old Bella
Union, Miguel saw the now horseless
Pancho sauntering bllthely along
ogling the passing %senoritas.
Without a shade Of embarrassment.
Pancho tremendously saluted the In.
dignant old gentleman.
Good day to you. my compadre,"
be said with a flourish. 1T gives me
ten thousand pleasures to see you so
WE'LL"
Old Miguel grimly dismounted and
threw the reins over the head Of the
gray. Luis noticed that he kept well
In toward the side OF the horse where
the saber was handy.
With a naughty and terrible look,
old Miguel brought the note out from
the pocket of his bolero. Pancbo's
face lighted up as he recognized It.
ooh, yes" he said cheerfully. that
Is my note."
The old don's form grew s%traighter
and taller and his voice was very
stern.
"Dog!" he cried. do you mean you
have forged my name?" E
Pancho looked injured.
why, compadre," he said plaintive.
ly. "how angry you get. Is this a way
to speak to your c%ompadre?"
"Cohn says you have forged my
name. II he lies ! shall kill him."
said old Miguel.
Eyes. certainly. j wrote your name"
said Pancho still in al injured voice.
What else could I do. was playing
faro in the Pico House and l lost my
money. Then ! lost my horse, Elk
cited with the play. I then said. I give
the name of my noble compadre.
Senior Miguel Garcia"
Pancho paused impressively.
what do you suppose the pig Of an
American said?"
Old Miguel made a gesture as n
who would say "How should ! know
"He said: To hell with the Gar
cias.'"
The old mans face darkened.
"Well?" he demanded.
WELL" said Pancho. launching up
his shoulders, you see %compadre.
how could I let the honor Of the Gar
cids suffer? ! went out and made a
note and got eight hundred pesos Of
Cohn and took them and flung them
down before the dog Of an American
pig to show him II the name Of Garcia
should be laughed at" 7
Old Miguel impulsively put out his
hand and gripped earnestly the hand
of Pancho.
my friend and my compadre.' he
said, yfrom the depths Of my heart !
thank you. You have saved the honor
Of the Garcias. and all that | have IL
yours"
"You see," said Jose. meditatively.
"you see. senior, they didn't under
stand. Old Miguel. he die q pauper."
Tree-cnmbing Rata.
/, p. a. .o,tharu italy climb the or.