The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-06-12

iut3 were a happy little hmily.
comfortably installed IA the stone
house that Mendez had built. and rap.
Idly getting fat on three fun meals a
day From his tont farther up the
canycn Bud could look down and
watch the children at play and see the
Comely Indian wife IA she cooked by
the open FIRE.
Certainly no one could be more In.
nocent and ~contented than she waa,
and ri Tuerto was all bows and pro
tostations Of gratitude. And yet. you
never can tell.
Bud had moved out OF the new house
to furnish quarters for ri Tuerto and
had favored him IN every way; but
this same consideration might easily
DO UNINTERRUPTED, for the MexicRns
are slow 10 understand kindness.
So. while on the one hand he had
treated them generously. he had al
ways kept hi distance. lest hey be
tempted ~ presume. But now. with
Phil In town for a few days, he took
his meals with Maria. who was too
awed TO say u word. and made friends
with the dogs and the children.
The way 20 the dogs heart was easy,
almost direct. and he finally won the
attention OF little Pancho and Josefa
with a well.worn Sunday supplement.
This gaudy institution, with It's spicy
stories and startling illustrations. had
penetrated even 10 the wilda Of Sonora,
aud every Sunday as regularly as the
paper ZANE Bud sat down and had his
laugh over the funny page,
But TO Pancho, who was six years
old and curious, this same highly col.
ored sheet was a mystery Of mysteries,
and when he saw the big American
laughing he crept up and looked at It
wistfully.
Mira said Bud. laying his finger
upon the Sinking Visage OF one OF the
comic characters, look. and ! will tell
you the story"
And 30, 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 III Tuerto and Maria
wer moved by the comicas, and Men.
dez became so interested that he
learned tho words by heart. the better
to explain them TO others.
but as for Mexican treRchery, Bud
could find zone of IL. In fact, finding
them so simple-hearted and good.na
tured, he became half ashamed OF his
early suspicious and waited for the
return OF Phil 10 explain Don Cipri.
amos c~omplacency.
But the next Sunday, as Bud lay
reading In his tent, the mystery solved
itself. Cruz MendeE came up from the
house. hat Ia hand and an apologize
smile on his face. and after the Gus.
tomary roundabout remarks he asked
the boss hs a favor II he would lend
him the page Of comic pictures.
"Segurol' assented Bud, rolling owe
and fumbling for the funny sheet.
then. failing 20 find il instantly. he In.
Quired; what do you want Il fort"
An. TO show to my boyi" explained
FL Tuerto. his one eye lighting up with
pride.
"Who-Paneho?"
"Ah. no. senior" answered Mendez
simply. my boy IN La Fortuna. the
one you have not seen"
Bud stopped fumbling for the paper
and sat up suddenly. Hero was a new
light on their faithful seryitor. and one
hat might easily take away from his
value as "A dummy locator.
"ohl" he said. and then: How
many children have you. CRUZ"
Cruz smiled d~eprecatingly, 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 not
legally married TO Maria. he could not
transfer the mining claim.
"By all % them" he said quietly.
give ia all" returned Cruz-"three
by Maria. az you know-two by my
first woman-and "A other. do not
count him"
"well. you one-eyed old reprobatel"
muttered bud IN his throat, but he
passed IL of and returned smiling 20
the charge.
where does your boy live now ?"
ne asked with fattering solicitdde, the
better to make him talk, and Is he
old enough 10 understand the pic.
%tlresf"
"Ah. yesl" beamed Mendez. ne is
twelve years old. He lives with his
mother now-and my little daughter,
too Their mamma 10 the woman OF
tho mayordomo OF the Senior Aragon-
a bad man, very ugly-she Is not mar.
Tied 20 him"
But with you" suggested Bud. TO.
garding him with a steely stare.
Only by the judge!" exclaimed
Mendez %virtuously. II was a love.
match. and the priest did not come
30 We were married By the Judge.
Then this bad mayordomo stole her
away from me-the plg-and l mar.
ried Maria instead. Maria IL a good
yoman and ! married her before the
pri 'st-but | love my other children,
too. cen though they are not lawful"
so you married your first wife be.
fore the Judge" observed Bud cynical.
g. 49, -