Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1914-10-31
DIABLO And SOLDIER
One of the Many Tales Told in
a Mexican Market
Place.
BY j. S. M'GRATH.

one Bauth especially, who had been
one of the most valiant In the cam
paign, found himself without knowl-
edge or means to gain livelihood, as
outside the business of killing men he
had learned to do nothing. He took his
gun, then his only possession, and
started out seeking some way to pre-
serve the life which so many times he
had risked in battle with boldest
temerity.
For some time he lived more on
aims than anything else. One day
when he was very tired from having
walked not few leagues he seated
himself under the shade of some trees
by the roadside and in trice was
sleeping profoundly. Presently he was
awakened and raising his head he saw
before him a very grand parsonage.
Richly dressed indeed was he, with
a cloak of dark red silk and great
sword at his belt; but he had face
that inspired terror, with a long and
pointed nose. The soldier understood
at once with whom he must deal; that
the stranger was no other than the
devil himself.
Il know very well what you need"
said the strange man.
That is easy-money, much
money" exclaimed the soldier.
you shall have all the money you
care for If you will do all l tell you.
7 rich 10 hn wi
are not coward"
Soldier and coward! You should
know that cannot be-"
I'VE shall see. Turn your head"
The soldier turdned his head and
saw coming toward him a great bear,
with open mouth and the intention,
without doubt, of devouring him. The
soldier aimed his gun, saying mean
while:
1T seems you like to snarl and
growl; I will relieve you of the habit
by putting a bullet into your mouth"
The gun was fired, and as the sol
der had said, the bullet entered by the
mouth, bringing the bear to the
ground.
Il see you are very courageous" said
the devil. Now if you want to be very
rich you must do as l say"
Il will, unless it be to sell you my
SOUL" replied the soldier
THAT will depend upon yourself.
Listen. During the next seven years
you must not battle yourself, nor cut
your hair, nor your finger nails, nor
wear any other clothes, nor cloak than
this of mine which l shall give you. If
you do these things, when the seven
years are completed you will remain
entirely free and rich-rich as the
richest. But if you die before finishing
the seven years your soul will go to
the Internal regions"
Accepted" cried the valiant youth,
after rejecting moment.
The devil threw him the long man.
tie which he wore, saying:
Always when in need of money you
will have no more to do than to put
your hand into your pocket and you
will take out all the gold money you
want"
And without another word he disap-
peared.
The young soldier put on the cloak
the devil had given him and wished to
make the test at once. He ran his hand
into the pocket, and sure enough took
it out full of shining gold.
So, very happy, he set off to try his
luck and enjoy without stint oil that
can be acquired with money.
All went we'll during the first year,
for although he did not wash himself
nor cut his hair nor his nails he did
not yet inspire great repugnance. But
when the time had about half passed
his face had become more like that of
wild beast than of man, and he had
to pay we'll in gold for all he got Even
so the day came when no one would
shelter him, he was so i'll looking.
With his long hair. the face of the
wild animal, and his nails resembled
the claws of a tiger; his clothes were
torn and dirty. More than once he had
to sleep out of doors because no one
would rent him lodgings, not even the
poorest, and the seventh year of his
promise had not arrived.
One day when the poor soldier was
half sitting, half lying on the grass
under some bushes in the country,
bordering over his condition and wish
ing the end of the seven years would
come quickly, he heard the voice of a
man. 1t was the devil who approached
and said
You have won. You were courage
Gus. Free you are and free you re-
main forever, and forever rich" And
then he planned to disappear, but
| the soldier called to nim:
Hear me, Senior Diablo. 1t falls to
thee to rid me of all this load I bear
and leave me clean as was seven