The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-21
Copyright, lH5l

the ranch, and Red, who was as
methodical as a bookkeeper IN
some matters, sorted out his old let
tiers from his Yar-box. ! always
liked to be on hand at this cleanup,
for there were odd photographs,
strange newspaper clippings, and a
fine salad OF unexpected news. Red
took = letter from an envelope.
"Well," he said, that's from little
old Santiago! You weren't here when
he hit the ranch. 1t was that time
you pulled for the hills, placer min
ing. / come across him at Tobe's
place. He was fiddlin' for little
quiet dance in the back room. Keno
Jim had made KILN and was blow
in the proceeds. Twenty men was
doin' a war-dance. accompanied by
one fiddle and bottles going pop-pop-
pop to keep time TO the music.
"This Santiago proposition kinder
took my eye. He took my ear first,
for above all the racket of them
boots stompin' on the floor / got a
touch OF real violin sound l sure
do like to hear a fiddle we'll played.
This made ME look at the music.
ale was small-sized yaller chap,
with long. hair like horses name.
He had very light, long fingers that
scampered over the fiddle like trained
mice, stoppin' to nibble when they
got hold of a good note. But his eyes
had ME interested. They was big,
black eyes, with something kinder
fierce in 'em. You could bet the
man behind them eyes was out of the
ordinary.
THE rest Of his features showed
he had Injun blood in him. Mostly
l don't like half-breeds.
$50 kinder held out against San
tiago at first, seem the streak of In
jun, but when the boys got tired of
tcarin' the place down slid over to-
ward the fiddle and asked the lad if
he wouldn't saw me out small piece
of real music.
"He threw mis- black lamps on me
and smiled in way that made me
overlook the Injun part of it.
"I'll play you something very
gladly he said.
And my little friend could play
that fiddlel He forgot all about
everything, and he breathed hard
while he was working his medicine.
"Old Keno Jim had lots to drink,
but it got even into his HIDE. His
hand was on my shoulder when the
piece finished.
"'Get him to do some more, Red
he said. 4 don't like it, but l can't
quit listening to it
We'll, that's how l come to know
Santiago. He told me he had hoofed
it most of the way from ChiIe-just
walked right along from one place
TO another until he landed with us.
a boat, but mostly he walked.
ITS quite little stroll from Chile,
South America, to Dakota, North
America, but he didn't seem to think
much of that.
well, l had to have him come
down to the ranch to play for the
boys. We was a music-Iovin' crowd
at the old Chantay Seeche, and about
all we got was Sammy playin' the
meuth-organ and Foster scratchin'
opera tunes on his fiddle.
"The ranch approved of Santiago.
His name wasn't Santiago, but
started to call him Santiago, and as
he always answered to the name
couldn't find any sense in changin' it.
Santiago, he took to the ranch.
So tae boss gave him a string of
ponies, and him and us we was the
same parties from that on.
He had nice notions in his nut.
He'd get up and talk, with his long,
black hair flynn and his long, dark
hands flynn and the fire burnin' in
his eyes-all about the joys of lib
erty and the beautifulness of women
and the magic of music.
1--WE liked TO hear that kind of
talk, and Santiago, he meant what he
said.
About two weeks after he joined
US bunch, including him, rode to
town for a little outing. Santiago
took me in charge.
"'See now, Colorado CHATS Span
ish for Red) this night you come
with me- says he. Let the rest go
to drink and to gamble and we'll
hunt for other amusement
"'All right 1 said. Let her flick
err
$50 We asked them in the drug
store what was doin' in the way of
unalcoholic amusements.
"The drug store man looked kinder
surprised at me asking that question,
but he says: The Presbyterian
church is having a bazaar down the
street; lots of pretty girls and a nice
quiet time, with a good feed
$50 away we went.
"That drug store gent had not lied