Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-09-28

! i II returned through Tue TOWN.
| IA twas now filed to overflow.
WV ing with our compatriots.
They surged everywhere, full
of comment and curiosity. The half
naked men and women with the cigars
and the wholly naked children and
! dogs seemed not in the least disturbed
nor enlivened.
| Talbot's earnest inquiries finally got
Us to the Crescent hotel It was a hut
exactly like all the rest save that it
had floor. From it's name I suppose
it must have been kept by a white
man, but we never got near enough
through the crowd to find out With
out Talbot we should have gone hun
CRY with many others, but he inquired
around until we found native willing
to feed us. SO we ate on an upturned
| hencoop outside a native hut. The
meal consisted of pork bread and wa
| ter
We strolled to the beach at the hour
appointed with our boatman. He was
not there. nor any other boatman.
Never mind" said Ward. "I'll know
him if l see him. I'll go look him up.
You fellows find the boat with Our
things in it."
He and | re-entered the village, but
IA fifteen minutes search failed to dis
close our man. Therefore we returned
to the beach. A croWd was gathered
close about some common center in the
unmistakable restless manner of men
about a dog fight or some other kind
| of a row. We pushed our way in.
Johnny and Yank were backed up
against the palmetto awning of one of
the boats in an attitude of deadly and
quiet menace. Not two yards away
stood four CT our well dressed friends.
Nobody as yet displayed a weapon, eX-
cept that Yank's long rifle lay across
the hollow of his left arm instead OF
butt to earth, but it was evident that
lightnings were playing. The boat
man, who had appeared, alone was
saying anything, but he seemed to be
supplying language for the lot
Johnny's tense, alert attitude relaxed
little when he saw u.s.
w Gil IlQG1IVu w dI easily.
whats the trouble?'
"Yank and l found our goods dump
ed out on the beach and others in their
place." said Johnny.
80 you proceeded to reverse mat
ters. How about it?' he inquired
pleasantly Of the four men.
Il know nothing about it, replied
one of them shortly. 1--WE hired this
boat, and we intend to have it, and no
whippersnapper is going to keep us
from it.
Il see," said Talbot pleasantly.
We'll, excuse me a moment while l
talk to our friend" He addressed the
man in Spanish and received short,
sullen replies. HE says" Talbot ex-
planned to us, that he never saw us
before in his life and never agreed to
take us up the river
"Wen, that settles it." stated the
other man.
How much did you offer to pay
him?' asked Talbot.
The man stared. "None Of your bust
ness,' he replied.
They're askin' $50 a head" volun-
teered one of the interested spectators.
Exactly. You see," said Talbot to
Our bargain was for only So, and
now this worthy citizen has made a
better rate for HIMSELF
"You should have had the bargain
Immediately registered before the al
calde, senor," spoke up a white dressed
Spaniard of the better class, probably
from the castle.
II thank you, senor," said Talbot
courteously. THAT neglect is due to
my ignorance of your charming coun-
try
"And now if you'll move, young tur-
key cock, We'll just take our boat"
said another of the claimants.
zone moment!' said Talbot Ward, |
with new edge to his voice. 'This |
is my boat, not yours. My baggage is
in it; my boatman is on the ground. |
That he is forgetful has nothing to do |
with the merits of the case, You |
know this as we'll as / do. Now, you |
can acknowledge this peacefully and
get out or You can fight. | don't care |
a continental red copper which. Only, |
| warn you, the first man who makes |
move with anything but his two feet |
will be shot dead"
He stood, his hands hanging idly by |
his sides, and be spoke very quietly. |
The four men were not towards, that |
III swear, but one and all they stared |
into Wards eyes and came individual |
II to the same conclusion. | do not |
doubt that dancing flicker Of refrac-
ton or Of devilment was very near |
the surface.
"Of course. if you are very positive.