Oxford Democrat., 1916-02-29

up the strawberry mark on your left
shoulder. Old Urique keeps anywhere
from $4,000 to 100000 in his house
all the time In a little safe that you
could open with shoe buttoner. Get
It. Ny skill as tattooer is worth half
the Doodle. We 60 halves and catch
q tramp steamer for Rio Janeiro. Let
the United States 60 to pieces If 1t
can't get along without my services.
Que dice, senor?"
1T sounds to mew said the Kid, nod.
ding his head. I'm out for the dust"
"All right, them" said Thacker.
you'll have to keep close until we
get the bird on you. You can live In
the back room here. I do my own
cooking, and I'll make you as COM
Portable as a parsimonious government
will allow me-"
Thacker had set the time at week,
but it was two weeks before the de-
sign that he patiently tattooed upon
the Kids hand was to his notion. And
then Thacker called muchacho and
dispatched this note to the intended
victim:
Ell Senior Don Santos Urique, La Casa
Blanca:
Ny Dear Slr-I beg permission to in
form you that there Is in my house az .
temporary guest a young man who Ar.
rived in Buenas Terras from the United
States some days ago. Without wishing
to excite any hopes that may not be real
lied, I think there Is a possibility Of his
being your long absent son. 1t might be
well for you to call and see him. II he l.
it Is my opinion that his intention was
to return to his home, but upon arriving
here his courage failed him from doubts
as to how he would be received. Your
true servant
THOMPSON THACKER.
Half an hour afterward, quick time
for Buenas Tierras, Senior Urique's an
cient landau drove to the eonsuPs door,
with the barefooted coachman beating
and shouting at the team Of fat, awk-
ward horses.
A tall man with q white mustache
alighted and assisted to the ground q
lady who was dressed and yelled In
unrelieved black.
The two FASTENED inside and were
met by Thacker with his best diplo-
matte bow. By his desk stood slen-
der young man with clear cut, sun
Drowned features and smoothly brush.
ed black hair.
Sonora Urique threw back her heavy
veil with a quick gesture. She was
past middle age, and her hair was be-
ginning to silver, but her full, proud
figure and clear olive skin retained
traces of the beauty peculiar to the
Basque province. But, once you had
seen her eyes and comprehended the
great sadness that was revealed in
their deep shadows and hopeless e1-
preston, you saw that the woman
lived only in some memory.
She bent upon the young man long
look of the most agonized questioning;
then her great black eyes turned, and
her gaze rested upon his left hand,
and then with a sob not loud, but
seeming to shake the room, she cried,
"Hijo miov and caught the Llano Kid
to her heart.
A month afterward the Kid came to
the consulate in response to message
sent by Thacker.
He looked the young Spanish cabal-
lero. His clothes were imported, and
the wiles Of the jewelers. had not been
spent upon him in vain. A more than
respectable diamond shone on his fin
ger as he rolled q shuck cigarette.
whats doing?" asked Thacker.
Nothing much," said the Kid calm
ly. II eat my first iguana steak today.
They're them big lizards, you sabe?
reckon, though, that frijoles and side
bacon would do me about as well. Do
you care for iguanas, Thacker"
mo, nor for some other kinds Of rep
tiles" said Thacker.
It was 3 in the afternoon, and in
another hour he would be in his state
of beatitude.
'It's time you were making good,
sonny" he went on, with an ugly look
on his redeemed face. you're not play
ing up to me square. You've been the
prodigal son for four weeks now, and
you could have had veal for every
meal on gold dish If you'd wanted 1t.
Now, Mr.. Kid, do you think It's right
to !aave me out so long on husk diet2
What's the trouble? Don't you get
your filial eyes on anything that looks
like cash In the Casa Blanca Don't
tell me you don't. Everybody knows
where old Urique keeps his stun. It's
United States currency, too; he don't
accept anything else. What's doing!
Don't say nothing this time"
"Why, sure" said the Kid, admiring
his diamond, there's plenty Of money
up there. I'm no Judge Of collateral
In punches, but I will undertake for to
say that I've seen the rise Of $4,000 at
a time in that tin grub box that my
adopted father calls his safe. And he
lets me carry the key sometimes just
to show me that he knows Tm the real
little Francisco that strayed from the
herd long time ago."
"Well, what are you waiting for"
asked Thacker angrily. Don't you
forget that can upset your apple cart
any day want to. II old Urique knew
you were an impostor, what sort OF
things would happen to you? Oh, you
don't know this country, Mr.. Texas
Kid. The laws here have got mustard
spread between 'em. These people
here'd stretch you out like a frog that
had been stepped on and give you
about fifty sticks at every corner Of
the plaza. And they'd wear every
stick out too. What was left Of you
they'd feed to alligat0rs."
II might as well tell you now, pard-
ner," said the Kid, sliding down low
on his steamer chair, "that things are
going to stay just as they are. They're
about right now"
"What do you meanY asked Thack-
er, rafting the bottom Of his glass on
his desk. M
1.-THE schemes or" said the Kid.
"And whenever you have the pleasure
Of speaking to me address me as Don
Francisco Urique. I'll guarantee I'll
answer to 1t. Well let Colonel Urique
keep his money. His little tin safe Is
as good as the time locker in the First
National bank Of Laredo as far as you
and ma ara concerned" t.t