Oxford Democrat., 1916-02-29

'They speak Spanish here" said The
consul. you'll need an interpreter.
If there's anything I can do why, I'd
be delighted. II you're, buying fruit
lands or looking for concession Of
any sort you'll want somebody who
knows the ropes to look out for you"
II speak Spanish" said the Kid,
"about nine times better than / do
English. Everybody speaks 1t on the
range where L. come from. And I'm
not In the market for anything"
"You speak SpanishT' said Thacker
thoughtfully. He regarded the Kid
absorbedly.
"You look like Spaniard, too" he
continued. "And you're from Texas.
And you can't be more than twenty or
twenty-one I wonder II you've got
any nerve"
"You got q deal Of some kind to put
through" asked the Texan, with un-
expected shrewdness.
"Are you open to a propOsitionT'
said Thacker.
Whats the use to deny itT' said the
Kid. ."I got into a little gun frolic
down in Laredo and plugged white
man. There wasn't any Mexican
handy. And 1 come down to your
parrot and monkey range just for to
smell the morning glories and mari
Colds. Now, do you sabe?'
Thacker got up and closed the door.
"Let me see your hand" he said.
he took the Kids left hand and ex.
amined the back of 1t closely.
"T can do It," he said excitedly.
"Your flesh is as hard as wood and as
healthy as baby's. 1t will heal in a
week"
"If it's fist fight you want to back
me for" said the Kid, don't put your
money up yet. Make it gun work, and
I'll keep you company. But no bare
handed scrapping like ladies at tea
party for me-"
"It's easier than that" said Thacker.
"Just step here, will your
Through the window he pointed to q
two story white succeed house with
wide galleries rising amid the deep
green tropical foliage on wooded hill
that sloped gently from the sea.
'In that house." said Thacker, "a
fine old Castilian gentleman and bis
wife are yearning to gather you into
their arms and I'LL your pockets with
money. Old Santos Urique lives there.
He owns half the gold mines In the
country"
"You haven't been eating loco weed,
have your asked the Kid.
"sit down again." said Thacker, land
I'll tell you. Twelve years ago they
lost a kid. No, he didn't die, although
most of 'em here do from drinking the
surface water. He was a wild little
devil, even If he wasn't but eight years
old. Everybody knows about It.
Some Americans who were through
here prospecting for gold had letters
to Senior Urique, and the boy was
favorite with them. They filed his
head with big stories about the States,
and about q month after they left the
kid disappeared too. he was suppos-
ed to have slowed himself away among
the banana punches on fruit steamer
and gone to New Orleans. he was
seen once afterward In Texas. 1t was
thought, but they never heard anything
more of him. Old Urique has spent
thousands Of dollars having him looked
for. The madam was broken up worst
of all. The kid was her life. She
wears mourning yet. But they say she
believes he'll come back to her some
day and never gives up hope. On the
back Of the boys left hand was tat
tooed flying eagle carrying spear IN
his claws. That's old Urique's coat OF
arms or something that he inherited In
Spain"
The Kid raised his left hand slowly
and gazed at it curiously.
"That's it." said Thacker, reaching
behind the official desk for his bottle
Of smuggled brandy. you're not 80
slow. I can do 1t. What was Iconsul
at Sandakan for? I never knew till
now. In a week I'll have the eagle
bird with the frog sticker blended in
so you'd think you were born with 1t.
I brought set Of needles and ink just
because was sure you'd drop In some
day, Mr.. Dalton"
"Oh, H." said the Kid. II thought
1 told you my name?'
"An right; Kid, then. 1t won't be
that long. How does Senorito Urique
sound for change"
II never played son any that I re-
member Of" said the Kid. "lf'l had
any parents to mention they went over
the divide about the time I gave my
first bleat. What is the plan OF your
roundup"
Thacker leaned back against the wall
and held his glass up to the light.
"We've come now," said he, ITO the
question Of how far you're willing to
90 In a little matter of the sort"
II told you why came down here"
said the Kid simply.
"A good answer" said the consul.
"But you won't have to go that far.
Here's the scheme. After I get the
trademark tattooed on your hand I'll
notify old Urique. In the meantime
I'll furnish you with all Of the family
history can find out, 80 you can be
studying up points to talk about.
You've got the looks, You speak the
Spanish, you know the facts, You can
tell about Texas, you've got the tat
too mark. When I notify them that
the rightful heir has returned and is
waiting to know whether he will be re-
ceived and pardoned, what will hap
pen? They'll simply rush down here
GHm
k]K,s.@.