The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-09-22

"Nondas was the prettiest thing
YOU ever saw in your life anywhere
She was full-blood Mexican, and
daughter of old Candida Garcia
who owned the FL Morello ranch
and who was sheriff of the county
the time I'm telling about.
''Nondas was animated dynamite.
She could ride like a cow-puncher
and shoot a rifle or revolver better
than any man around here, and she
was mostly doing it, too.
Jose de la Cruz was young
fellow then, and lived on the ranch
next to Garcia's. He was stuck on
Nondas. and she seemed to be on
him. They was always together.
Old Garcia and old De la Cruz was
tickled stiff at the idea of joining
them two ranches.
Johnny Everson was a long.
lank. good-looking kid. who'd been
doing odd Jobs around this country
for some years. He was an East
eTner. but he'd forgotten it, like the
rest Of us.
In them days. when government
was young, we had to give the
sheriff and most of the other i'm
portant offices to the Mexicans, but
We reserved the right to dictate the
principal deputies ourselves. So
when we elected old Garcia sheriff
we named Johnny as his under
,heriff.
1.-THE county seat used to be over
at TCinchera, and the sheriff lived
there during his term of office. His
job was no snap. either. becaus"
the country was just getting civil
'zed and he had plenty to do. The
jail was an adobe building, one
story high, pext to the court house.
Johnny stayed in town most of the
time: and old Garcia, who liked his
authority a good deal. was also
there pretty much.
"Nondas used to come galloping
into town with De la Cruz at her
heels about every day, and all
hands was smacking their lips,
thinking about the big fiesta Garcia
would give when they got married.
And I expect all our dreams
would have come out all right If
Nondas hadn't seen Johnny and
Johnny hadn't seen Nondas. First
thing we know Johnny was hanging
around after her like a shadow, and
she seemed to like 1t, too. You
can bet De la Cruz didn't. He gave
Johnny some fierce looks. and
scowled at him fearful, but Johnny
didn't mind. Nondas egged them
both on. She was like all girls,
and appreciated competition.
Johnny got to acting like a
moon-eyed calf, and his friends felt
worried about him a lot. No one
ever figured it was anything seri-
Gus. however. We thought Nondas
would string Johnny along just for
fun to make De la Cruz sore. but
when the time got around for her
TO marry she would marry her Mex
lean.
"One time there was a fandango
down at Gonzales. and Everson
couldn't be there. He was out
hunting some rustlers. Johnny had
a reputation for sticking to duty
that he thought a heap of. and we
thought heap of him for it, be-
cause in them days the Mexican
officials were not always what you
might call painstaking. They al
lowed themselves to be diverted a
good deal.
"Old John Campbell was joking
NOndas about her two admirers
just to worry De la Cruz. who was
there. of course-and she was
taking it good-natured.
al guess Jose here is the most
faithful of the two said old John.
I'll bet he wouldn't be running off
after rustlers when there was
chance to dance with you. Amt
much he wouldn't do at your order,
is there?'
land why not Senior Everson"
asked Nondas.
well. Johnny might do a good
many things for you, but if it con-
ficted with his duty he'd balk,' says
old Campbell.
What will Senior Campbell
wager that Senior Everson would
not abandon duty at my word?' she
asked.
"Old John looked her over for a
moment and says: Ten head of
cattle against a kiss
"Donev says Nondas in a flash.
Every one in the room had heard
the bet, and most of the Americans
there was close friends of Johnny's.
Nondas seemed to think Of this, be-
cause she said:
az must ask that no one tell
Senior Everson of the wager
"Of course no one could after
that. and no one thought about the
bet as anything but a joke, any
how.
you can believe that De la Cruz
was not pleased with the bet.
watched his dark, scowling face.
and he was considerably disturbed
! thought it would do no harm to
tell Johnny to keep his eye on that
fellow. first chance I got.
"NOndas got to coming TO town
oftener than ever, and used to come
without De la Cruz. She and Johnny
used to take long rides together,
and they were getting Dretty thick