The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1921-01-14


everybody 1 did 1t, Don Juan, and to
add insult to injury, / plucked a few
hairs from his rats moustache--one
hair per each pluck"
ard a notion We did somethin' TO
him, sor. Now, thin, listen to me
I'm not much to look at, but I'm white.
I'm an attashay, as We might say, av
Ignatz Leber-him that do have the
import ans~ export house at the ind
av the Gale San Rosario, forninst the
bay. Also he do have Charge av the
cable office, an" whln I'm sober enough,
deliver cablegrams for Leber. Now,
then, yen recall we had bit av
shower to-day at noon?"
Dolores and Webster nodded. Don
Juan, after CHANGING cautiously around,
lowered his voice and continued; II
was deliverin' q cablegram for Leber,
an me course took me past the palace
gate-which, be the same token, has
sinthry-boxes both inside an out, wan
on each size av the gate. The sinthry
was not visible as l came along, an
what Wit the shower comm as sud
dlnt as that, an me wit a wardrobe
that's not so extlnsive I can afford to
get It wet, / shtepped into wan av the
outside sintry-boxes till the rain
should be over, an what wit dhrink
av aguardlente I'd took to brace me
for the thrip, an the mimory av auld
times. fell asleep.
'Dear knows how long sat there
mapping; all / know is that l was
awakened by the sound ay three men
talkin, at the gate, an divil a word
did they say but what / heard. They
were talkin' In Spanish, but l I'M
dhershtood thin wellenough. He's at
the Hotel Mateo, says wan voice, AN
his name is Webster-Jawn Webster.
He's an American, an a big, savage
loozin' lad at that, so take me advice
an be careful. Do ye two keep an
eye on him wherever he goes, an II
be should shtep out at night an wan
dher trough dark shtreet, do ye two
see to 1; that he's put where he'll not
interfere again in Don Felipe's affairs.
No damn gringo'-beggin' yer par
don, Mlss-can intherfere In the
wurrk av the intilligince bureau at
time like this, in addition to insultln
our honored chief, without the neees-
sity av bein' measured for a coffin
Isl, mi general says another lad, an
TO be sure mi general says third
an wit that the gineral, bad cess to
him, whit back to the palace an the
other two walked on up the Gale an
away from the sinthry-box."
"Did you come out and follow
them7" Webster demanded briskIy.
"Faith, / did. Wan av them is
Francisco Arredondo, young cavalry
lootinint, an the other wan is Captain
Jose Benevides, him that do be the
best pistol-shot an swordsman in the
spiggoty army"
"What kind of looking man is this
Benevides. my frienlT
"a tall, thin young man, wit a
dudes moustache an diamond ring
on his right hand. He do be whittier
: nor most. Have care would ye meet
him around the city an let him pick
fight wit We. An have a care, sor,
: would We go out av a night"
"Thank you, Don Juan. You're the
soul of kindness. What else do you
known
: "Well," Don Juan replied with a
naive grin, 81 did know somethin' else,
but shure, Misther Geary advised me
to forget 1t. was wit him in the
launch last night"
Webster stepped out Of the veranda
and laid a friendly hand on Don Juan
: Cafetero's shoulder. "Don Juan" he
said gently, ''Tm going back to tha
United States very soon. Would you
ike to come with me?"
Don Juan's watery eyes grew a
shade mister. If possible. He shook
his head. "Whin I'm dhrunk here,
sOr," he replied, mo wan pays any at
tintiOn to me, but in America they'd
give me ten days In the hoosegow
wanst a week. Thank you. sor. but I'll
shtay here till the finish"
He knew the strength Of the De
3 mon and had long since ceased to fight
5 even a rear-guard action. Webster
] put q hand under the stubby chin and
tilted Don Juan's head sharply. "Hold
, up your head" he commanded
a you're the first of your breed ever
d saw who would admit he was whipped
; Here's FIVE dollars for you've dol.
q lars gold. Take It and return with the
piece intact tomorrow morning, Dor
r Juan Cafetero."
Don Juan Cafetero's wondering
? glance met Webster's directly, wavered
sought the ground, but at a Jerk on
his chin came back and-stayed
o Thus for at least tea seconds they
' gazed at each other; then Webster