Evening star., 1921-06-05

with cammarillo. We are at the
mercy Of men like you"
Pug rose from the feast, jerked at
his calico calzoneras with a gesture
OF supreme arrogance. and fred
through the doorway. scattering the
crowd as a wolf scatters sheep.
For a purpose" he said in English
to the astounded Gonelli.
They mounted and rode again into
from a rooftop by some courageous
woman. splattering in the mud at
their heels. The sun had set; the dis
t1nt Christmas kindled in the reflect
ed glow Of the western sky. A cold
oreexe sprang UP. rustling the tall
cred.
II do not care to leave unpaid bills"
ne said. "or to receive unsolicited
bullets in my back The next time.
Sienor Pug. leave me out Of your
little melodramas"
and waved It. Viva Magella! Abb
basso Cammariflo" he laughed.
The next day they rode forward
across the unchanging face of the
plain. encountering no one save a
lonely herder. Pug stopped to bar
What d'you want Of it?" the
Magellan demanded. II have taken
a fancy to this rope and will not sell
II to any cross-eyed nephew of Satan
who offers me counterfeit coin"
TIL match you for it," Pug offered
The herder produced a coin. and
squatting in the dust, they played
solemnly for the lasso. Pug lost. He
shook hands with the grinning win
ner. made a bow, reached forward
and tripped him neatly. sat on his
chest and deprived him of his fire.
arms. his knife. the coin. the precious
coil Of rope and his self-respect.
Now will you be good?" Pug said
and rode away. curling the lasso
above his head.
The astounded herder ran after him
few PAGES. then stopped short and
burst into howls of rage and despair
Pug threw the gun into the bush. but
above Gonelli's jaunty straw hat
Gonelli was bored. He hung behind
frowning. his eyes fixed on the sky
That night they entered the con-
fines of a rancho belonging to a
cabellero Of the old school. Gonelli
to the village beyond.
"I shall not stop here" he said in
a sullen voice.
It know Don Gaspar. He is a roy
alist. I have danced with Lis daugh-
ter at the Intendencia in MageIla
er. Don Gaspar despises me, as much
for my royalist present as for my ma
tionalist past. believing. no doubt
that It is as impossible to change
ones political color as it is to alter
the shape of ones nose. I would be
received as a turncoat here"
They had come into sight of the
hacienda long. one-storied house
built around a court in the manner OF
all Spanish houses. boasting variety
of wrought-iron balconies. very rare
in this part of the world. The 'dobee
in the starlight. And. family, Pug
and Gonelli heard the tinkle of man.
dolins, the scrape Of feet, the clap
ping Of hands. Dancing in Don Cas-
pc. wait for me-" Pug said.
He dismounted, left his pony In a
clump Of trees not far from the
diiapidated gate. went to the back
Of the house and crept from shadow
to shadow until he stood beneath one
Of the open windows OF tne sara ;t
then he lifted himself cautiously into
The room was crowded; profusion
of candles burned in tall candida
| bra; the air was thick with aus
and smoke There were pretty. girls
dancing in there-dark. flashing beau
ties from neighboring ranches, pearl.
dressed high and held in place by gilt
combs. In one corner man
strummed upon a mandolin and an,
other played the accordion. gir
in white bridal dress; = nqshed. .ha srns %'5s 81
a royaiist onicer. And threading thi.
Fen back and forth with brimmine
glasses Of red wine on a silver tray.
~ 4 4
TUG looked down at his ragged
L trousers, the hutter of rags at his
elbows. "A rank outsider" he thought
He grinned. steadied himself. coiled
the herder's lasso swiftly and stood
| upright in the deep window. The rope
spun over the heads of the dancers
like a bird in fight. hovered in mid
air for an instant and dropped upor
tho shoulders Of Don GaspaTs prett,
daughter. Pug shouted, frightened tn,
moose and drew the bride across thu
room to the window. He lifted her
| laughed. kissed her full on the lips.
! ssVaya con Dios!" he whispered. .
| Then he released her. glanced onc'
at the astonished. blanched faces il
| ground, ran back to the grove where
he had left his pony. Behind him h
heard a shout, the slamming of doors
/ the patter Of many feet. Some on
| yelled: He IL there" and q pisto
went OF with q crack like the break
ing Of . huge bottle. An agontset
voice shrieked: II saw him! A cam
marillista! This way" -
Gonelli was waiting. Wen! ha
demanded, an they left this excited ant
futile uproar behind.
"Well, my>friendf~
very we'll indeed" Pug said. :.
! went 10 the wedding Of Don Gaspar'I
pretty daughter. And what's more
| / kissed the BRIDE
Then, for three days, they followet
in tfe Footsteps of canmartllo.s arm!
] OF ragamufins. The plain broke sud
| denly into an upheaval OF many smal
| hills, like q storm-tossed sea. AS tn,
| two men advanced they encountered
fewer ranchos. until at last they en-,
tha bsd ianda Of Mageilas ..farthes
wsst Thsre they came upon trace,
| Of Cammarillo's passing-soandones
J wagons, dead mules, blackened rtnf
: AZ uunrcha6 6unnn fhA 1DGGn &fku