Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-08
Even a Loathsome Person May
Become Spe1lbound as He Faces
a Masterpiece of Human Nature.

TT you ever go to MeXacana you
will probably meet Nine. Double
chin. She Is to be found either
behind the cash register in the
Mexa cafe or back of her desk
at the inn which is next door.
Time was when little Dolores sang
canciones de amor at the Purple
Pigeon, and Mike Morwych sat in a
corner of the Palace spinning the web
Powell ran the dice game at Bray
fields.
Now little Dolores is gone. so are
the Spider and Johnny Powell.
"Dice have their laws" says st.
Ambrose. (which the courts of justice
cannot undo" Johnny knew these
1aws-and It was his business to see
that no one broke them-at least not
at his table. According to his own
lights. Johnny was on the "up and
up Never in all his life had he
cheated a man or wronged a woman.
and from his own viewpoint he was
not a gambler. Those who stood in
front Of his layout did the gambling.
Johnny merely reaped the mathemat-
Teal percentage OF the ivory god: in
return for this he ran the game. per-
forming mental miracles as he paid off
and preserving law and order with a
smile and an automatic. Some day, II
he lived. Johnny would go down to the
west coast. hang hammock under
a mango tree on his own ranchita.
h
eyes that looked out Of Johnny's pale
face were very tired. though he had
seen but twenty-four summers.
Sometimes. when the take-in had
been particularly large. Johnny dined
at the Purple Pigeon. Here the en-
tertainment was first class. For ex-
ample. there was Billy Nichols. who
would make the saxophone laugh or
weep in nine languages; La Belle
Helene. the whirlwind dancer who
was Billy's wife: and there was. also.
Senorita Dolores Romero, THE Bor-
der Nightingale" who was a rare
little moth. indeed.
When the lights were lowered a
trifle and Dolores sang The Doves
Lullaby" Johnny Powell used to take
two Jumps OF sugar. mark them
dreamily with his pencil and roll
them on the tablecloth. But they had
rot yet come up the right way. and
SO he held his peace until they
should. Meanwhile some one else
used TO lean in the doorway, listen
ing TO Dolores. and pursuing his thick
lipe thoughtfully.
It is impossible to describe Mike
Morwych.
NORWICH owned the Palace, a fact
which every one understood: but he
was also the real proprietor Of the
Purple Pigeon. and this was some
thing that Johnny Powell didn't
know and little Dolores had found
out to her sorrow.
NDUEEo" Up from his oil-iands
d on the west coast came Don
rostado TO earn the sobriquet o.
"Senor Sap" because OF the ease
with which he was plucked.
The senior was short and fat and
fifty. His conquests OF the heart at
Mexacana were far too easy. He
yearned for 4 senorita who would in
sp!re all his talents. Thus it was
that he first heard OF. and then be-
held. the Border Nightingale singing
n the Purple Pigeon. One pudgy
land went to his bosom. and his eyes
rolled.
"Ah. pios." he cried. ''Aat last have
found the one dream OF my life.
Htther. leetle ore-you shall at the
same table sit with Don Tostado. and
we will talk-no? Come
When one is an entertainer GER
tain things are incumbent. Dutiflily
host. and fed the little mans vanity.
striving all the while to play the
game as squarely and skillfully as
though she were johnny Powell be-
hind RS layout at Brayfeld's; for she,
too. sought only a legitimate percent
age But alas. this was a more diff
cult game.
'I,ook 10. leetle one" said the
senior, did say that have own
tree t'ousard acre OF oil. and an the
amigo OF the Jefe Poiitico? Bueno!
IN one, two, tree day I leave, and 7
take you wiz me-most assurediy."
"Oh, but could not" laughed Do
lores. Already I have a queri-
do"
'Bah, You have a sweetheart. and
Yet you wear no ring. What he
geev you. eh?''
'AIi querido is not rich" acknowl
edged Senorita Romero. $50 do not
,sk for diamonds. But always he
lring me ribbon for my hair. and
with his own fingers does he tie the
bow How he loves me. and how
ver-ee jealous he is, You are kind.
senior; but truly-he may even now
be Watching. and he is mos quick
with the pistola. You must excuse
-lle-'
But Don Tostado's little black eyes
grew red. The silverware clattered
under the bang of fist.
Am a peasant?' he roared. NO,
Ten t'ousand pesos 7 lose in Bray
field: twenty t'ousand more I have
spend with Senior Morwych. One word
TO my friend. the chief Of police, and
Mexacana-she close up! But I weel
rot say the word. Instead I geev
one bale on the night OF the to-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, yes. You know
why-Ieetle dove? Because. after we
have dance all night, you shall OF
your own accord go way weeth me"
Dolores quivered like bird under
the spell of a serpent. Morwych
took in the situation at a glance
eased himself into a chair by the
side Of the Border Nightingale. and
sent for more drinks. No one could
spin a quicker or more artful fabric
Spider. Don Tostado's mood changed
ana ~