Nogales international., 1934-03-03

among them, Ruth could not have
Greeted more joyous excitement.
While she and David were on their
way to the ranch house they were
overtaken by the breathless Alfredo.
"SeaoyG-please! The little house
has been finished these two weeks. Is
i not good that my dove and land
also the good Don Francisco-should
enter on this next Saturday."
Ruth guessed more from Alfredo's
manner than from his words the nature
of his request, and she gladly encour-
aged him, not forgetting to mention
the priest and the license.
Alfredo assured her that everything
would be in order. He had heard that
a priest was visiting Palo Verde and
had learned that one of the MexicanS
from that place had Ford-possessing
friend who would, no doubt, be glad
to go to town for the license.
Ruth told Snavely of the celebration.
He had come into the kitchen on Fri
day morning while she and Ann were
baking pies and she had told him al
most blithely. The grim old cattlenan
had merely looked at her-one steady
glance which brought a catch Of fear
to her heart. Then he had left without
word. Later she had seen him rid
ing away on his favorite horse, a
blanket roll behind his saddle. It
would have been impossible for him
to stay in the vicinity of the celebra-
tors. Probably he camped near some
distant watering place; he did not re-
turn until Monday.
On the night before the fiesta Ruth
and Ann got little rest. They stayed
up until ten fitting Magda with a we'd
ding dress-a dress, worn not so long
ago, By a proud-eyed bride in little
church on the outskirts of Phila-
delphia.
By nine o'clock Saturday several
horsemen and three wagonloads had
arrived; the unfortunate heifer had
been cooking whole for some hours
over a pit of fire, superintended by
Don Francisco whose culinary imple
ments were pitchfork and an AK Old
Charley and Will arrived with Juana,
Juana's wife, in the ancient automobile
Every one was dressed as they felt
the spirit of the occasion demanded.
Ruth noticed that nearly every one
looked, sooner or later, toward the
gulch. Once or twice, aiso she saw a
mother or father bring back some
youngSter who had wandered near the
fence
Since the Mexican border runs
through the center of Palo Verde
four houses being on the Mexican side
and two on the American-not a few
OF the male guests came fortified with
refreshments.
When the line was formed at dinner
time the young man who was domi-
mated by the green shirt went to the
aid Of the solitary celebrator and
brought him back so that he should
not go hungry. Don Francisco cut
great chunks of roasted meat from the
carcass and handed them to Ann who
folded them III a tortiIIa and passed
them to the line of grinning Mexicans.
The wife of Don Francisco's cousin
from Palo Verde was in charge OF the
pies. All was silent save the occa-
sional crack of a bone under Don
Francisco's ak and the nunching and
satisfied grunts of the eaters.
Ruth, Will, and Old Charley had re-
turned to the ranch house porch when
Pink Shirt and Green Shirt went off,
arm in arm, separating to choose two
adjacent hilltops. She appealed to
Will and Old Charley.
oh, don't think they'll hurt any
thing" said the old man. They'll yell
until they go dry and then drop off to
sleep. We can wake 'em up tomorrow
or next day"
There's another one we'll prepared
for srake-bite," observed Will, watch
ing a tall slender fellow with a blue
sash who was talking vo1ubly to AL
fredo and gesturing toward the ranch
house.
"Umm-ever seen that boy before,
Ruth Is he a friend of Alfredo's 2"
Old Charley was eying the actions of
the man, critically.
"Why, no, I don't think So" replied
Ruth. "I've never seen him before"