Evening star., 1936-03-16

haullnR IN MS rlaCd dIlo SoAlAe Az
as he came. He splaShed through the
creek. waving them an airy salute as
he passed on toward the cabin. A few
wards from it he pulled the horse up |
on its haunches and shrieked, Help! |
Help"
Three men darted out the door and |
around the corner of the cabin |
tust as Joaquin slid from his horse. |
When all three men were In view he |
fired three shots, mounted his horse |
and without backward glance. rode
down to Bill and Johnny. ITO Saw
mill. Flat, my friends" he announced
grimly. has come the law OF Joaquin
Muriatta."
Bill Warren's face was rather white
and Johnny appeared on the point OF
being very Ill. Nevertheless, Bill IA
Vored his friend with the old-time
grin. well, they asked for it, didn't
they, joaquin? Hell, me an Johnny
Is two o. the three wise monkeys. We
see no evil, speak no evil, hear no
evil"
What you call the wrack,' no?"
Joaquin drew a paper from his pocket.
Here, friends of my heart, is a deed
to my land. There is gold here. Help
yourselves Now will the fire in my
heart go out, 1 think Now is my Ro-
sta avenged, but come no more to
Sawmill Flat"
Not a bad idea, Joaquin. That
deputy sheriff is no fool. He'll start
nosin' around, put two an two to-
gether and make four. He'll go after
you. We got a sprinklin' O. the law
o the gringo in Sawmill Flat, too,
an that law says"
Get a rope for the greaser. Yes.
know. Jesus sent word to me that
they were here and have ridden far
today. have not eaten"
Come on up to our cabin an put
up for the night" said Bill Hospitality,
''but circle around through the timber
so you won't meet any gringoS along
the creek. Ride in from the rear"
Joaquin logged away into the tim
Der. In the field back Of the Warren
cabin he unsaddled his horse and
wiped him down with wisps of dry
grass and walked him around for
about 40 minutes until the animal had
cooled off. Then he watered him and
picketed him and carried his outfit
to the Warren cabin After dinner
he cleaned and reloaded his pistol; he
made an effort to be his old gay self,
but the effort was abortive and he did
not make it again. The small talk
gradually ceased; when he had fin
ished his meal Joaquin sat gazing
moodily at the stove; presently he
spread his saddle blanket on the floor,
lay down, pulled his serape over him
and with a murmured Good night
senors," appeared to drop off to sleep
Immediately. They gave him break
fast before dawn. he murmured his
thanks and disappeared into the dark
ness with his outfit. Presently they
heard him riding away.
Notice anything queer about that
boy?" Johnny queried.
"Yes-his eyes. They burn like a
tigers in the dark. an he's plumb
quiet an thoughtful"
God help the first gringo that
elbows him of a trail or calls him
greaser."
Poor devil! Well, he'll be wanted
man from now on-and he won't be
took. He'll be wise to keep away
from this country until the excitement
dies down. Still, reckon he'll be out
o. danger in six months. The popula-
tion here shifts pretty fast an public
opinion shifts with it."
Hell come back, Bill"
"No. he's too smart"
His mother and Jesus are here
an Joaquin thinks lot of his fam
fly Rosita's buried here an fear
an Joaquin Murietta never even got
acquainted"
You're CROWN up" his brother
murmured ironically. "Well, thanks
to Joaquin, We got a nice rich piece
o. ground to work as soon as we've
finished here. Well set aside half the
gold for him. Something tells me he's |
goin' to need money in hurry some
day. Yeh. that boys certainly goin' |
to need law money"
Two days later, Harmon, the deputy |
sheriff, rode up to their claim.
You two boys Is summoned on a
coroner's jury" he announced.
How come? There amt no cor
oner."
Law provides I handle that job,
too Got three murdered men down
on Murietta's old place. All shot |
plumb between the eyes. Murietta
done it, of course"
Then what's the sense O. wastin'
time on an inquest?"
"Oh. just matter o. form"
What makes you think Joaquin
don't it?"
Fastest wing shot in California
an I found hoof marks all over the
place. Shod horses, too. Still. Wilson |
might have done it. -Four partners on |
q rich claim can easy git to quarrelin'
an wilson's missing. Trouble with |
that theory, though, is that Wilson |
didn't have no horse. stick to the |
Murietta theory myself. Him an you |
boys was pretty close friends, under |
stand"
You've found Wilson," Bill |
charged. IF you don't you're so dumb /!
you ought to resign your office"
Harmon laughed well, I can read |
signs pretty well-an' Joaquin left a
broad trail. The buzzards led me to
Wilson. Cripes, his neck was six |
inches longer's his ma ever washed |
It and squooze thin as your wrist.
Roped an drug. Work of Mexican"
They jumped his claim after you'd |
run 'em off once. An before that they !
Jumped him an beat him up an
raped his wife an tromped on her |
an she died. Me an Johnny buried |
her. Show you her grave Prove 1t |
by his brother an the old lady" i
"It was your duty as citizens to re-
port that crime to me-"
you were chasin' hoss thieves over
MaripoSa way. Them skunks never |
knew they'd killed the girl-an'
Joaquin asked us to keep it dark.