Evening star., 1936-03-17
CHAPTER. XIV.

vengeance he had exacted. You did
well, my son." was the old major
domoS sole comment, and then he
went out of his little home and
across to the corral and leaned on the
top pole of the fence and appeared
to be gazing at the horses inside.
Joaquin waited until after the siesta
hour and walked over to the hacienda.
The news that Joaquin had re-
turned to the rancho had spread
quickly and Juanita had heard it
from the cook. All afternoon she had
sat in the dark living room, knowing
that presently Joaquin would call to
present his dutiful respects to her
father. Hence, when she saw him
enter the colon3ade she came to the
door and greeted him.
Il return, Senorita," Joaquin an
nounced. bowling low, "as guest for
a brief period and I have come to
announce my preseSce to his excel
lency, your distinguished father, and
yourself, and express my gratitude
for the welcome he guaranteed me
when I departed"
You are, indeed, welcome, Joaquin.
In my fathers name I welcome you.
He is, unfortunately, absent at Monte
rey on business connected with the
title to this rancho"
Has the title, then, been queS-
tioned?"
Alas, yes. The gringo government
has appointed a commission to in
vestigate all titles to the old Spanish
and Mexican land grants. Those
titled which are proved to have been
legally issued and which are on record
in the Ayuntimient at Monterey will
be recognized; those which are not
will be Cancelled and the ranches will
become public lands. open to settle
ment by the gringos."
Your fathers title Is, of course, In
order?"
I'VE do not know. We hope so.
But already it has developed that
there were careless ones in the old
government at Monterey. We hope
for the best. You have brought
Rosita with you to visit her father,
no?"
"Rosita," he said, "is dead"
Tell me-" she commanded, and he
told her the tale as he related 1t to
her father.
You have. indeed, suffered q ter
rible afliction, poor Joaquin. And
these murderers! What have you done
in the matter?"
Il have killed all four, senorita."
THAT is well. You could not have
done less and retaind your manhood.
And do the gringo officers of the law
pursue you?"
The circumstances are known to
but one such and he is q man. He
refuses to take official notice of the
incident, because of his great SYM
pathy"
L trust no gringo," she flared Bit
terly. Some day that one will exact
a price for his silence. What are
your plans?"
1 have none. After visiting a few
weeks with my poor father in law I
shall return to live with Jesus and
my mother until the hurt in my heart
has healed"
You have money!"
More than I need, senorita."
You are fortunate. Would that
the De La Cuestas could say as much.
We have been cruelty robbed of many
cattle and horses and now, we fear.
we will be robbed of our land"
"All that I have is the property
OF Don Ricardo and his daughter"
That is nobly spoken and we are
grateful. God of my soul, Joaquin,
you are a man. But I must not be
seen talking to you alone. Come to
the hacienda again when my father
returns. Now. go with God"
He bowed and strode back to the
major -domo's casa; he visited old
friends who applied to his bruised
heart the healing ungent of their sym.
pathy and tears; for two weeks he
rode with Don Ricardo's men, gath.
erlng the beef cattle, helping with the
calf branding. In one day he roped,
without a single miss, 200 calves by
their hind legs and dragged them
to the branding fire. "Hola," the
oranders cried in admiration, "this
fellow from Sonora is an artist. For
two years he has not handled a RATA.
put none would suspect it,"
Joaquin smiled, knowing them to
be the poSSessors Of their own pe-
culiar notions in roping art. Had
he dragged calf to the fire by the
neck these fellows would not have
received the animal, but would have
cast it loose to be roped as a calf
should be roped-by the hind legs.
Then Don Ricardo returned and
Joaquin, greeting him as he dis
mounted in front of the hacienda,
on pretense of relieving him of his
morse, saw that his old patron was
broken man. Don Ricardo greeted
him briefly and politely assured him
ne was ever welcome. He stood be-
side his horse. little bemused, and
stared over his empire. Juanita came
out OF the hacienda and embraced
him; Joaquin heard him say: INV
daughter. we are lost. That villain.
the secretary to the governor, did
not record our title. I have appealed,
to gain time for further search, but
the gringo lawyer demands an addi-
tional 5000 in gold"
Joaquin led the horse away to the
corral. The next morning, with his
pabmilla horse and pack horse, he
appeared before Don Ricardo's door.
Juanita came out and eyed him grave.
ly. My father sleeps" she an
nounced. He Is not we'll"
BE kind enough to inform your
excellent father, senorita. that I have
departed and that u ! have not.