Evening star., 1936-03-05
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER ii.
JOAQUIN MURIETTA was an in
telligent man, and had Don
Ricardo de la Cuseta queried
~ him on the subject the latter
would have discovered that Joaquin
would, indeed, have preferred being
the head of a mouse than the tail of
lion. He was sufficiently intelligent,
at least, to prefer the dolce far niente
existence of life at Don Ricardo's vast
rancho to soul-destroying battle for
material possessions. He was the
simple scion of a simple people who
asked of life no greater boon than to
be permitted to eat, drink and be
merry-to labor only sufficiently to
maintain that sort of existence. The
stars to cover him in clement weather,
any sort of competent roof to shelter
him in inclement weather: coffee.
glass of wine, tortillas, brown beans,
chilis and beef. cigarettes. guitar to
twang and an ancient love song to sing
to its accompaniment. a girl to love
and marry, goodly number of brown
babies to cherish and play with, a good
horse to ride, good task to perform
for a good master to whom he could
render. in full measure. an answering
loyalty. These things he had not al
ways known, but he had dreamed of
them, and here, at the rancho San
Luis Del Ray. he seemed to have found
them. Wherefore his heart was light
as he approached the three-room casa
of Felipe Sanchez, the major domo,
and paused at sight of girl kneeling
at fat stone before a little fire in the
front yard, rolling out tortillas.
At his footstep the girl looked up.
then modestly cast her eyes down
again. Joaquin swept his ancient
sombrero to the ground and the little
silver bells on it rang loudly in unison.
Pardon me for the rudeness in ad-
dressing you, senorita, without having
sought the honor of an introduction.
but since see neither your father nor
your brother to perform that office,
am, of necessity, obliged to perform it
for myself. I am Joaquin Murietta
and seek Felipe Sanchez"
You seek my father, senor." En-
barrassed at having to speak to a
strange man, she bent brown thumb
toward the doorway, indicating that
within may be found the major domo.
Having done this she again bent her
blushing face over her task. AS Joa-
quin strobe past her to the door a
hearty voice within called.
"Hah! And what might be your
name, my friend, when the tortillas
have been prepared"
Joaquin bowed and named himself
"I am directed, Felipe Sanchez, by
Don Ricardo de Ia Cuesta to report
myself to you for duty, shelter and
clothing"
Don Ricardo already has far more
men than he needs. But what of it?
That is Don Ricardo's affair, not
mine. In the morning we will find
something for you to do. For the pres
ent enter this house. 1t is yours. Ro-
sta, my pet, bring wine hither"
The girl at the fire outside entered
the house. passed into another room
and emerged presently with a small
skin bag with a horn nozzle closed
with wooden stopper. She set two
small gourds on the table and poured
red wine from the skin bag, replaced
the stopper, laid the bag before her
father and silently retired to her task
of kneading tortillas. Her father had
not seen fit to present Joaquin to her
fact which the latter noted and re-
sented.
IF the major domo of this rancho"
he announced gravely, has a reason
for declining to honor me with an
introduction to his lovely and obedient
daughter, the fact that Don Ricardo
sent me to you cannot be one of those
reasons. am respectable man, else
would not be here"
Old Felipe threw back his head and
laughed pleasureably, the while he
appraised his guest. why not?" he
declared presently. eve are of pure
blood and so, think, are you. While
I do not customarily encourage my
daughter to know strangers too quickly
I will, in your case. relax my rule.
You seem a different sort of peon.
Drink, man." He passed over paper
and tobacco.
Have the goodness to consider me
your obedient servant" Joaquin
toasted and emptied the gourd. He
noted, with satisfaction, that the
wine was family sweet, after the
Spanish fashion. and that it was not
new wine. He rolled a cigarette and
with a sigh of weariness sat back on
the bench. leaned against the adobe
wall and permitted his gaze to wander
out through the door to the girl,
Rosita. Felipe Sanchez, on his part,
watched his guest.
You have eyes," Sanchez remarked
presently.
Likewise a tongue in my head. I
have come to this rancho properly
accredited, being the bearer of a writ
ten communication from my former
patron to Don Ricardo, who knows
him well. have ridden from Sonora.
and on that Journey I have escaped
hostile Indians, hostile gringos and
alas, hostile Mexicans, who would
have robbed me. Perhaps it is nv
duty to inform you that I am a man
OF means" and Joaquin opened his
shirt. drew forth money belt and
poured silver pesos on the table. "The