Evening star., 1936-03-07

dignant American. The latter replied
that he had lost 400 Mexican pesos.
but when the pockets Of the quartet
were turned inside out they yielded
but 26O. The American spread the
money on the table and counted it.
Joaquin slipped 20 pesos of it in his
own pocket, sighed and backed toward
the bar.
II have been cheated" he advised
the American. Therefore I claim the
exact amount of money have wager
ed, which is 20 pesos. fear you are
not very truthful man, so leave you
to argue the matter with these rogues,
if you think that fists are better than
knives. I am sorry exposed these
fellows to you"
The American ran for the door and
disappeared into the night. The three
Californians stood glaring at Joaquin,
pondering the advisability of throwing
their knives at him. You will lay
your knives on the bar, senors," he in
formed them. Over his shoulder to
the proprietor of the cantina, "Be
good enough, please, to place those
knives in safe place. You may give
them to these unfortunate fellows
when I am gone" His burning eyes
roved over the quartet, his gun bar
rel lifted and swung in brief. arc. Il
am accustomed" he said, ito obedi-
ence"
The knives clattered on the bar. the
proprietor tossed them into corner
back of the bar and Joaquin walked
back to the table and sat in at it with
his back against the wall. The $50
pesos was still on the table. He divided
them into four piles of IS pesos each,
set his pistol on his lap and counted
the deck. 1T seems that now we have
an honest deck" he announced. sit
down, my friends, and we will have an
honest game. The storm has blown
itself out: there is no necessity for fur
ther impoliteness."
The quartet exchanged vaguely
humorous glances, shrugged and re-
turned to the game. Two hours later
Joaquin Murietta rose from the play
richer by 260 pesos. which he slowed
into his money belt. Il thank you,
hombres." he said graciously at part
ing. This has been a delightful and
instructive evening. I shall be hon.
ored if you will join me in glass of
wine"
They Joined him. Having toasted
them with great cheerfulness and po-
Yoo~,,f%1 1of oV,fir3o 4
disappeared in the darkness. At the
mission he awakened the father SUI
perior and handed the latter his money
for safe-keeping. went to his room, and
so. like Mr.. Pepys. to sleep.
In the morning he purchased two
vicuna hats and set of little silver
bells, a pair of light boots, suit of
ready-made clothing of the extreme
type then in vogue among Hispano-
Californian dandies. three cambria
shirts. reboso, mantilla. dress
and a high tortoise shell comb for Ro-
sta, bottle of pungent perfume, toi-
let articles. ammunition and two sets
of guitar strings. He gave the father
superior pesos, tied his purchase be-
hind his scantle and started back for
the Rancho San Luis Rey.
He put up again for the night at
Don Juan Gilroy's rancho. Starting at
dawn for San Jose. he arrived at Don
Juan's rancho early in the afternoon
Here he found the still shining hours
being given over to cockfighting. Gill
roy. an American who had come to
California in 1884 and married into a
wealthy Hispano-California family,
had taken on the protective coloration
of his surroundings and had chal-
lenged Don Pepe Aspinosa of San Juan
Bautista for the championship of Alta
California. It was generally assumed
that Don Pepe's rooster. veteran of
| many a successful main. was invin-
chile, and fully two dozen haciendos
were present, eager and willing to
wager heavily upon him.
Joaquin, arrayed in his new habila-
ments and conscious now that his
clothing would not proclaim the lowly
station that was his. strolled calmly
into the crowd, listened to the excited
discussion and during momentary
lull said loudly:
"Senors, I am a stranger here. a
wanderer passing through and for the
night a guest of Don Juan Gilroy. If
a stranger might be permitted to prof.
fer a wager without seeming pre-
sumptuous, would be your debtor
f~. 70 nIr4 sr "
desire to do honor to my host. I have
100 pesos that cries aloud: If the odds
are to your liking. Don Juan Gilroy's
chicken will be the victor And I
have seen neither Don Juan's chicken
nor that of Don Pepe Espinosa. I
have heard merely that Don Pepe's
chicken is warrior of age, experience