Evening star., 1936-03-12

nlysteriously, to retain all us
cubhood. He was a large. cheerful
creature, possessed of an amiable grin,
O natural bon homme. On realized in
stantly, upon meeting him, that here
was a man in whose breast an unusual
quantity Of the milk Of human kind
ness and decency would never clabber
He was a frank, outSpoken fellow, not
well educated. but not ignorant; the
sort of man who, feeling a cheer rising
within him. could, by no possibility, re-
press it.
The fact that Joaquin had invited
him. a total stranger, to share the
hospitality of his humble home, caused
him to cock one eye at Joaquin and
look him over very quizZically. Il have
always heard" he said, that Span
lard must know man pretty we'll and
think a lot Of him before he invites
him to his home, Boy, how do you
know amt horse thief"
''Oh, I was always a pretty smart
fellow, Senor Bill Warren. I am too
smart to work, so I make the fools
support me. I have had much expert
SIlC6 O1 1OOlS anu I1OTSS IIlISNSS. L
know one the minute-what you say
I clap the eyes to him. Yes, I am
Spaniard and am pretty parteecular
who invite to my house. But must
q man drink vinegar a year to learn
that it Is not for drinking purposes?
Besides, my friend, am little lonely
among all these Gringos, who have no
time to make friends with Greaser." :"
ANY time I hear a man call you
q GreaSer III smack him down." said
Mr. Bill Warren firmly. AN me, I'm
a right good Smacker- down. I'm from
Maine an been a sailor since I was
il years old. Cabin boy to bucko mate
although l never Smacked man
down unless he asked for it. arrived
in San Francisco two weeks ago on the
brig Hermes; the crew left to go min
In: then the old man-that'S the skip
per-he left. waited long enough to
get the cargo out of her an settle the
owners business an then I left.
reckon the HermeS will keep until the
owners can get a new skipper an ship
q new crew"
You know nothing, then, Of placer
mining?"
Not a bit. However, I'm smart
enough to learn"
you will accept my invitation to
dinner?"
II want to, but there's complications.
I got my little brother Johnny with
me. Johnny come out around Cape
Horn with me in the Hermes as fore
mast hand He's down on the river
bank guardin' our dunnage."
1T is early in the day, friend Bill.
We will hire two Mexican friends Of
mine to guard your property and
Johnny will come to dinner also"
That's a whack," said Bill Warren,
and struck his new-found friend
mighty blow between the shoulder
blades.
Together they repaired to the river
bank and met Bills little brother
Johnny, who proved to be even bigger
than Bill, slightly more reserved and
quite good-looking. The handsome
Joaquin, arrayed in the flamboyant
costume Of a Hispano- Californian
cavalier, gave Johnny pause. In his
brief sojourn ashore the latter had not
previously encountered a Californian
so elegant. With courtliness and dig
nifty, Joaquin invited him to dinner:
whereupon Johnny The was a youth
Of about 2D whooped and smacked
Joaquin between the shoulder blades.
Sure" he beloved. Thanks, I'd
60 to hell for something fit to eat.
Amt had square meal, hog'd relish
since left home"
I'VE will have" said Joaquin, "a
vegetable soup; the brown beans con
queso-with cheese, you understand
gallina Espagnole con arroz-that is
checker Spanish style with rice: some
peeckled chill peppers. some corn to
the cob, the corn bread which my wife
make in the American fashion, coffee
and wine, with little brand to feen-
ish."
Johnny and Bill looked at each
other; then, without word being
spoken they whacked each other on
the respective backs. Joaquin bounded
out Of range Excuse, please, senors.
No more whacks. Already have had
my two whacks. I go now to tell my
RoSita we have guests. Also I will en-
gage guards for your property. At 6
o'clock will return here for you"
joaquin" said Bill Warren feeling
ly, you're bully boy with crockery
eye"
"Them's my sentiments" yelled
Johnny.
Joaquin leaped suddenly, gave each
Of the Warrens tremendous blow be-
tween the shoulder blades and cried,
"Senors, 1t is a whackl" Then he fed,
laughing, to the nearest general store
to make purchases.
Arrived at his humble abode, he en-
braced Rosita. My love-" he cried
happily, "a wonderful thing has hap
pened. This afternoon have met two
fine GringoS and already We are de-
voted friends. They come to dinner.
They honor our poor house. Quick,
my little mouse, and prepare it. will
help you. Blood Of the devil, I must
kill our last two hens. Eighty dollars
I have paid for these vegetables, wines
and cheese. Soon we 60 to Sawmill
Flat, where we will raise our own
chickens and vegetables; perhaps ]
may be fortunate and acquire some
goats, so we shall make our own
cheese. All, little love Of my life, it is
good to be alive and have friends, even
If they beat one to prove their friend
ship"
Rosita looked up at him with trou-
bled eyes, when do we 60 to Sam
mill Flat?"
"AS soon as can 60 there first and
prepare home"
II am happy" the girl replied, sim
ply. Jose Arrendondo, passing by a
little while ago, informed me that my
husband had fought q duel with q
Gringo."
"Oh, it was nothing, my Rosita.
The poor fool was drunk, so shot the
top of his thumb of to make him
sober It Is time showed some spirit
to these rude fellows. The news that