Evening star., 1936-03-15
CHAPTER XII.

gaze upon the uIlpledSdIlI dp-
~ partition in his doorway. When
Tabbard spoke and in answer to the
latter's injunction, Joaquin bowed his
head clamly, struck few chords on
the guitar and calmly placed the in
strument on the table. being careful
to cover his bowie knife with it.
please put up your pistol, senor, u
he begged. You are frightening my
wife. And am not armed as you
can see. 1t is apparent you and your
friends have come to discuss a mat
ter of interest to you but which, may
be so, will not be of interest to me
Well, you start with the advantage
It is permitted to inquire your busi-
neSs?" Then, in quick Spanish to
RoSita, MY knife is at the other end
of the table; observe I have covered
1t with the guitar. Try to secure the
knife for me and slip it to me if you
can, without drawing their attention
to your action. Do not become ex-
cited" He patted her dark head;
then, with bright glance at Tabbard,
continued: Your pardon, senor, for
speaking to my wife in Spanish. She
required some assurance that you are
not about to kill me-"
That's right, Murietta. We don't
figger on KILN you unless we have
to. We come here to lay the law down
to you"
"Ah, the law. I think have heard
OF the law before"
THE boys've decided your room s
to be preferred to your company in
this here camp. The general senti-
ment in Sawnlill Flat is that it's up
to you to drag your lazy tail out Of
here an down to Sonora to where the
rest o. the greasers are"
Put up your gun, Tabbard." Will
son had squeezed in behind Tabbard.
HE amt heeled. If he puts up a
fight we can handle him without usin'
a sun"
You wish me to go away so you
will be free to dig on my property for
eold?"
Wilson favored him with a drunken
leer Smart boy" he said. go
to the head O. the class"
And if I refuse?"
Wen man-handle you. After we've
: busted a few bones we reckon you'll
change your mind"
Il do not like broken bones. 1t is
true. I will consider selling YOU nv
= claim, for fair price, but am not
one to play the cur and depart with
his tail between his legs"
Fair enough" said Wilson, and
walked up to him. Joaquin stood up.
"Well buy the claim an pay you for
1t here an now," and he swung a
wide right-handed blow for Joauuin's
jaw. Joaquin went under it, butted
Wilson in the middle and upset him;
instantly he leaped for the open door
! OF the bed room to get his gun. But
Fabbard was before him and knocked
him down with terrific punch to the
forehead. At that instant Rosita
leaped for the bowie knife, secured it
and hew at Tabbard like little til
gress. The prone Wilson grasped her
ankle as she leaped over him and
she came down heavily on the floor
beside her husband; third man,
dashing into the room, put his hob
nailed boot down heavily on her wrist
and the knife rolled out of her hand.
He picked it up. Joaquin was on his
feet now and a terrific battle against
heavy odds ragged in the tiny room,
during which RoSita was trampled
and kicked.
1t was over within a minute.
Joaquin, beaten into insensibility, lay
with his bloody face turned toward
the bruised, hysterical and semi-con-
scious RoSita, who throughout the
battle had fought with nail and teeth,
silently as an animal fights. As she
gazed into her husbands battered
face she commenced to sob.
Damned little panther, she tried to
gut me-" Wilson painted. Nov it's
my turn" He picked her up, flung
her into the hollow of his left arm
and punched her on the chin with
his right fist. Silence settled over
the scene; for moment the starry
Wilson held the limp body, gazing
down into the pale, beautiful face.
Then:
Might as well have the game as
the name," he muttered, and carried
Rosita into the bed room, closing the
door behind him. All four of the
brutes were drunk; nevertheless two
Of the men who remained in the
kitchen with Tabbard commenced to
protest against this additional out
rage. Tabbard, swaying like drunken
bear over Joaquin, growled: What
f. the hell. She's only greaser wench.
II you don't like it, run along"
-- One Of the men lurched out into
the night, but the other remained
with Tabbard.
s. At 8 o'clock Bill Warren and
Johnny came to the door, bearing a
gift of q haunch of venison. The
door was open, but the house was in
darkness. Guess they must be over
visiting Jesus" Bill opined. well,
we'll leave the venison on the kitchen
table"
He entered and struck q match.
Light the candle, BILL" Johnny
spoke behind him. There's been
dirty work here"
They found the candles on the
floor, where they had been knocked
during the fight, and lighted them.
Bill knelt beside Joaquin and lifted