Evening star., 1936-03-16
:!!!! =? ?!s!;sg 4!
EMM MPETEP. 3. KYNE
H. KYNE

UNANIMOUSLY the VSrQlCL pTaCtlC6lly
put in their mouths by Deputy Sher-
if Harmon. They we're anxious to get
back to work on their claims. The
verdict having been delivered, Harmon
wrote 1t down on tine back Of On old
envelope, together with the names Of
the jurors and then announced:
In the cabin Of the deceased I
found II ounces of placer gold, an
inasmuch as these here corpus deficits
lies intestate an We amt got no rec
ord o. their next o. kin, if any, I've
decided they got to pay their own fu-
neral expenses. Who wants the IL
ounces for draggin' these here re-
manners here over into the woods an
plantin' 'em all in a common grave?"
Nobody wanted to accept the con-
tract, so Bill Warren said he thought
Jesus Murietta might care to earn
the IL ounces and thereupon he and
the deputy sheriff walked over to the
latter's house and asked Jesus. Jesus
was agreeable, so Harmon handed him
the gold. A rude sledge drawn by the
mules constituted the hearse, but 1t
must be recorded that Jesus did not
dig a grave. He knew of pothole in
a limestone formation up on an ad-
jacent ridge and into this pothole he
dumped the enemy and rolled small
boulders in on top Of them, then
brush and foot of loose dirt. In all
his life he had never made so much
money, so easily, in so short a period
and with such great satisfaction to
something primitive in his cosmos.
Verify, the law of Joaquin Murietta
had triumphed in Sawmill Flat be-
yond the widest expectations of that
impaSsioned and desolate law-giver.
While Jesus was so engaged, Bill
Warren and Johnny were busy tuck
ing Wilson away from the sight of
men.
BEST days work we ever done,
Johnny" Bill Warren declared, "even
Jesus boy can't read or write, but he
got word to his brother once before
an brought him back, so I reckon
he'll do it again. Between my Span
ish and his English. complicated with
Injun sign talk, managed to get it
into his head that everything's hunk
o-dory."
"You sure, Bill?"
Sure. I'm sure. He grinned like
the head of an old fiddle"
joaquin amt far away. He's
hidin' out in the timber somewhere
an Jesus has been supplyin' him with
groceries. Reckon we better put Joa-
quin's name in the pot for dinner to-
night. He'll be droppin' in to get the
news straight from headquarters.
Johnny demonstrated that he was
no mean prophet. for Joaquin rode
in to their cabin after dark. His big
dark eyes roved from one brother to
the other, silently. questioningly, and
again each marked the strange wild
glitter in them.
"You can come back to Sawmill
Flat" Bill doomed. All your cred
itors is dead an the books is burned.
The sheriff knew you'd done it so we
had to tell him why. We had a
coronerS inquest an your name wasn't
even mentioned; we sort of hung sus-
picion on Wilson, because he was
missin,' although the sheriff knew
where he was. Me an Johnny planted
Wilson so he'll stay missin. Set down
an eat. We been expectin' you.
Have snort of tooth-water. You
need it."
Kindness can thaw a frozen heart.
Tears flooded Joaquin's eyes and ne
murmured, You are bully boys with
crockery in the eyes. You have been
kind to me and you have been kind to
Jesus. I have not had the wish to
live because my love is dead. But God
has the mercy. In my heart-one
little place of my heart-there Is the
need Of beautiful flower-the flower
Of friendship. When the soul is dead
that little flower brings the wish to
live again. 1t makes me to think,
'Hola, Joaquin, take courage Be a
brave fellow. For a little time you
have known the great happiness;
maybe so long year from now you
know some more happiness From
the heaven my Rosita look down an
I think hear her say, Heart of my
heart, it is not like my Joaquin to play
the baby Amigos mio, if I make the
tears it is the fault of you. I am not
a baby-excuse, please"
He leaned his arms on the table, his
face hidden in his hands. and quivered.
Billy Warren commenced to sing
softly:
BLOW the man down, bullies, blow
the man down;
Way, hay, blow the man down,
Blow the man down to Liverpool
town;
Give us some time to blow the
, man down"
He reached over and cuffed Johnny.
Quit your snivelin', kid"
There was a knock at the door.
Come inf you're good -lookin'," big
Bill beloved, and Deputy Sheriff Han
non walked in. He stood moment,
gazing upon the tableau before him,
then tip-toed over and carefully with
drew Joaquin's pistols from their
scabbard. The bowie knife followed.
Joaquin, immersed in his grief, did not
know. Harmon placed the weapons
on shelf and waited until Joaquin
pulled himself together. Then:
joaquin Murietta, I want you"
Joaquin leaped erect, whirling as he
did so and his hands dropped to his
empty belt. He bowed his head and
stood there trembling.
Sometimes, said Harmon. I'm real
proud o. my intelligence. Something
told me I'd find you here tonight.
Come here, son." He took wild rose
from his coat pocket, walked UP to
Joaquin and drew the stem through a
buttonhole in Joaquin's bolero Jacket.
Merely called to make the good news
Official" he added, "but, being most
as intelligent as jackass, never take