Evening star., 1936-03-14
!!!?! ? ?!s!;s} 4!
ZIN& MPETER B. KYNE
WPETER B.MNE

me down from tree when their work
was done. Nevertheless, such imposi-
ton is not to be borne. I must have
Gringo witnesses when I drive them
off, will talk with Bill and Johnny"
Instead of going to his work as
Monte dealer in Sawmill Flat, Joaquin
went a mile upstream to the claim
Johnny and Bill were working and
with considerable profit. To them he
explained his grievance.
joaquin" Bill announced, you're
usin' your head now. There's been
altogether too much of this here thing
O. private citizens takin' the law in
their own hands"
What law?" Joaquin queried plain
lively, and his friends laughed.
well, such law as there Is. I
admit 1t amt much, but We got the
shadow of it in Sawmill Flat. Been
there a week or more, reckon. Yes,
sir, We got jestice O. the peace
appointed by the governor, reckon;
an the sheriff o. the county has
named a deputy for Sawmill Flat. I
got a notion that there jestice o. the
peace mayn't be inclined to bother
himself with Mexican's troubles, so
me an Johnnyll call on him an
state the case an ask him for writ
or somethin' ordering these here
skunks to vacate your property. Then
the deputy sheriff will serve the writ
and them fellersll have to go. If
they don't they get arrested an tried
for contempt O. court an mebbe they
go to the brig for six months. You
90 on about your work, Joaquin, an
leave this here matter to me an
Johnny. If the law won't lift finger
to help you, me an Johnny'll help
you run them suckers of an keep 'em
off,"
Joaquin was overjoyed. That's a
whack," he cried, struck both friends
between the shoulder blades-and fed
laughing.
Bill and Johnny knocked of work
on their claim and walked down the
creek to where Tabbard and Wilson
were attacking the bank Of the
stream. Hello, neighbors." Bill
doomed heartily. How're maxim it?"
1--WE can't complain" Tabbard re-
piled with equal heartiness, and
pointed to a pan in which reposed
large handful Of nuggets from the size
Of pinhead up to a bean.
always fggered a feller'd find pay
dirt under that there bank. The
stream used to run there once. but
something turned the channel an the
rains O. centuries brought the soil
down into that old watercourse an
filled it. She's richer'n cream, amt
she?"
she sure is" Wilson agreed.
you got a lease O. that land from
Joaquin Murietta, who owns it?"
"You mean the Mexican that lives
over yonder? No. The hell with a
lease. Nobody pays no attention to a
Greaser.
IF I was you I'd pay attention to
that one" Johnny warned, with all
the impetuosity of his years. IF he
sees you at 1t he'll make you boys
hard to catch. Man, when that boy
pulls an shoots the quickhess O. the
hand deceives the eye. An he hits
the exact spot he means to hit. He's
polite, but he amt soft. you hear me"
Tabbard grinned at his partner.
"Well, we amt exactly mush ourselves.
An lemme tell you boys somethin'.
He seen us workin' here this mornin', /,
said nothin' and went on about his
business. That Greaser's a short horse
an soon curried."
well, good luck to you, boys" said
Bill Warren heartily, and he and
Johnny continued on their way to
town. An hour later the local deputy
sheriff came out, accompanied by
Joaquin Murietta; served a court
notice on the quartet; discovered they
couldn't read handwriting, although
all stated they could make fair stab
at reading printing. and was forced
to read 1t to them. "Nacherally. since
this here gold you've panned don't be-
long to you, but to Mr.. Murietta here" !"
the deputy went on to explain. II
hereby, on order from the court, con-
fiscates it for an on behalf O. this
here said complainant here" He
thereupon picked up the pan contain
ing the gold. Must be at least $500
worth O. dust here" he announced,
and poured it into Joaquin Murietta's
hat.
He turned to Tabbard and Wilson.
"The complainant here identifies you
two fellers as the men he warned not
to mine on his land" With sweep Of
his hand he indicated the two other
men standing by. "These your EN-
ployes?"
"Our partners" said Tabbard sui
lenly.
"well, then, this here dispossess
notice goes for them, too. It covers
John Doe, which Is you@ Here he
drove an index finger into Tabbard's
midrif and resumed: Richard Roe
driving the same finger into Wilson'S
midriff; John Black an James
Green-meantn' you two skrnks. Now,
get the hell out o. here an don't stop
to pick wild flowers on the way. II
ketch you here agin' you'll be out O.
luck"
Sullenly the men gathered up their
picks, shovels and pans and departed
for their camp in the adjacent timber.
The deputy sheriff turned to Joa-
quin. 'T amt very smart, mister" I"
he said whimsicaIly. "but I been
around q considerable lot, an I'm here
to tell you that when I see four
skunks I know EN- for sklnks an not
s,s,ss. .kittisa. This hare IN rich ground