Evening star., 1936-03-24
CHAPTER XXI.

pany came from the Coast,
from Mission San Jose south
u to Santa Barbara; hence, on
the raid south, they found themselves,
after long absence. among old
friends. Many of them brought back
with them, as consequence, the
neglected sweethearts OF other days.
These women could ride as well as
their lovers; like the latter they had In
them a dash of Indian blood that con-
demned them to be of the EARTH
earthly, that had herded them apart
from the Gentle, the prideful and the
gracious. These primitive young wOm-
en- had no love for the GringO; they
wanted to live a gay life. an adven-
turous life, a life of love with the men
of their wandering fancy and be free
to move on elsewhere when that fancy
began to fade Three Fingered Jack,
hideous Satyr that he was. had picked
himself up the daintiest, prettieSt and
most fiery damSel of the lot. Strange
ly, she was pure bred Spaniard re-
cent arrival from Baja California,
whence her people had fled as political
exiles; wild, wayward, passionate, and.
perhaps, quite pSychopathic, the feroc-
ity. the uglineSS and utter abandon
of Juan Garcia had fascinated Dolores
Largo. Personally Wnclean. foul and
brutal, nevertheless Jack was we'll
liked by all men save those he killed.
When not on business bent he was
filled with merry quips and was very
devil of a good fellow. He would weep
at sad story.
He returned to Sonora with some
$4,000 in coin and bullion for such
division among the company as Joa-
quin might consider equitable. But
Joaquin was not in Sonora. A week
before, so Jack was informed. word had
reached him that two of his enemies
had fed over the Sierra. Via Sonora
Pass, and were somewhere in the vicin-
ity Of Mono Lake. Joaquin instantly
had saddled up, weak as he was, and
taken the trail over Sonora Pass
"As captain he will be of little use
to u.s." Jack informed his men. until
he has settled his private business
Let us, therefore, sit down and enjoy
ourselves"
That meant getting glorously drunk
and scandalizing the peaceful poems OF
Sonora, who. thoroughly coWed. hid
their fear and horror OF the mad devils
who carouSed III their midst. For a
week they staged Veritable Satur-
MALTA. during which two Of the eX-
citable young men Quarreled over the
affections of a lady not their property
To settle the dispute fairly. Three
Fingered Jack handcuffed them to-
gether by their left wrists, threw them
into room from which every ray OF
light was excluded and tossed two
daggerS in after them. The first man
to find a dagger would come out oi
that room. When half all hour passed
and there was no knocking at the
door, it was opened. Both men had
found daggers; whereas Jack raised his
hands and murmured pioualy: 1t was
the will of God!"
The sudden arrival Of Joaquin prob
ably saved Sonora from general mas
sacre. The loot from Jacks two
months raid had been spent, two OF
the company had been killed, three OF
them were suffering from knife wounds
inflicted by their jealous ladies, several
were not on speaking terms, Dolores
Largo'S word was law, because Three
Fingered Jack announced that 1t was
and discipline had gone TO the very
devil Joaquin gave orders that all
saloons and gambling houses should
close for "a hours, at the end Of which
time he gathered his force together.
male and female, and rode south TO
the MaripOSa County mines.
Three Fingered Jack was so terrified,
so afraid to face the castisation he
knew he had earned and which must,
inevitably, be visited upon him, that
he rode at the rear Of the column and
at nightfall. when they camped. he
sent Dolores Largo to Joaquin as an
ambassadoress OF peace. Joaquin eyed
the flaming beauty causually and said ::
He has failed as my lieutenant, yet
will not denote him nor will / scold
him. Nevertheless he must be pun
ished. He must abandon you.
Dolores wept and pleaded. and for
her pains received a hearty cuff on the
ear, which sent her back to her para
mour with demand that he kill Joa-
quin Murietta Instantly. else would
he forfeit her love. THE message"
Jack demanded patiently. What did
my captain say?"
Dolores told him. "Then must
abandon you, sweetheart" he informed
her. II have taken the oath Of obedi-
ence and no woman is worth breaking
that oath. I shall never find another
like you butt can try. Begone."
~ go to Joaquin" she screamed.
1T is his right to receive you"
Reyes Feliz approached. 1T is the
captains order that all women leave
us in the morning. We have work for
men ahead of us and there can be no
stopping for women. They will each
take 500 and their horses and depart
peacefully or remain here-forever."
You hear, o love Of my life?" Jack
jeered. Il have sinned and now must
make my penance. Reyes. tie up this
beautiful wildcat or she will knife me
while sleep"
He went to Joaquin, knelt and kissed
the latter's hand; he moaned. he
mourned and he blubbered. until. in
disgust, Joaquin ordered him to bury
his most priced possession-a long
string of Sun-dried human earsl