Evening star., 1936-03-14

~ down to the creek ana paused
II on the bank. Good morning.
4 \ senors," he greeted them
pleasantly.
Hello yourself" they replied in
unison.
so you seek the gold, MOP"
"Ain't thinkin' O. stoppin' us, are
yuh?" Tabbard demanded belliger-
emily.
"Oh, no, my friend, although this
land is mine. From the government
have purchased it. The survey has
been made. So, If I object to the
mining on it, I have the right. But
do not object" He smiled amiably
and added: But, because wish to
be a good reighbor. mus tell you
that this claim was work out last
Summer. OF course, the Winter high
water has fill the creek again with
gravel, but the gold is not here"
Mex, when we want your advice
we'll ask for it." Wilson informed
him. you don't get rid of us with
no such cock-an'-bull story like that"
Joaquin shrugged. I am a Gus
toned to rudeness," ne said. "Only
a caballero can insult me. Well. I
would save you the hard work an
disappointment, but" He threw
out his hands in an eloquent gesture.
"Old smoothly" said Tabbard. pat
you with one hand an stick knife
in you with the other"
"I have top you this is my land
the land of Joaquin Murietta, paid for
to the government by him. You have
the permission to dig in the cree6.
but not the permission to dig in the
bank-here. You onderstan'. I hope.
live in that cabin. Perhaps you
would like to come to my house and I
will show you the deed"
ITO hell with you an your deed,
Wilson snarled. Were free-born
Americans an we don't ask no odds
of any Greaser."
do not dig in the bank" Joaquin
warned, and in his voice there was a
slightly strident note. 1T is my plan
to dig there myself some day"
Tabbard dipped his shovel in pool
of dirty water and held shovel and
contents poised. Scat" he warned.
cor I'll ruin them pansy-bloSsom
clothes o. yourn."
"I will retire, senores-not because
I fear you, but because have no wish
to quarrel with pigs-and today I
rest and enjoy myself"
He strode back to his little home
with dignity and sat down on bench
on his front porch. Rosita came out
to him and gazed at him with troubled
eyes.
"It must be terrible to be ignorant
and impolite," he sighed. "Well, soon
they will go away and we will have
peace once more. Do not let 1t trouble
your heart, sweet little one" He
stretched his 1.-the frame and gazed
over the lovely panorama Of hill and
valley. This is good country for
CATTLE" he mused. I'm two or three
years there will be no more placer gold
here and the Gringos will 60 else
where; the rat and the coyote will
dwell in Sawmill Flat in the houses
that men have built; then will buy
much land and dwell here in peace
with you, my darling" He drew her
down to him and kissed her, little
noting or caring that this gentle act
of love was witnessed by the two
Gringos in the creek bed.
He's her husband, by crickery," ,"
Tabbard declared.
"Mebbe not" Wilson replied care
lessly. "a lot O. these here natives
don't bother about weddin' licenses an
rings an what-aI."
They sunk a hole down. to bedrock
and were surprised to find it feet
below the surface. When they washed
the clay and fine sand en- the bed
rock they found only the faintest
string Of color" 1t was what Is
known as -four gold; not a nugget as
big as a grain of wheat rewarded their
hours Of panning.
Tabbard Strengthened up. Reckon
that Greaser give us ths right Of it,
after ALL" he admitted grudgingly.
1.-THE original gravel on this here bar
must have been feet deep. It's been
sluiced away an this here deposit
was set in by the freshet last Winter.
Banks 4 feet above the stream bed
here, while down the creek piece Of
the gravel's almost level with the bank.
That's because the gravel that used
to be here was sluiced down to there"
They discussed the matter at length
and then, as the sun was low in the
70 khnfY 0fr
camp in the timber hardly to prepare
supper.
In the morning Rosita went again
to the spring, but this time she car
ried, strapped around her waist,
Joaquin's big Bowie knife. Wilson and
Tabbard again spoke to her, but she
ignored them and returned to the
house. Joaquin was Just washing his
face after shaving.
"Those Gringos," she announced.
mo longer dig in the creek bed. They
dig on the bank-on our land-and
two more have joined them"
Joaquin considered this gravely.
'"They are bold fellows and lawless, |"
he decided. THAT much discovered
yesterday when went to warn them
not to dig on our land. II I attempt
to remove them myself there will be
shooting. I should kill them all and
then would come other Gringos. with
out reason, desirous only Of vengeance
because had killed two Of their kind,
and you. my Rosita, would be cutting