Evening star., 1936-03-23
CHAPTER Xxx.

Flat, via q different route, be-
cause it occurred to him that
~ his enemies, following the dis
covery Of the last man he had killed,
would conclude that road was watched
and would, therefore, If deSirouS OF
leaving the country, take the alterna-
tive route. mile beyond the spot
where the town of Escalon now stands
he turned a corner in the road and
came face to face with two of the
men who had helped Jesus to the
tree. Recognition was mutual and
instantaneous and all three men went
for their guns. But again long train
ing in drawing, cooking the pistol and
shooting accurately from the hip
saved Joaquin.
The next day he rode boldly
through Sawmill Flat at noon; many
men saw him and recognized him but
none pursued him, fact which tickled
his vanity and for the first time,
made him aware that he was vain.
He marveled little at this, too. AL
ways, in happier days, he had prided
himself on being simple, unassum-
abeisance to his new wild thrill, there
fore, he pulled up in front of the
hang tree, leaned over and tore down
a notice Of the reward of $1,000 Of
fered for him, dead or alive. He rode
his horse into the lobby of the post
Office, tore down two handbillS posted
there, peered in at the delivery window
and asked If there was, by any chance,
mail for Joaquin Murrieta.
This was sheer brag and bounce,
for he had never received a letter in
all his life and never expected to.
To his vast amazement the trembling
postmaster handed him out an en-
velope. What an excellent postmas-
ter" Joaquin cried, and tossed the
man $50 slug. He rode out feeling
every inch a king and an hour later
sat down beside the graves of Rosita
and Jesus to read his letter. 1t was
from Juanita De La Cuesta and ran
rs follows:
joaquin: l am unhappy because I
did not see you when you came with
your mother. Shameless woman that
I am, 1 do not fear to confess it..
Gringos watch this rancho and make
guarded inquiries for you. 1t has been
whispered that you have become a
bandit and ride with company for
merly commanded by Juan Garcia, he
of the crippled right hand; that you
make war on the Gringo and have
killed many of them. 1t would be
oil fnrs m yJtciEi
mother. My heart to you, Joaquin.
"JUANITA."
He gazed at the mound that covered
Rosita and Wept, because he felt dis
graced that so soon after her death
another woman had confessed her love
for him. He could have struck Juanita
had she been present; then, in a re-
vulsion of feeling, his being was filled
with warm sense of gratitude that
she had taken the long chance of
writing him at his last known address,
to warn him of threatened danger
What strange thing, he reflected,
was love. It came and went, like SICK
ness, like ife-he bowed his head sud-
denly in his arms and bullet lifted
his hat off! But for that sudden genu-
Election to his emotion that bullet
would have gone through his brain.
Like a spring released he was on
his feet; other bullets whined around
him. His horse grazed about 20 feet
away. He fled toward him, speaking
to the animal as he came; without
touching foot to stirrup he was in the
saddle and bounding away into the
timber. A quick backward glance
showed him three dismounted men,
standing, with empty rifles. He cir
cled back instantly and charged
them; two of them fled into the tim
ber but the third man stood calmly
regarding him. AS Joaquin raised his
pistol he recognized Deputy Sheriff
Harmon. He stayed his destroying
hand.
Hello, Joaquin" Harmon greeted
him cordially. THE jig's up. My
rifle an sixshooter are empty"
"You should carry two pistols"
Joaquin reproVed him. II carry
three"
We'll, have it over with" Harmon
growled. II been watching these
graves for week, f1ggerin' you'd come
to visit them. I had a good square
crack at you an missed. It's your
turn now"
MY friend" Joaquin assured him,
"I present you with your life. Men
like you are too scarce to kill. 1 go
now to partake Of my noon meal with
the Senors Warren. I do not expect
to be disturbed at it. Adios! Go with
God"
He galloped away across the field
and turned up the trail along the
creek. Harmon gazed after him.
Guess it's about time quit" he MUIR
INJURED aloud. THE only way I'll ever
get that man is to dry gulch him,
and if do that I'll hate myself for
ever"