Evening star., 1936-03-06

~HE chimes on the rancho chapel
ringing the AngeluS aroused
Joaquin Murietta next morn
l. ing. He slid hUrriedly off his
bed-a raised wooden frame with
woven rawhide strips tor mattress,
knelt and said his prayers, hastily and
parrotlike, for he was far from being
a serious minded young man and with
him his religion was more OF a ritual
than a deep-rooted spiritual convic-
tion. He donned his ragged garments,
walked out to the watering trough at
the horse corral, washed and combed
his long hair with his fingers. Then
he set tiny mirror on a fence post
and shaved himself with a dull razor
When he returned to the major -domo's
little adobe house Rosita hact breakfast
prepared-tortillas, friioies con refri-
tos and strong black coffee. Imme-
diately after breakfast Sanchez led
him to the forstera, or saddle-maker
of the ranch. who was also cobbler
where Joaquin was measured for a
stout pair of shoes and leather leg
gings. An old woman measured him
for trousers, underwear, shirt and
jacket, and Immediately, with her as
sistants. fell to work on his new ward
robe. From a stock of conical-crowned
straw hats in the ranch commiSsary
Sanchez fitted him with one. The
major -domo was sufficiently quick
witted to note that Joaquin was not
pleased to wear the type Of hat uni
Versally worn by Indian mozos.
Take it," he ordered. 1T will dc
until your new clothing is ready;
then YOU can ride through Pachechc
Pass to the Mission San Jose. There
at a store, you can purchase Vlcuna
hat and to it transfer those little silver
bells. Myself, I have never worn bells
but should like to. if only to distin-
guish myself little"
Precisely, sir" said Joaquin. Il am
not a peon by birth. that isl should
not have been, although unfortunately
I am of that class, yet I like to let
others of my class know that, If God
had but smiled on my father I would
not be of the peon class. In my heart
am not"
80 I have observed Well. if you
desire a vicuna hat such as is worn
by the gente de razon. you will have
to buy it yourself, for Don Ricardo
will not supply it," He slapped Joa-
ouin on the back. But that is a small
matter to one who possesses 20 pesos.
"At the Mission San Jose will buy
two vicuna hats and more little silver
bells. You must permit me to present
one hat and the bells to my protector
your noble and hospitabie self. And
with your permission would purchase
bright reboso for your charming ane
90 kind daughter"
"I am overwhelmed" Felipe San.
chez murmured-and he was, pool
simple SOUL "Rosita will be en-.
chanted. Blood of the evil, what q
magnificent spendthrift you are, Joa.
quin"
Joaquin tipped a careless hand al
If to convey the impression that ex.
travagance on large scale was hi!
besetting sin; that he had always beer
q spender and would continue to be.
At the corral Sanchez gave him 8
horse, upon which Joaquin placed hi
own saddle, bride and RATA and rode
forth into the vast green valley where
ranged perhaps a thousand horses o1
all ages belonging to Don Ricardo. He
selected a palomilla, a cream -coloree
gelding with silver points, horse
about 1873 and weighing about 1000
pounds. He walked MS horse slowly
up wind on the herd, dashed sudden.
ly at them, made a long cast and put
his loop around the neck of the palo.
milla. For about 10 minutes he was q
busy Joaquin. dragged h;ther and yor
until the choking horse fell with weak.
ness, whereupon Joaquin dismounted
sat on the strangling animals head anc
unloosened the RATA; before the hall
dead horse could regain sufficient
strength to renew his hight for liberty
Joaquin had sewed his nostrils ur
neatly with fine copper wire, fastened
his RATA on the polanilla's throat ir
such manner that it would not choke
him, passed a double loop around the