Evening star., 1936-03-07
CHAPTER Nv.

-O JOAQUIN life at the Rancho
Del Luis Rey flowed along like
peaceful little river. In his
L new-found love for Rosita. he
knew the greatest happiness, which
was increased a little when his new
clothing was finished. BY day he
helped with the calf-branding. Be-
tween times he gentled the horse for
Juanita De La Cuesta. When the calf
roundup was finished he caught four
more horses and proceeded to break
them for his own string. Nobody both
cred him, nobody annoyed him, orders
were seldom given him, and then in
kindly tone that was half request
He ate the simple food of his kind,
with modicum of wine; he played
cards for fun; he became acquainted
with his fellows and their wives and
daughters; he sang and played the
guitar. Every few days Juanita De La
Cuesta managed, while her father en-
joyed his siesta. to come over to the
corrals and talk to Joaquin, ostensibly
cloaking her visit in her interest in
the education of the palomilla horse.
They were brief visits. Her dignity
did not relax, but she was kind and
affable. Each time they talked she
managed to extract from him some
thing new as to his past and his hopes
for the future And he did not relish
this, for he was far from being dull
man, and his instinct told him that
the girls interest in the horse was far
transcribed by her interest in him.
"Some day." he thought. news of this
will reach Don Ricardo and when it
does I shall be driven forth before I
am ready to CO."
When he had been at the rancho a
month he shod the palomilla and.
with the permission of Sanchez. rode
off through Pacheco Pass. The first
night he found food and shelter for
himself and his horse at the rancho
of Don Juan Gilroy. in the lower
Santa Clara. following daylight-to-
dawn ride. Here he rested day, for
the horse was still soft, and the fol-
lowing day rode into the pueblo Of
San Jose and put up at the mission.
After dinner he wandered around the
pueblo until he found cantina,
where four Hspano- Californians sat
at a table playing Mexican monte
with Gringo. Naturally, they were
gambling, and Joaquin. from his youth
an adept at monte. guessed that the
American would prove an easy victim.
He was right. for presently the Amer
ican kicked back his chair, announced
he was through playing and went to
the bar for a drink. Joaquin ap-
preached the quartet at the table.
IT have money, my friends, and If
At be permissible should like to risk it
playing with you"
They made him welcome and the
first hand was dealt The American
came back from the bar and stood be-
hind Joaquin's chair. interested to see
how his successor might fare. Four
times the hands were dealt and Joa-
quin Murietta had lost his 20 pesos.
But as one of his opponents gathered
up the cards and shuff1ed the deck
preparatory to dealing, Joaquin's hand
went under the table When it came
UP his pistol was covering the other
four players.
You will be good enough" he said
softly to the man who was shutting
the monte deck. Ito hand the deck to
this American gentleman. And you
and your three friends will please me
very much if you spread your arms out
on the table and keep them there"
Over his shoulder he spoke to the
American. do you speak Spanish,
sir?"
Sir, senor."
Have the great kindness to examine
this monte deck. think you will dis
cover that one of the aces is missing
from it."
The American spread the deck and
sorted it carefully. One ace was miss
ing.
MY friends" said Joaquin, "this Is
30 serious that you make it necessary
for me to be impolite. Be good enough
to stand with your faces to the wall.
you, Senor American. will oblige me
by searching the pockets of these
men"
: The breeches pocket of the second
man searched yielded up the missing
ace.
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