Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-03-28
ZzMY OF Revenge E.
J A ck Q N. c O L e

sun they shone like polished silver. An
under this cathedral canopy stood he
goal-the Mission of Corpus Christi.
Approaching it from the mountain
side along which she had been travel
ing for the last few hours. the frs
thing she saw was the life-sized repre-
sentation, in granite. of the Crucifixion
1t was in the center Of the garden thai
was lush with blooms of scarlet ant
! white and purple and gold, and shaded
by age-old trees that seemed to hover
over the place in benediction.
gray-haired padre walked slowly
back and forth in the courtyard, re-
PEE ting his paternoster. He stopped
and kneeled before the great granite
cruciix. Only the low humble of his
voice could be heard, and the muted
hum of insects coming out to greet
the coming dusk.
His deyotions completed, the padre
became aware then. for the first time.
of the kneeling figure at the gate. He
arose and greeted Juanita, in her
ragged overalls of a PEG boy.
"A benediction, r'y son." he said in
a generously mellow but gentle voice.
What brings you here this night?"
Il have come long way with mes
sage and a present for you, Padre"
Juanita replied meekly.
Had you come with no burden ex-
cept your sins for which you may wish
to atone you would have been well
come" murmured the padre. Il am
Padre Vincente," he announced. at is
l perhaps whom you seek? What do
men call you, my SON."
Juan de Cuevas, Padre" was Jua-
nita's simple response. and she spoke
truthfully, for men had called her that,
since her father had seen fit for her to
go about in the guise of boy.
Juan" muttered the padre, may the
grace of God be with you Come with
me indoors where you may be fed and
cared for. l will have your beast seen
to-"
Juanita lifted the weighted saddle
bags from Pedro's saddle, tossed them
over her slight shoulders and hall
stumbled after the priest. He led her
through a corridor and into a cell-like
office in the adobe building. There she
dropped her burden to the floor, opened
he saddlebags and let the gold pieces
inkle out onto the stone floor.
Padre Vincente's eyes opened wide
what have you there?" he de-
handed.
"Gold," said Juanita. much gold.
t is for you. Only days ago 1 met the
nan whom they call Ell Caballero Rojo.
lie was most kind to me when my
adre, my nadre-died. He asked me
% ride here and bring this to you. He
aid you would understand, and know
What best to do with it."
know you anything of the origin
f these monies, my SON." asked the
adre, his kind eyes boring into her
cry soul, it seemed.
Isl, Padre" Juanita said truthfully
gain. Il know that many of those
ID shaved for these gold pieces are
cad now, and that some of this be-
'ngs rightfully t. others who still
ve."
1t astonished her little, how calm
: he accepted the gift of gold-quite
3 if there had been others of like kind
receding it, and that this was no sur
rise to him. But it was not until after i
lie had been fed and Padre Vincente
ok her for a walk in the fower-filled .
tito that Juanita found courage, in
calm and quiet of her surroundings,
question him. There were so many
ings she wanted to know, so much 1
e felt she must know.
Padre Vincente," she said hesitant- t
Il have been wondering much about S
Caballero Rojo. What do you know n
out him that you can tell me?" v