Show JL t l CM THE RAM RAMBy By FRANK H. H SPEARMAN O Fr Freak Frank n H. H Spearman Service Senior CHAPTER XIII Continued XIII-Continued Continued 13 13 How are things going out there echoed the doctor Not very well But for that matter where are they going well in California Everything is upset Politics boiling lawlessness lawlessness lawless lawless- ness ess go growing in gringos a and d these thes damned Mexicans squabbling and ana then to cap everything else for me smallpox all over the coast Bowie I need an assistant You'd better join up with me But Bowie was serious wrong at Guadalupe he asked as casually as possible Don Ramon is down with smallpox smallpox smallpox small small- pox they say An Indian brought word from Dona Maria asking me to come right away and vaccinate everybody everybody everybody ev ev- and virus here is scarce They're in a panic Naturally said Bowie only part of it growled the surgeon Fremont steals their horses steal their cattle cattle cattle cat cat- tle the damned gringo squatters are stealing their land and that's the way things are going at all the ranchos ranches Bowie Im I'm riding out to Guadalupe right after dinner take dinner with me and ride out too Sorry Ive I've made an appointment appointment appointment appoint appoint- ment with Nathan Spear Spear Spear-he he was here yesterday yesterday-to to meet him in San Francisco tomorrow morning That will keep Bowie shook his head Hes going goIng go- go Ing down do to Santa Barbara tomor tomor- row Dr Doane did not give up the fight to make Bowie ride out with him but he failed in it The Texan was stubborn I ul shall tell them you were mean about it Bowie raised his hand in quick pro pro- test Tell them nothing about me not not even that I am in Cal California ornia said Bowie Im not joking Doctor Doctor Doctor Doc Doc- tor he added bluntly Have it your own way sputtered sputtered sputtered the surgeon But on reaching the rancho Dr Doane was sorry he had assented to the Texans Texan's injunction The whole atmosphere of the rancho was mournful Two almost helpless women women women-Carmen Carmen was the only one with any courage left and she had more courage than the experience needed in managing and directing vaqueros But the doctor brought one great ray of sunshine to the gloom Don Ramon he announced definitely did not have the smallpox he pro- pro 3 L 11 L- L u nis ms illness chicken pux pox Dona Maria and Carmen drew deep breaths of relief That evening at supper the two women asked so many questions of the doctor and these were so pathetic pathetic pathetic pa pa- in tenor that he was hard put to it to give them consolation Dona Maria sighed deeply when the doctor tried to offer cheer If only Senor Bowie were with us she said Nothing has seemed to go right since he left Why did he leave asked the doctor casually though he knew the answer He thought he could better himself himself himself him him- self up the river Why Mother exclaimed Carmen Carmen Carmen Car Car- men crimsoning you know that's not the reason Mother doesn't want to blame me Doctor Doctor that's that's all an Ah Ab smiled Doane A heart affair But surely that would not send him biro away back to Texas countered countered countered coun coun- Dona Maria gently Sanchez tells us he went The surgeon had his ears open You can never tell Dona Maria said aid he as to how far these heart affairs will carry a man Some men would think h halfway around the world not far enough Much would depend I should think on how deep the wound I think all this is very silly talk exclaimed Carmen almost Up to this point she had maintained a reserve so even that her medical busybody could hardly formulate much of an inference as asto asto asto to her feelings But he had now worked his probe deep enough to excite resentment She rose impatiently impatiently impatiently to her feet Senor Bowie she went on is a gentleman of sense and intelligence I Ul thought him a cowboy co purred the doctorA doctorA doctorA doctor A cowboy who has attended Georgetown University She spoke with heat Senor Bowie is a caballero caballero caballero cabal- cabal lero not a vaquero I If you had ever talked with him you'd know he is a gentleman of sense not likely to be seriously upset because an insignificant cant girl declined his hand It With the words she walked indignantly from the room Senorita called the doctor after after after aft aft- er her but she did not hear Please Dona Maria he continued continued continued contin contin- tell her not to go riding for a aday aday aday day or two with that arm Senorita Carmen has spirit Dona DonaMaria DonaMaria DonaMaria Maria added the surgeon putting away his implements I am glad she has said Dona Maria My own is pretty well cowed What with Don Ramons Ramon's illness illness illness ill ill- ness and all our other troubles I seem unable to face things as I used to I hope Carmelita will soon make makeup up her mind to marry She seems interested ted at least I sometimes think so so-in so in Don Sebastian of Santa Barbara who is crazy about her But the child is fickle She seems to blow hot and cold with him And even should she accept him she him she is s II keeping him waiting now that would not help me These dons have their own estates to look after No Senor Bowie was my only hope for our protection I HI wonder mused the doctor whether he will ever come back He will never come back prophesied Dona Maria And if the Senorita Who tell can married and left the nest ne he might even come back here Dr Doane exclaimed Dona DonaMaria DonaMaria DonaMaria Maria what makes you say that Just surmising on possibilities said the surgeon with an air of casu- casu alness But Dona Marias Maria's suspicions suspicions suspicions had been awakened I III believe you know something you are keeping back Doctor she said flatly What is it Out with it Can you keep a secret con continued continued contin contin- tin tin- I the doctor Women are not supposed to are they But she added as Doane seemed about to close his confidence confidence dence with his lancet case try me I will do my best Bowie is back Dr Doane What do you mean He is in Monterey And heaven help me He forbade me tell On your life Dona Maria dont don't tell teU Carmen CHAPTER XIV YIV The surgeon jogged back to Monterey Monterey Monterey Mon Mon- terey feeling somewhat guilty about his breach of confidence He busied himself framing a story to break Bowies Bowie's anger He reached home late so late he thought there would be no danger of facing the Texan before morning Yet within ten minutes after he had lighted his lamp in his bedroom adjoining adjoining adjoining ad ad- joining the office there came a tapping tapping tapping tap tap- ping on his window Henry he protested after he had carried the lamp into the office and let in the Texan I didn't expect expect expect ex ex- to see you before morning You dont don't sit up all night do you How did you find things at the rancho The doctor shook his head held doubt doubt- fully Not very bright Henry Has Don Ramon got the smallpox smallpox smallpox small small- pox He has not not its its it's chicken pox but buthe's buthe's buthe's hes he's pretty sick with it How is Dona Maria to death but not sick Doane was amused at the way the questions came slowly and covering one person at a time Senorita well I Seems ems to be She he is looking to e yes es a little peaKed 1 I vaccinated everybody everybody everybody every every- body on the ranch from the scullions scullions scullions lions up What's the news with you Im tied up here for a few days Spear sent a man down to say he had to go to Santa Barbara again and wouldn't be back till the end of the week All right camp here with me Theres There's an extra cot in the bedroom bed bed- room How are the vaqueros At Guadalupe Pedro is foreman with Sanchez for a second What about the stock left is all right I told you everybody's stealing it Lets Let's Letsgo go to bed There was a big bunch of cattle there when I left What the gringos leave the Mexicans Mexicans Mexicans Mex Mex- help themselves to its to-it's its it's too bad isn't it The doctor shot the question to catch him unprepared and suc suc- You see Doane ran on as he turned out the light I like those folks To me they're the very picture picture picture pic pic- ture at Guadalupe of the splendid Spanish tradition that came to the New World from the Old Ever been in Spain Bowie There was no answer in the dark But a moment later the doctor listening listening listening lis lis- in in the dark heard a calm but distinct question not to his liking Did you say anything about m my being being being be be- ing here Doane in turn took his moment before answering I was hoping you wouldn't ask that tonight any any- way Well Vell I told nobody but Dona DonaMaria DonaMaria DonaMaria Maria and cautioned her against telling any of the rest of the family Im I'm dead tired Henry Ill I'll tell you more about it in the morning If you had seen her face light up when I told her you were here you'd have forgiven me for breaking confidence con con- you you would indeed continued continued continued contin contin- the doctor at breakfast in the morning She thinks a lot of you you you- in fact everybody does at Guada Guada- lupe The first question Sanchez asked was whether I had ever heard anything of you Bowie offered no comment on any any- thing The doctor thought he was deeply offended but made up his mind it was better not to pay any attention to his mood After dinner Bowie asked the tle doctor to lend him fifty dollars And the surgeon was surprised in inthe inthe inthe the afternoon by the appearance in inthe inthe the street before the office of two pack mules with loaded hampers Two Mexicans rode up soon and andone andone andone one of them knocking at the office door asked for Senor Bowie Bowie himself appeared within a few minutes minutes min min- utes casual as usual He Ile asked the doctor for paper and pen wrote a short note addressed it to Dona DonaMaria DonaMaria DonaMaria Maria and handed it to one of at the Mexicans and bade him and his companion be on their way He then asked the doctor to lend him one hundred dollars more Taking the gold without comment except a brief thank you Bowie started He did not reappear till suppertime at the restaurant where the two took their meals Well asked Doane when they had reached their coffee speaking as if he thought he had a right to know it all about Since youve you've le let t the e cat out of t the e Dag bag anyway and Don Ramon is down sick I thought I ought to send senda a few little things out to Guadalupe to show I hadn't forgotten their past kindnesses and he added haltingly halting halting- ly things like that What do you think I think its it's fine replied the doc doc- tor In San Francisco a few days later later later lat lat- lat lat- er Bowie met Captain Sutter and at the two discussed plans for managing the fur business up the river Sutter took the boat early early early ear ear- ly next morning for New Helvetia Bowie was ready to go with him but a knock on his door at daybreak daybreak day day- break changed his plans He opened to find the vaquero Pedro standing before him Greetings exchanged Pedro explained he had been told by Dr Doane where to look for Senor Bowie and had ridden up the peninsula during the night I have havet t L LI I didn't see you a note for you senor and I was told 1 I n. n ro t d 1 e k l bl vu V o e aver v I i it u. a Q aa s Y LU ly l y as cia posse e He drew the note from a breast pocket of his leathern jacket It was from Carmen My mother has asked you to come out for a visit at Guadalupe before you leave for Sutter's Fort We should all be equally happy to welcome you to your old home as you well know But even if you haven't time for a good visit Mother Moth Moth- er wants to ask a very special favor Strawberries are ripe D Don n Francisco Francisco Francisco Fran Fran- cisco Guerrero is giving a strawberry strawberry strawberry straw straw- berry Saturday There will be a neighborhood gathering from all the ranches you ranchos you remember remember remember ber what a famous host Don Francisco Francisco Francisco Fran Fran- cisco is We Ve are going from Guad Guad- Wont Won't you join us Come out Friday night PI Carmen Bowie did not stop to read the formal Spanish greetings that closed the note He saw on the white sheet of paper only the magic word Carmen Carmen Carmen Car men He slapped Pedro on the shoulder shoulder shoulder der and bade him hum go down and feed the horses and get his break break- fast It was already day day Saturday Bowie made up his mind to ride straight to Don It was the only chance to catch the party He scribbled a hasty note for Captain Captain Captain Cap Cap- tain Sutter saying that he had been unavoidably detained and would follow follow fol fol- fol low on the next boat Thirty minutes minutes minutes min min- utes later he and Pedro were riding riding riding rid rid- ing rapidly for Don Francisco Guerreros Guerreros Guerreros Guer Guer- At Don Francisco's a disappointment disappoint disappoint- ment met him The party had already left However it was easy to follow He sent Pedro to Guadalupe and took the trail to the valley of the strawberries himself A pretty scene greeted Bowies Bowie's eyes when he reached the brow of the hill Below him a valley opened like a huge inverted bowl rimmed by surrounding hills Each rancho had set up its own pavilion bright with Spanish colors and the pavilions pavilions pavilions pavil pavil- ions were spread in a crescent opening out on the valley The Various various various va va- rious ranchos ranches had their complements complements complements comple comple- ments or servants and the horses tethered among the trees were as ns happy as horses could be close to toa a running brook but pestered by flies Bowie rode rapidly down the long longhill longhill longhill hill and around to the camp near the pines Dona Maria Marla saw him first She called to Carmen where she stood at a little distance talking to Don Vicente a cousin of Don Francisco's Francisco's Francisco's Francis Francis- cos co's from Santa Barbara Carmen greeted Bowie with cordial cordial cordial cor cor- dial enthusiasm and he explained in turn the mishap that had prevented prevented prevented pre pre- vented him from joining the party at Guadalupe the night before Don Vicente Carmen's escort scrupulously scrupulously scrupulously well mannered and somewhat senior in years to the rest of the group eyed the r with polite polite polite po po- lite interest While dinner was on Don Ramon rode In with Aunt Ysabel from Mon Mon- terey and more servants Bowie was greeted by Don Ramon like a along along along long lost friend Well exclaimed Tia Ysabel to Carmen after the dinner I see your peevish Texan is back What does he want Carmen shrugged her shoulders I understand he he is to be some kind of a partner of Captain Sutter's Sutter's Sutter's Sut- Sut ter's that energetic Swiss up the river I he doing here snapped I her questioner He heard of Fathers Father's illness and sent out a couple of baskets of champagne and a lot of delicacies So Mother asked me to invite him for the strawberry picnic You say Dona Maria asked you to invite him out She says you asked her to invite him observed Tia Ysabel bluntly Either way he was entitled to the courtesy of an invitation wasn't he asked Carmen crisply The wine he sent was rare rare so so Father said Don Vicente and I are going after some ferns to press press press-he he has my book The tables were being cleared and the guests were scattered in groups among the pines and redwoods Men were smoking and talking horses the women were chatting in little groups and the younger girls with much animation were hulling strawberries strawberries strawberries straw straw- berries and talking fast Carmen swinging her sunbonnet by the strings sought Don Vicente She |