Show CARMEN 0 F RANCH III III by FRANK H SPEARMAN 0 frank H spearman SerVi service cip SYNOPSIS don alfredo wealthy spanish owner of a southern california rancho refuses to beed several warnings of 0 a raid by a band of ol 01 outlaws sierra indians one day after he h has finally decided to seek the protection of the nearby mission tor for his wile wife and family larna the indians strike don alfredo Is killed and his two young daughters are torn from the arms of 0 the fam ilys faithful aith lul maid monica and are carried away to the hills padre Pasqu pasqual missionary friend ot of the family pasquala arrives alt at the ruins ot of the ranch and learns the story of the raid from monica after a trying and difficult trip across the plains and mountains from texas to california youthful henry bowle bowie a texas adventurer with his friends ben Par daloe and simmie an indian scout sight the party of indians who have carried oil oft the two little girls the three texans attack th the e war party of fifty odd indians and through a clever ruse scatter the savages to the hills the girls are saved the group makes its way out of the hills and meets the distraught monica the childrens maid the girls are left with monica and the friendly padre at a mission and the texans proceed to monterey here bowle bowie completes his business for gen sam houston of texas who has commissioned him to deliver an important message bowle bowie decides to have a look at the wild untamed country that california was in the middle nineteenth century CHAPTER V continued X why did houston send you out here as ambassador are you in the generals cabinet asked the doctor bowie was nettled far from it he needed an ambassador as you call it who could cut through half a dozen indian tribes athirst for ambassadors bass adors scalps who could negotiate a thousand miles of hells deserts and climb half a dozen sierra ranges and swim forty or fifty rivers with a mule just for exercise who could get fat on lizards frogs bugs and leather belts and drink blue sky for water dr doane listened without betraying all he felt at bowies impatient outburst youve seen service blurted out doane one day he was examining some scars on his patients torso for a boy of nineteen youve been busy where did you do your fighting son well weve had several little brushes with the greasers youve heard of our troubles along the rio grande santa ana kept us on the run a while but for every texan he slaughtered at the alamo and for every texan murdered at goliad weve taken toll I 1 followed sam houston through he gave me a captains furbelow but theres no peace down there now is there bowie smiled not so you could notice it its guerilla fighting a good deal of the time along the border the greasers are busy in bunches all the time and our rangers cut up once in a while but no other man in california knows that much about me so forget it please CHAPTER VI bowie disappeared from california as silently as he had come to it but he did not forget the irish doctor in fact eight years later bowie appeared once more at the door of doanes office with as little ceremony as if he had left it the day before there was laughing and greeting then something close to a fight bowie about to take his leave after a happy hour of talk threw a bag of coinon coin on the table the doctors ear was alert to the clink this son souvenirs of the rio grande doctor hold on keep your souvenirs son they are to cicatrize that old indian wound doctor that old wound is outlawed so is the fee I 1 never want to hear of either again I 1 mean it so do I 1 mean it doctor the words grew warm both were inflexible it was finally agreed to leave the spanish doubloons doub loons in the doctors safe in suspense and after a bottle of wine and a lunch at da guerres goerres Gue the old cordiality which had never really been impaired reasserted itself so youve come back mused the doctor glad giad you had that much sense henry this is the garden spot of the world what are you going to do 1 I dont know yet ive heard talk of a man up the river who built a little fort up there and is dealing in furs ive got the same scouts with me trappers and want to look the thing over the man up there is a swiss and I 1 hear him well spoken of the following day bowie traded in the travel worn horses of the long trail for fresh stock in the afternoon with his two scouts par daloe and simmie bowie headed north for Sut lers place up the river they traveled light meaning to depend on their rifles for food in a country rich in game they camped early in the evening on a hillside near a clump of live oaks and while Par daloe skinned a rabbit one of a brace he had brought in for the evening meal simmie cut up the other and bowie built a fire A stones throw below where they had camped a well marked trail wound around the brow of the hill and while they broiled their meat impaled over the fire on pointed sticks two horsemen appeared on the trail below in the dusk of the evening these men saw the glow of the small fire and turning their horses walked them up the hill toward the texans from the appearance and apparel of the two bowie judged them to be master and servant the servant riding somewhat behind buenas bienas noches amigos amidos said the leading horseman in salute bowie held up his hand deprecating ly no habla espanol he exclaimed rising and realizing at once that he had a gentleman to deal with ahl asked the californian pleasantly bowie understood that much he shook his head no questioned the horseman again then Yan quis again bowie comprehended but denied more vigorously que mas asked the puzzled stranger though still politely still shaking his head bowie tried to explain sorry but I 1 cant speak spanish hot ho Amiri americanos canos texans exclaimed bowie with emphasis not yankees 99 ali ah I 1 understand you speak english A little senor I 1 have heard of your texans brave fellows even though they do not get on with their mexican brothers again bowie dissented vigorously not brothers fenorl the don was not to be ruffled neighbors then if you like he suggested good neighbors senor but for texans bad neighbors the visitor shrugged his shoulders have it as you will amigo A mexican of course might tell another story but you are besides texans travelers and evidently preparing to spend the night alfresco al fresco this gives me some concern because it is certain to rain before morning and rain will find you much exposed and when it rains here it is likely to rain what do they say in texas pitchforks while the californian spoke he sat his horse with the ease of one seasoned to the high peaked spanish saddle his trappings were elaborate the eyes of the two scouts were glued on them saddle and bridle were richly chased in silver bowie without overlooking these things of interest paid closer attention to the horseman himself he was young and dandified it was just his unaffected good nature that checked in the rough and ready bowie any feeling of resentment at his highly particular rig his hat with its low crown and broad straight severe brim seemed in keeping with the dignity of the wearer his aspect wa was s dark but his mustachios the most commanding of his rather small features were of contrasting lighter color and lent something agreeable to the frank open expression of his eyes his boice as he chatted was pleasant the youth wore a short dark ark bolero jacket heavily embroidered in silver and knee breeches ed edged ged below with silver lace his soft s oft buckskin leggings were highly but pleasingly stamped with the fanciful devices of a mexican artisan from head to foot he presented a pic picture ture of distinction and detail yet he was quite simple in manner 1 I see said the californian presently you are hunters why we are heading for the hills explained bowie to bring in some game aid 11 he added jokingly among other things to buy some salt 1 I love to hunt returned the don and nothing I 1 like better than the hunters supper out in the open like this in fact I 1 confess it was envy that turned me up this way when I 1 saw the fire and the party though I 1 was far from being in hunters rig myself where asked bowie did you learn so much english 1 I have a sister married to a boston t n man a ship owner I 1 had two Y years e rs at georgetown university G georgetown e I 1 had one year there myself said bowie may I 1 ask your name francisco Est radillo and yours senor henry bowie im a long way from texas this is ben Par daloe and this is simmie francisco nodded my uncle don ramon estrada lives not tar far from here about ten miles I 1 am visiting him you are on his rancho you tell me you are hunting day after tomorrow we are to have a hunt at the rancho you should join us comet come why sleep out tonight come with me to don ramons the Est estrada rancho a royal grant embraced a tract eleven leagues by eleven leagues the two story ranch house crowned the brow of a gentle rise in the fertile santa clara valley and looked toward the distant heights of santa ysabel to the north of the ranch house a group of buildings sheltered the indian servants and the vaqueros ros don francisco did not escape a wetting it was raining hard when he rode with his three texans up to the ranch house and first of all despite the downpour looked up quarters for his guests Par daloe and J both were beautiful simmie he lodged with the vaqueros ros bowie he took with him to his own room in the ranch house you must have dry clothing francisco insisted despite bowies protests you are my guest I 1 am now what you call the boss you must let me be your servant my clothes are not big enough but my uncle he is a big one like you wait an indian boy was dissat dispatched ched with a message to don ramon he was soon back bringing a coat two shirts trousers stockings and boots for bowie in vain the texan protested don francisco had a persuasive way he laughed away one objection after another with so much good natured banter that bowie found himself clad in californian accouterments of the head of the house walking into the big living room where he met the estradas don francisco introduced his new acquaintance to his uncle and to his aunt dona maria but the uncle don ramon and the dona his wife called for particular attention at the hands of their guest except for the youthful nephew don ramon estrada was the first real spanish gentleman that the texan had met while there was nothing of haughtiness in don ramon there was something that called for consideration and respect his mere presence made itself felt presenting as it did a certain graciousness of manner tempered by dignity and reserve that put his guest at ease with a mute assurance of welcome when bowie had met his host and hostess he felt already at ease so exquisite was the kindly welcome expressed in their manner but not until he was presented by don francisco with due formality to a young lady who now entered the room was the gaunt texan conscious of a feeling of his own awkwardness and ill fitting apparel she was senorita carmen of the rancho cousin to don francisco the young spaniard did the interpreting and much of the talking host and hostess extended repeated repeat eit spanish greetings to bowie which ch don francisco translated the young lady was wholly silent safe save that when spoken to by her cousin cousin I 1 she responded clearly and composedly I 1 dinner was announced dona maria was seated at her husbands right hand and bowie was given the place of honor on his left next to him sat don francisco seated below dona maria was senorita ca carmen As she sat opposite the texan she made good use of her eyes yet so skillfully that he was never aware of her inspection don ramon as the beet beef mutton and fowl in bewildering abundance were served in formal turn asked many questions of his stranger guest questions about texas about the differences of the americans with ith the mexican government then as to what brought bowie to california this drew only vague generalizations from the texan the don switched next to what lay immediately ahead what bowie had in mind to do As to that senor responded bowie frankly 1 I hardly have any plans I 1 find myself here on the coast with two companions soon we are going up the river to Sut lers fort our principal occupation in the interval must be to find something to eat don ramon laughed truly important por tant so we are heading upcountry after game to sell in monterey there is a good demand I 1 am told from the ships for venison and elk but with the thousands of head of cattle everywhere available to furnish a beef supply objected the don bowie smiled as this was translated the beef of the range rang e cattle is no competition for the meat of the deer and the elk certainly not with the officers nor even with the hungry sailors and what is your equipment for the undertaking our rifles senor the amiable don was astonished nothing seems to appall you your undertaking would of a certainty give me pause and you need nothing bowie smiled one thing we do need don ramon lifted his eyebrows as if pleased at last he had found a weak spot in the texans armor what is it he exclaimed salt returned bowie simply then allow me to be your debtor you shall leave here with salt for yourselves and for your game but self reliant as you are senor I 1 can lighten your labors a good bit if you will allow me a further pleasure you are most kind don ramon I 1 realize that we are strangers and your advice might save us much the don shook his head not advice I 1 doubt if you need it but what I 1 know you do need is plenty of horseflesh it will save you much time and some hardship it if you will accept a caponera from us and leave here in the saddle with your salt he added smiting smiling significantly in your mochilas mo chilas bowie sat perplexed caponera pl he looked inquiringly at don francisco horses explained francisco my uncle means twenty horses or twenty five bowie despite his poise regarded don ramon incredulously much talk and much translating followed but it was for bowie at last to say as he was best able that he an and d his scouts were grateful but could not think of so great a draft on this magnificent hospitality in the living room while the rain poured furiously outside don ramon smoked tranquilly and listened to bowie and his nephew the ladies talked about the wedding in monterey in the morning it was still raining hard the rancho seemed afloat the texan had no choice but to accept don ramons hospitality and the day went in sto ries ries told before the big log fire stories of texans and the country of the staked plain the story ol of santa ana and the alamo which was told without any effort to water down the cruel butchery by the mexicans icons and interspersed were stories of this new california to which the plainsman listened with hungry interest don francisco had already taken a fancy to bowie that evening he questioned the texan with a purpose bowie quite alert to all that went on noticed the glances that francisco cast at times toward carmen who was in animated talk with dona maria even the texans attention wandered at moments from fran ciscoe explanation to the two women as they chatted both were beautiful of a type the roughhewn texan had n never e ver yet seen they were beautiful in artless animation the bronzed son of the desert was almost stunned by the atmo atmosphere sphere 01 ol charm the dona at forty had lost none of her youth the years had tempered without engrossing tha the portrait of her maidenhood the vi vivacity of youth was still hers enriched now by the dignity of matronly charm yet bowies eyes were drawn to her daughter carmen just old enough to realize the presence of a stranger and protecting her attractiveness by the slight re of girlhood TO BE CONTINUED carmen ot of the rancho a |