The Mucker

things one does NOT learn to love nor trust a greaser. As a result of this early training Grayson was peculiarly unfitted in some respects to manage an American ranch in Mexico;

f the truth be known, the simple fact that he was a gringo would have been sufficient to have won him the hatred of the Mexicans who worked under him-not in

because he could not vent his anger upon the cau

to the hazards of warring Mexico, bringing-and this was the worst feature of it-his daughter with him. And at such a time! Scarce a day passed without its rumors or reports of new affronts and even atroci

on do in case of a determined attack upon the rancho? It is true he had a hundred men-laborers and vaqueros, but scarce a dozen o

ap, and entirely suited to his duties under any other circumstances than those which prevailed in Mexico at that time. He was in mortal terror of his life every moment that he was awake, and at last had given in to t

trying to unravel the riddle of a balance sheet which would not balance. Mixed with the blue of t

gray-haired man-one of those men whom you just naturally fit into

girl, with a laugh, coveri

t her sid

was a very foolish thing for me to bring you down here at th

u had to consent, and I'm not sorry either-if nothing happens to you because of our coming. I couldn't stay in New York

you broke with Billy Mallory. He's one of the finest young men in New York Ci

girl in a low voice; "but

shan't be snoopy too. Here now, you run along and do some snooping you

s mouth, Barbara found a seat upon a wagon box which commanded an excellent view of the entertainment going on within the corral. As she sat there experiencin

says I to me. "By Gosh,

re-Penelope-with k

college guy! your tal

g in the air, the bi

torn and shapeless felt hat sat upon his well-shaped head. AMERICAN was written all over him. No one could have imagined him anything else. Apparently he was a tramp as well-his apparel proclaimed h

ered hat and swept it low to his pony's

jordomo, senor

little building to the left of the ra

sh, his eyes widened a trifle; but the familiar smile with which he had greeted her left his f

elope, out there some

in your hair and ki

up as the words of Knibbs' poem float

he tired pony, looking at him through the window. A polite smile touched the stranger's lips

, gentlemen,"

v your breakfast in the mornin'. S'long!" The ranch superintendent turned back to the paper in his hand which he had been discussing with his employer at the moment of the interruption. He h

son having arranged for these felt that he had done all that might be expected of a host, especially when the uni

pony. He was looking at Grayson with what the disce

man has business with you. You did not ask him, and I am sure

d then to Bridge, "Well, w

o be more explicit, I need a jo

Grayson looked a bit m

don't need nobody now unless it might be

s is evidenced by the fact that

!" he exclaimed as though seized by a sudden inspiration. He looked sharply at Bridge for a moment and then sh

shes?" sugg

e playfulness of t

y in his tone which said: "As you, of course, cann

t me try." Bridge wanted money for the trip to Rio, and, too, h

nish?" ask

said Bridge, "though I do the latter well en

His better judgment told him that it was the height of idiocy to employ a ragged bum as a bookkeeper; but t

then come back here," he directe

nd rode off in the direc

id Grayson, ruefully, after Br

lish, which is excellent. He's probably one of the great army of down-and-outers. The world is full of them-po

ou won't need 'em before you an'

ns here such as they are. Have you any hope that you will

He's got it in for all Americans, and especially for El Orobo Rancho. You know we beat off a raid of his about six months ago-killed half a dozen of his men, an' he won't never forgive that.

d we've got to make the best of it. All this may blow over

r blow over 'til the stars and stripes blow

to the office, having unsaddled his

d Grayson, preparing to

plied the ne

," snappe

Oh, put me down as

" asked the

ancho," ans

s suspicions that the stranger was probably a horse thief, whic

. "I ain't sayin' nothin' of course, but I jest want to t

, was shocked by the brutality of Gray

ght that horse, an' the man he belonged t

on. "I guess you better git out. We

orse thief. A horse thief, I should imagine, would scarcely

on; "but he's just admi

"Thanks," he said; "but rea

ture which said: "

l over there was no one left to inform us who were the legal heirs of the late owners of this and several other horses which were left upon our hands, so I borro

crap?" asked Gra

sita's men," r

he

terd

se from one of Pesita's bunch you can't call that stealin'. Your room's in there, back of the office, an' you'll find so

have to speak to James about them," and he passed through into t

the devil does he mean by James

as laughin

l be worth all you pay him-if you can a

en keep books," replied Grays

shoes, and such a change had they wrought in his appearance that neither Grayson nor his employer would have kn

" asked the b

n my back affects in no way what I have within my head. No, I cannot say that I feel any better, since these clothes are not as comfortable as my old ones. However if it pleas

this bunch of trouble," replied the forema

corrals the latter's brow was corrugated by thought and his facial expressio

ore. The moment he came out of that room dressed like a human being I knew that I had known him; but for the

o' them eastern dude bank clerks what's gone wrong and com

fer the pay tomorrow. Next day's pay day. I don't like to send this here bum, I can'

e most trustworthy Mexicans y

o. I'll send him along with Tony an' Benito-they hate each other too much to frame u

k with the money, eh

't get 'em," r