The Pride of Palomar

ar them to-night. A little later, while he was hanging them in the clothes-press, a propitiatory cough sounded at the do

he little table yonder, please. May I inquire why you bear

o you, sir. He met me a moment ago and demanded that I surrender the tray to him, sir. I

will see to it that he does

ray,

you,

etemps occurred. A swarthy hand followed by a chambray-clad arm was thrust in the door, and the pistol snatched o

relieved the astonished butler of t

Pablo is a trifle jealous of the job of waiting on me. We'

s, mono mio,"

ackamoor has insulted me, sir. Just now he said, in effect, 'Good-night, monkey mi

llar from his pocket. "You are very kind, Murray, but hereafter I

turned t

n't kill somebody if she try," he declared, contemptuously. M

umper, Pablo brought f

e charge of wines and liquors, nevertheless, your sainted father reposed great confidence in me. Since his death, I have not touched one drop, although I was beset with temptation, seeing that if we did not drink it, others would. But Carolina would have none of it, and, as you know, your fat

my wish that, to-night, you and Carolina shall drink one pint ea

k his head

, Se?or Parker made the same demand. Him I refused also. This made him angry, and he ordered me to depart from El Pal

oast and a glass of wine while the majordomo related to him the events which had taken place at El Palom

formed Father Dominic. Ah, Don Miguel, my heart was afflicted tenfold worse than before to see that holy man weep for you. When he had wept a space, he ordered Father Andreas to say a high mass for the repose of your soul, while he came up to the hacienda to remind your father of the comforts of religion. Whereat, for the first time since that vagabond Moreno came with his evil tidings, your father smiled. 'Good Father Dominic,' said he, 'I have need of the comfo

of it before I left," D

eat general shook your father's hand and pinned upon his breast the medal that belongs to you. It was a proud moment for all of us. Then we rode back to the San Gregorio. At the mission, your father dismounted and went into the chapel to pray for your soul. For two hours, I waited before entering to seek him. I found him kneeling with his great bod

d warned me to avoid violence. I have dwelt here since in sorrow and perplexity, and because I have ridden the fences and watched over the stock, there has been no great effort made to disturb me. They have a cook-a Japanese, and two Japanese women servants. Also

led, Pablo. I shall have quite a task to place

ar curious, Don Miguel, how long must we s

ore, these people are my guests. It has never been th

me, Don Miguel, for forgetting it. Perhaps I have not played wel

lo. What food have we at the ranch? Is there suffici

it where,

but in

atural position as the master of the Rancho Palomar. "We have oranges," he began, enumerating each course of the forthcoming meal on his tobacco-stained fingers. "Then t

r, sugar,

no, Don

nic. If he has none, ride over to the Gonzales rancho and get it. Bacon, also, if

cook of Se?or Par

to be troubled by tr

me." He picked up the tray. "Sweet rest to you, sir, and may our

bothered to tell you this before, Pablo, but I want you to know that I do appreciate you and

ed, huskily, "must w

ll know more about our plans afte