Page 6
Friday, July 5, 1940
SOUTHERN OREGON MINER
By FRANK H. SPEARMAN
SYNOPSIS
© Frinì H. Spearman
Bowie was nonplused. But Carme­
lita gave him no time to decide
what he ought to do. She wriggled
with all her strength—and this was
surprising for her size—almost out
of his arms and. when she failed to
free herself, looked up at him with
such a mute pleading tn her burning
eyes that he felt sure it must be all
right Half laughing, he eased her
down into Monica's arms.
At this the smaller sister set up
such a commotion that Pardaloe re­
leased her likewise and with her
short fat l^fs. not noticeably stiff­
ened by her long ride, she dashed to
Monica.
' ‘ ’ •
"Seems like they knowed her.”
observed Pardaloe as the three men
watched the animated scene.
Bowie sat perplexed. “If we could
understand their lingo,” he said,
“This woman certainly does know
them, and they know her.
And
she’s an Indian. She must be their
nursi -belongs to their family, any-
way. Talk to her, Simmie.”
But Simmie’s efforts to make the
woman understand his Creek or
Seminole were as fruitless as the ef-
WNU Service
tca walking fast, the party rode
Bowie caught the implication.
south for more than two hours.
"Then as a Spaniard you. too, have
Don Alfredo, wealth)-. Spanish owner
Night had now fallen. There was felt the tyranny of the Mexican gov­
of a Southern California rancho. refuses
no moon, but the stars werT out. ernment. May 1 give you a confi­
to heed several warnings of a raid by a
band of outlaw. Sierra Indians One day
The horses, as well as Monica, dence?”
after he has finally decided to seek the
"It involves no crime or wrong­
seemed to know the trail and at
protection of the nearby mission for his
wife and family, the Indiana strike
length brought within sight a group doing?"
Don Alfredo Is killed and his two young
“Certainly not."
of buildings, one of which was sur­
daughters are torn from the arms of the
"What is your name?”
mounted by a cross. Bowie under­
family's faithful maid. Monica, and are
carried an ay to the hills
Padre Pas-
“I am from the East Padre We
stood this, at least, and when the
qual. missionary friend of the family,
horsemen drew up Monica pounded are Tejanos.”
arrives at the ruins of the ranch and
"Granted."
learns the story of the raid from Mon­
for some time on the gate of the
ica
After a trying and difficult trip
“So we are worse than American­
stockade that enclosed the place, but
across the plains and mountalna from
os And we are now helpless. We
without results.
Texas to CaUfomla. youthful Henry Bow­
ie. a Texas adventurer, with his friends.
She then bethought herself of a used our slender stock of ammuni­
Ben Pa rd aloe and Snnmle. an Indian
high bellhandle at the side of the tion in that fight with the Indians.”
scout sight the party of Indians who
“But you say, worse than Ameri­
have carried off the two little girls.
gate, at which she tugged vigorous­
With great cunning and accurate tim­
ly. A man appeared and. opening a canos—how so?"
ing the three Texans attack the war
“Padre, do you remember the Al­
peephole, asked questions. Moni­
party of fifty -odd Indians and through a
clever ruse scatter the savages to the
ca seemed known, for when she had amo?"
hills. The girls are saved but are still
The priest knit his brow tn mo­
explained her presence and argued
thoroughly frightened.
long and convincingly the big gate mentary perplexity. “I do remem­
was swung reluctantly open and the ber it."
CHAPTER IV—Continued
“Then well may Texans!” said
party rode in. The gate was closed
and the man disappeared. After fur­ Bowie gravely "My scout. Ben Par­
The result was magical. The rig­
ther waiting a light appeared at a daloe. lost his uncle in that damna­
id. fear-bound expression of the
window within the residence of the ble massacre by Santa Ana’s Mexi­
child’s features brightened instantly
padres, and presently one of them cans. Few are the Texans who can­
to one of understanding. The suspi­
not count a friend or relative mur­
opened a door.
cious eyes softened. This gesture
dered
there.”
Handing the girls to Monica. Bow­
was at least one she could compre­
“That," argued the priest pacifi­
ie and Pardaloe dismounted. Sim­
hend.
A timid smile gradually
mie taking the horses. The two men cally. "was some time ago. There is
spread over her face.
followed Monica and her charges as peace now."
"I believe she understands." said
His visitor nodded. "Not for long.
the padre led them along a dark pas­
Bowie.
sageway. On one side of it he paused 1 fear. Padre. There will be more
She allowed him to put the cup to
at an open door and bowed the vis­ fighting.” predicted Bowie almost
her lips, drank lightly but grateful­
itors into a commodious room mea- casually.
ly. looking up at him wonderingly
gerly furnished and lighted by two
“What brings you to California,
between swallows. Her thirst was
candles standing on a small oval my son?”
apparent. Then she spoke to her
table in the middle of the room.
"That is not my personal secret,
sister as Bowie supposed her to be.
Motioning his callers to seats, the or I would willingly tel) you. But I
With her cruelly stiffened arm she
padre, dark featured, tall and spare, am treading here on delicate
offered the water to her. The little
looked to Monica for explanation. ground. I cannot risk going to San
one, drinking ravenously, finished
With expressive gestures and in a Diego. I had an American friend
the cup. Simmie ran to the stream
few
words Monica told her story, who was starved to death in prison
and refilled it,- and the two girls
pointing at times to Bowie and indi­ there not so long ago by a Mexi-
emptied a second cupful. They tast­
cating again the little girls who can wretch, the governor."
ed sparingly of the venison, but they
clang to her as if afraid she might
"You mean Echeandla?"
ate, and afterward the two pitiful
escape them.
Bowie nodded. “Even if I were
refugees rode with the formidably
The padre listened gravely, fol­ inclined to trust him I would not
bearded Texans down the long
lowing with his eyes the recital of go. There might be fighting Some-
reaches of the foothill slopes.
the Indian woman. When she had
After three days of riding they
finished he asked a few questions
stumbled on a thing that gave them i
and turned his gaze across the sput­
cheer; they pulled up their horses
tering candles to Bowie.
before a traveled way under their
“No habla espanol?” he asked,
feet—a plainly marked trail that
adding in very difficult English.
ran almost at right angles to the di­
“You do speak nothing Spanish. I
rection in which they were riding.
speak poco English. I understand
Though it was winding along the
a few. Monica tell me how you
plain, across desert and over hills,
come to Los Alamos with these her-
this was. quite unknown to them,
manas.
Where from you come?
the highway of the king, linking,
How you have the children? Who you
up and down the stretches of the
“1 believe she understands,” said
are?”
coast, the missions that had brought
Bowie.
to California authentic Christianity.
He spoke very slowly. Bowie re­
I
They debated as to which way forts to make the girls understand sponded with more energy. The pad­
they should turn—north or south. English had been.
re. with a smile, raised his hand.
He tried his sign language. It “Please! Slow!"
It was a question only to be an­
swered by another: Where were was a passport with any tribe east
Bowie nodded. "We are Tejanos,
they? None of the three bad the of the Sierras, but not here.
Padre—cannot speak Spanish. We
With all three chattering at the took these girls from Indians—a war
vaguest idea. Bowie knew he want­
ed to get to Monterey—that was all. same time. Monica took the chil­ party in the Sierras. Do you know
Evidences of cultivated fields lay dren down to the river, washed their these youngsters?”
to the south, so for the south they faces vigorously with only sand for
The padre nodded fast. “1 know
soap, talking excitedly while this them much, much.”
headed.
Toward nightfall they found them­ went on. The men had dismounted,
Haltingly and brokenly he related
selves approaching something like a hobbled the horses and turned them to Bowie and his companions the
rancho, They quickened their pace, out on the grass that bordered the story of the raiding of Los Alamos
for thin streamers of smoke curled banks, and made ready to camp.
and the burning of the rancho. With
Simmie opened the reserves of little difficulty the Texan followed
vaguely from what might be a
house, Their surprise and disap- venison. When Monica saw there and comprehended just how he and
pointment was cruel when, reaching was no salt she ran all the way to his men had chanced on the fleeing
the crest of a rise, they saw in the the half-burned ranch house and re­ warriors and robbed them at least
fading light that the smoke rose turned with a supply. It was mixed of their human victims. It was "I appreciate all you say. Padre.”
with ashes, but to the travelers it
from the ruins of a habitation.
not the first time, the padre said
The little charges, carried by was more welcome than gold.
sadly, that Spanish girls and wom­ one might be killed, for we would not
She brought, too, earthenware
Bowie and the long-legged Pardaloe,
en had been carried away by bad submit to detention. My business
had succumbed to the heat and fa­ cups and two loaves of badly Indians raiding the ranchos. And on the coast demands speed. Ex­
tigue of the long day’s ride, and scorched bread for the strange men. rarely had rescue parties, however cuse us from that venture.”
“Then what is your wish?”
both were asleep on the breasts of It was ravenously dug into and rav­ expeditious or well equipped, been
“Padre, we were forced to kill
their rescuers. Between the adven­ enously devoured by men who had able to recover the unhappy cap­
turers and ruins lay a river. Along tasted no bread for weeks.
tives if the raiders could reach the our horses when we were starving.
It was a happy supper for three high mountains first. And. he added, These horses we ride were captured
the bed. almost dry, a slender
stream trickled through margins of ragged, bearded and bronzed fron­ these thrice-unhappy victims of their from the savages. No doubt they
cress and rushes.
The horses tiersmen, one keen-visaged and bus­ savagery had been made creatures belong to the ranchero who was
stopped without invitation to slake tling Indian woman, and two deli­ to the chiefs—so it had been learned murdered. They should be returned
their thirst. Chaparral fringed the cately shy promises for California's from neophytes. The southern In­ to his family—the trappings are val­
farther bank of the stream, and future womanhood. Monica seemed dians, he added, were even more uable. But we shall be left horse­
from this thicket there came a sud­ to know even the horses. She talked warlike and ferocious than the tribes less. I have no money—what shall
volubly to the children while she about the northern missions. These we do?"
den cry.
It awoke the elder girl. She raised patted on the neck the horse Bowie wretches were Quemayas or Yu-
“What do you want to do, my
her head
Again a cry, almost a rode, Inspecting the saddle and mo- mas. Both had been scourges of son?”
shriek, came from the undergrowth. chila, her voice broke. Her eyes their missions and settlers for sixty
“To leave your hospitable roof be­
The girl in Bowie’s arms cried out filled, but she covertly brushed the years or more.
fore daybreak to continue our jour­
in return. The bushes across the tears away lest the girls see them.
.
“And now,” he asked in conclu­ ney north.”
After the repast Bowie engaged
river parted and a woman stood
“Where to?”
sion, raising his hands as he re­
Monica in a sign conversation forr?d
forth.
The Texan smiled again. "Padre.
garded the orphans with a world of
c-
Bowie had hardly time to inspect of sheer necessity. She slowly
pity, “what shall be done? Monica,” I have not given you my name. Ex­
her before his charges called again ceeded in getting him and his com­
he said in Spanish, "you know the cuse that I say only, I am bound
to the woman in a frenzy of joy. panions to comprehend that these ru­
quarters for the unmarried women. north.”
ins to which she pointed with exces­
“Monica! Monica!”
“As far as Mission San Francisco
Take the children and And lodging
The woman was a strange-looking sive grief had been her home and
de
Asia?”
for them and for yourself for the
creature.
Her gaunt face was the home of these girls, whence they night. In the morning we shall see.”
“Probably.”
framed by thin streams of dis­ had been stolen.
“Then I can help you.”
When the three had left the room
In improvised mummery Bowie
ordered hair, falling on her shoul­
“But why should you help me.
the
padre
explained
to
Bowie
that
ders. A scant gown covered her asked what he should do with the
Padre?” '
he could not speak freely before the
emaciated figure. But when she children. Monica made many ges­
“Because,” he went on In broken
innocent victims of the savages or
heard the high, plaintive cry from tures, uttered and repeated one
English, “you have done an inesti-
disclose
that
these
had
murdered
the little girls she quivered. Her word. “San Diego! San Diego!”
mable charity to my dearest friends.
Bowie shook his head in dissent. their father. He added that the None but a humane, an honorable,
outstretched arms flew up and
mother
was
at
San
Diego
at
the
down. “Carmelita!” she screamed, "No, no. San Diego.”
man would have endangered his life
"But yes,” urged Monica, adding, home of a relative and that her son, to rescue the helpless prisoners of
"Terecita. is it you?” The hurried
brother
to
the
little
ones,
was
with
words in Spanish were not under­ "that is where their mother is.”
these unhappy savages and now de­
her. He suggested that the Tejanos,
Bowie understood “San Diego,
stood by the greatly surprised Té­
part without asking or expecting
supplied with a guard of soldiers
janos. Now the little girl broke but the rest was Greek, and he re­
recompense.”
from the mission, take the rescued
into a volley of responses—her fused positively to go to San Diego.
Bowie laughed. “Padre, you for­
girls to San Diego in the morning
tongue was loosed. She spoke so "That,” said he to Monica—though
Indians—mean Indians—wher­
to receive the thanks and gratitude get
1
fast that Bowie laughed as he lis­ she understood not at all—“is where
ever and however found, are poison
of their mother and relatives.
they like to lock up Tejanos and
tened.
to Texans.”
starve them to death! No San Di­ Where, he doubted not, a generous
The priest spoke on. “1 forget
reward would in part recompense
ego.”
CHAPTER V
my son; I take nothing
them for the dangers they had in- nothing,
'
His refusal she at last grasped.
back. It is true,” he added sadly,
curred in battling the savages and
“Who are these men?” asked the Then with abundance of signs she
for the hardships incurred in re­ "the Philistines have despoiled us,
Indian woman looking suspiciously suggested a place nearer.
storing the precious ones to their as
j they have all the missions. They
“Mision!” she exclaimed. “Mis­
at the horsemen.
leave us nothing they can sell for
despairing family.
“I lon’t know,” piped the little ion!” And pointed with much eh-
Bowie listened carefully. He liked j money or put to their uses. A few
one. "They brought us away from ergy and with a vigorous finger
horses remain to us in our poverty.
the padre; he felt instinctively that I
the bad Indians, Monica.
Many again and again to the south.
These I place at your disposal.”
Bowie watched her closely. About he could trust him; yet he felt, too,
wicked Indians are killed. Where
"I will pay well for them. Padre,
all he could grasp was her emphatic the need of caution in all his move- , when I have the means.”
are my mother and father?”
“Where is your sister, Carme­ earnestness. Her big hollow eyes ments and contacts in California.
“You will pay nothing for them,
“I appreciate all you say, Padre, j I have made a poor face, true. But
lita?” the woman asked hysterically. flashed, and appeal filled her voice.
He talked with his men; neither But there are difficulties.”
"She is here.”
that is only to explain, Our best
"Such as what, my son?”
“Mother of Mercy,” sobbed the could imagine the meaning of "Mis­
horses are gone, but we still have a
“Let me ask a question: are you few homely, hardy beasts that will
ion!” The situation was baffling,
woman. “I thank you.”
The horses had taken the water al­ and after some delay Bowie agreed Mexican or Spanish?”
carry you safely—even these may be
The padre looked quizzically pillaged from us tomorrow And I
lowed them. The Texans rode into to accompany her to learn exactly
grave; he spoke with a twinkle in will give you a silent, trustworthy
the river, and Monica ran down to what she meant
The girls, needing much reassur­ his eye. “My son, Spanish priests Indian for a guide.”
meet them; the two girls, crying
hard, held out their arms frantically ance from Monica, were taken up are not now supposed to be in Cali­
“That would be wonderful.”
again by the Texans, and, with Mon­ fornia missions.”
to her.
(TO HE CONTINUED)
HCWJ° SEW
Ruth Wyeth Spears
I T WAS with a thrill of pride that
* Betsy's mother looked over a
list of the nicest girls in Betsy's
class. She had said, “yes,” when
Betsy wanted to give a luncheon
for them. Now what would she do
about the shabby old dining room
with its veneered oak chairs,
short, fuded curtains and bare
buff-colored walls?
Here is the answer and it cost
exactly six dollars. An inexpen­
sive green and yellow flowered
chintz was used for draperies
from ceiling to floor. The trick of
making the windows higher is ex­
plained in the diagram. The old
window shades were painted a
soft, clear green. The backs and
scats of the chairs were slip-cov­
ered with the chintz with green
bindings, and a set of green and
yellow china was brought out to
Gems of Thought
T'WO things command my
* veneration—the stary uni­
verse around me and the law
of duty within.—Kant.
lend color to the wulls and add a
note of interest on green painted
stands in front of the windows.
The stands were made of empty
spools as described in the new
Sewing Book 5, which is now
ready for mulling. This book also
gives directions for a buckram
stiffened valance of the type
shown here. All of its 32 pages
are packed ns tight ns 1 could
inuko them with ideas to muke
your home attractive without
breaking the bank. You can have
your copy for 10 cents to cover
cost nnd mailing. Send order to:
RUTH WVKTH BPKARS
Drawer IS
Urdtord HUH
Naw York
MRS
Enclose IO conta tor Book ».
Name .......... ...................................... .
Address ............. ••••■•................. ..
Frog Worship
The French have eaten frogs for
yeurs, and so have we Americans.
But the Chinese, who have been
frog eaters for centuries, are the
only nation in the world to wor­
ship frogs ns well, for in their pe­
culiar symbolism the frog »funds
for wealth. In Chekiang, the cen­
ter of the cult, special houses are
devoted to the Use id flogs. They
are taken there from temples and
allowed to hop merrily about the
sunny gardens. When they are
tired, devotees carry them back
to the temples. The Chinese wor­
ship the green frog, and only the
mud-colored variety appears on
their menu.
/ hol-e ihrrf ptniuui thing» nhich
I hohl font and prua <
kiimililY. loaTnr.
Number among your worst
enemies the hawker of mali­
cious rumors and unexplored
anecdote.—La vater.
The mark must be made in
youth.—Chinese Proverb.
1 hr feeling of dflruit it aluoyt
thr tail which a great mind aci/uirat.
Racine.
Truth is the foundation and
the reason of all perfection and
beauty.—La Rochefoucauld.
Without Purpose
“We do not lack ability so much
as we lack purpose.”
I KEEP MV SMOKING ON
THE SLOW-BURN INC SIDE
WITH CAMELS. THEY GIVE
ME EXTRA MILDNESS AND
PATRICIA ENGLISH,
noted Won trainer
ight you are . Patricia
R
. English. Camels are more
than mild. They give you the
natural mildness of costlier to­
baccos—plus the extra mddneu
of a slower way of burning
which means freedom from the
irritating qualities of excess
beat. And along with extra mild­
ness, extra coolness, and extra
flavor. Camels also give you
smoking (see Ww).
CAMELS
SLOW-BURNING COSTLIER TOBACCOS
THEN you must
see OAKLAND!
To complete your
enjoyment stop
at Oakland’s
favoritez
HOTEL LEAMINGTON
RATES TROM $2.50
Special rate» (or familial . . , Write for information
A