Classic Audiobook Collection - A Texas Matchmaker by Andy Adams ~ Full Audiobook [romance]

Episode Date: August 25, 2023

A Texas Matchmaker by Andy Adams audiobook. Genre: romance On the brush-country ranch of Las Palomas in southern Texas, young Tom Quirk thinks he has signed on for honest work with cattle, horses, and open range. Instead, he finds himself apprenticed to a legend: Lance 'Uncle Lance' Lovelace, a tough, sixty-something ranchero, old pioneer, and three-time husband who has made it his personal business to steer lonely men toward marriage as surely as he steers a herd across unforgiving country. As Tom learns the demanding rhythms of ranch life - roundups, long rides, and the hard logic of the cattle business - he also becomes Uncle Lance's trusted interpreter and go-between, carrying messages, reading motives, and smoothing the way when bashful vaqueros and ranch hands fall headlong into love. Before long, Tom is drawn into the same web of courtship, aiming his own hopes at the quietly compelling Esther McLeod while trying to keep his dignity intact under Uncle Lance's sharp eye and sharper advice. Part frontier portrait and part wry comedy of manners, A Texas Matchmaker blends romance with the authentic textures of early Texas ranching and the complicated human need for belonging. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 01 (00:19:38) Chapter 02 (00:46:37) Chapter 03 (01:17:12) Chapter 04 (01:37:54) Chapter 05 (02:11:25) Chapter 06 (02:43:27) Chapter 07 (03:13:13) Chapter 08 (03:31:26) Chapter 09 (03:51:59) Chapter 10 (04:23:05) Chapter 11 (04:44:45) Chapter 12 (05:21:54) Chapter 13 (05:50:27) Chapter 14 (06:24:59) Chapter 15 (06:51:49) Chapter 16 (07:18:21) Chapter 17 (07:43:50) Chapter 18 (08:10:04) Chapter 19 (08:34:08) Chapter 20 (09:02:16) Chapter 21 (09:32:10) Chapter 22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

a texas matchmaker by andy adams chapter i lance love lace when i first found employment with lance love lace a texas cowman i had not yet attained my majority while he was over sixty though not a native of texas uncle lance was entitled to be classed amongst its pioneers his parents having emigrated from tennessee along with a party of stephen f austin's colonists in 1821. The colony with which his people reached the state landed at Quintana, at the mouth of the Brasso's River, and shared the various hardships that befell all the early Texas settlers, moving inland later to a more healthy locality. Thus the education of Young Lovelace was one of privation. Like other boys in pioneer families, he became in turn a hewer of wood or a drawer of water, has the necessities of the household required in reclaiming the wilderness. When Austin hoisted the newborn Lone Star flag and called upon the sturdy pioneers to defend it,

the adventurous settlers came from every quarter of the territory, and among the first who responded to the call of arms was young Lance Lovelace. After San Jacinto, when the fighting was over and the victory won, he laid down his arms and returned the ranching, with the same zeal and energy. The first legislature assembled, voted to those who bore arms in behalf of the New Republic,

lands in payment for their services. With this landscape for his pay, young lovelace, in company with others, set out for the territory lying south of the new aces. They were a band of daring spirits. The country was primitive and fascinated them, and they remained.

some settled on the Frio River, though the majority crossed the New Aces, many going as far south as the Rio Grande. The country was as large as the men were daring, and there was elbow room for all and to spare. Lance Lovelace located a ranch a few miles south of the Nuaces River, and from the cooing of the dubs in the Encinol, named it Las Palomas. When I first settled here in 1838, said Uncle Lance to me, one morning, as we rode out across the range, my nearest neighbor lived forty miles up the river at Fort Yule. Of course, there were some Mexican families nearer, north on the Frio, but they don't count. Say Tom, but she was a pretty country then.

Why, from those hills yonder any morning you could see a thousand antelope in a band, going into the river to drink, and wild turkeys? Well, the first few years we lived here, whole flogues. fox roosted every night in that farther point of the ensignol. And in the winter, these prairies were just flooded with geese and brant. If you wanted venison, all you had to do was to ride through those mesquite thickets north of the river to jump a hundred deer in a morning's ride. Oh, I tell you, she was a land of plenty.

The pioneers of Texas belonged to a day and generation, which is almost gone. If strong arms and daring spirits were required to conquer the wilderness, nature seemed generous in the supply. For nearly all were stalwart types of the inland Viking. Lance Lovelace, when I first met him, would have passed for a man in middle life. Over six feet in height, with a rugged constitution, he little felt his threescore years, having spent his entire lifetime in the outdoor occupation of a ranchman. living on the wild game of the country sleeping on the ground by a camp-fire when his work required it as much at home in the saddle as by his ranch fireside he was a romantic type of the strenuous pioneer

he was a man of simple tastes true has tested steel in his friendships with a simple honest mind which followed truth and right as unerringly as gravitation in his domestic affairs however he was unfortunate the year after locating at las palomas he had returned to his former home on the colorado river where he had married mary brian also of the family of austin colonists hopeful and happy they returned to their new home on the nuasas but before the first anniversary of their wedding-day arrived she with her firstborn was laid in the same grave but grief does not kill and the young husband borer's loss as brave men do in living out their allotted day. But to the hour of his death, the memory of Mary Bryan, mellowed him into a child, and when unoccupied, with every recurring thought of her,

or the mere mention of her name, he would fall into deep reverie, lasting sometimes for hours. Although he contracted two marriages afterward, there were simply marriages of convenience, to which, after their termination, he frequently referred flippantly, sometimes with irreverence, for they were unhappy alliances.

On my arrival at Las Palomas, the only white woman on the ranch, was Miss Jean, a spinster sister of its owner, and twenty years his junior. After his third bitter experience in the lottery of matrimony, evidently, he gave up hope and induced his sister to come out and preside as the mistress of Las Palomas. She was not tall like her brother, but rather than, plump for her forty years. She had large gray eyes with long black eyelashes, and she had a trick of looking out from under them, which was both provoking and disconcerting, and no doubt many an admirer had been deceived by those same roguish laughing eyes.

Every man, Mexican and child on the ranch, was the devoted courtier of Miss Jean, for she was a lovable woman, and in spite of her isolated life, and the constant plaguing of her brother on being a spinster, she fitted neatly into our pastoral life. It was these teasings of her brother that gave me my first inkling that the old Ranchero was a wily matchmaker, though he religiously denied every such accusation. With a remarkable complacency, Jean Lovelace met and parried her tormentor, but her brother never tired of his hobby while there was a third person to listen. Though an unlettered man, Lance Lovelace had been a close observer of humanity, the big book

of life had been always opened before him, and he had profited from its pages. With my advent at Las Palomas, there were less than a half a dozen books on the ranch, among them a copy of Bret Hart's poems and a large Bible. That book alone, said he to several of us one chilly evening, as we sat around the open fireplace, is the greatest treatise on humanity ever written. Go with me today in any city, in any country in Christendom, and I'll show you a man, walk up the steps of his church on Sunday, who thanks God that he's better than his neighbor.

But you needn't go so far if you don't want to, I reckon if I could see myself I might show symptoms of it occasionally. Sis here thanks God daily, that she is better than that Barnes girl who cut her up. of Amos Alexander. Now don't you deny it, for you know it's gospel truth, and that book is reliable on lots of other things. Take marriage, for instance.

It is just as natural for men and women to mate at the proper time as it is for steers to shed in the spring. But there's no necessity of making all this fuss about it. The Bible way discounts all these modern methods. He took unto himself a wife is the way it describes such events. but now such an occurrence has to be announced months in advance, and after the wedding is over, in less than a year sometimes, they are glad to sneak off and get the bond dissolved in some divorce court like I did with my second wife. All of us about the ranch, including Miss Jean,

knew that the old rancherals' views on matrimony could be obtained by leading up to the question or differing as occasion required. So, just to hear him talk on his face, favorite theme, I said, Uncle Lance, you must recollect this is a different generation. Now I've read books. So have I, but it's different in real life. Now in those novels you have read,

the poor devil is nearly worried the death for fear he'll not get her. There's a hundred things happens. He's thrown off the scent one day and cuts it again the next. And one evening, he's in a heaven of bliss, and before the dance ends, a rival looms up.

and there's hell to pay. Excuse me, sis. But he gets her in the end. And that's the way it goes in the books. But getting down to actual cases, when the money's on the table and the game's rolling, it's as simple as picking a sire and a dam to raise a racehorse. When they're both willing, it don't require any expert to see it. A one-eyed or a blind man can tell the symptoms. Now, when any of you boys get into that fix, get it overwerewere. with as soon as possible. From the drift of your remarks, said June Duis very innocently,

why wouldn't it be a good idea to go back to the old method of letting the parents make the matches? Yes, it would be a good idea. How in the name of common sense could you expect young sap-heads like you boys to understand anything about a woman? I know what I'm talking about.

A single woman never shows her true colors, but conceals her imperfections. the average man is not to be blamed if he fails to see through her smiles and sunday humor now i was forty when i married the second time and forty-five of the last whirl looks like i'd had some little sense now don't it but i didn't no i didn't have any more show than a snowball inn sis hadn't you better retire you're not interested in my talk to these boys well if ever any of you want to get married you have my kidd consent. You'd better get my opinion on her dimples when you do. Now, with my sixty-odd years, I'm worth listening to. I can take a cool, dispassionate view of a woman now, and pick every good point about her, just as if she was a cow-horse that I was buying for my own saddle. Miss Jean, who had a ready tongue for repartee, took advantage of the first opportunity to

remark. Do you know, brother, matrimony, is a subject that I always enjoy hearing discussed by such an oracle as yourself? But did it never occur to you what an unjust thing it was of Providence to reveal so much to your wisdom, and conceal the same from us babes? It took some time for the gentle reproof to take effect, but Uncle Lance had an easy faculty for evading a question when it was contrary to his own views. Speaking of the wisdom, of babes, said he, reminds me of what Felix York, an old 36 comrade of mine, once said. He had caught the gold fever in 49, and nothing would do, but he and some others must go to California. The party went up to Independence, Missouri, where they got into an overland

immigrant train, bound for the land of gold. But it seems before starting, Senator Benton, had made a speech in that town, in which he made the prophecy that one day there would be a railroad connecting the Missouri River with the Pacific Ocean. Felix told me this only a few years ago, but he said that all the Teamsters made the prediction of Byword. When crossing some of the mountain ranges, the train halted to let the oxen blow, one bullwacker would say to another, well, I'd like to see old Tom Benton get his railroad over this mountain. When Felix told me this, he said, there's a railroad So today crosses those same mountain passes over which we forty-niners whacked our bulls, and

to think I was a grown man and had no more sense or foresight than a little baby blink in its eyes in the sun. With years at Las Palmas I learned to like the old ranchero. There was something of the strong primitive man about him which compelled a youth of my years to listen to his counsel. His confidence in me was a compliment which I appreciate to this day. day. When I had been in his employ hardly two years, an incident occurred which, though only one of many similar acts cementing our long friendship, tested his trust. One morning, just as

he was on the point of starting on horseback to the county seat to pay his taxes, a Mexican arrived at the ranch and announced that he had seen a large band of Havillina on the border of the chaparral up the river. Uncle Lance had promised his taxes by a certain date, but he was a true sportsman and owned a fine pack of hounds. Moreover, the peccary is a migratory animal and does not wait upon the pleasure of the hunter. As I rode out from the corrals to learn what had brought the Vicaro with such haste, the old ranchero cried,

Here, Tom, you'll have to go to the county seat. Buckle this money belt under your shirt, and if you lack enough gold to cover the taxes, you'll find silver here in my saddle-bags. Blow the horn-boys and get the guns. Leave the way, Ponsho, and say, Tom, better leave the road after crossing the sordo, and strike through that mesquite country, he called back, as he swung into his saddle and started,

leaving me a 60-mile ride in his stead. His warning to leave the road after crossing the creek was timely, for a ranchman had been robbed by bandits on that road the month before. but i made the ride in safety before sunset paying the taxes amounting to over a thousand dollars during all of our acquaintance extending over a period of twenty years lance lovelace was a constant revelation to me for he was original in all things knowing no precedent he recognized none which had not the approval of his own conscience where others were content to follow he blazed his own pathways immaterial to him whether they were followed by others or even noticed in his business relations and in his own way he was exact himself and likewise exacting of others some there are who might criticise him for an episode which occurred about four years after my advent at las palomas mr whitley booth a younger man and a brother-in-law of the old ranchero by his first wife rode into the ranch one evening evidently unimportant business he was not a frequent caller for he was also a ranchman living about forty miles north and west on the frio river but he was in the habit of bringing his family down to the noaces about twice a year for a visit of from ten days to two weeks duration

but this time though we had been expecting the family for some little time he came alone remained over night and at breakfast ordered his horse as if expecting to return at once the two ranchmen were holding a conference in the sitting-room when a mexican boy came to me at the corrals and said i was wanted in the house on my presenting myself my employer said tom i want you as a witness to a business transaction i'm lending wit here a thousand dollars and as we have never taken any notes between us i merely want you as a witness go into my room please and bring out from under my bed one of those largest bags of silver the door was unlocked and there under the rancherow's bed dust-covered were possibly a dozen sacks of silver finding one tagged with a required amount i brought it out and laid it on the table between the two men but on my return i noticed uncle lance had turned his chair from the table and was gazing out of the window apparently absorbed in thought i saw at a glance that he was gazing into the past for i had become used to these reveries on his part i had not been excused and an embarrassed silence ensued which was only broken as he looked over his shoulder and said there it is wit counted if you want to but mr booth knowing the oddities of uncle lance hesitated well why look here lance if you have any reason for not wanting to loan me this amount why say so there's the money wit take it if you want to it'll pay for the hundred cows you are figuring on buying but i was just thinking can two men at our time and life who'd always been friends afford to take the risk of letting a business transaction like this possibly make us enemies

you know i started poor here and what i have made and saved is the work of my lifetime you are welcome to the money but if anything should happen that you didn't repay me you know i wouldn't feel right towards you it's probably my years that does it but now i always look forward to the visits of your family and jean and i always enjoy our visits at your ranch i think we'd be too old fools to allow anything to break up those pleasant relations Uncle Lance turned in his chair, and looking into the downcast countenance of Mr. Booth, continued. Do you know, wit, that youngest girl of yours reminds me of her aunt, my own Mary, in a hundred ways. I just love to have your girls tear around this old ranch, and they seem to give me back certain glimpses of my youth that are priceless to an old man. That'll do, Lance, said Mr. Booth, rising, and extending his hand. I don't want the money now. your view on the matter is right and our friendship is worth more than a thousand cattle to me lizzie and the girls were anxious to come with me and i'll go right back and send them down

end of chapter one chapter two of a tex matchmaker by andy adams this librivox recording is in the public domain shepherds ferry within a few months after my arrival at las palomas there was a dance at shepherd's ferry there was no necessity for an invitation to such local meets old and young alike were expected and welcome and a dance naturally drained the sparsely settled community of its inhabitants from forty to fifty miles in every direction on the new aces in eighteen seventy five the amusements of the countryside were extremely limited barbecues tournaments and dancing cover the social side of ranch life and whether given up or down our home river or north on the frio so they were within a day's ride the white element of las palomas could always be depended upon to be present uncle lance in the lead shepard's ferry is somewhat of a misnomer for the water in the river was never over knee-deep to a horse except dorim freshets there may have been a ferry there once but from my advent on the river there was nothing but a store the keeper of which also conducted a road-house for the accommodation of travellers there was a fine grove for picnic purposes within easy reach which was also frequently used for camp meetings purposes gnarly old live-oaks spread their branches like a canopy over everything while the sea green moss hung from every limb and twig excluding the light and lazily waving with every vagrant breeze the fact that these grounds were also used for camp meetings only proved the broad toleration of the people on this occasion i distinctly remember that miss jean introduced a lady to me who was the wife of an episcopal minister

then visiting on a ranch near oakville and i had danced several times with her and found her very amiable on receipt of the news of the approaching dance at the ferry we set the ranch in old water fortunately under seasonable conditions work on the cattle range is never pressing a program of work outlined for a certain week could easily be postponed a week or a fortnight for that matter for this was the land of la maniana and the white element of las palomas easily adopted the easy-going methods of their mexican neighbors so on the day everything was in readiness the ranch was a trifle over third 30 miles from Shepherds, which was a fair half-day's ride. But as Miss Jean always traveled by ambulance, it was necessary to give her an early start. Las Palomas raised fine horses and mules, and the ambulance team for the ranch consisted of four mealy-muscled brown mules, which, being ranged bred, made up in activity what they lacked in size.

to Bersio, a trusty Mexican, for years in the employ of Uncle Lance, was the driver of the amulens, and at an early morning hour he and his mules were on their metal and impatient to start, but Miss Jean had a hundred petty things to look after. The lunch, enough for her round-up, was prepared, and was safely stored under the driver's seat. Then there were her own personal effects, and the necessary dressing-and-and-a-round-and-and-a-old. and tidying with Uncle Lance dogging her at every turn. Now, sis, said he,

I want you to rig yourself out in something sumptuous, because I expect to make a killing with you at this dance. I'm almost sure that that Louisiana mule drover will be there. You know you made quite an impression on him when he was through here two years ago. Well, I'll take a hand in the game this time, and if there's any merry in him,

he'll have to lead trumps. I'm getting tired of having my dear sister trifled with by every passing drover. Yes, I am. The next one that hangs around, Las Palomas, basking in your smiles, has got to declare his intentions whether he buys mules or not. Oh, you've got a brother, sis, that'll look out for you. But you must play your part. Now if that mule buyer is there, shall I?

Why, certainly, brother, invite him to the ranch, Miss Jean, as she busied herself with the preparations. It's so kind of you to look after me. I was listening to every word you said, and I've got my best Bib and Tucker in that hand-box. And just you wash me dazzle that Mr. Mulebyer. Strange, you didn't tell me sooner, about his being in the country.

Here, take these boxes out to the ambulance, and say, I put in the middle-sized coffee-pot, and do you think two packages of ground coffee will be enough? All right, then. Now, where's my gloves? We were all dancing attendance in getting the ambulance off, but Uncle Lance never relaxed his tormenting. Come now, hurry up, said he.

As Jean and himself led the way to the gate where the conveyance stood waiting, for I want you to look your best this evening, and you'll be all tired out if you don't get a good rest before the dance begins. Now in case the meal buyer don't show up, how about sim oliver you see i can put in a good word there just as easily as not of course he's a widower like myself but you're no spring pullet he wouldn't class among the buds besides sim branded eleven hundred calves last year and the very last time i was talking to him he allowed he'd crowd thirteen hundred close this year big calf drop you see now just why he should go to the trouble to tell me all this-this he allowed he'd crowd thirteen hundred close this year big calf drop you see now just why he should go to the trouble to tell me all this

unless he had his eyes on you is one too many for me. But if you want me to cut him out of your string of eligible, say the word, and I'll chase them out. You just bet, little girl, whoever wins you has got the score right, great, Scott, but you've got good taste in selecting perfumery. Hmm, it makes me half drunk to walk alongside of you. Be sure and put some of that ointment on your kerchief when you get there. Really, said Miss Jean, as they reached.

the amulins, I wish you had made a little memorandum of what I'm expected to do. I'm all in a flutter this morning, you see, without your help, my case is hopeless. But I think I'll try for the mule buyer. I'm getting tired looking at the slab-sided cowmen. Now, just look at those mules. Haven't had a harness on in a month, and Tibercio can't hold four of them, nohow. Lance, it looks like you'd send one of the boys to drive me down to the the ferry. Why, Lord, love you, girl, those mules are as gentle as kittens, and you don't suppose I'm going to put some gringo over a veteran like to Bursillo? Why, that old boy used to drive for Santa Ana during the invasion in 36. Besides, I'm sending Theodore and Glenn

on horseback as a bodyguard. Las Palomas is putting her best foot forward this morning in giving you a stylish turnout, without riders in their Sunday livery, and those two boys are the best ropers on the ranch. So if the mules run off, just give one of your long keen screams, and the boys will rope and hog-tie every mule in the team. Get in now, and don't make any faces about it. It was pettishness and not timidity that ailed Jean Lovelace, for a pioneer woman like herself had of course no fear of horse-flesh. But the team was acting in a manner to

unnerve an ordinary woman. With me clinging to the bits of the leaders, and a man each holding the wheelers, as they pawed the ground and surged about in their creaking harnesses, they were anything but gentle. But Miss Jean proudly took her seat. To Bersio fingered the reins in placid contentment. There was a parting volley of admonitions from brothers. brother and sister. The latter was telling us where we would find our white shirts. When Uncle Lance signaled to us, and we sprang away from the team. The ambulance gave a lurch forward as the mules started on a run. But Tibercio dexterously threw them on to a heavy bed of sand, poured the whip into them as they labored through it. They crossed the sandbed.

Glen Gallup and Theodore Quayle, riding at their heads, pointed the team into the road, and they were off. The rest of us busied ourselves getting up saddle-horses and dressing for the occasion. In the latter we had no little trouble, for dress occasions like this were rare with us. Miss Jean had been thoughtful enough to lay our clothes out, but there was a busy borrowing of collars and collar-buttons,

and the blackening of boots which made the sweat stand out on our foreheads and beads. After we were dressed and ready to start, Uncle Lance could not be induced to depart from his usual custom and wear his trousers outside his boots. Then we had to pull off the boots and polish them clear up to the ears in order to make him presentable. But we were in no particular hurry about starting, as we expected to out across the country and would overtake the amulence at the mouth of the Arroyo Saco in time for the noonday lunch. There were six in our party, consisting of Dan Happerset, Aaron Scales, John Cotton, June Deweese, Uncle Lance, and myself. With the exception of Deweis, who was nearly twenty-five years old, the remainder of the boys on the ranch were young fellows, several of whom, beside myself, had not yet attained their majority.

On ranch work, in the absence of our employer, June was recognized as the Saguny. of Los Palomas, owing to his age and his long employment on the ranch. He was a trustworthy man, and we younger lads entertained no envy towards him. It was about nine o'clock when we mounted our horses and started. We jollied along in a party, were separated into pairs in cross-country riding, covering about seven miles an hour. I remember, said Uncle Lance, as we were riding in a group the first time I was ever at Shepard's Ferry. We had been down the river on a cow hunt for about three weeks

and had run out of bacon. We had been eating beef and venison and antelope for a week until it didn't taste right any longer. So I sent the outfit on ahead and rode down to the store in the hope of getting a piece of bacon. Shepard had just established the place at the time, and when I asked him if he had any bacon, he said he had. But is it good, I inquired, and before he could reply, an eight-year-old boy of his stepped between us, and throwing back his tow-head, looked up into my face and said, Mr. It's a little the best I ever tasted. Now June, said Uncle Lance, as we rode along, I want you to let Henry Aeneer's wife strictly alone to-night. You know what a stink it raised all along the river, just because you danced

with her once last San Yacento day. Of course, Henry made a fool of himself by trying to borrow a six-shooter and otherwise getting on the prod, and I'll admit that it don't take the best of eyesight to see that his wife today thinks more of your old boots than she does of a nears wedding suit. Yet her husband will be the last man to know it. No man can figure to a certainty on a woman. Three guesses is not enough, for she will. and she won't, and she'll straddle the question or take the fence, and when you put a copper on her to win, she loses. God made them just that way, and I don't want to criticize his handiwork. But if my name is Lance Lovelace, and I'm sixty years old, and this is a chestnut

horse that I'm riding, then Henry Aeneer's wife is an unhappy woman. But that fact, son, don't give you license to stir up trouble between man and wife. Now remember, I've worn you not to dance speak to or even notice her on this occasion. The chances are that that local fool will come healed this time, and if you give him any excuse, he may burn a little powder. June promised to keep on his good behavior, saying, that's just what I've made up my mind to do. But looky here. Suppose he goes on the warpath. You can't expect me to show the white feather, nor let him run any sandies over me. I loved his wife once. and I'm not ashamed of it, and he knows it.

As much as I want to obey you, Uncle Lance, if he attempts to stand up a bluff on me, just as sure as hell's hot, there'll be a strange face or two in heaven. I was a new man on the ranch and unacquainted with the facts, so shortly afterwards I managed to drop to the rear with Dan Happerset and got the particulars. It seems that June and Mrs. Anir

had not only been sweethearts, but they had been engaged, and that the engagement had been broken within a month of the day set for their wedding, and that she had married a nearer on a three-week's acquaintance. Did a wonder, Uncle Lance took occasion to read the riot act to a Segundo in the interest of peace. This was all news to me, but secretly I wished June courage and a good aim if it ever came to a showdown between them. we reached the arroyal saco by high noon and found the amulins in camp and the coffee-pot boiling under the direction of miss jean traversio had removed the seats from the conveyance so as to afford seating capacity for over half of our number

the lunch was spread out under an old live-oak on the bank of the nuasas making a cosy camp miss jean had the happy knack of a good hostess our twenty-mile ride had whetted our appetites, and we did ample justice to her tempting spread. After luncheon was over, and while the team was being harnessed in, I noticed Miss Jean enticing Deweis off to one side, where the two held a whispered conversation, seated on an old fallen tree. As they returned, June was promising something which she had asked of him, and if there ever was a woman lived who could exact the promise that would be respected Jean Lovelace was that woman, for she was like an elder sister to us all.

In starting, the ambulance took the lead as before, and near the middle of the afternoon we reached the ferry. The merry-makers were assembling from every quarter, and on our arrival, possibly a hundred had come, which number was doubled by the time the festivities began. We turned our saddle and workstock into a small pasture, and gave ourselves, over to the fast-gathering crowd. I was delighted to see Miss Jean and Uncle Lance recorded a warm welcome by everyone, for I was somewhat of astray on this new range, but when it became known that I was a recent addition to Las Palomas, the welcome was extended to me, which I duly appreciated. The store and the hostelry did a rushing business during the evening hours,

for the dance did not begin until seven. A Mexican orchestra, a orchestra consisting of a violin, an Italian harp and two guitars, had come up from Oakville to furnish the music for the occasion. Just before the dance commenced, I noticed Uncle Lance greet a late arrival, and on my inquiring of June, who he might be, I learned that the man was Captain Frank Beiler of Lagarto. The drover, Uncle Lance, had been teasing Miss Jean about in the morning, and a man, as I learned later, who drove herds of horses north on the trail during the summer, and during the winter drove mules and horses to Louisiana, for sale among the planters. Captain Beiler was a good-looking,

middle-aged fellow, and I made up my mind at once that he was due to rank as the lion of the evening among the ladies. It is useless to describe this night of innocent revelry. It was a rustic community, and the people assembled were, with few exceptions. perceptions purely pastoral. There may have been earnest vows spoken under those spreading notes, who knows. But if there were the retentive ear which listened, and the cautious tongue which spake the vows, had no intentions of having their confidence profaned on this page. Yet it was a night long to be remembered. Timid lovers sat apart. Oblivious to the gaze of the merry revelers. Matrons and maidens bide with each other.

in affability to the sterner sex i had a most enjoyable time i spoke spanish well and made it a point to cultivate the acquaintance of the leader of the orchestra on his learning that i also played the violin he promptly invited me to play a certain new waltz which he was desirous of learning but i had no sooner taken the violin in my hand then the lazy rascal lighted a cigarette and strolled away absenteeing himself for nearly an hour but i was familiar with the simple dance music of the country and played everything that was called for my talent was quite a revelation to the boys of our ranch and especially to the owner and mistress of las palomas the latter had me play several old colorado river favorites of hers and i noticed that when she had the dashing captain byler for her partner my waltzes seemed never long enough to suit her after i had been relieved miss jean introduced me to a number of nice girls and for the remainder of the evening i had no lack of partners but there was one girl there whom i had not been introduced to who always avoided my glance when i looked at her but who when we were in the same set and i squeezed her hand had blushed just too lovely when that dance was over i went to miss jean for an introduction but she did not know her so i appealed to uncle lance for i knew that he could give the birth-date of every girl present we took a stroll through the crowd and when i described her by her big eyes he said in a voice so loud that i felt she must hear why certainly i know her that's esther mclead i've trotted her on my knee a hundred times she's the youngest girl of old donald mclead who used to ranch over on the mouth of the san miguel north of the frio

yes i'll give you an interslapion then in a subdued tone and if you can drop your rope on her son tire good and fast for she's good stock i was made acquaintant as his last adopted son and inferred the old ranchero's approbation by many a poke in the ribs from him in the intervals between dances for esther and i danced every dance together until dawn no one could charge me with neglect or inattention for for I close-herded her like a hired hand. She mellowed nicely towards me after the ice was broken, and with the limited time at my disposal I made hay. When the dance broke up with the first signs of day, I saddled her horse and insisted her to mount. When I received the cutest little invitation,

if I ever happened over on the San Miguel to try and call. Instead of beating about the bush, I assured her bluntly that if she ever saw me on her, Miguel Creek, it would be intentional, for I should have made the ride purely to see her. She blushed again in a way which sent the thrill through me. But on the nuisus in seventy-five, if a fellow took the fancy to a girl, there was no harm in showing it or telling her so. I had been so absorbed during the latter part of the night that I had paid little attention

to the rest of the Las Paloma's outfit, though I occasionally caught sight of Miss Jean and the drover, generally dancing, sometimes promenading, and once had a glimpse of them, te-tete-to-tee, on a rustic set tea in a secluded corner. Our employer seldom danced, but kept his eyes on June Duis in the interest of peace, for Aeneer and his wife were both present. Once while Esther and I were missing a dance over some light refreshment, I had occasion to watch June, as he and Aeneer danced in the same sense. set. I thought the latter acted rather surly, though Deweiss was the acme of geniality,

and was apparently having the time of his life as he tripped through the mazes of the dance. Had I not known of the deadly enmity existing between them, I could never have suspected anything but friendship. He was acting the part so perfectly. But then I knew he had given his plighted word to the master and mistress, and nothing but an insult or indignity could tempt him to break it. On the return trip we got the amulins off before sunrise, expecting the halt and breakfast again

at the Arroyo Saco. Aaron Scales and Dan Haperset acted as couriers to Miss Jean's conveyance, while the rest dallied behind, for there was quite a cavalcade of young folk going a distant our way. This gave Uncle Lance a splendid chance to quiz the girls in the party.

I was writing, with a Miss Wilson from Ramarina who had come up to make a visit at a nearby ranch and incidentally attended the dance at Shepherds. I admit that I was a little too much absorbed over another girl to be very entertaining, but Uncle Lance helped out by joining us. Nice morning overhead, Miss Wilson, said he, on riding up. Sav, waited just as long as I'm going to for that invitation to your wedding which you promised me last summer. Now I don't know so much about the young men, down about Ramarina, but when I was a youngster back on the Colorado, when a boy loved a girl he married her, whether it was

Friday or Monday, rain or shine. I'm getting tired of being put off with promises. Why, actually, I haven't been to a wedding in three years. What are we coming to? On reaching the road where Miss Wilson and her party separated from us, Uncle Lance returned to the church. Now, no matter how busy I am when I get your invitation, I don't care if the irons are in the fire, and the cattle in the corral, I'll drown the fire and turn the cows out. And if La Palomas has a horse that'll carry me, I'll merely touch the high places in coming. And when I get there, I'm willing to do anything, give the bride away, say grace, or carve the turkey.

And what's more? I never kissed a bride in my life that didn't have good luck. Tell your pa you saw me. Goodbye, dear. On overtaking the ambulance in camp, our party included, about twenty, several of whom were young ladies. But Miss Jean insisted that everyone remained for breakfast, assuring them that she had abundance for all. After the impromptu meal was disposed of, we bade our adieus and separated to the four quarters.

before we had gone far uncle lance rode alongside of me and said tom why didn't you tell me you was a fiddler god knows you're lazy enough to be a good one and you ought to be good on a bee course but what made me warm to you last night was the way you built to esther mclead son you set her cush about right if you can hold sight of a herd of bees on a bad night like you did her you'll be a foreman some day and she's not only good blood herself but she's got cattle and land old man donald her father was killed in the confederate army he was an honest scotsman who kept sunday and everything else he could lay his hands on in all my travels i never met a man who could offer a longer prayer or take a bigger drink of whisky i remember the first time i ever saw him he was serving on the grand jury and i was a witness in a cattle-stealing case he was a stranger to me and we had just sat down at the same table at a hotel for dinner we were on the point of helping ourselves when the old scot arose and struck the table of blow that made the dishes rattle you heathen said he will you partake of the bounty of your heavenly father without returning thanks we laid down her knives and forks like boys caught in a water-bellion patch and the old man asked a blessing i've been at his house often he was a good man but secession caught him and he never came back so quirk you see a son-in-law will be a handy man in the family and with that start you made last night-and-and-you had a son-in-law will be a handy man in the family and with that start you made last night-and you made last night-and you-and you-migh i hoped for good results the other boys seemed to enjoy my embarrassment but i said nothing in reply being a new man with the outfit

we reached the ranch about an hour before noon two hours in advance of the amulins and the sleeping we did until sunrise the next morning required no lullaby end of chapter two chapter three of a texas matchmaker by andy adams this librivox recording is in the public domain las palomas there is something about those large ranches of southern texas that reminds one of the old feudal system the pathetic attachment to the soil of those born to certain spanish land grants can only be compared to the european immigrant when for the last time he looks on the land of his birth before sailing of all this la palomas was typical in the course of time several such grants had been absorbed into its baronial acres but it had always been the policy of uncle lance never to disturb the mexican population rather he encouraged them to remain in his service thus had sprung up around las palama's ranch a little mexican community numbering about a dozen families who lived in wakals close to the main ranch building they were simple people and rendered their new master of feudal loyalty there were also several small ranchitas located on the land where under the mexican regime they had been pretentious adobe buildings a number of families still resided in the land where under the mexican regime they had been pretentious adobe buildings a number of families still resided at these deserted ranches, content in cultivating small fields or looking after flocks of goats

and a few head of cattle, paying no rental, save a service tenure to the new owner. The customs of these Mexican people were simple and primitive. They blindly accepted the religious teachings imposed with fire and sword by the Spanish conquerors upon their ancestors. A padre visited them yearly, christening the bay of marion the youth, shriving the penitent, and saying masses for the repose of the souls of the departed. Their social customs were in many respects unique. For instance, in courtship, a young man was never allowed in the presence of his amurata unless in company of others, or under the eye of a chaperone.

Proposals, even among the nearest neighbors or most intimate of friends, were always made in writing, usually by the father of the young man to the parents of the girl, but in the absence of such by a godfather or a pedrino. Fifteen days was the term allowed for a reply, and no matter how desirable the match might be, it was not a counted good taste to answer before the last day. The owner of Las Palamas was frequently called upon to act as Padrino for his people, and so successful had he always been that the vicaros on his ranch preferred his service to those of their own fathers there was scarcely a vicaro at the home ranch but in time past had invoked his good offices in this matter and he had come to be looked on as their patron saint the month of september was usually the beginning of the branding season at las palomas in conducting this work uncle lance was the leader and with the white element already enumerated there were twelve to fifteen vicaros included in the branding outfit

the dance-shepherds had delayed the beginning of active operations and a large calf crop to say nothing of horses and mule-coats now demanded our attention and promised several months work now demanded our attention and promised several months work the year before las palamas had branded over four thousand calves and the range was now dotted with the crop awaiting the iron stamp of ownership the range was an open one at the time compelling us to work far beyond the limits of our employer's land fortified with her own commissary and with six eight horses apiece in our mount we scoured the country for a radius of fifty miles when approaching another range it was our custom to send a courier in advance to inquire of the ranchero when it would be convenient for him to give us a rodeo a day would be set when our outfit and the vicaros of that range rounded up all the cattle watering at given points then we cut out the los palamas brand and held them under herd or started them for the home ranch where the calves were to be branded in this manner we visited all the adjoining ranches taking over a month to make the circuit of the ranges in making the tour the first range we worked was at of ranchero santa maria south of our range and on the head of the terran callous creek on approaching the ranch as was customary we prepared to encamp and ask for a rodeo but in the choice of a vicaro to be despatched on this mission a spirited rivalry sprang up when uncle lance learned that the rivalry amongst the vicaros was meant to embarrass and rancers and rancers was meant to embarrass and

Enrique Lopez, who was also to Anita, the pretty daughter of the corporal of the Santa Maria, his matchmaking instincts came to the fore. Calling Enrique to one side, he made the Vicaro confess that he had been playing for the favor of the signorita at Santa Maria. Then he dispatched Enrique on the mission, bidding him to carry the choices, compliments of Las Palomas to every Don and Donna of Santa Maria. and enrique was quite capable of adding a few embellishments to the old matchmaker's extravagant flatteries enrique was in camp next morning but at what hour of the night he had returned as unknown the rodeo had been granted for the following day there was a pressing invitation to don lance unless he was willing to offend to spend the idle day as the guest of don matthew enrique elaborated the invitation with a third of don

Enrique elaborated the invitation with a thousand adornments, but the owner of Las Palamas had lived nearly forty years among the Spanish-American people on the nuisces, and knew how to make allowances for the exuberance of the Latin tongue. There was no telling to what extent Enrique could have kept on delivering messages, but to his employer he was avoiding the issue. But did you get to see Anita, interrupted Uncle Lance. Yes. He had seen her. but that was about all. Did not Don Lance know the customs among the Castilians? There was her mother ever present, or, if she must absent herself, there was a bevy of Tius comrades,

surrounding her until the Donna Anita dared not even to raise her eye to meet his. To perdition with such customs, no. The freedom of a cow camp is a splendid opportunity to relieve one's mind upon prevailing injustices. Don't fret your cattle so early in the morning, son, admonished the wary mashmaker. I've handled worse cases than this before.

You Mexicans are sticklers on customs, and we must deal with our neighbors carefully. Before I show my hand in this, there's just one thing I want to know, is the girl willing. Whenever you can satisfy me on that point, Enrique, just call on the old. old man. But before that I won't step. You remember what a time I had over Tribusio's Juan? That's so. You were too young then. Well, June here remembers it. Why the girl just cut up shamefully, called Juan an Indian peon and bragged about her Castilian family until you'd have supposed she was a princess of the blood royal. Why it took her parents and myself a whole day to bring the girl around to take a sensible view of the matters.

On my soul, except that I didn't want to acknowledge the feat, I felt a dozen times like telling her to go straight up. And when she did marry you, she was as happy as a lark, wasn't she wan? And I'd like to have the thing over with in, well, let's say half an hour's time. Then we can have refreshments and smoke and discuss the prospects of the young couple. uncle lanc's question was hard to answer enrique had known the girl for several years had danced with her on many a feast-day and never lost an opportunity to whisper the old old story in her willing ear others had done the like but the dark-eyed seorita is an adept in the art of coquetry and there you are but enrique swore a great oath that he would know yes he would he would lay siege to her as he had never done before he would become un also grande just wait until the branding was over and the fiestas of the christmas season were on and watch him dog her every step until he received her signal of surrender witness all the saints this row of enrique lopez that the donna anita should have no peace of mind no not for one little minute until she had made a complete capitulation

then don lanced the madrino of las palomas would at once write the letter which would command the hand of the corporal's daughter who could refuse such a request and what was a daughter of santa maria compared to the son of Las Palomas. Turned Calas Creek ran almost due east, and Ranchero Santa Maria was located near its source, depending more on its wells for water supply, then on the stream which only flowed for a few months during the year. Where the watering facilities were so limited, the rodeo was an easy matter. A number of small round-ups at each established watering point, a swift cutting out of everything, bearing the Las Palomas brand, and we moved on to the next rodeo, for we had an abundance

of help at Santa Maria. The work was finished by the middle of the afternoon. After sending, under five or six men, our cut of several hundred cattle westward on our course, our outfit rode into Rancho Santa Maria, proper, to pay our respects. Our wagon had provided an abundant dinner for our assistants and ourselves, but it would have been, in Mexican etiquette, extremely rude on our part not to visit the ranchero and partake of a cup of coffee and a cigarette, thanking the ranchero on parting for his kindness and granting us the rodeo. So when the last round-up was reached, Don Mateo and Uncle Lance turned the work over to their corporals, and in advance rode up to Santa Maria.

The Vicaros of our ranch were anxious to visit the Ranchero, so it developed on the white element to take charge of the cut. Being a stranger to Santa Maria, I was allowed to accompany Arsugundo, June Duwis, on an introductory visit. On arriving at the ranch, the Vicaros scattered among the locales of their amigos, while June and myself were welcomed at the Casa Pomerro. There we found Uncle Lance partaking of the Marcos. refreshments, and smoking a cigarette as though he had been born a senior dawn of some ruling

hacienda. June and I were seated at another table, where we were served with coffee, wafers, and homemade cigarettes. This was perfectly in order, but I could hardly control myself over the extravagant Spanish or employer was using and expressing the amnity existing between Santa Maria and Las Palomas. In ordinary conversation, such as cattle and ranch affairs, Uncle Lance had a good command of Spanish, but on social and delicate topics some of his efforts were ridiculous in the extreme. He was well aware of his shortcomings and frequently appealed to me to assist him.

As a boy, my playmates had been Mexican children, so that I not only spoke Spanish fluently, but could also readily read and write it, so it was no surprise to me. me, that, before taking our departure, my employer should command my services as an interpreter in driving an entering wedge. He was particular to have me assure our host and hostess of his high regard for them, and his hope that in the future even more friendly relations might exist between the two ranches. Had Santa Maria no young cavalier for the hand of some daughter of Las Palomas? Ah, there was the true bond of future friendship.

Well, well, if the soil of this ranchero was so impoverished, then the sons of Las Palomas must take the bit in their teeth and come courting to Santa Maria, and let Donna Gregoria look well to her daughters. For the young man of Las Palomas, true to their race, were not only handsome fellows, but ardent lovers and would be hard to refuse. After taking our leave and catching up with the cattle, we pushed westward for the gonso, our next stream of water.

This creek was a tributary to the new aces, and we worked down it several days, or until we had nearly a thousand cattle and were within 30 miles of home. Turning this cut over to June Deweiss and a few Vicaros to take into the ranch and brand, the rest of us turned westward and stretched. struck the nuisces at least fifty miles above Las Palomas. For the next few days our dragnet took in both sides of the nuisces. When, on reaching the mouth of the gansu, we were met by Deweis and the Vicaros. We had another bunch of nearly a thousand ready. Dan Hapersat was dispatched with the second bunch for branding.

When we swung north to Mr. Booth's ranch on the Frio, where we rested for a day. But there is little recreation on a couch. and we were soon under full headway again. By the time we had worked down the Frio, opposite headquarters, we had too large a herd to carry conveniently, and I was sent in home with them, never rejoining the outfit until they reached Shepard's Ferry.

This was a disappointment to me, for I had hopes that when the outfit worked the range around the mouth of San Miguel, I might find some excuse to visit the MacLeed Ranch and see Esther. But after turning back up the home river to within 20 miles of the ranch, we again turned southward, covering the intervening ranches rapidly

until we struck the Taron Cowus about 25 miles east of Santa Maria. We had spent over 30 days in making this circle, gathering over 5,000 cattle, about one-third of which were cows with calves by their sides. On the remaining gap in the circle,

we lost two days in waiting for rodeos, or gathering independently along the tern callous, and, on nearing the Santa Maria range, we had nearly fifteen hundred cattle. Our herd passed within plain view of the ranchero, but we did not turn aside, preferring, to make a dry camp for the night, some five or six miles further on our homeward course. But since we had used the majority of our remuda very hard that day, Uncle Lance dispatched Enrique and myself with our wagon and saddle horses, by way of Santa Maria, to water our saddle stock and refill our kegs for camping purposes. Of course, the compliments of our employer to the ranchero of Santa Maria went with the remuda and wagon. I delivered the compliments and its regrets to Don

Mateo and asked permission to water our saddle stock, which was readily granted. This required some time, for we had about 125 loose horses with us, and the water had to be raised by rope and pulley from the pommel of a saddle horse. After watering the team, we refilled our kegs, and the cook pulled out to overtake the herd. Enrique and I staying to water the remuda. Enrique, who was riding the saddle horse, while I emptied the buckets as they were hoisted to the surface, was evidently killing time. By his dilatory tactics, I knew the young rascal was delaying in the hope of getting a word

with the Donna Anita. But it was getting late, and at the rate we were hoisting, darkness would overtake us before we could reach the herd. So I ordered Enrique to the bucket, while I took my own horse and furnished the hoisting power. We were making some headway with the work when a party of women, among them, the Donna Anita, came down to the well to fill vessels for house use. This may have been all chance, and then again it may not, but the gallant Enrique now outdid himself, filling jar after jar and lifted them to the shoulder of the bearer with the utmost zeal and amid a profusion of

compliments. I was annoyed at the interruption in our work, but I could see that Enrique was now in the highest heaven of delight. The Donna Anita's mother was present, and made it her duty to notice that only commonplace formalities passed between her daughter and the ardent vicaro. After the jars were all filled, the bevy of women started on their return. But Donna Anita managed to drop a few feet to the rear of the procession, and looking back, quietly took up one corner of her mantilla, and with a little movement, apparently all innocence, flashed the message back to the entranced Enrique. I was aware of the flirtation, but before I had made more of it, and Riki sprang down

from the abutment of the well, dragging me from my horse, and in an ecstasy of joy, crouching behind the abutments, cried, Had I seen the sign? Had I not noticed her token? Was my brain then so befuddled? Did I not understand the ways of the seigneuritas among his people? That they always answered by a wave of the handkerchief, or the mantilla.

Ave Maria Tomas, such stupidity, why, to be sure, they could talk all day with her eyes. The setting sun finally ended his confidences. and the watering was soon finished, for Enrique lowered the bucket in a gallop. On our reaching the herd, and while we were catching our night-horses, Uncle Lance strode out to the rope corral. With the inquiry, what had delayed us. Nothing particular, I replied, and looked at Enrique,

who shrugged his shoulders and repeated my answer. Now look here, you young liars, said the old ranchero. The wagon has been in camp over an hour, and admitting it did start before you. You had plenty of time the water of the saddle-stock and overtake it before it could possibly reach the herd. I can tell a lie myself, but a good one always has some plausibility. You rascals were up to some mischief, I'll warrant.

I had caught out my night-horse, and as I led him away to saddle up, Uncle Lance, not content with my evasive answer, followed me. Go to Enrique, I whispered. He'll just bubble over. had a good chance to tell you. Yes, it was Donna Anita who caused a delay. The smothered chuckling shook the old man's

frame as he sauntered over to where Enrique was saddling. As the two let off the horse to picket in the gathering dust, the ranchero had his arm around the Vicaro's neck, and I felt that the old matchmaker would soon be in possession of the facts.

A hilarious guffaw that reached me as I was picketing my horse announced that, that the story was out, and as the two returned to the fire, Uncle Lance, was slapping Enrique on the back at every step and calling him a lucky dog. The news spread through the camp like wildfire, even to the Vicaros on Night Herd, who instantly began chanting an old love-song. When Enrique and I were eating our supper, our employer paced back and forward in meditation, like a sentinel on Picket. And when we had finished our meal, he just,

joined us around the fire, inquiring of Enrique how soon the demand should be made for the corporal's daughter, and was assured that it could not be done too soon. The Padre only came once a year, he concluded, and they must be ready. Well, now, this is a pretty pickle, said the old matchmaker, as he pulled his gray mustaches. There isn't a pen or paper in the outfit, and then we'll be busy branding on the home range for a month, and I can't spare of a caro a day to carry a letter to Santa Maria. And besides, I might not be at home when the reply came. I think I'll just take the bull by the horns,

ride back in the morning, and set these old precedents at defiance, by arranging the match verbally. I can make the talk that this country is Texas now, and that under the new regime American customs are in order. That's what I'll do, and I'll take Tom Quirk with me for fear I bogged down in my by Spanish. But several Vicaros, who understood some English, advised Enrique of what the old matchmaker

proposed to do, when the Vicarot threw his hands in the air and began sputtering Spanish and terrified disapproval. Did not Don Lance know that the marriage usage among his people were their most cherished customs? Oh yes, son, languidly, replied Uncle Lance, I'm some strong on the cherish myself, but not when it interferes with my plans. It strikes me, that less than a month ago, I heard you condemning to perdition certain customs of your people.

Now don't get on too high a horse, just leave it to Tom and me. We may stay a week, but when we come back we'll bring your betrothal with us in our vest pockets. There was never a Mexican born who can out hold me on Palazver, and we'll eat every chicken on Santa Maria unless they surrender. As soon as the herd had started for home the next morning, Uncle Lance and I returned to Santa Maria. We were extended a cordial reception by Don Mateo, and after the chronicle of happenings, since the two rancheros last met had been reviewed, the motive of our sudden return was mentioned.

By combining the vocabularies of my employer and myself, we mentioned our errand as delicately as possible, pleading guilty and craving everyone's pardon for our rudeness in verbally conducting the negotiations. To our surprise, for to Mexicans' customs are as rooted as faith. Don Mateo took no offense and summoned Donna Gregoria. I was playing a close second to the diplomat of our side of the house, and when his Spanish failed him and he had recourse to English, it is needless to say I handled the matters to the matter to the matter of the people. best of my ability.

The Spanish is a musical, passionate language, and well suited to love-making, and though this was my first use of it for that purpose. Within half an hour we had won the Ranchero and his wife to our side of the question. Then at Don Mateo's orders, the parents of the girl were summoned. This involved some little delay, which permitted coffee being served, and discussion, over the cigarettes of the commonplace matters of the commonplace matters. of the country. There was beginning to be a slight demand for cattle to drive to the far north on the trails. Some thought it was a sign of a big development, but neither of the rancheros

put much confidence in the movement, etc., etc. The corporal and his wife suddenly made their appearance, dressed in their best, which accounted for the delay, and all cattle conversation instantly ceased. Uncle Lance rose and greeted the Husky corporal, and his teeth, timid wife, with warm cordiality. I extended my greetings to the Mexican foreman, whom I had met at the rodeo about a month before. We then resumed our seats, but the corporal and his wife remained standing, and with elegant command of his native tongue, Don Mateo informed the couple of our mission. They looked at each other in bewildered. Tears came into the wife's eyes. For a moment I pitied her. Indeed, the pathetic was not lacking. But the hearty corporal reminded his

better half that her parents, in his interests, had once been asked for her hand under similar circumstances, and the tears disappeared. Tears are womanly, and I have since seen them shed, under less provocation, by fair-skinned women, than this simple, swarthy daughter of Mexico. It was but natural that the parents of the girl should fain surprise and reluctance if they did not feel it. The Donna Anita's mother offered several trivial objections. Her daughter had never taken her into her confidence over any suitor. And did Anita really love Enrique Lopez of Las Palomas?

Even if she did, could he support her being but a vicaro? This brought Uncle Lance to the front. He had known Enrique since the day of his birth. As a five-year-old, naked as the day he was born, had he not ridden a cult at branding time twice around the big corral without being thrown? At ten, had he not thrown himself across the gateway and allowed a kavayata of over two hundred wild-range horses to jump over his prostrate body as they passed in a headlong rush through the gate.

Only the year before at Branding, when an infuriated bull had driven every vicaro out of the corrals, did not Enrique mount his horse, and after baiting the bull out into the open, play with him like a kitten with a mouse, and when the bull, tiring, attempted to make his escape, who but Enrique had lasseled the animal by the forefeet, breaking his neck in the throw. The diplomat of Las Palomas dejectedly admitted that the bull was a prize animal, but could not deny that he himself had joined in the plaudits to the daring vicaro. But if there was a possible doubt that Donna Anita did not love this son of Las Palomas, then Lance Lovelace himself would oppose the union.

This was an important matter. Would Don Mateo be so kind as the summon the seigneurita? The seigneurita came in response to the summons. She was a girl of possibly seventeen summers, several inches taller than her mother. possessing a beautiful complexion with large lustrous eyes. There was something fawn-like in her timidity, as she gazed at those about the table. Donna Gregoria broke the news, informing her

that the ranchero of Las Palomas had asked her hand in marriage for Enrique, one of his Vicaros. Did she love the man, and was she willing to marry him? For reply, the girl hid her face in the mantilla of her mother, with commendable tact Donna Gregoria led the mother and daughter into another room, from which the two elder women soon returned with a favorable reply. Uncle Lance arose and assured the corporal and his wife that their daughter would receive his special care and protection

as long as the water ran and grass grew. Las Palomas would care for her own children. We accepted an invitation to remain for dinner, as several hours had elapsed since our arrival. In company with the corporal, I attended to our horses, leaving the two rancheros absorbed in a discussion of Texas fever, rumors of which were then attracting widespread attention in the north along the cattle trails.

After dinner, we took our leave of host and hostess, promising to send Enrique to Santa Maria at the earliest opportunity. It was a long ride across the country to Las Palomas, but strike in a free gate, unencumbered as we were. We covered the country rapidly. I had somewhat doubted the old matchmaker's sincerity in making this match, but as we rode along he told me of his own marriage to marry Brian, and the one happy year of life which it brought him,

mellowing into a mood of seriousness which dispelled all doubts. It was almost sunset when we sighted in the distance the ranch buildings at Las Palomas, and half an hour later, as we galloped up to assist the herd, which was nearing the corrals, the old man stood in his stirps, and waving his hat, shouted to his outfit, hurrah for Enrique and the Donna Anita. And as the last of the cattle entered the corral, a reign of lassoes settled over the smiling rascal and his horse, and we led him in triumph to the house for Miss Jean's blessing. End of Chapter 3

Chapter 4 Of a Texas matchmaker by Andy Adams This Libravox recording is in the public domain Christmas The branding on the home range was an easy matter The cattle were compelled

The water from the noisces So that their range was never over 5 or 6 miles from the river There was no occasion Even to take out the wagon Though we made a one-night camp at the mouth of the Gonzo, and another, about midway, between the home ranch and Shepherd's Ferry, packed mules serving instead of the wagon. On the home range in gathering the brand,

we never disturbed the mixed cattle, cutting out only the cows and calves. On the round-up below the gonso, we had over 3,000 cattle in one rodeo, finding less than 500 calves belonging to Las Palomas. the bulk on this particular occasion being steer cattle. There had been little demand for steers for several seasons, and they had accumulated until many of them were fine beaves, five and six years old. When the branding proper was concluded, our tally showed nearly fifty-one hundred calves branded that season,

indicating about twenty thousand cattle in the Las Palomas brand. After a week's rest with fresh horses, we re-rode the home range in squads of two, and branded any calves we found with a running iron. This added nearly a hundred more to our original number. On an open range like ours, it was not expected that everything would be branded, but on quitting, it is safe to say, we had missed less than one percent of our calf crop. The cattle finished, we turned our attention to the branding of the horse-stock. The Christmas season was approaching, and we wanted to get the work well in hand for the usual holiday festivities.

There were some fifty monadas of mayors belonging to Las Palomas, about one-fourth of which were used for the rearing of mules. The others growing our saddle horses for ranch use. These brands numbered twenty to twenty-five brood mayors each, and ranged mostly within twenty miles of the home ranch. They were never disturbed except the brand the Colts, market surplus stock, or cut out the mature geldings to be broken for saddle use. Each manata had its own range, never trespassing on the other, but when they were brought together in the corral, there was many a battle royal among the stallions. I was anxious to get the work over in good season, for I intended to ask for two weeks

leave of absence. My parents lived near Cibolo Ford on the San Antonio River, and I made it a rule to spend Christmas with my own people. This year in particular I had a double motive in going home. For the mouth of the San Miguel and the Maclead Ranch lay directly on my route. I had figured matters down to a fraction. I would have a good excuse for staying one night and going and another returning, and it would be my fourth. fault if I did not reach the ranch at an hour when an invitation to remain overnight would be simply imperative under the canons of Texas hospitality. I had done enough hard work since to dance at Shepherds to drive every thought of Esther MacLeed out of my mind if that were

possible, but as the time drew nearer, her invitation to call was ever uppermost in my thoughts. So when the last of the horse-stock was branded and the work was drawing to a close, as we sat around the fireplace one night, and the question came up where each of us was expected to spend Christmas, I broached my plan. The master and mistress were expected at the Booth Ranch on the Friot. Nearly all the boys who had homes within two or three days' ride hoped to improve the chance to make a short visit to their people. When, among the others, I also made my application for leave of absence. Uncle Lance turned in his chair with a parent's surprise. What's that?

You want to go home? Well, now, that's a new one on me. Why, Tom, I never knew you had any folks. I got the idea somehow that you was one on a horse race. Here I had everything figured out to send you down to Santa Maria with Enrique, but I reckon with the ice broken, he'll have to swim out or drown. Where do your folks live? I explained that they lived on the San Antonio River, northeast, about 150 miles.

At this I saw my employer's face brighton. Yes, yes, I see, he said musingly, that will carry you past to the widow MacLeads. You can go, son, and good luck to you. I timed my departure from Las Palomas, allowing three days for the trip, so as to reach home on Christmas Eve. By making a slight deviation, there was a country's time. store at which I could pass on the last day, where I expected to buy some presents for my mother and sisters. But I was in a pickle as to what to give Esther, and consulting Miss Jean, I found, that the

motherly, elderly sister had everything thought out in advance. There was an old Mexican woman, a pure Aztec Indian, at a ranchita belonging to Las Palomas, who was an expert in Mexican-drawn work. The mistress of the home ranch had been a good patron of this old woman, and the next morning we drove over to the ranchita, where I secured a half a dozen ladies' handkerchiefs inexpensive but very rare. I owned a private horse which had run idle all summer, and naturally expected to ride him on this trip, but Uncle Lance evidently wanted me to make a good impression on the widow Maclead, and brushed my plans aside by asking me as a favor, to ride a certain black horse belonging to his private string quirk he said the evening before my departure i wish you would ride wolf that black six-year-old in my mount when that rascal of an anriki saddle broke him for me he always mounted him with a free head and on the move and now when i use him he's always on the fidget so you just ride him over to san antonio and back and see if you can't cure him of that restlessness it may be my years but i just despise a horse that's always dancing a jig when i want to mount him glen goutts people lived in victoria county about as far from las palomas as mine and the next morning we set out down the river

our course together only led a short distance but we jogged along until noon when we rested an hour and parted glen going on down the river for oakville while i turned almost due north across country for the mouth of the san miguel the black carried me that afternoon as though the saddle were empty i was constrained to hold him in in view of the long journey before us so as not to reach the mcle ranch too early whenever we struck cattle on our course i rode through them to pass away the time and just about sunset i cantered up to the mcleed ranch with a dash i did not know a soul on the place but put on a bold front and asked for miss esther on catching sight of me she gave a little start blushed modestly and greeted me cordially texas hospitality of an early day is too well known to need comment I was at once introduced to the Maclead household. It was rather a pretentious ranch, somewhat dilapidated in appearance. Appearances are as deceitful on a cattle ranch as in the cut of a man's coat. Tony Hunter, a son-in-law of the widow, was foreman on the ranch,

and during the course of the evening in the discussion of cattle matters, I innocently drew out the fact that their branded calf-crop of that season amounted to nearly 3,000 calves. When a similar question was asked me, I reluctantly admitted that the Las Palomas crop was quite a disappointment this year, only branding 6,500 calves, but that our mule and horse colts ran nearly a thousand head

without equals into noeces Valley. I knew there was no one there who would dispute my figures, though Mrs. McLeod expressed surprise at them. You do not say, said my hostess, looking directly at me over her spectacles, that Las Palomas branded that many calves this year, why during my good man's life we always branded more calves than did Mr. Lovelace. But then my husband would join the army, and I had to depend on the greasers to do my work. And our key grew up mavericks.

I said nothing in reply, knowing it to be quite natural for a woman or inexperienced person. to feel always the prey of the fortunate and far-seeing the next morning before leaving i managed to have a nice private talk with miss esther and thought i read my title clear when she surprised me with the information that her mother contemplated sending her off to san antonio to a private school for young ladies her two elder sisters had married against her mother's wishes it seemed and mrs mclead was determined to give to her young ladies of her youngest daughter in education, and fit her for something better than being the wife of a common cow-hand. This was the inference from the conversation which passed between us at the gate. But when Esther thanked me for the Christmas remembrance I had brought her, I felt that I would take a chance on her winner-lose. Assuring her that I would make it a point to call on my return, I gave the black of free rain, and galloped out of sight. I reached home late on Christmas Eve.

My two elder brothers also followed cattle work and had arrived the day before, and the Quirk family were once more united for the first time in two years. Within an hour of my arrival, I learned from my brothers that there was to be a dance that night at a settlement about fifteen miles up the river.

They were going, and it required no urging on their part, to ensure the presence of the Quirk-stree-bull, boys. Supper over, a fresh horse was furnished me, and we set out for the dance, covering the distance in less than two hours. I knew every one in the settlement, and got a cordial welcome. I played the fiddle, danced with my former sweethearts, and, ere the sun rose in the morning, rode home in time for breakfast.

During that night's revelry I contrasted my former girlfriends on the San Antonio with another maiden, a slip of the old scotch stock, transplanted and nurtured in the sunshine and soil of the San Miguel. The comparison stood all tests applied, and in my secret heart I knew, who held the whip hand over the passions within me. As I expected to return to Las Palomas for the new year, my time was limited to four days' visit at home, but a great deal can be said in four days, and at end I was ready to saddle my black, bid my adieus, and ride for the southwest. During my visit I was careful not to betray that I had even a passing thought of a sweetheart, and what parents would suspect that a rollicking care for a young fellow of

twenty could have any serious intentions towards a girl. With brothers too indifferent and sisters too young, the secret was my own. though wolf my mount as he put mile after mile behind us seemed conscious that his mission to reach the san miguel without loss of time was more than ordinary moment and a better horse never carried night in the days of chivalry on reaching the mclead ranch during the afternoon of the second day i found esther expectant but the welcome of her mother was of a frigid order having a scotch mother myself, I knew something of arbitrary natures, and met Mrs. McLean's coolness with a fund of talk and stories, yet I could see all too plainly that she was determinedly on the defensive. I had my favorite fiddle with me, which I was taking back to Las Palomas, and during the evening I played all the old Scotch ballads I knew and love-songs of the Highlands.

Hoping to soften her from the decided stand, she had to soften her. taken against me and my intentions. But her heritage of obstinacy was large, and her opposition strong, as several well-directed thrusts which reached me in vulnerable places made me aware. But I smiled as if they were flattering compliments. Several times I mentally framed replies, only to smother them, for I was a stranger within her gates, and if she saw fit to offend a guest, she was still within her rights. But the next morning, as I tarried beyond the reasonable hour for my departure, her wrath

broke out in a torrent. If you don't know the way home, Mr. Quirk, I'll show it to you, she said, and she joined Esther and me at the hitchrack, where we had been loitering for an hour, and I do not care much where you're going. So you get out of my sight and stay out of it. I thought you were a civil stranger when you bide it with us last week. but now i ken ye are something more riding your fine horses and making presents to me lassie that's the good that comes from letting her to go to every dance at shepherds ferry go back the house to your work you jade and let me attend to this fine gentleman no sir gin your only business somewhere else you'd better be writing to it for you are not wanted here you can why mrs mcleed i broke in politely you hardly know anything about me no and i don't not wish to you are from las palomas and that's all enough for me i ken old lance love lace and those that bid with him small wondery brands so many calves and sells more key than other ranchmen in the country by man i can him well i saw that i had a tartar to deal with but if i could switch her invective on some one absent it would assist me in controlling

myself. So I said to the old lady, "'Well, I've known, Mr. Lovelace now, almost a year. And over on the oasis he is well liked, and considered a cowman, whose word is as good as gold. What have you got against him?' "'Oh, mush, my young friend, I knew him before you were born. I'm sorry to say that while Mugudman was alive he was a frequent visitor at our place, but we didn't see him only nearer. He always keeps away from here

and camps with his wagons when he's over on the San Miguel to gather cattle. He was no content merely with what Key drifted down on the noases, but worked a big outfit the year around, even coming over

on the Frio and San Miguel Maverickum. That's why he brands twice the calves that anybody else does and owns 40 miles front land on both sides, of the river. You see, I can him well. Well, isn't that the way most cowmen got their start, I innocently inquired, well, knowing it was? And do you blame him for running his brand

on the unowned cattle that roamed the range? I expect if Mr. Lovelace was my father instead of my employer. You wouldn't be talking in the same key, and with that I led my horse out to mount. You think a great deal of yourself, because you're from Las Palomas. away no vicar of old lance lovelace can come sparkin with me lass i've heard old lovelace match-making i'm told he makes matches and then laughs at the silly guanx i've two worthless son-in-laws that nope are here and neither a stage driver and they're capital husbands for donna mcleese lassies are they no and before i let esther marry the first scamp that come simpering round here i'll put her in a convent and make a nun of the barren i gave the other lassies her way and look at the reward i tell you i'm going to bar the door on the last one and the man that marries her will be worthy of her he will not be a vicaro from las palomas either i had mounted my horse to start well knowing it was useless to argue with an angry woman esther had obediently retreated to the safety of the house aware that her mother had a tongue and evidently willing to be spared its invective in my presence my horse was fidgeting about impatient to be off

but i gave him the rowl and rode up to the gate determined if possible to pour oil on the troubled waters mrs mcleed said i in humble tones possibly you take the correct view of this matter miss esther and i have only been acquainted a few months and will soon forget each other please take me in the house and let me tell her good-bye no sir do not set a foot inside this gate i hope you know you are not wanted here there's your road the one leading south and you'd better be goin i'm thinking i held in the black and rode off in a walk this was the first clean knockout i had ever met heretofore i had been egotistical enough to hold my head rather high but this morning it drooped wolf seemed to notice it and after a first mile dropped in to an easy volunteer walk i never noticed the passing of time until we reached the river and the black stopped to drink here i unsaddled for several hours and went on again in no cheerful mood before i came within sight of las palomas near evening my horse turned his head and knickered and in a few minutes uncle lance and june deweese galloped up and overtook me i had figured out several very plausible versions of my adventure but this sudden meeting threw me off my guard and lance lovelace was a hard man to tell an undetected white-faced lie I put on a bold front, but his salutation penetrated at a glance.

What's the matter, Tom? Any of your folks dead? No. Sick? No. Girl gone back on you? I don't think. It's the old woman, then.

How do you know? Because I know that old dame. I used to go over there occasionally when old man Donald was living. But the old lady, excuse me, I ought to have posted you, Tom, but I don't suppose it would have done any good. Brush your fiddle with you, I see. That's good. I expect the old lady read my title clear to you.

My brain must have been under a haze, for I repeated every charge she had made against him, not even sparing the accusation that he had remained out of the army and added to his brand by mavericking cattle. Did she say that, inquired Uncle Lance laughing? Why, the old Helion. She must have been feeling in fine fettle. End of Chapter 4.

Chapter 5 of a Texas matchmaker by Andy Adams. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. A pigeon hunt. The New Year dawned on Las Palomas, rich in promise, of future content. Uncle Lance and I had had a long talk the evening before, and under the reasoning of the old optimist, The gloom gradually lifted from my spirits. I was glad I had been so brutally blunt that evening

regarding what Mrs. McLeod had said about him, for it had a tendency to increase the rancher's aggressiveness on my behalf. Hell Tom, said the old man, as we walked from the corrals to the house, don't let a little thing like this disturb you. Of course, she'll fore-flush and bluff you if she can, but you don't want to pay any more attention to the old lady than if she were some pedlado. To be sure, it will be better to have her consent, but then.

Glenn Gallup also arrived at the ranch on New Year's Eve. He brought the report that wild pigeons were again roosting at the big bend of the river. It was a well-known pigeon roost, but the birds went to other winter feeding grounds, except during the years when there was plentiful sweetmast. This bend was about midway between the ranch and shepherds, and contained about two thousand acres, and was heavily timbered with ash, becon, and hackberry. The feeding grounds lay distant,

extending from the Ansonal ridges on the Los Palomas lands to live oak groves a hundred miles to the southward. But however far the pigeons might go for food, they always returned to the roosting place at night that means pigeon pie said uncle lance on receiving glen's report everybody on the cook can go we have only a sweet mast about every three or four years in the ensignol but it always brings the wild pigeons we'll take a couple of pack-mules and the little and the big pot and the two biggest dutch ovens on the ranch oh you got to parboil a pigeon if you want a tender pot and the little and the big pot and the two biggest dutch ovens on the ranch oh you got to parboil a pigeon if you want a tender pot pie. Next to a fish fry, a good pigeon pie makes the finest eating going. I've made many a one, and I give notice right now that the making of the pie falls to me or I won't play. Another thing, not a bird shall be killed more than we can use. Of course we'll bring home a mess and a few apiece

for the Mexicans. We had got up our horses during the forenoon, and as soon as dinner was over, the white contingent saddled up and started for the roost. Trebusio and Enrique accompanied us, and riding leisurely we reached the bend several hours before the return of the birds. The roost had been in use but a short time, but as we scouted through the timber, there was abundant evidence of an immense flight of pigeons.

The ground was literally covered with feathers, broken limbs hung from nearly every tree, while in one instance a forked hackberry had been split from the weight of the birds. We made camp on the outskirts of the timber, and at early dusk, great flocks of pigeons began to arrive at their roosting place. We only had four shotguns, and dividing in the pairs we entered the roost shortly after dark. Glenn Gallup fell to me as my partner. I carried the gunny sack for the birds, not carrying for a gun in such unfair shooting. The flights continued to arrive for fully an hour after we entered the roost,

and in half a dozen shots we bagged over fifty birds. Remembering the admonition of Uncle Lance, Gallup refused to kill more, and we sat down and listened to the rumbling noises of the grove. There was a constant chattering of the pigeons, and as they settled in great flights in the trees overhead, whipping the branches with her wings in search of footing, they frequently fell to the ground at our feet.

Gallup and I returned to the camp early. Before we had skinned our kill, the others had all come in, disgusted with the ease with which they had filled their bags. We soon had two pots filled and on the fire parboiling, while Tribusio lined two ovens with pastry, all ready for the baking. In a short time, two horsemen, attracted by our fire, crossed the river below our camp and rode up.

Hello, Uncle Lance, lustily shouted one of them, as he dismounted. It's you, isn't it, that's shooting my pigeons? All right, sir, I'll stay all night and help you eat them. I had figured on riding back to the Frio tonight, but I've changed my mind. Got any horse hobbles here? The two men, George Nathan and Hugh Trotter,

were accommodated with hobbles, and after an exchange of commonplace news of the country, we settled down to storytelling. Trotter was a convivial acquaintance of Aaron Scales, quite a vagabond and consequently a storyteller. After Trotter had narrated a late dream, Scales unlimbered and told one of his own. I remember a dream I had several years ago, and the only way I can account for it was I had been drinking more or less during the day. I dreamt I was making a long ride across the dreary desert, and towards night it threatened a bad storm.

I began to look around for some shelter. I could just see the tops of a clump of trees beyond a hill and rode hard to get to them, thinking that there might be a house amongst them. How I did ride! But I certainly must have had a poor horse, for I never seemed to get any nearer that timber. I rode and rode, but all this time, hours and hours it seemed, and the storm gathering and scattering

rain-drops falling, the timber seemed scarcely any nearer. At last I managed to reach the crest of a hill. Well, sir, there wasn't a tree in sight, only under the brow of the hill a deserted adobe Wacal. I rode for that, picketing my horse, and went in. The Hacal had a thatched roof with several large holes in it. holes in it. And in the fireplace burned a roaring fire.

That was some strange, but I didn't mind it, and I was warming my hands before the fire, and congratulating myself on my good luck, when a large black cat sprang from the outside into an open window and said, "'Partner, it looks like a bad night outside.' I hide him a little suspiciously, but, for all that, if he hadn't spoken, I wouldn't I didn't have thought anything about it, for I like cats. He walked backwards and forwards on the windowsill, his spine and tail nicely arched, and rubbed himself on either window jam. I watched him some little time and finally concluded to make friends with him.

Going over to the window, I put out my hand to stroke his glossy back when a gust of rain came through the window, and the cat vanished into the darkness. I went back to the fire, pitying the cat out there in the night's storm, and was really sorry I had disturbed him. I didn't give the matter over much attention, sat before the fire, wondering who could have built it and listening to the rain outside. When all of a sudden Mr. Cat walked between my legs, rubbing himself against my boots, purring and singing. Once or twice I thought of stroking his fur, but checked myself. on remembering that he had spoken to me on the windowsill. He would walk over and rub himself against the jams of the fireplace,

and then come back and rub himself against my boots friendly-like. I saw him just as clear as I see those pots on the fire where these saddles lying around here. I was noting every move of his as he meandered around when presently he cocked up an eye at me and remarked, Old Sport, this is a fine fire we have here. I was beginning to feel a little creepy, for I'd seen mad dogs and skunks, and they say a cat gets local likewise, and the cuss was talking so cleverly

that I began to lose my regard for him. After a little while I concluded to pet him, for he didn't seem a bit afraid. But as I put out my hand to catch him, he nimbly hopped into the roaring fire and vanished. then i did feel foolish i had a good sick shooter and made up my mind if he showed up again i'd plug him one for luck i was growing sleepy and it was getting late so i concluded to spread down my saddle blankets and slicker before the fire and go to sleep while i was making down my bed i happened to look towards the fire when there was my black cat with not even a hair singed i drew my gun quietly and cracked away at him when he let out the funniest little laugh saying you've been drinking erin you're nervous you couldn't hit a flock of barns i was getting excited by this time and cut loose on him rapidly but he dodged every shot jumping from the whole hearth to the mantle, and from the mantle to an old table, and from there to a niche in the wall, and from the niche clear across the room and out of the window. About then I was some nervous,

and after a while, lay down before the fire, and tried to go to sleep. It was a terrible night outside, one of those nights, when you can hear things, and with a vivid imagination I was enjoying then, I was almost afraid to try to sleep. But just as I was a terrible night outside, but just as I was going into a doze, I raised my head, and there was my cat walking up and down my frame, his back arched, and his tail flirting, with the slow, sinuous movement of a snake. I reached for my gun, and as it clicked and cocking, he began raking my legs, sharping in his claws and growling like a tiger. I gave a yell and kicked him off, when he sprang up on the old table, and I could see his eyes glaring it.

at me. I emptied my gun at him a second time, and at every shot he crouched lower and crept forward as if getting ready to spring. When I had fired the last shot, I jumped up and ran out into the rain, and hadn't gone more than a hundred yards before I fell into a dry wash. When I crawled out, there was that damned cat rubbing himself against my bootleg. I stood breathless for a minute, thinking what next to do, and the cat remarked, wasn't that a peach of a race we just had? I made one or two vicious kicks at him, and he again vanished.

Well, fellas, in that dream, I walked around that old a cow all night in my shirt's sleeves, and it raining pitchforks. A number of times I peeped in through the window or door, and there sat the cat on the hearth, in full possession of the shack and me out in the weather. once when i looked in he was missing but when i was watching he sprang through a hole in the roof a lighting in the fire from which he walked out gingerly shaking his feet as if he had just been out in the wet i shot away every cartridge i had at him but in the middle of the shooting he would just coil up before the fire and snooze away that night was an eternity of torment to me and i was relieved when someone knocked on the door and i awoke

to find myself in a good bed and pounding my ear on a goose-hair pillow in a hotel in Oakville. Why I wouldn't have another dream like that for half an interest in the Las Palomas brand. No, honest, if I thought drinking gave me that hideous dream, here would be one lad ripe for reform. It strikes me, said Uncle Lance,

rising and lifting a pot lid, that these birds are parboiled by this time. bring me a fork enrique well i should say they were i hope hell ain't any hotter than that fire now tribusio if you have everything ready we'll put them in the oven and bake them a couple of hours several of us assisted in fixing the fire and properly coaling the ovens when this had been attended to we had again resumed our easy positions around the fire trotter remarked aaron you ought to cut drink drinking out of your amusements. You haven't the Constitution to stand it. Now with me it's different. I can drink a week and never sleep.

That's the kind of bill to have if you expect to travel and meet all comers. Last year I was working for a Kansas City man on the trail, and after the cattle were delivered, about a hundred miles beyond Elsworth, up in Kansas, he sent us home by way of Kansas City. In fact, that was about the only route we could take. Well, it was a successful trip, and as this man was plum-white, anyhow, he concluded to show us the sights around his berg. He was interested in a commission firm out at the stockyards, and that night we reached there, all the office men, including the old man himself, turned themselves loose to show

us a good time. We had been drinking alkali water all summer, and along about midnight they began the dropout until there was no one left to face the music except the little cattle salesman and myself. After all the others quit us, we went into a feed troth on a back street and had a good supper. I had been drinking everything like a good fellow, and at several places there was no salt to put in the beer. The idea struck me that I would buy a sack of salt from this eating ranch and take it with me. The landlord gave me a funny look, but after some little part, went into the rear and brought out a five-pound sack of table salt.

It was just what I wanted, and after paying for it, the salesman and I started out to make a night of it. The yard man was a short fat dushman, and we made a team for your whiskers. I carried the sack of salt under my arm, and the quantity of beer we killed before daylight was a caution. About daybreak, the salesman wanted me to go to our home. hotel and go to bed, but as I never drink and sleep at the same time, I declined. Finally, he explained to me that he would have to be at the yards at eight o'clock, and beg me to excuse him. By this time he was several sheets in the wind, while I could walk a chalk line without a waiver. Somehow, we drifted around to the hotel where the outfit were supposed to be

stopping, and lined up at the bar for a final drink. It was just daybreak, and between that Dutch cattle salesman and the barkeeper and myself, it would have taken a bookkeeper to have kept the check on the drinks we consume, every one the last. Then the Dutchman gave me the slip and was gone, and I wandered into the office of the hotel. A newsboy sold me a paper, and the next minute a boot-black wanted to give me a shine. While I took a seat for a shine, and for two hours I sat there, as full as a tit, and as dignified as a judge on the bench.

All the newsboys and boot blacks caught on, and before any of the outfits showed up that morning to rescue me, I had bought a dozen papers and had my boots shine for the tenth time. If I had been foxy enough to have got rid of that sack of salt, no one could have told I was off the reservation, but there it was under my arm. If I ever make another trip over the trail and touch at Kansas City returning, I'll hunt up that cattle salesman, for he's the only man I ever met that can pace in my class.

Did you hear that tree break a few minutes ago, inquired Mr. Nathan? There goes another one. It hardly looks possible that enough pigeons could settle on a tree to break it down. Honestly, I'd give a purdy to know how many birds there are in that roost tonight. More than there are cattle in Texas, I'll bet. Why, Hugh killed, with both barrels, twenty-two at one shot. We had brought blankets along, but it was early, and no one thought of sleeping for an hour yet.

Mr. Nathan was quite a sportsman, and after he and Uncle Lance had discussed the safest method of hunting, Havillina, it again devolved on the boys to entertain the party with stories. I was working on a ranch once, said Glennon. gallop out on the Concho River. It was a stag outfit, there being few women then, out Conchow Way. One day two of the boys were riding in home when an accident occurred. They had been shooting more or less during the morning, and one of them, named Bill Cook, had carelessly left the hammer of a six-shooter on a cartridge. As Bill jumped his horse over a dry

a royal his pistol was thrown from its holster and falling on the hard ground was discharged the bullet struck him in the ankle ranged upward shattering the large bone in his leg into fragments and finally lodged in the saddle they were about five miles from camp when the accident happened after they realized how bad he was hurt bill remounted his horse and rode nearly a mile but the wound bled so that the fellow with him insisted on his getting off and lying on the ground while he went into the ranch for a wagon. Well, it's to be supposed that he lost no time in riding in, and I was sent to San Angelo for a doctor. It was just about noon when I got off, and I had to ride thirty miles. Talk about your good horses, I had one that day. I took a free gate from the start, but the last ten miles was the fastest,

for I covered the entire distance in less than three hours. There was a doctor in town who'd been on the frontier all his life and was used to such calls. Well, before dark that evening, we drove in to the ranch. They had got the lad into the ranch, and had checked the flow of blood and eased the pain by standing on a chair and pouring water on the wound from a height. But Bill looked pale as a ghost from lost.

of blood. The doctor gave the leg a single look, and turning to us said, Boys, she's got to come off. The doctor talked to Bill freely and frankly, telling him that it was the only chance for his life. He readily consented to the operation. And while the doctor was getting him under the influence of the opiates, we fixed up an operating table. When all was ready, the doctor took the leg off below the knee, cursing us generally, for being so sensitive to cutting and the sight of blood. There was quite a number of boys at the ranch, but it affected them all alike. It was interesting to watch them cut and tie arteries, and saw the bones,

and I think I stood it better than any of them. When the operation was over, we gave the fellow the best bed the ranch afforded, and fixed him up comfortable. The doctor took the bloody stump and wrapped it up in old newspaper, saying he was take it home with him. After supper, the surgeon took a sleep, saying he would start back to town by two o'clock, so as it be there by daylight. He gave instructions to call him in case Bill awoke, but he hoped the boy would take a good sleep. As I left my horse in town, I was expected to go back with him. Shortly after midnight, the fellow awoke, so he aroused

a doctor, who reported him doing well. The old dock sat by his house. bed for an hour and told him all kinds of stories. He had been a surgeon in the Confederate army, and from the drift of his talk, you'd think it was impossible to kill a man without cutting off his head. "'Now take a young fellow like you,' said the doctor to his patient. "'If he was all shot to pieces, just so the parts would hang together, I could fix him up and he would get well. You have no idea, son, how much lead a young man can carry.' we had coffee and lunch before starting the doctor promising to send me back at once with necessary medicines we had a very pleasant trip driving back to town that night the stories he could tell were like a song with ninety verses no two alike

it was hardly daybreak when we reached san angelo and wrestled out a sleepy hosteler at the livery stable where the team belonged and had the horses cared for and as we left the stable the doctor gave me his instrument case while he carried the amputated leg in the paper we both felt the need of a bracer after our night's ride so we looked around to see if any of the saloons were open there was only one that showed any signs of life and we had it for that the doctor was in the lead as we entered and we both knew the barkeeper well this barkeeper was a practical joker himself and he and the doctor were great hunting companions we walked up to the bar together when the doctor laid the package on the counter and asked is this good for two drinks the barkeeper with a look of expectation in his face as if the part of the bar-keeper as if the part of the pack-keeper was a look of expectation in his face as if the packaged by contain a half-dozen quail or some fresh fish broke the string and unrolled it. Without a word, he walked straight from behind the bar and out of the house. If he had been shot himself, he couldn't have looked whiter. The doctor went behind the bar and said,

Glenn, what are you going to take? Let her come straight, doctor, was my reply, and we both took the same. We had the house all to ourselves, and after a second round of drinks took our leave. As we left by the front door, we saw the barkeeper leaning against the hitching post half a block below. The doctor called to him as we were leaving. Billy, if the drinks ain't on you, charge them to me. The moon was just rising, and at Uncle Lance's suggestion we each carried in a turn of wood, piling a portion of it on the fire. The blaze soon lighted up the camp, throwing shafts of light far into the recent.

of the woods surround us. In another hour, said Uncle Lance, recolling the oven lids, that smaller pie will be all ready to serve, but we'll keep the big one for breakfast. So, boys, if you want to sit up a little while longer, we'll have a midnight lunch, and then I'll turn in for about forty winks. As the oven lid was removed from time to time, to take note of the baking, savory odors of the pie were wafted in our anxious nostrils. On the intimation that one oven would be ready

in an hour, not a man's suggested blankets, and taken advantage of the lull, Theodore Quayle claimed attention. Another fellow and myself, said Quayle, were knocking around Fort Worth one time, seeing the sights. We had drunk until it didn't taste right any longer. this chum of mine was queer in his drinking if he ever got enough once he didn't want any more for several days you could cure him by offering him plenty but with just the right amount on board he was a hale fellow

and he was a big ambling awkward cuss who could be led into anything on a hint or suggestion we had been knocking around the town for a week until there was nothing new to be seen several times as we passed a millinery shop kept by a little blonde we had seen her standing at the door something it might have been his ambling walk but anyway something about my chum amused her for she smiled and watched him as we passed he could never walk along beside you for any distance but would trail behind and look into the windows he could not be hurried not in town i mentioned to him that he had made a mask on the little blonde milliner, and he at once insisted that I should show her to him. We passed down on the opposite side of the street, and I pointed out the place. Then we walked by several times and finally passed when she was standing in the doorway, talking to some customers. As we came up, he straightened himself, caught her eye, and tipped his hat with the politeness

of a dancing master. She blushed to the roots of her hair. and he walked on very erect some little distance then we turned a corner and held a confab he was for playing the whole string discount or no discount any way an excuse to go in was wanting but we thought we could invent one however he needed a drink or two to facilitate his thinking and loosen his tongue to get them was easier than the excuse but with the drinks the motive was born You wait here, said he, to me, until I go round to the livery-stable and get my coat off my saddle. He never encumbered himself with extra clothing. We had not seen our horses, saddles, or any of our belongings, during the week of our visit. When he returned, he inquired, do I need a shave?

Oh, no, I said, you need no shave. You may have a drink too many, or lack one, of having enough, but it's hard to make a close calculation. on you. Then I'm already, said he, for I've just a right gauge of steam. He led the way as we entered. It was getting dark, and the shop was empty of customers. We even got the manners, heaven only knows.

Once inside the door we halted, and she kept the counter between us as she approached. She ought to have called the police and had us run in. She was probably scared, but her voice was fairly steady, as she spoke, gentlemen what can i do for you my friend here said he with a bow and a wave of the hand was unfortunate enough to lose a wager made between us the terms of the bet were that the loser would buy a new hat for one of the dining-room girls at our hotel as we are leaving town to-morrow we had just dropped in to see if you had anything suitable we are both totally incompetent to decide on such a delicate matter but we will trust entirely to your judgment in the selection the milliner was quite collected by this time as she asked any particular style and what about price the price is immaterial he said disdainfully any man who will wager on the average weight of a train-load of cattle his own cattle mind you and miss them twenty pounds ought to pay for his lack of judgment don't you think so miss uh uh excuse me for being unable to call your name but but dement is my name said she with some little embarrassment leaving's thin is mine said he with a profound bow and this gentleman is mr ockletree younger brother of the congressman tom

now regarding the style we will depend entirely upon your selection but possibly the loser is entitled to some choice in the matter mr oclatry have you any preferences in regard the style why no i can generally tell whether a hat becomes a lady or not but as to selecting one i am at sea we had better depend on miss de mince judgment still always like an abundance of flowers on a lady's hat whenever a girl walks down the street ahead of me i like to watch the posies grass and buds on her hat wave and nod with the motion of her walk misty meant don't you agree with me that an abundance of flowers becomes a young lady and this girl can't be over twenty well now said she going into the matters in earnest i can scarcely advise you is the young lady a brunette or blonde what difference does it make he innocently asked oh said she smiling we must harmonize colors what would suit one complexion would not become another what color is her hair nearly the color of yours said he not so heavy and lacks the natural wave which yours has but she's all right she can ride a string of my horses until they all have sore backs i tell you she's a cute trick but say miss de ment what do you think of a green hat broad-brimmed turned up behind and on one side long black feathers run round and turn up behind with a blue bird on the other side swooping down like a pigeon hawk long tail feathers and an arrow in its beak that strikes me as about the mustard what do you think of that kind of hat dear

why sir the colors don't harmonize she replied blushing theodore do you know anything about this harmony of colors excuse me madam and i crave your pardon mr oclatured for using your given name but really this harmony of colors is all french to me well if the young lady is in town why can't you ever drop in and make her own selection suggested the blond milliner he just studied a moment and then awoke as if from a trance just as easy as not this very evening or in the morning strange we didn't think of that sooner yes the landlady of the hotel can join us and we can count on your assistance in selecting the hat with a number of comments on her attractive place inquiries regarding trade and flattering compliments on having made such a charming acquaintance we edged towards the door this evening then or in the morning at the farthest you may expect another call when my friend must pay the penalty of his folly by settling the bill put it on heavy and he gave her a parting wink together we bowed ourselves out and once safe in the street he said didn't she help us out of that easy if she wasn't a blonde i'd go back and buy her two hats for suggesting it as she did rather good-looking too i remarked oh well that's a matter of taste i like people with red blood in them now if you was the salt off her arm it wouldn't bleed just a little white water might ooze out possibly the best-looking girl i ever saw was down in the lower real grand country and she was milky and a goat theodore my dear fellow when i am led blushingly to the altar you'll be proud of my choice i'm a judge of beauty It was after midnight when we disposed of the first oven of pigeon pop-pie,

and wrapping ourselves in blankets lay down around the fire. With the first sign of dawn, we were aroused by Mr. Nathan and Uncle Lance to witness the return flight of the birds to their feeding grounds. Hurrying to the nearest opening, we saw the immense flight of pigeons blackening the sky overhead. Stiffened by their night's rest, they flew low. But the beauty and immensity of the flight over awed us, and we stood in mute admiration, no one firing a shot. For fully half an hour the flight continued, ending in a few scattering birds.

End of Chapter 5. Chapter 6 of a Texas matchmaker by Andy Adams. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Spring of 76. The spring of 76 was eventful at Lop Palomas. After the pigeon hunt, Uncle Lance went to San Antonio to sell cattle for spring delivery. Meanwhile, Father Norquin visited the ranch and spent a few days among his parishioners, Miss Jean, acting the hostess in behalf of Las Palomas.

The priest prove a congenial fellow of the cloth, and among us with miss jean's countenance it was decided not to delay enrique's marriage for there was no telling when uncle lance would return all the arrangements were made by the padre and miss jean the groom to be apparently playing a minor part in the preliminaries though none of the white element of the ranch were communicants of his church the priest apparently enjoyed the visit at parting the mistress pressed a gold piece into his store. chubby palm has the marriage fee for Enrique, and after naming a day for the ceremony, the Padre mounted his horse and left us for the Terran callus, showering his blessings on Las Palomas and its people. During the intervening days before the wedding, we overhauled an unused Wacal, and made it habitable for the bride and groom. The hacal is a crude structure of the semi-tropical country,

containing but a single room with a shady, protecting stoop. It is constructed by standing palisades on end in a trench. These constitute the walls. The floor is earthen, while the roof is thatched with the wild grass,

which grows rank in the overflow portions of the river valley. It forms a serviceable shelter for a warm country, the particular roofing equally defying rain and the sun's heat. Under the leadership of the mistress of the ranch, assisted by the Mexican woman, the Waukow was transformed into a rustic bower, for Enrique was not only a favorite among the whites, but also among his own people. A few gaudy pictures of saints and the Madonna ornamented

the side walls, while in the rear hung the necessary crucifix. At the time of its building, the Wacal had been blessed, has been blessed. was customary before occupancy, and to Enrique's reasoning, the potency of the former sprinkling, still held good. Weddings were momentous occasions among the Mexican population at Las Palomas. In outfitting the party to attend Enrique's wedding at Santa Maria, the ranch came to a standstill. Not only the regular amylins, but a second conveyance was required to transport the numerous female relatives of the groom, while the men,

all in gala attire were mounted on the best horses of the ranch. As none of the whites attended, Duis charged Trebusio with humanity to the stock, while the mistress admonished everyone to be on his good behavior. With greetings to Santa Maria, the wedding party set out. They were expected to return the following evening, and the ranch was set in order to give the bride a rousing reception on her arrival at Las Palomas. The largest place on the ranch was a warehouse, and we shifted its contents in such a manner, as to have quite a commodious ballroom.

The most notable decoration of the room was an immense heart-shaped figure, in which was worked in live oak leaves the names of the two ranches, flanked on either side with the American and Mexican flags. Numerous other decorations expressing welcome to the bride were an evidence on every hand. tallow was plentiful at las palomas and candles were fastened at every possible projection the mounted members of the wedding party returned near the middle of the afternoon according to reports santa maria had treated them most hospitably the marriage was simple but the festivities following had lasted until dawn the returning guests sought there were cows to snatch a few hours sleep before the revelry would be resumed at last time the returning guests sought there were cows to snatch a few hours sleep before the revelry would be resumed at Los Palomas. An hour before sunset, the four mule amulence bearing the bride and groom drove into Las Palomas with a flourish. Before leaving the bridal couple at their own

Waccal, Trubuccio halted the ambulance in front of the ranch house for the formal welcome, in the absence of her brother, Miss Jean officiated, in behalf of Las Palomas, tenderly caressing the bride. The boys monopolized her with their congratulated. and welcome, which delighted Enrique. As for the bride, she seemed at home from the first, soon recognizing me as the Padrino Segundo at the time of her betrothal. Quite a delegation of the bride's friends from Santa Maria accompanied the party on their return, from whom were chosen part of the musicians for the evening. Violin and guitars in the hands of the native element of these two ranches,

making up a pastoral orchestra. I volunteered my services, but so much of the music was new to me, that I frequently excused myself for a dance with the seigneuritas. In the absence of Uncle Lance, Arsugundo, June Duwis, claimed the first dance of the evening with the bride.

Miss Jean lent only the approval of her presence, not participating and withdrawing at an early hour. Has all the American element present spoke spoke Spanish lightly, that became the languish of the evening. But further than the countenance with our presence, the festivities, we were out of place, and ere, midnight, all had excused themselves, with the exception, of Aaron's scales and myself. On the pleadings of Enrique, I remained an hour or two longer, dancing with his bride, or playing some favorite selection for the delighted groom. Several days after the wedding, Uncle Lance returned,

He had been successful in contracting a trail herd of 3,500 cattle, and a remuda of 125 saddle horses with which to handle them. The contract called for 2,000 two-year-old steers and 1,500 threes. There was a difference of $4 a head in favor of the older cattle, and it was the Ranchero's intention to fill the latter class entirely from the Los Palomas brand. as to the younger cattle neighboring ranches would be invited to deliver twos in filling the contract and if any were lacking the home ranch would supply the deficiency having ample range the difference in price was an inducement to hold the younger cattle to keep a steering of the year cost nothing while the ranchel returned convinced that the trail might soon furnish an outlet for all surplus cattle in the matter of the horses to rather than reduce our supply of saddle stock below the actual needs of the ranch uncle lance concluded to buy fifty head in making up the remuda

there were several hundred geldings on the ranch old enough for saddle purposes but they would be as good as useless in handling cattle the first year after breaking as this would be the first trail herd from las palomas we naturally felt no small pride in the first small pride in the first year after breaking As this would be the first trail-herd from Los Palomas, we naturally felt no small pride in the transaction. According to the contract, everything was to be ready for final delivery on the 25th of March. The contractors, Camp and Dupree of Fort Worth, Texas, were to send their foreman two weeks in advance to receive, classify, and pass upon the cattle and saddle stock. They were exacting in their demands, yet humane and reasonable. in making up the herd no cattle were to be corralled at night and no animal would be received which had been roped the saddle horses were to be treated likewise these conditions would put into the saddle every available man on the ranch as well as on the ranchita's but we looked eagerly forward to the putting up of the herd letters were written and despatched to a desert ranches within striking distance inviting them to turn in the turn in the herd the herd letters were written and dispatched to a desert ranches within striking distance inviting them to turn in two-year-old steers at the full contract price.

June de Weiss was set out to buy fifty saddle horses, which would fill the required standard. Fourteen hands are better, serviceable, and gentle broke. I was dispatched to Santa Maria to invite Don Mateo Gonzalez to participate in the contract. The range of every saddle horse on the ranch was located, so that we could gather them, when wanted, in a day. Less than a month's time now remained before the delivery day, though we did not expect

to go in the camp for actual gathering until the arrival of the trail foreman. In going and returning from San Antonio, my employer had traveled by stage, as it happened, the driver of the upstage out of Oakville was Jack Martin, the son-in-law of Mrs. McLeod. He and Uncle Lance being acquainted, the old Ranchero's matchmaking, instincts had, during the day's travel, again forged to the front. By roundabout inquiries he had elicited the information that Mrs. McLeod had, immediately after the holidays, taken Esther to San Antonio and placed her in school. By innocent artful suggestions of his interest in the welfare of the family, he learned the name of the private school of which Esther was a pupil. Furthermore,

more, he cultivated the goodwill of the driver in various ways over good cigars, and at parting assured him on returning he would take the stage so as to have the pleasure of his company on the return trip, the highest compliment that could be paid as stage driver. From several sources I had learned that Esther had left the ranch for the city, but on Uncle Lance's return I got to full particulars. As a neighboring ranchman and bearing self-invented messages from the family, he had the assurance to call at the school. His honest countenance was a passport anywhere, and he not only saw Esther but prevailed on her teachers to give the girl some time during his visit in the city a half-holiday.

The interest he manifested in the girl won his request, and the two had spent an afternoon visiting the parks and other points of interest. it is needless to add that he made hay in my behalf during this half-holiday but the most encouraging fact that he unearthed was that esther was disgusted with her school life and was homesick she had declared that if she ever got away from school no power on earth could force her back again shucks tom said he the next morning after his return as we were sitting in the shade of the corrals waiting for the remuda to come in that poor little country girl might as well be in a penitentiary as in that school she belongs on these prairies and you can't make anything else out of her i can read between the lines and any one can see that her education is finished when she told me how rudely her mother had treated you her heart was an open book and easily read don't you lose any sleep on how you stand in her affections that's all serene she'll be home on a spring vacation and that'll be your chance if i was your age i'd make it a point to see that she didn't go back to school she'll run off with you rather than that in the game of metrimony son you want to play your cards boldly and never hesitate to lead trumps to further matters when returning by stage my employer had ingratiated himself into the favor of the driver in many ways and urged him to send word to mrs mickley's to turn in her two-year-olds on his contract.

A few days later her foreman and son-in-law, Tom Hunter, rode down to Los Palomas, anxious for the chance to turn in cattle. There had been little opportunity for several years to sell steers, and when a chance like this came, there would have been no trouble to fill half a dozen contracts as supply far exceeded demand. Uncle Lance let Mrs. MacLeod's foreman feel that allotting her 500 of the younger cattle, he was actuated by old-time friendship for the family.

As a mark of special consideration, he promised to send the trail foreman to the San Miguel to pass on the cattle on their home range, but advised the foreman to gather at least 700 steers, allowing for 200 to be cold or cut back. Hunter remained overnight, departing the next morning, delighted over his allowance of cattle and the liberal terms of the contract. It was understood that, in advance of his outfit, the trail foreman would come down by stage, and I was sent into Oakville with an extra saddle horse to meet him. He had arrived the day previous, and we lost no time in starting for Las Palomas.

This trail foreman was about thirty years of age. a quiet red-headed fellow given the name of frank nancredi and before we had covered half the distance of the ranch i was satisfied that he was a cowman i always prided myself on possessing a good eye for brands but he outclassed me reading strange brands at over a hundred yards and distinguishing cattle from horse stock at a distance of three miles we got fairly well acquainted before reaching the ranch but it was impossible to start him on any subject save cattle i was able to give him a very good idea of the remuda which was then under-herd and waiting his approval and i saw the man brighton into a smile for the first time on my offering to help him pick out a good mount for his own saddle i had a vague idea of what the trail was like and felt the usual boish attractions for it but when i tried to draw him out in regard to it he advised me if i had a regular job on a ranch to let trail work alone we reached the ranch late in the evening and i introduced dan creedy to uncle lance who took charge of him we had established the horse camp for the trail remuda north of the river and the next morning the trail for the trail foreman, my employer, and June Duis rode over to pass on the saddle-stop. The remuda pleased him, being fully up to the contract standard, and he accepted it with

but a single exception. This exception tickled Uncle Lance, as it gave him an opportunity to annoy his sister about Nancredi, as he did about every other cowman or drover who visited the ranch. That evening, as I was chatting with Miss Jean, who saw her see her. The superintendent, the Mexican helped milking at the cow pen, Uncle Lance joined us. Say, sis, said he, our man Nancrity is a cowman all right. I tried to ring in a hipped horse on him this morning. One hip knocked down just the least little bit, but he noticed it and refused to accept him.

Oh, he's got an eye in his head, all right. So if you say so, I'll give him the best horse on the ranch in old hippie's place. You're always making fun of slab-sided cowman. He's pony-built enough to suit you, and I kind of like the color of his hair myself. Did you notice his neck? He'll never tie it if it gets broken. I like a short man,

but if he stubs his toe and falls down, he doesn't reach halfway home. Now if he has as good cow sense in receiving the herd as he had on the remuda, I'd kind of like to have him for a brother-in-law. I am getting a little too old for active work and would like to retire. June, the darn fool, won't get married, and about the only show I've got is to get a husband for you.

Ida's leaf live in Hades, as on a ranch without a woman on it. What do you think of him? Well, I think he's an awfully nice fellow, but he won't talk. And besides, I'm not baiting my hook for small fish like the trail foreman. I was aiming to keep my smiles for the contract. aren't they coming down? Well, they might come down to look the herd over before it starts out. Now Dupre is a good cowman, but he's got a wife already,

and Camp, the financial man of the firm, made his money peddling Yankee clocks. Now you don't suppose for a moment that I'd let you marry him and carry you away from Las Palomas. Marry an old clock peddler? Not if he had a million. The idea. if they come down here and i catch you smiling old camp i'll set the hounds on you what you want to do is set your cap for nancredi of course your ten years the elder but that needn't cut any figure so just burn a few smiles on the red-headed trail foreman you know you can count on your loving brother to help all he can the conversation was interrupted by our segundo and the trail foreman riding up to the cow-pen the two had been up the river during the afternoon looking over the cattle on the rage for as yet we had not commenced gathering nan creedy was very recited discovering a conspicuous lack of words to express his opinion of what cattle duise had shown him

the second day after the arrival of the trail foreman we divided our forces into two squads and started out to gather our three-year-olds by the ranch records there were over two thousand steers at that age in the las palomas brand deweese took ten men and half of the ranch saddle horses and went up above the mouth of the gonso to begin gathering uncle lance took the remainder of the men and the horses and went down the river nearly to shepherds leaving dan haperset and three mexicans to hold and night-herd the trail nancredi declined to stay at the ranch and so joined our outfit on the down river trip we had postponed the gathering until the last hour for every day improved the growing grass on which our mounts must depend for subsistence and once we started there would be little rest for men or horses the younger cattle of the herd were made up within a week after the invitations were sent to the neighboring ranches naturally they would be the last cattle to be received and would come in for delivery between the twentieth and the last of the month with the plans thus outlined we started our gathering counting nancredi we had twelve men in the saddle in our down-river outfit taking nothing but three-year-olds we did not accumulate cattle fast but it was continuous work every man with the exception of uncle lance standing a guard a night-herd the first two days we only gathered about five hundred steers this number was increased by about three hundred on the third day and that evening dan haperset with the vicaro rode into camp and reported that mancredi's outfit had arrived from san antonio

he had turned the remuda over to them on their arrival sending the other two mexicans to join de wiese above on the river the fourth day finished the gathering nancrady remained with us to the last making a hand which left no doubt at any one's mind that he was a cowman from the ground up the last round-up on the afternoon of the fourth day our outriders sighted the vicaros from the weese's outfit circling and drifting in the cattle on their half of the circle the next morning the two camps were thrown together on the river opposite the ranch dewees had fully as many cattle as we had and when the two cuts had been united and counted we lacked but five heads of nineteen hundred several of nancredi's men joined us that morning and within an hour under the trail foreman's directions we cut back the overplus and the cattle were accepted under the contract we were to road brand them though nancredi orders men to assist us in the work under ordinary circumstances we should also have vented the ranch brand but owing to the fact that this herd was to be trailed to abilene kansas and possibly sold beyond that point it was unnecessary and therefore omitted we had a branding shoot on the ranch for grown cattle and the following morning the herd was corralled and the road branding commenced the cattle were uniform in size and the stamping of the figure four over the holding lazy L of the Las Palomas moved like clockwork.

With a daybreak start and an abundance of help, the last animal was ironed up before sundown. As a favor to Nancredi's outfit, there can't be in nearly five miles distance, we held them the first night after branding. No sooner had the trail foreman accepted our three-year-olds, than he and Glenn Gallup set out for the McLeod Ranch on the San Miguel.

The day our branding was finished, the two returned near midnight, reported the San Miguel cattle accepted, and due the next evening at Las Palomas. By dawn, Nancredi and myself started for Santa Maria, the former being deficient in Spanish,

the only weak point, if it was one, in his makeup as a cowman. We were slightly disappointed and not finding the cattle ready to pass upon at Santa Maria. that ranch was to deliver seven hundred and on our arrival they had not even that number under-heard don mattho an easy-going ranchero could not understand the necessity of such haste what did it matter if the cattle were delivered on the twenty-fifth or twenty-seventh but i explained as delicately as i could that this was a trail man whose vocabulary did not contain

in interpreting for nancredi i learned something of the trail myself that a herd should start with the grass and move with it keeping the freshness of spring day after day week after week as they trailed northward the trail forman assured don mattho that had his employers known that this would be such an early spring the herd would have started a week sooner by impressing on the ranchero the importance of not delaying this trail man we got him to inject a little action into his corporal we asked don matteo for horses and joining his outfit made three rodeos that afternoon and turning into cattle under herd nearly two hundred and fifty head by dark that evening nan cretees spent a restless night and at dawn as the cattle were leaving the bed-ground he and i got an easy count on them and called them down to the required number before breakfasting. We had some little trouble explaining to Don Mateo the necessity of giving the bill of sale to my employer, who in turn would reconvey the stock to the contractors.

Once the matter was clear, the accepted cattle were started for Las Palomas. When we overtook them an hour afterward, I instructed the corporal at the insistence of the red-headed foreman to take a day and a half in reaching the ranch, that tartiness and gathering must not be made up by a hasty drive to the point of delivery, that the animals must be treated humanely. On reaching the ranch we found that Mr. Booth and some of his neighbors had arrived from the Frio with their contingent. They had been allotted six hundred head and had brought down about two hundred extra cattle in order to allow some choice in accepting. These were the only

Only mixed brands that came in on the delivery, and after they had been culled down and accepted, my employer appointed Aaron Scales as clerk. There was some five or six owners, and Scales must catch the brands as they were freed from the branding shoot. Several of the owners kept the private tally, but not once did they have occasion to check up the Marylanders' decisions. Before the branding of this bunch was finished, Wilson, from Ramarillo, Rode into the ranch and announced his cattle within five miles of Los Palomas. As these were the last two hundred to be passed upon, Nancrini asked to have them in sight of the ranch by sun-up in the morning.

On the arrival of the trail out trip from San Antonio, they brought a letter from the contractors, asking that a conveyance meet them at Oakville, as they wished to see the herd before it started. Tversio went in with the ambulance to meet them, and they reached the ranch late at night. On their arrival, 2,600 of the cattle, had already been passed upon, branded, and were then being held by Nancredi's outfit across the river at their camp. Dupre, being a practical cowman, understood the situation, but camp was restless and uneasy, as if he expected to find the cattle in the corrals at the ranch. Camp was years the older of the two, a pudgy man with a floored complexion and nasal twang,

and kept the junior member busy answering his questions. Uncle Lance enjoyed the situation, jolly and his sister about the elder contractor, and quietly inquiring of the red-headed foreman, how and where Dupre had picked him up. The contractors had brought no saddles with them, so the ambulance was the only mode of travel. As we rode out to receive the Wilson cattle the next morning, Uncle Lance took advantage of the occasion to jolly Nancredi further about the senior member of the firm. The foreman smiling appreciatively, the way your old man talked last night, said he, you'd think, he expected to find the herd in the front yard. Too bad to disappoint him, for then he could have looked him over

with a lantern from the gallery of the house. Now if they had been Yankee, clocks instead of cattle, why, he'd been right at home, and could have taken them in the house and handled them easily. It certainly beats the dickens why some men want to break in to cattle business. It won't surprise me if he asks you to trail the herd past the ranch so he can see them. Well, you and DePray will have to make him some de Nero this summer, or you will lose him for a partner. I can see that sticking out.

We received and branded the 200 Wilson cattle that forenoon, sending them to the main herd across the river. Mr. Wilson and Uncle Lance were great cronies, and as the latter was feeling in fine fetal, over the successful fulfillment of his contract, he was tempted also to jolly his neighbors ran charrow over his cattle, which, by the way, were fine. Nate, he said to Mr. Wilson,

it looks like you'd quit breeding goats and rear cattle instead, honest. If I didn't know your brand, I'd swear, some Mexican raised this bunch. These Fort Worth cowmen are an easy lot, or yours would have never passed under the classification. An hour before noon, Thomas Martinez, the corporal of Santa Maria, rode up to inquire

what time we wished his cattle at the corrals. They were back several miles, and he could deliver them on an hour's notice. One o'clock was a great. agreed upon, and never dismounting, the corporal galloped the way to his herd. Quirk, said Nancredi to me, noticing the Mexicans unaccustomed air of enterprise, if we had that fellow under us a while, we'd make a cow hand out of him. See the wiggly gets on himself now, will you?

Promptly at the hour the herd were counted and corralled. Don Mateo Gonzales was not troubling to appear, which was mystifying to the north Texas men. But Uncle Lance explained that a mere incident like selling 700 cattle was not sufficient occasion to around the rancheros of Santa Maria when his corporal could attend to the business. That evening saw the last of the cattle branded. The herd was completed and ready to start the following morning. The two contractors were driven across the river during the afternoon to look over the herd and Ramuda. At the instance of my employer,

I wrote a letter of congratulations to Don Mateo, handing it to his corporal informing him that in the course of ten days a check would be sent him in payment. Uncle Lance had fully investigated the financial standing of the contractors, but it was necessary for him to return with him to San Antonio for the final settlement.

The ambulance made an early start for Oakville on the morning of the 26th, carrying the contractors and my employer. And the rest of us rode away to witness the start of the herd. Nancredi's outfit numbered fifteen, a cook, a horse-rangler, himself, and twelve outriders. They comprised an odd mixture of men. Several barely my age, while others were gray-haired and looked like veteran cowhands. On leaving the Noesasas Valley, the herd was strung out a mile of the road. in length, and after riding with them until they reached the first hills, we bade them

good-bye. As we started to return, Frank Nancredi made remark to June de Wies, which I have often recalled. You fellows may think this is a snap, but if I had a job on as good a ranch as Las Palomas, you'd never catch me on a cattle trail. End of Chapter 6. Chapter 7 of a Texas matchmaker by Andy. Adams. This Libravox recording is in the public domain.

San Jacinto Day. A few days later, when Uncle Lance returned from San Antonio, we had a confidential talk, and he decided not to send me with a makelead check to the San Miguel. He had reasons of his own, and I was dispatched to the Frio instead, while to Enrique fell the pleasant task of a similar errand to Santa Maria. In order to grind an axe, Glenn Gallop was sent down to Wilson's with a settlement for the Ramaneer cattle, which Uncle Lance made the occasion of a jovial expression of his theory of lovemaking. Don't waste any words with old man Nate, said he, as he handed Glenn the check, but billed right up to Miss Julie.

Holy snakes, boy, if I was your age, I would make her dizzy with a big talk. Tell her, you're thinking of quitting Los Palomas and driving a trail-hurt yourself next year. Tell it big and scary, make her eyes fairly bulge out, and when you can't think of anything else, tell her she's pretty. I spent a day or two at the Booth Ranch, and on my return, found the Las Palomas outfit in the saddle working our horse stock. Yearly we made up new monadas from the two-year-old fillies. There were enough young mares to form twelve bands of about twenty-five head each.

In selecting these we were governed by standard colors, bays, browns, grays, blacks, and sorrels, forming separate monadas, while all mongrel colors went into two bands by themselves. In the latter class there was a tendency for the colors of the old, old Spanish stock, coyotes, and other hybrid mixtures, after being dormant for generations to crop out again. In breaking these fillies into new bands, we added a stallion a year or two older and of acceptable color, and they were placed in charge of a trusty Vaccaro, whose duty was to herd them for the first month after being formed. The Mexican in charge usually took the band round the circuit of the various ranchitas, corraling his charge at night,

drifting at will, so by the end of the month old associations would be severed, and from that time the stallion could be dependent on as herdsmen. In gathering the fillies, we also cut out all the gelnings three years old and upwards to break for saddle purposes. There were fully two hundred of these, and the month of April was spent in saddle-breaking this number. They were a fine lot of young horses, and under the master eye of two perfect horsemen, Arsugundo, an employer, every horse was broken with intelligence and humanity. Since the day of their branding as cults these geldings had never felt the touch of a human hand, and it required more than ordinary patience to overcome their fear.

bringing them to a condition of submission and making serviceable rash horses out of them. The most difficult matter was in overcoming their fear. It was also necessary to show the mastery of man over the animal, though this process was tempered with humanity. We had several circular sandy corrals into which the horse to be broken was admitted for the first saddling. As he ran round a lasso, skillfully thrown. throne, encircled his front feet, and he came down on his side. One forefoot was strapped up, the hackamore, or bitless bridle, was suggested in place, and he was allowed to arise. After this all depended on the patience and firmness of the handler. Some horses yielded to

kind advances, and accepted the saddle within half an hour, not even offering to pitch, while others repelled every kindness and fought for hours. But in handling the gelding of spirit, we could always count on the help of an extra saddler. While this work was being done, the herd of gelding's was held close at hand. After the first riding, four horses were the daily allowance of each rider.

With the amount of help available, this allowed twelve to fifteen horses to the man, so that every animal was ridden once in three or four days. Rather than corral, we night-herded, penning them by dawn, and riding our first horse before sun-up. As they gradually yielded, we increased our number to six a day, and finally, before the breaking was over to eight. When the work was finally over,

they were cut into remudas of fifty horses each, furnished a gentle bell-mayer, when possible with a young colt by her side, and were turned over to similar treatment, as was given the fillies in forming manadas. Thus, the different remunas at Las Palamas always took the name of the bell-mayer, and when we were at work it was only necessary for us

to hobble the princes at night to ensure the presence of her band in the morning. When this month's work was two-thirds over, we enjoyed a holiday. All good Texans, whether by birth or adoption, celebrate the 21st of April, San Jacinto Day. National holidays may not always be observed in sparsely settled communities, but this event will remain a great anniversary

until the sons and daughters of the lone star state lose their patriotism or forget the blessings of liberty. As Shepard's Ferry was centrally located, it became, by common consent, the meeting point for our local celebration. Residents from the Frio in San Miguel, and as far south on the home river, has Lagarto, including the villagers of Oakville, usually lent their presence on this occasion. The white element of Los Palomas was present without exception. As usual, Miss Jean went by amulins, starting the afternoon before, and spent the

the night at a ranch above the ferry. Those remaining made a daybreak start, reaching shepherds by ten in the morning. While on the way from the ranch to the ferry, I was visited with some misgivings as to whether Esther MacLeod had yet returned from San Antonio. At the delivery of San Miguel's cattle at Los Palomas, Miss Jean had been very attentive to Tony Hunter, Esther's brother-in-law, and through him she learned that Esther's school closed for summer vacation on the 15th of April, and that within a week afterward she was expected at home. Shortly after her reaching the ferry, a number of vehicles drove in from Oakville. One of these conveyances was an elaborate six-horse stage,

owned by Bethel and Oxenford, star route mail contractors between San Antonio and Brownsville, Texas, Seated by young Oxenford's side in the driver's box sat Esther McLeod, while inside the coach was her sister, Mrs. Martin, with the senior member of the firm, his wife, and several others invited guests. I had heard something of the gallantry of young Jack Oxenford, who was the nephew of a carpet-bag member of Congress, and prided himself of being the best whip in the country. In the latter field I would gladly have yielded him all honors, but his attentions to Esther were altogether too marked to please either me or my employer. I am free to admit that I was troubled by this turn of affairs. The junior mail contractor made up an egotism what he lacked in appearance, and no doubt had money to burn.

As Star Route mail contracting was profitable those days, while I had had a little bit of while i had nothing but my monthly wages to make matters more embarrassing a blind man could have read mrs martin's approval of young oxenford the programme for the forenoon was brief a few patriotic songs and an oration by a young lawyer who had come up from corpus christi for the occasion after listening to the opening song my employer and i took a stroll down by the river as we were too absorbed in the new complications to pay proper attention to the young orator. Tom, said Uncle Lance, as we strolled away from the grove, we are up against the real thing now. I know young Oxenford, and he's a dangerous fellow to have for a rival, if he really is one. You can't tell much about a Yankee, though, for he's usually egotistical enough to think that every girl in the country is breaking her neck to win him.

The worst of it is this young fellow is rich. He's got dead oodles of money, and he's making more every hour out of his mail contracts. One good thing is we understand the situation, and all's fair in love and war. You can see, though, that Mrs. Martin has dealt herself a hand in the game. By the dough on her fingers, she proposes to have a fist in the pie. Well now, son, we'll give them a run for their money. money or break a tug in the effort. Tom, you just play to my lead today,

and we'll see who holds high cards or knows best how to play them. If I can cut them off, that'll be your chance to sail in and do a little close hurting yourself. We loitered along the riverbank until the oration was concluded, my employer giving me quite an interesting account of my rival. It seems that young Oxenford belonged to a family, then notoriously prominent in politics. He had inherited quite a sum of money,

and, through the influence of his congressional uncle, had been fortunate enough to form a partnership with Bethel, a man who knew all the ropes and mail contracting. The senior member of the firm knew how to shake the tree, while the financial resources of the junior member and the political influence of his uncle made him a valuable man in gathering the tree. the plums on their large field of star route contracts. Had not exposure interrupted, they were due

to have made a large fortune out of the government. On our return to the picnic grounds the assembly was dispersing for luncheon. Miss Jean had ably provided for the occasion, and on reaching our ambulance on the outer edge of the grove, to Bersio had coffee already, and the boys from the home ranch began to strangle in. for dinner. Miss Jean had prevailed on Tony Hunter and his wife, who had come down on horseback from the San Miguel, to take luncheon with us, and from the hearty greetings which Uncle Lance extended to the guests of his sister, I could see that the owner and mistress of Los Palomas were diplomatically dividing the house of MacLeed. I followed suit,

making myself agreeable to Mrs. Hunter, who was but a very few years the elder of Esther. Having spent a couple of nights at their ranch and feeling a certain comradeship with her husband, I decided before dinner was over that I had a friend and ally in Tony's wife. There was something romantic about the young matron, as anyone could see, and since the sisters favored each other in many ways, I had hopes that Esther might not overvalue Jack Oxenford's money. After luncheon, as we were on our way to the Dancing Arbor, we met the Oakville party with Esther in tow. I was introduced to Mrs. Martin, who in turn made me acquainted with her friends, including her sister, perfectly unconscious that we were already more than mere acquaintances.

From the demure manner of Esther, who accepted the introduction as a matter of course, I surmise, she was concealing our acquaintance from her sister and my rival. We had hardly reached the arbor before Uncle Lance created a diversion and interested the male contractors with a glowing yarn about a fine lot of young mules he had at the ranch, large enough for stage purposes. There was some doubt expressed by the stage men as to their size and weight when my employer invited them to the outskirts of the grove. where he would show them a sample in our ambulance team so he led them away and i saw that the time had come to play my employer's lead the music striking up i claimed esther for the first dance leaving mrs martin for the time being in charge of her sister and miss jean

before the first waltz ended i caught sight of all three of the ladies mingling in the dance it was a source of no small satisfaction to me to see my two best friends deweese and gallop dancing with the married sisters while miss jean was giving her whole attention to her partner tony hunter with the entire las palomas crowd pulling strings of my interest and father in the absence of oxenford becoming extremely gracious i grew bold and threw out my chest like the brisket on a beef steer i permitted no one to separate me from esther we started the second dance together but no sooner did i see her sister mrs martin whirled by us in the polka with dan hapersett then i suggested that we drop out and take a stroll she consented and we were soon out of sight wandering in a labyrinth of lover's lanes which abounded throughout this live oak grove on reaching the outskirts of the picnic grounds we came to an extensive opening in which our saddle-horses were picketed at glance esther recognized wolf the horse i had ridden the christmas before when passing their ranch being a favorite saddle-horse of the old ranchero he was reserved for special occasions and uncle lance had ridden him down the shepherds on this holiday like a bird freed from a cage the ranch girl took to the horses and insisted on a little ride since her proposal alone prevented my making a similar suggestion i allowed myself to be won over

but came near getting caught in protesting but you told me at the ranch that wolf was one of ten in your las palomas mount she poutingly protested he is i insisted but i have loaned him to uncle lance for the day throw the saddle on him then i'll tell mr lovelace when we return that i borrowed his horse when he wasn't looking had she killed the horse i felt sure that the apology would have been accepted so throwing saddles on the black and my own mount we were soon scampering down the river the inconvenience of a man's saddle or the total absence of any was a negligible incident to this daughter of the plains a mile down the river we halted and watered the horses then crossing the stream we spent about an hour circling slowly about on the surrounding uplands never being over a mile from the picnic grounds it was late for the first flora of the season but there was still an abundance of blue bodies dismounting we gathered and wove wreaths for our horses necks and wondered picking the mexican strawberries which grew plentifully on every hand but this was all preliminary to the main question when it came up for discussion this one of quirk's boys made the talk of his life in behalf of thomas more nor was it in vain when esther apologized for the rudeness her mother had shown me at her home that afforded me the opening for which i was longing we were sitting on a grassy hummock weaving garlands when i replied to the apology by declaring my intention of marrying her with her without her mother's consent unconventional as the declaration was to my surprise she showed neither offense nor wonderment

dropping the flowers with which we were working she avoided my gaze and turning slightly from me began watching our horses which had strayed away some distance but i gave her little time for meditation and when i aroused her from her reverie she rose saying we'd better go back they'll miss us if we stay too long before complying with her wish i urged an answer but she artfully avoided my question insisted on our immediate return being in a quandary as to what to say or do i went after the horses which was a simple proposition on my return while we were adjusting the garlands about the necks of our mounts i again urged her for an answer but in vain we stood for a moment between the two horses and as i lowered my hand on my knee to afford her a stepping-stone and mounting i thought she did not offer to mount with the same alacrity as she had done before. Something flashed through my addled mind, and withdrawing the hand, proffered, as a mounting-block, I clasped the de Moor maiden closely in my arms.

What transpired had no witnesses, save two saddle-horses, and as wolf usually kept an eye on his rider in mounting, I dropped the reins, and gave him his freedom, rather, than endure his scrutiny. me. When we were finally aroused from this delicious trance, the horses had strayed away fully fifty yards, but I had received the favorable answer, breathed in a voice so low and tender, that it haunts me yet. As we rode along returning to the grove, Esther requested,

that our betrothal be kept the profound secret. No doubt she had good reasons, and it was quite possible that there then existed some complications which she wished to conceal, though I avoided all mention of any possible rival. Since she was not due to return to her school before September, there seemed ample time to carry out our intention of marrying. But as we jogged along, she informed me that after spending a few weeks with her sister in Oakville, it was her intention to return to the San Miguel for the summer. To allay her mother's distrust, it would be better for me not to call at the ranch. But this was easily compensated for, when she suggested, making several visits during the season

with the Vox girls, chums of hers, who lived on the Friel about thirty miles due north of Las Palomas. This was fortunate since the Vox Ranch and ours were on the most friendly terms. We returned by the route, by which we had left the road. the grounds. I repicketed the horses, and we were soon mingling again with the revelers, having been absent little over an hour. No one seemed to have taken any notice of our absence. Mrs. Martin, I rejoiced to see, was still in the toe of her sister and Miss Jean, and from the circle of Las Paloma's courtiers, who surrounded the ladies, I felt sure they had given her no opportunity even to miss her younger sister. Uncle Lance was the only member of our

company absent. But I gave myself no uneasiness about him, since the mail contractors were both likewise missing. Rejoining our friends and assuming a nonchalant air, I flattered myself that my disguise was perfect. During the remainder of the afternoon, in view of the possibility that Esther might take her sister, Mrs. Martin, into our secret and win her as an ally, I cultivated that lady's acquaintance, dancing with her, and leaving nothing undone to foster her friendship.

Near the middle of the afternoon, as the three sisters, Miss Jean, and I were indulging in light refreshments at a booth some distance from the dancing arbor, I sighted my employer, Dan Happerset, and the two stage men returning from the store. They passed near, not observing us,

and from the defiant tones of Uncle Lance's voice I knew that they had been tampering with a private stock of the merchant at Shepherds. Why, gentlemen, said he, that ambulance team, is no exception to the quality of mules I'm raising at Las Palomas. Drive up some time and spend a few days and take a look at the stock we're breeding, if you will, and if I don't show you mules, fourteen and a half hands or better, I'll round up five hundred head, and let you pick fifty as a pylon for your time and trouble. Why, gentlemen, Las Palomas has sold mules to the government. On the return of our party to the arbor, Happersat claimed to dance with Esther,

Thus freeing me. Uncle Lance was standing some little distance away, still entertaining the mail contractors, and I edged near enough to notice Oxenford's florid face and leery eye. But on my employer's catching sight of me, he excused himself to the stage men, and taking my arm led me off. Together we promenaded out of sight of the crowd. How do you like my style of man-hurtor, inquire the old matchmaker?

Once we were out of hearing, Why, Tom, I'd have held those male thieves until dark, if Dan hadn't drifted in and given me the wink. Shepard kicked like a bay steer, and let him. me have a second quart bottle. But it took that to put the right glaze in the young Yank's eyes. Oh, I had him going south, all right, but tell me, how did you and Esther make it? We had reached a secluded spot and seating ourselves on an old fallen tree trunk, I told of my success, even to the using of his horse. Never before or since did I see Uncle Lance

give way to such a fit of hilarity. indulged in over the perfect working out of our plans. With his hat he whipped me, the ground, the log on which we sat, while his peals of laughter rang out like the reports of a rifle. In his fit of ecstasy, tears of joy streaming from his eyes, he kept repeating again and again, Oh, sister, run quick and tell Pa to come. As we neared the grounds returning, he stopped me,

and we had a further brief. confidential talk together. I was young and egotistical enough to think that I could defy all the rivals in existence. But he cautioned me, saying, hold on, Tom, you're young yet, you know nothing about the weaker sex, absolutely nothing. It's not your fault but due to your mere raw youth. Now listen to me, son. Don't underestimate any rival, particularly if he has gall and money, most of all money. Humanity is the same the world over, and why you may not have seen it here among the ranches,

it is natural for a woman to rave over a man with money, even if he is only a pimply excuse for a creature. Still I don't see that we have very much the fear. We can cut old lady MacLeod out of the matter entirely, but then there's the girl's sister, Mrs. Martin, and I look for her to cut up shameful when she smells the rat, which she is sure to do. And then there's her husband to figure on.

If the ox knows his master's crib, it is only reasonable to suppose that Jack Martin knows where his bread and butter comes from. These stage men will stick up for each other like thieves. Now don't you be to crack sure, but just a trifle leery of everyone, except, of course, the Law Palomas outfit. I admit that I did not see clearly the reasoning behind much of this lecture, but I knew better than reject the advice of the old matchmaker, with the sixty-odd years of experience.

I was still meditating over his remarks when we rejoined the crowd and were soon separated among the dancers. Several urged me to play the violin, but I was too busy looking after my own fences and declined the invitation. casting about for the vaux girls i found the eldest with whom i had a slight acquaintance and being monopolized by theodore quail and john cotton friendly rivals and favorites of the young lady on my imploring the favor of a dance she excused herself and joined me on a promenade about the grounds missing one dance entirely in arranging matters with her to send me word on the arrival of esther at their ranch i attempted to make her show some preference between my two comrades under the pretence of knowing which one to bring along but she only smiled and maintained an admirable neutrality after a dance i returned the elder miss vaux to the tender care of john cotton and caught sight of my employer leaving the arbor for the refreshment booth with a party of women including mrs martin and esther mcleed to whom he was paying the most devoted attention witnessing the tireless energy of the old matchmaker and in a quarter where he had little hope of an ally brought me to thinking that there might be good cause for alarm in his warnings not to be overconfiding miss jean whom i had not seen since luncheon aroused me from my reverie and on her wishing to know my motive for cultivating the acquaintance of miss vonks neglecting my own sweetheart i told her the simple truth

good idea tom she assented i think i'll just ask miss francis home with me to spend sunday then you can take her across to the frio on horseback so as not to offend either john or theodore what do you think i thought it was a good idea and said so at least the taking of the young lady home would be a pleasanter task for me than breaking horses but has i expressed myself so i could not help thinking seeing miss jean's zeal in the matter that the matchmaking instinct was equally well developed on both sides of the loveless family the afternoon was drawing to a close the festivities would conclude by early sundown miss jean would spend the night again at the half-way ranch returning to las palomas the next morning we would start on our return with the close of the amusements many who lived at the night again at the half-way ranch returning to las palomas the next morning we would start on our return with the close of the amusements many who lived at the many who lived at a distance had already started home it lacked but a few minutes of the closing hour when i sought out esther for the home sweet home waltz finding her in company of oxenford chaperoned by mrs martin of which there was need my sweetheart excused herself with a poise that made my heart leap and as we whirled away in the mazes of the final dance rivals that all else passed into oblivion before we could realize the change in the music the orchestra had stopped and struck into my country tis of thee in which the voice of every patriotic texan present swelled the course of the voice of every patriotic texan present swelled the course of the chorus of the horse until it echoed throughout the grove, befittingly closing San Jacinto Day.

End of Chapter 7. Chapter 8 of a Texas matchmaker by Andy Adams. This Libra Vox recording is in the public domain. A cat hunt on the frio. The return of Miss Jean the next forenoon, accompanied by Francis Vox, was an occasion of more than ordinary moment at a free-o' moment at a return of Miss Jean. Los Palomas. The Vox family were of Creo extraction, but had settled on the Frio River nearly a generation before. Under the climatic change, from the swamps of Louisiana to the Maces of Texas,

the girls grew up fine physical specimens of rustic southern beauty. To a close observer, certain traces of the French were distinctly discernible in Miss Francis, notably in a large, lustrous eyes the swarthy complexion and early maturity of womanhood. Small wonder, then, that our guests should have played havoc among the young men of the countryside, adding to her train of gallants, the devoted quail, and cotton of Las Palomas. Aside from her charming personality, that Miss Vox should receive a cordial welcome at Los Palomas goes without saying, since there were many reasons. reasons why she should the old ranchero and his sister chaperoned the young lady while i betrothed to another became her most obedient slave it is needless to add that there was a fair field and no favour showed by her host as between john and theodore

the prize was worthy of any effort the best man was welcome to win while the blessings of master and mistress seemed impatient to descend upon the favorite one. In the work at hand I was forced to act as a rival to my friends, for I could not afford to lower my reputation for horsemanship before Miss Francis, when my betrothed was shortly to be her guest, so it was not to be wondered at that quail and cotton should abandon the mendeno in mounting their unbroken geldings, and I had to follow suit or suffer by comparison. the other rascals equal if not superior to our trio and horsemanship including enrique born with just sense enough to be a fearless vicaro and took to the heavy sand and mounting vicious geldings but we three jauntily gave the wildest horses their heads and even encouraged them to buck whenever our guests was sighted on the gallery what gave special vim to our work was the fact that miss francis was a horse

woman herself and it was with difficulty that she could be kept away from the corrals several times a day our guest prevailed upon uncle lance to take her out to witness the roping from a safe vantage place on the palisades the old ranchero and his protege would watch us catching saddling and mounting the geldens under those bright eyes lariots encircled the horse to be ridden deftly indeed, and he was laid on his side in the sand as daintily as a mother would lay her babe in its crib. Outside of the trio the work of the gang was bunglesome, calling for many protests from Uncle Lance. They had no lady's glances to spur them on, while ours merited the enthusiastic plaudits of Miss Francis. Then came Sunday, and we observed the commandment. Miss Jean had planned the picnic for the day on the river. We excused Trebusio and pressed the ambulance team into service to convey the party of six

for the day's outing among the fine groves of Elm that bordered the river in several places and afforded ample shade from the sun. The day was delightfully spent. The chaperones were negligent and dilatory. Uncle Lance even fell asleep for several hours. but when we returned at twilight the ambulance mules were garland as if for a wedding-party the next morning our guest was to depart and to me fell the pleasant task of acting as her escort uncle lans prevailed on miss francis to ride a spirited chestnut horse from his mount while i rode a grilla from my own we made an early start the old ranchero riding with us as far as a river as he held the hand of miss vaux and parting he cautioned her not to detain me at their ranch as he had used for me at las palomas of course said he i don't mean that you shall hurry him right off to-day or even to-morrow

but these lazy rascals of mine will hang around a girl a week if she allowed it had john or theodore taken you home i shouldn't expect to see either of them in a fortnight now if they don't treat you right at home come back and live with us i'll adopt you as my daughter and tell your pa that the first general rain that falls on coming over with my hounds for a cat-humped with him good-bye sweetheart it was a delightful ride across to the frio mounted on two splendid horses we put the nuisces behind us as the hours pass frequently we met large strings of cattle drifting in towards the threeo the river for their daily drink. And Miss Francis insisted on riding through the cows, noticing every brand as keenly as a vicaro on the lookout for strays from her father's ranch. The young calves scampered out of our way, but their sedate mothers permitted us to ride near enough to read the brands as we met and passed.

Once we rode a mile out of our way to look at a manata, the stallion met us as we approached, as if to challenge all intruders on his domain. But we met him defiantly, and he turned aside and permitted us to examine his harem, and its frolicsome cults. When cattle and horses no longer serve as the subject, and the wide expanse of flowery maces studded here and there with Spanish anchors,

whose creamy flowers nodded to us as we passed, ceased to interest us, we turned to the ever-interesting subject of sweethearts. try as i might i never wring any confession from her which even suggested a preference among her string of admirers on the other hand when she twitted me about esther i proudly pleaded guilty of a platonic friendship which some day i hoped would ripen into something more permanent fully realizing that the very first time these two chums met there would be an interchange of confidences and in the full knowledge that during these whispered admissions the truth would be revealed i stoutly denied that esther and i were even betrothed but during the morning's ride i made a friend and an ally of frances vauxes there was some talk of a tournament to be held during the summer at campbellton on the attisgosa she promised that she would detain esther for it and find a way to send me word and we would make up a party and attend it together i had never been present at any of these pastoral tourneys and was hopeful that one would be held within reach of our ranch for i had heard a great deal about them and was anxious to see one but this was only one of the first one of the same one of the same one of the same one

but this was only one of several social addings which she outlined as on her summer program, to all of which I was cordially invited as a member of her party. There was to be a dance on St. John's Day at the Mission, a barbecue in June on the San Miguel and other local meets for the summer and early fall. By the time we reached the ranch, I was just beginning to realize that socially Shepard's Ferry and the noisces was a pokey place. The next morning I returned to Las Palomas. The horse-breaking was nearing an end.

During the month of May we went into camp on a new tract of land which had been recently acquired to build a tank on a dry arroyo, which crossed this last landed addition to the ranch. It was a commercial peculiarity of Uncle Lance to acquire land, but to never part with it under any consideration.

to a certain extent cows and land had become his religion and whenever either adjoining las palomas was for sale they were looked upon as a safe bank of deposit for any surplus funds the last track thus secured was dry but by damning the arroyo we could store water in this tank or reservoir to tide over the dry spells all the mexican help on the ranch was put to work with wheelbarrows while six mule teams ploughed scraped and hauled rock one four mule team been constantly employed in hauling water over ten miles for camp and stock purposes this dry stream ran water when conditions were favorable several months in the year and by building the tank or cattle capacity would be largely increased one evening late in the month when the water-wagon returned turned, Trebusio, brought a request from Miss Jean, asking me to come into the ranch that night. Responding to the summons, I was rewarded by finding a letter awaiting me from Francis Vox, left by a Vicaro, passing from the frio to Santa Maria.

It was a dainty missive, informing me that Esther was her guest, that the tournament would not take place, but to be sure, and come over on Sunday. personally the note was satisfactory, but that I was to bring anyone along was artfully omitted. Being thus forced to read between the lines on my return to camp the next morning by dawn, without a word of explanation,

I submitted the matter to John and Theodore. Uncle Lance, of course, had known what had called me into the ranch, and taking the letter from Quail, read it himself. That's plain enough, said he, on the first reading, John will go with you Sunday. And if it rains next month,

I'll take Theodore with me when I go over for a cat-hunt with old man Pierre. I'll let him act as master of the horse, know of the hounds, and give him a chance to toot his own horn with Francis. Honest boys, I'm getting disgusted with the white element of Las Palomas. We raise most everything here but white babies.

Even Enrique, the rascal, has to live in camp now to hold down his breakfast. But you young whites, with a country just full of young women, well, it's certainly discouraging. I do all I can, and sis helps a little. But what does it amount to? What are the results? The poem that Jean reads to us occasionally must be right. I reckon the Caucasian is played out.

Before the sun was an hour high, John Cotton and myself, rode into the Vox Ranch on Sunday morning. The girls gave us a cheerful welcome. While we were breakfasting, several other lads and lasses rode up, and we were informed that a little picnic for the day had been arranged. As this was to our liking, John and I readily acquiesced, and shortly afterwards,

a mounted party of about a dozen young folk, set out for a hackberry grove up the river several miles. lunch baskets were taken along, but no chaperones. The girls were all dressed in cambric and muslim, and as light in heart as the fabric and ribbons they flaunted. I was gratified with the boldness of cotton, as he cantered away with Francis, and with a day before him there is every reason to believe that his cause would be advanced.

As to myself, with Esther by my side the live-long day, I could not have asked the world to widen an inch. It was midnight when we reached Las Palomas returning. As we rode along that night, John confessed to me that Francis was a tantalizing enigma. Up to a certain point she offered every encouragement, but beyond that there seemed to be a deadline over which she allowed no sentiment to pass. It was plain to be seen that he was discouraged, but I told him, I have gone through worse ordeals.

Throughout southern Texas and the country tributary to the Nuasas River, we always looked for heaviest rainfall during the month of June. This year in particular, we were anxious to see a regular downpour to start the Arroyo and test our new tank. Besides, we had sold for delivery in July, 1,200 beef steers for shipment at Rockport on the coast. if only a soaking rain would fall making water plentiful we could make the drive in little over a hundred miles while the dry season would compel us to follow the river nearly double the distance we were riding our range thoroughly locating our fattest beaves when one evening as june de wies and i were on the way back from the gonzow a regular equinoctial struck us accompanied by a downpour of rain

and hail. Our horses turned their backs to the storm, but we drew slickers over our heads and defied the elements. Instead of letting up as darkness set in, the storm seemed to increase in fury, and we were forced to seek shelter. We were at least fifteen miles from the ranch, and it was simply impossible to force a horse against that sheeting rain. So turning to catch the storm in our backs, we rode for a ranchita, belonging to Los Angeles. Palomas. By the aid of flashes of lightning and the course of the storm, we reached the little ranch and found a haven. A steady rain fell all night, continuing the next day, but we saddled early and rode for our new reservoir on the arroyo. Imagine our surprise on sighting the

embankment to see two horsemen ride up from the opposite direction and halt at the dam. Giving rain to our horses and galloping up, we found they were Uncle Lance and Theodore Quail. Above the dam, the arroyal was running like a mill-tail. The water in the reservoir covered several acres and had backed up stream nearly a quarter a mile, the deepest point in the tank reaching my saddle skirts. The embankment had settled solidly, holding to gathering water to our satisfaction, and after several hours inspection we rode for home. With this splendid rain, Las Palomas Ranch took on an air of activity. The old Ranchero paced a gallery for hours in great glee, watching the downpour.

It was too soon yet by a week to gather the beaves, but under the glowing prospect, we could not remain inert. The next morning the Segundo took all the teams and returned to the town, to watch the dam and haul rock to rip-wrap the flanks of the embankment taking extra saddle-horses with us uncle lance dan hapersat quailed and myself took the hounds and struck across for the frio on reaching the vaux ranch as showers were still falling and the underbrush reeking with moisture wetting anyone to the skin who dared to invade it we did not hunk that afternoon pierre vaux was enthusiastic over the rain, while his daughters were equally so over the prospects of riding to the hounds. There being now nearly forty dogs in the double pack.

At the first opportunity, Francis confided to me that Mrs. MacLeod had forbidden Esther visiting them again, since some busy body had carried the news of our picnic to her ears. But she promised me that if I could direct the hunt on the morrow within a few months, of the Maclead ranch, she would entice my sweetheart out and give me a chance to meet her. There was a roguish look in Miss Francis's eyes during this disclosure which I was unable to phantom, but I promised during the few days hunt to find some means to direct the chase within striking distance of the ranch on the San Miguel. I promptly gave this bit of news and confidence to Uncle Lance and was told to lie low and leave matters to him.

that evening amid clouds of tobacco smoke the two old rancheros discussed the best hunting in the country while we youngsters danced on the gallery to the strains of a fiddle i heard mr vaux narrating a fight with a cougar which killed two of his best dogs during the winter just passed and before we retired it was understood that we would give the haunts of the same old cougar our first attention end of chapter eight chapter nine of a texas matchmaker by andy adams this labrovoc's recording is in the public domain the rose and its thorn dawn found the ranch astir with a heavy fog hanging over the frio valley don pierre had a remuda corralled before sunup and insisted on our riding his horses an invitation which my employer alone declined. For the first hour or two, the pack scout at the river bottoms with no success. An Uncle Lance's verdict was that the valley was too soggy for any animal belonging to the cat family. So we turned back to the divide between the Frio and San Miguel. Here there grew, among the hills, many Guarro thickets, and from the first one we beat, the hounds opened on a hot trail in

splendid chorus. The pack led us through the thicket for over a mile, when they suddenly turned down a ravine, heading for the river. With the ground, in splendid condition for trailing, the dogs in full cry the quarry sought every shelter possible. But within an hour of striking the scent, the pack came the bay in the ensignal. On coming up with the hounds, we found the animal was a large catamont. A single shot brought him from his perch in a scraggly oak, and the first chase of the day was over. The pelt was worthless and was not taken. It was nearly noon when the kill was made, and Don Pierre insisted that we returned to the ranch. Uncle Lance protested against wasting the remainder of the day, but the courteous creole urged that the ground

would be in fine condition for hunting at least a week longer. This hunt, he declared, was merely preliminary, to break the pack together and give them a taste of the chase before attacking the cougar. Ah, said Don Pierre, with a deprecating shrug of the shoulders. You have nothing to hurry you home. I come by your ranchero, and stay for one whole week. You come by mine.

All-time hurry. Sakhre! Let the little dogs rest. And in the morning, maybe we hunk the cougar. Ah, Mr. Lance, we must have the pack fresh for him. By gar he was one damn wild fellow. Make one too pass, so, biff, two dogs dead. Uncle Lance yielded, and we rode back to the ranch.

The next morning our party included the three daughters of our host. Don Pierre led the way on a roan stallion, and after two hours riding we crossed the San Miguel to the north of his ranch. A few miles beyond we entered some chalky hills, interspersed with white chaparral thickets which were just bursting into bloom, with a fragrance that was almost intoxicating. Under the direction of our host, we started to beat a long chain of these thickets and were shortly rewarded by hearing the pack give mouth.

The quarry kept to the cover. of the thickets for several miles, impeding the chase until the last covert in the chain was reached, where a fight occurred with the lead hound. Don Pierre was the first to reach the scene, and caught several glimpses of a monster puma as he slunk away through the Brazil brush, leaving one of the Don's favorite hounds lacerated to the bone. But the pack passed on, and lifting the wounded dog, to a vicaro's saddle, we followed, bustily shouting to the hounds. The spore now turned down to San Miguel,

and the pace was such that it took hard riding to keep within hearing. Mr. Vox and Uncle Lance usually held the lead, the remainder of the party, including the girls, bringing up the rear. The chase continued downstream for fully an hour, until we encountered some heavy timber on the main frio, our course having carried us several miles to the north of the McLough, lead ranch. Some distance below the juncture with the San Miguel, the river made a large horseshoe, embracing nearly a thousand acres, which was covered with a dense growth of ash, becon,

and cypress. The trail led in to this jungle, circling it several times before leading away. We were fortunately able to keep track of the chase from the bane of the hounds without entering the timber, and were watching its course when suddenly it changed. The pack followed the scent across the bridge of Driftwood on the Frio, and started up the river in full cry. As the chase down to San Miguel passed beyond the mouth of the creek, Theodore Quayle, and Francis Vox dropped out and rode for the MacLeed Ranch. It was still early in the day and understanding their motive.

I knew they would rejoin us if their mission was successful. By the sudden turn of the chase we were likely to pass several miles south of the home of my sweetheart, but our location could be easily followed by the music of the pack. Within an hour after leaving us, Theodore and Francis rejoined the chase, adding Tony Hunter and Esther to our numbers. With this addition, I lost interest in the hunt, as the course carried us straightway five miles up the stream. The quarry was cunning and delayed the pack at every thicket or large body of timber encountered.

Several times he craftily attempted to throw the hounds off the scent by climbing, leaning trees, only to spring down again. But the pack were running wide, and a ruse was only tiring the hunted. The scent at times left the river and circled through outlined mesquite groves, always keeping well under cover. On these occasions we rested our horses, for the hunt was certain to return to the river. From the scattering order in which we rode I was afforded a good opportunity for free conversation with Esther, but the information I obtained was not very encouraging. Her mother's authority had grown so severe that existing under the same roof was a mere armistice between mother and daughter. while this day's sport was likely to break the already strained relations the thought that her suffering was largely on my account nerved me to resolution

the kill was made late in the day in a bend of the river about fifteen miles above the vaux ranch form in a jungle of several thousand acres in this thickly culvert the fugitive made his final stand taking refuge in an immense old live oak the mossy-fetched tunes of which partially screened him from view. The larger portion of the cavalcade remained in the open, but the rest of us, under the leadership of the two rancheros, forced our horses through the underbrush and reached the hounds. The pack were as good as exhausted by the long run. At least the animal should spring out of the tree and escape, we circled it at a distance. On catching a fair view of the quarry, Uncle Lance called for a carbine.

two shots for the shoulder served to loosen the pumice footing when he came down by easy stages from limb to limb spitting and hissing defiance in the upturned faces of the pack as he fell we dashed in to beat off the dogs as a matter of precaution but the bullets had done their work and the pack mouthed the fallen feline with entire impunity Dan Hapersat dragged the dead Puma out with a rope over the neck for the inspection of the girls. While our horses, which had had no less than a fifty-mile ride, were unsaddled and allowed a roll and a half-hours graze before starting back. As we were watering our mounts, I caught my employer's ear long enough to repeat what I had learned about Esther's home difficulties. After picketing our horses, we strolled away from the remainder of the party. When Uncle Lance remarked, Tom, your chances come where you must play your hand and play it boldly.

I'll keep Tony at the Vox Ranch, and a fester, has to go home tonight. Why, of course, you'll have to take her. There's your chance to run off and marry. Now, Tom, you've never failed me yet, and this thing has gone far enough. we'll give old lady mcleed good cause to hate us from now on i've got some money with me and i'll rob the other boys and to-night you make a spoon or spoil a horn i understood and approved as we jogged along homeward esther and i fell to the rear and i outlined my programme nor did she protest when i suggested that to-night was the accepted time before we reached the vaux ranch every little detail was arranged there was a splendid moon and after supper she pleaded the necessity of returning home meanwhile every cent my friends possessed had been given me and the two best horses of las palomas were under saddle for the start uncle lance was arranging a big hunt for the morrow with tony hunter and don pierre when esther took leave of her friends only a few of whom were cognizant of our intended elopement

With fresh mounts under us, we soon covered the intervening distance between the two ranches. I would gladly have waved touching at the McLean ranch, but Esther had torn her dress during the day and insisted on a change, an eye of necessity yielded. The corrals were at some distance from the main buildings, and halting at a saddle-shed adjoining, Esther left me and entered the house. Fortunately her mother had retired, and after making a hasty change of a apparel, she returned, unobserved, to the corrals. As we quietly rode out from the enclosure, my spirit soared to the moon above us.

The night was an ideal one. Crossing the Frio, we followed the divide some distance, keeping in the open, and an hour before midnight forded to noisces at Shepherds. The flood of recollections crossed my mind, as our steaming horses bent their heads the drink at the fairy. Less than a year before, in this very grove, I had met her. It was but two months since, on those hills beyond, we had gathered flowers, plighted our troth, and exchanged our first raptuous kiss, and the thought that she was renouncing

home, and all for my sake, softened my heart, and nerved me to every exertion. Our intention was to intercept the southbound stage at the first roadhouse, south of Oakland, I knew the hour it was due to leave the station, and by steady riding we could connect with it at the first stage stand some fifteen miles below. Light-hearted and happy we set out on this last lap of our ride. Our horses seemed to understand the emergency as they put the miles behind them, thrilling us with their energy and vigor. Never for a moment in our flight did my sweetheart discover a single quam over her

decision. While in my case all scruples were buried in the hope of victory. Recrossing the noisces and entering the stage road, we followed it down several miles, siding the stage stand about two o'clock in the morning. I was saddle-weary from the hunt, together with his fifty-mile ride, and rejoiced in reaching our temporary destination. Esther, however, seemed a little of the worse for the long ride. The welcome extended by the keeper of this relay station was gruff enough, but his tone and manner moderated when he learned that we were passengers for Corpus Christi. When I made arrangements with him to look after our horses for a week or ten days,

had a handsome figure. He became amiable, invited us to a cup of coffee, and politely informed us that the stage was due in half an hour. But on its arrival, promptly on time, our hearts sank within us. On the driver's box sat an express guard, holding across his knees a sawed-off double-barreled shotgun. As it halted, two other guards stepped out of the coach, similarly armed. The stage was carrying an unusual amount of treasure. We were informed, and no passengers could be accepted as an attempted robbery was expected

between this and the next station. Our situation became embarrassing. For the first time during our ride, Esther showed the timidity of her sex. The chosen destination of her honeymoon, nearly a hundred miles to the south, was now out of the question. To return to Oakville,

where a sister and friends of my sweetheart resided, seemed the only avenue open. I had misgivings that it was unsafe. But Esther urged it, declaring that Mrs. Martin would offer no opposition, and even if she did, nothing could come that would ever separate us. We learned from the keeper that Jack Martin was due to drive the northbound stage out of Oakville that morning, and was expected to pass this relay station about daybreak. This was favorable, and we decided to wait and allow the stage to pass north

before resuming our journey. On the arrival of the stage we learned that the down-coach had been attacked, but the robbers, finded it guarded, had fled after an exchange of shots in the darkness. This had a further depressing effect on my betrothed, and only my encouragement to be brave, and faced the dilemma confronting us, kept her up. Bread on the front tier, this little ranch girl was no weakling, but the sudden overturn of her well-laid plans had chilled my own spirits as well as hers. Giving the upstage good start of us, we resaddled and started off for Oakville,

slightly crestfallen, but still confident. In the open air, Esther's fears gradually subsided, and invigorated by the morning and the gallop, we reached our destination after our night's adventure with hopes buoyant and colors flying. Mrs. Martin looked a trifle dumbfounded at her early callers, but I lost no time in informing her that our mission was an elopement and asked her approval and blessing. Surprised as she was, she welcomed us to breakfast, inquiring of our plans, and showing alarm over our experience.

Since Oakville was a county seat where a license could be secured, for fear of pursuit, i urged an immediate marriage but mrs martin could see no necessity for haste there was she said no one there whom she would allow to solemnize a wedding of her sister and to my chagrin esther agreed with her this was just what i had dreaded but mrs martin with apparent enthusiasm over our union took the reins in her own hands and decided that we should wait until jack's return when we would all take the stage to pleasanton where an episcopal minister lived my heart sank at this for it meant a delay of two days and i stood up and stoutly protested but now that the excitement of our flight had abated My own Esther innocently sided with her sister, and I was at my wits' end. To all my appeals, the sisters replied, with the argument that there was no hurry, that while the hunt lasted at the Vox Ranch, Tony Hunter, could be dependent upon to follow the hounds. Esther would never be missed until his return.

Her mother would suppose she was with the Vox girls, and would be busy preparing a lecture against her return. of course the argument of the sisters won the hour though dreading some unforeseen danger i temporarily yielded i knew the motive of the hunt well enough to know that the moment we had an ample start it would be abandoned and the las palomas contingent would return to the ranch yet i dare not tell even my betrothed that there were ulterior motives in my employers hunting on the frio one of which was to afford an opportunity for our elopement full of apprehension and alarm i took a room at the village hostelry for i had our horses to look after and secured a much needed sleep during the afternoon that evening i returned to the evening i returned to the village hostelry for i had our horses to look after and secured a much needed sleep during the afternoon that evening i returned to the martin cottage to urge again that we carry out our original programme by taking the southbound stage at midnight but all i could say was of no avail mrs martin was equal to every suggestion she had all the plans outlined and there was no occasion for me to do any thinking at all corpus christi was not to be considered for a single moment compared to pleasanton and an episcopalian service what could i do at an early hour mrs martin withdrew the reaction from our escapade had left the pallor on my sweetheart's countenance almost alarming noticing this i took my leave early hoping that a good night's rest would restore her color and her spirits returning to the hostelry i resignedly sought my room since there was nothing i could do but

wait. Tossing and pitching on my bed, I unbraided myself for having returned Oakville, where any interference with our plans could possibly develop. The next morning at breakfast I noticed that I was the object of particular attention, and of no very kindly sort. No one even gave me a friendly nod while several avoided my glances. Supposing that some rumor of our elopement might be abroad, I hurriedly finished my meal and started for the Martins. On reaching the door I was met by its mistress, who? I had need to remind myself was the sister of my betrothed. To my friendly salutation she gave me a scornful, withering look.

You're too late, young man, she said. Shortly after you left last night, Esther, and Jack Oxenford took a private conveyance for Beaville, and are married before this. You Las Palomas people are slow. Old Lance Lovelace thought he was playing at cute San Yacento Day, but I saw through his little game. Somebody must have told him he was a matchmaker. Well, just give him my regards and tell him

that he don't know the first principles of that little game. Tell him to drop in some time when he's passing. I may be able to give him some pointers that I'm not using at the moment. i hope your sorrow will not exceed my happiness good morning sir end of chapter nine chapter ten of a tex matchmaker by andy adams this leprevox recording is in the public domain aftermath by memory of what happened immediately after mrs martin's contemptuous treatment of me is as vague and indefinite as the vaping's of a fevered dream i had a faint recollection of several friendly people offering their sympathy the old stableman who looked after the horses cautioned me not to start out alone but i have since learned that i cursed him and all the rest and rode away as one in a trance but i must have had some little caution left for i remember giving shepherds a wide berth passing several miles to the south

the horses taking their own way were wandering home any exercise of control or guidance over them on my part was inspired by an instinct to avoid being seen of conscious direction there was none somewhere between the ferry and the ranch i remember being awakened from my toper by the horse which i was leading showing an inclination to graze then i noticed their gaunt condition and the ranch i remember being awakened from my toper by the horse which i was leading showing an inclination to graze then i noticed their gaunt condition and in sympathy for the poor brutes, unsaddled and picketed them in a secluded spot. What happened at this halt has slipped from my memory, but I must have slept a long time, for I awoke to find the moon high overhead, and my watch-through neglect, run down and stopped. I now realized the better my predicament, and reasoned with myself whether I should return to Las Palomas or not. But there was no place else to go, and there was no place else to go, and the horses did not belong to me.

If I could only reach the ranch and secure my own horse, I felt that no power on earth could chain me to the scenes of my humiliation. The horses decided me to return. Resaddling, at an unknown hour, I rode for the ranch. The animals were refreshed and made good time. As I rode along, I tried to convince myself

that I could slip into the ranch, secure my own saddle horse, and meet no one except the Mexicans. There was a possibility that Duis might still be in camp at the new reservoir, and I was hopeful that my employer might not yet be returned from the hunt on the frio. After a number of hours riding, a horse under saddle nicked. Halting him, I listened, and heard the roosters crowing in a course at the ranch. Clouds had obscured the moon, and so by making a detour around the home buildings, I was able to reach the Mexican quarters unobserved. I rode up to the house of Enrique, and quietly roused him, told him my misfortune, and asked him to hide me until he could get my horse. We turned the animals loose, and, taking my saddle inside, though a cow held a whispered conversation.

The wiese was yet at the tank. If the hunting party had returned, they had done so during the night. The distant range of my horse made it impossible to get him before the middle of the forenoon. But Enrique and Donna Anita assured me that my slightest wish was law to them. Furnishing me with a blanket and pillow, they made me a couch on a dry cowskin on the dirt floor at the foot of their bed. and before day broke I had fallen asleep. On awakening I found the sun had already risen. Enrique and his wife were missing from the room,

but a peep through a crevice in the palisade wall revealed Donna Anita in the kitchen adjoining. She had detected my awakening and soon brought me a cup of splendid coffee, which I drank with relish. She urged on me also some dainty dishes, which had always been favorites with me in Mexican cookery. But my appetite was gone.

Throwing myself back on the cow skin, I asked Donna Anita, how long Enrique had been gone in quest for my horse, and was informed that he left before dawn, not even waiting for his customary cup of coffee. With the kindness of a sister, the girl-wife urged me to take their bed, but I assured her that comforts, was the least of my concerns, complete effacement being my consuming thought. Donna Anita withdrew, as I lay pondering over the several possible routes of escape,

I heard a commotion in the ranch. I was in the act of rising when Donna Anita burst into the Waccal to tell me that Don Lance had been sighted returning. I was on my feet in an instant, heard the long-drawn notes of the horn, calling in the hounds, and peering through the largest crack, saw the cavalcade. As they approached, driving their loose mounts in front of them, I felt my ill luck still hung over me, for among the unsaddled horses were the two which I had turned free but a few hours before. The hunters had had met the gaunted animals between the ranch and the river, and were bringing them in

to return them to their own remuda. But at the same time, the same thing, the mountain of the mountain. But at the time the horses were evidenced that I was in the ranch. From the position of Uncle Lance in advance I could see that he was riding direct to the house, and my absence there would surely cause surprise. At best it was but a question of time until I was discovered. In the face of this new development I gave up. There was no escaping fate. Enrique might not return for two hours yet, and if he came, driving in my horse, and if he came, driving in my horse, it would only prove my presence. I begged Donna Anita to throw open the door and conceal nothing, but she was still ready to aid in my concealment until night, offering to deny

my presence. But how could I conceal myself in a single room? And what was so simple a device to a worldly man of sixty years' experience? To me, the case looked hopeless. Even before we had concluded our discussion, I saw Uncle Lance and the boys coming towards the Mexican quarters, followed by Miss Jean and the household contingent. The fact that the door of Enrique's Waccount was closed made it a shining mark for investigation, opening the inner door. I started to meet the visitors. But Donna Anita planted herself at the outer entrance of the stoop, met the visitors, and within my hearing, and without being asked, stoutly denied my presence. Hush up, you little liar, said a voice, and I heard a step and clanking spurs which I recognized.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, and was rolling a cigarette as the crowd filed into the wakal. A fortunate flush of anger came over me, which served to steady my voice. but I met their staring, after all, much as if I had been a culprit, and they a vigilante committee. Well, young fellow, explaining your presence here, demanded Uncle Lance. Had it not been for the presence of Miss Jean, I had on my tongue's end to reply, relative to the 11th commandment, emphasized with so furious adjectives. But out of deference to the mistress of the ranch, I controlled my anger, and taking out of my pocket a flint of steel and a bit of yesca struck fire and leisurely lighted my cigarette throwing myself back on the bed as my employer repeated his demand i replied ask anita

the girl understood and nothing abashed told the story in her native tongue continually referring to me as poor bray thomas when her disconnected narrative was concluded uncle lancel Lance turned on me, saying, "'And this is the result of all our plans. You went into Oakville, did you? Tom, you haven't got as much sense as a candy frog. Walked right into a trap with your head up and sassy. That's right. Don't you listen to anyone.

Didn't I tell you that stage people would stick by each other like thieves? And you forgot all my warnings and deliberately? Hold on, I re-interrupted. You must recollect that the horses have. had had a fifty-mile forced ride were jaded and on the point of collapse with the down stage refusing to carry us and the girl on the point of hysteria where else could i go go to jail if necessary go anywhere but the place you went the horses were jaded on a fifty-mile ride were they either one of them was good for a hundred without unsaddling and you know it haven't i told you that this ranch would raise horses when we were all dead and gone suppose you had killed a couple of horses what would that have been compared to your sneaking into the ranch this way like a whipped cur with your tail between your legs now the countryside will laugh at us both the country may laugh i answered but i'll not be here to hear it henriky has gone after my horse and as soon as he gets in i'm leaving you for good

you'll do nothing of the kind you think you're all shot to pieces don't you well you'll stay right here until all your wounds heal i've taken all these degrees myself and have lived to laugh at them afterward and i've had lessons that i hope you'll never have to learn when i found out that my third wife had known a gambler before she married me i found out what the bible means by rottenness of the bones with which it says an evil woman uncrowns her husband. I'll tell you about it some day, but you've not been scarred in this little side play. You're not even powder burnt. Why, in less than a month, you'll be just as happy again as if you had good sense? Miss Jane now interrupted. Clear right out of here, she said to her brother and the rest.

Yes, the whole pack of you. I want to talk with Tom alone. Yes, you too. You've said too much already. Run along. Out. As they filed out, I noticed Uncle Lance pick up my saddle and throw it across his shoulder,

while Theodore gathered up the rancid blankets and my fancy bridle, taking everything with them to the house, waiting until she saw her orders were obeyed. Miss Jean came over and sat down beside me on the bed. Anita stood like a fawn near the door. likewise fearing banishment. But on a sign from her mistress she spread a goat-skin on the floor and sat down at our feet.

Between two languages and two women, I was as helpless as an ironed prisoner. Not that Anita had any influence over me, but the mistress of the ranch had. In her hands I was as helpless as a baby. I had come to the ranch a stranger only a little over a year before, But had I been born there, her interest could have been no stronger. Jean Lovelace relinquished no one anymore than a mother would one of her boys. I wanted to escape to get away from observation. I even pled for a month's leave of absence.

But my reasons were of no avail, and after arguing pro and con for over an hour, I went with her to the house. If the Almighty ever made a good woman And placed her among men for their betterment Then the presence of Jean Lovelace at Las Palomas Savored of divine appointment On reaching the yard We rested a long time on a set tea

Under a group of china trees The boys had dispersed And after quite a friendly chat together We saw Uncle Lance sauntering out of the house Smiling as he approached Tom's going to stay, said Miss Jean to her brother, as the latter seated himself beside us. But this abuse and blame your heaping upon him must stop.

He did what he thought was best under the circumstances, and you don't know what they were. He has given me his promise to stay, and I have given him mine that talk about this matter will be dropped. Now that your anger is cooled, and I have you both together, I want your word. Tom said my employer, throwing his long, bony arm around me. I was disappointed, terribly put out, and I showed it in freeing my mind.

But I feel better now, towards you at least. I understand just how you felt when your plans were thwarted by an unforeseen incident. If I don't know everything, then, since the milk is spilt, I'm not asking for further particulars. If you did what you thought was best under the circumstances, why that's all we ever ask of anyone at Las Palomas. A mistake is nothing. My whole life is a series of errors. I've been trying, and expect to keep right on trying, to give you youngsters a benefit of my years. But if you insist on learning it for yourselves, well enough.

When I was your age, I took no one's advice, but look how I've paid the fiddler. possibly it was ordained otherwise but it looks to me like a shame that i can't give you boys the benefit of my dearly bought experience but whether you take my advice or not we're going to be just as good friends as ever i need young fellows like you on this ranch i've sent day and out after de wiese and to-morrow we're going to commence gathering the bees a few weeks good hard work will do you worlds of good in less than a year you'll look back at this, has a splendid lesson. Shucks, boy, a man is a narrow, calloused creature, until he has been shook up a few times by love affairs. They develop him into the man he was intended to be. Come on into the house, Tom, and Jean will make us a couple of mint juleps.

What a blessed panacea for mental trouble is work. We were in the saddle by daybreak the next morning, rounding up remudas. every available the caro at the outlying ranchitas had been summoned dividing the outfit and horses uncle lance took twelve men and struck west for the gonso with an equal number of men deweis pushed north for the frio which he was to work down below shepherds thence back along the home river from the ranch books we knew there were fully two thousand beaves over five years old in our branch land. These cattle had never known hours' restraint since the day they were branded, and caution and cool judgment would be required in handling them. Since the contract only required twelve hundred, we expected to make an extra clean gathering, using the oldest and naturally the largest bees. During the week spent in gathering, I got the full benefit of every possible

hour in the saddle. We reached the gansou about an hour before sundown. The weather had settled, water was plentiful, and everyone realized that the work in hand would require wider riding than under dry conditions. By the time we had caught up fresh horses, the sun had gone down. Boy, said Uncle Lance, we want to make a big rodeo on the head of this creek in the morning. Tom, you take two vicaros and lay off to the southwest about ten miles. and make a dry camp to-night glenn may have the same help to the southeast and every rascal of you be in your saddles by daybreak there's a lot of big ladino beves in these bushy hills to the south and west

be sure and be in your saddles early enough to catch all wild cattle out on the prairies if you want to you can take a lunch in your pocket for breakfast no you'll need no blankets you'll get up earlier if you sleep cold. Taking José Pena and Pascal a respite with me, I struck off on our course in the gathering twilight. The first twitter of a bird in the morning brought me to my feet. I roused the others, and we saddled, and were riding with the first sign of dawn in the east. Taking the outside circle myself, I gave every bunch of cattle met on my course a good start for the center of the round-up. Pascal and Jose followed several miles to my rear on inner circles, drifting on the cattle, which I had started inward.

As the sun arose, dispelling the morning mists, I could see other cattle coming down and long strings out of the hills to the eastward. Within an hour of starting, Gallup and I met, our half-circle to the southward was perfect, and each turning back we rode our appointed divisions until the vicaros from the wagon were sighted throwing in cattle and closing up the northern portion of the circle before the sun was two hours high the first rodeo of the day was together numbering about three thousand mixed cattle in the few hours since dawn we had concentrated all animals in a territory at least fifteen miles in diameter Uncle Lance was in his element, detailing two vicaros to hold the beef cut within reach and half a dozen to keep the main herd compact, he ordered the remainder of us to enter and begin the selecting of bees.

There were a number of big wild steers in the round-up, but we left those until the cut numbered over two hundred. When every hoof over five years of age was separated, we had a nucleus for a beef herd numbering about 240 steers. They were in fine condition for grass cattle, and turning the main herd free, we started our cut for the wagon, being compelled to ride wide of them

as we drifted downstream towards camp, as there were a number of old beaves which showed impatience at the restraint. But by letting them scatter well by the time they reached the wagon, it required but two vicaros to hold them. them. The afternoon was but a repetition of the morning. Everything on the south side of the noases between the river and the wagon was thrown together on the second round-up of the day,

which yielded less than two hundred cattle for our beef herd. But when we went into camp, dividing into squads for night herding, the day's work was satisfactory to the ranchero. Dan Hapersat was given five vicaros and stood the first watch for until the first watch for 1 a.m. Glenn Gallup and myself took the remainder of the men and stood guard until morning. When Hapersat called our guard

an hour after midnight, he said the Gallup and me, as we were pulling on our boots, about a dozen big steers haven't laid down. There's only one of them that has given any trouble. He's a pinto that we cut in the first roundup in the morning. He has made

two breaks already to get away. If you don't watch him close, he'll surely give you the slip. While riding to the relief, Glenn and I posted our carols to be on the lookout for the pinto beef. The cattle were intentionally bedded loose. But even in the starlight and waning moon, every man easily spotted the Ladino beef, uneasily stalking back and forth like a caged tiger across the bed-ground. A half hour before dawn, he made a little bit of the night. made a final effort to escape, charging out between Gallup and the Vicaro, following up

on the same side. From the other side of the bed-ground I heard the commotion, but dare not leave the herd to assist. There was a mile of open country surrounding our camp, and if two men could not turn the beef on that space it was useless for others to offer assistance. In the stillness of the morning hour, we could hear the running and see the flashes from the six-shoot, marking the course of the outlaw. After making a half-circle, we heard them coming direct for the herd.

For fear of a stampede, we raised a great commotion around the sleeping cattle. But in spite of our precautions, as the Ladino beef re-entered the herd, over half the beaves jumped to their feet and began milling. But we held them until dawn, and after scattering them over several hundred, acres, left them grazing contentedly. When, leaving two vicaros with a feeding herd, we went back to the wagon. The camp had been a stir some time, and when Glenn reported the incident of our watch, Uncle Lance said, I thought I heard some shooting while I was cat-napping at daylight.

Well, we can use a little fresh beef in this very camp. We'll kill him at noon. The wagon will move down near the river's. this morning, so we can make three rodeos from it without moving camp, and tonight we'll have a side of pinto's ribs barbecued. My mouth is watering this very minute for a rib roast. That morning after a big rodeo on the new aces, well above the gansau, we returned to camp, throwing into our herd the cut of less than a hundred secured on the morning roundup. Uncle Lance, who had preceded us, rode out from the wagon with the morning.

with a carbine, allowing the beefs to scatter. The old ranchero met and rode zigzagging, through them, until he came face to face with a pinto-ladino. On noticing the intruding horsemen, the outlaw, threw up his head. There was a carbine report, and the big fellow went down in his tracks. By the time the herd had grazed away, Corrussio, who was cooking with our wagon, brought out all the knives, and the beef was bled,

dressed and quartered. You can afford to be extravagant with this beef, said Uncle Lance to the old cook, when the quarters had been carried into the wagon. I've been ranching on this river nearly forty years, and I've always made it a rule, where

cattle cannot be safely handled, to beef them, then and there. I've sat up many a night barbecuing the ribs of a Ladino. If you have plenty of salt, Trubuccio, you can make a brine and jerk those hind quarters. It will make fine chewing for the boys on night herd when once we start for the coast.

Following down the home river, we made ten other rodeos before we met Duis. We had something over a thousand bees while he had less than eight hundred. Throwing the two cuts together, we made a count and cut back all the younger and smaller cattle until the herd was reduced to the required number. Before my advent at Los Palomas, about the only outlet for beef cattle, had been the canneries at Rockport and Fulton, but these cattle were for shipment by boat to New Orleans and other coast cities. The route to the coast was well known to my employer, and detailing twelve men for the herd, a horse-rangler, and cook extra, we started for it, barely touching at the ranch on our course.

it was a nice ten days trip after the first night we used three guards of four men each grazing contentedly the cattle quieted down until on our arrival half our number could have handled them the herd was counted and received on the outlying prairies and as no steamer was due for a few days another outfit took charge of them uncle lance was never much of a man for towns and soon after settlement the next morning we were ready to start home but the payment amounting to thirty thousand dollars presented a problem as the bulk of it came to us in silver there was scarcely a merchant in the place who had assumed the responsibility of receiving it even on deposit and in the absence of a bank there was no alternative but to take it home the agent for the steamship company solicited the money for transportation to new orleans mentioning the danger of robbery and referring to the recent attempt of bandits to hold up the san antonio and corpus christi stage i had good cause to remember that incident and was wondering what my employer would do under the circumstances when he turned from the agent saying well we'll take it home just the same i have no use for money in new orleans nor do i care if every bandit in texas knows we've got the money in the wagon i want to buy a few new guns anyhow if robbers tackle us will promise them a warm reception and i never knew a thief who didn't think more of his own carcass than of another man's money the silver was loaded into the wagon in sacks and we started on our return

it was rather a risky trip but we never concealed the fact that we had every dollar of the money in the wagon it would have been dangerous to make an attempt on us for we were all well armed we reached the ranch in safety rested a day and then took the amulins and went on to san antonio three of us beside trebusio accompanied our employer each taking a staddled horse and stopping by night at ranches where we were known On the third day we reached the city in good time to bank the money, much to my relief. As there was no work pressing at home, we spent a week in the city thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Uncle Lance was negotiating for the purchase of a large Spanish land grant, which adjoined our range on the west, taking in the Gonso and several miles' frontage on both sides of the home river. This required his attention for a few days, during which the time.

time the weiss met two men on the lookout for stock cattle with which to start a new ranch on the Devil's River in Valverte County. They were in the market for three thousand cows to be delivered that fall or the following spring. Our Segundo promptly invited them to meet his employer that evening at our hotel. As the ranges in eastern Texas became of value for agriculture, the cowman moved westward disposing of his cattle or taking them with him it was men of this class whom de wies had met during the day and on filling their appointment in the evening our employer and the buyers soon came to an agreement references were exchanged and the next afternoon a contract was entered into whereby we were to deliver may first at las palomas ranch three thousand and cows between the ages of two and four years. There was some delay in perfecting the title to the land grant.

We'll start home in the morning, boys, said Uncle Lance, the evening after the contract was drawn. You simply can't hurry a land deal. I'll get that tracked in time. But there's over a hundred heirs now of the original dawn. I'd just like to know what the Grandee did for his king to get that grant. tickled his royal nibs i reckon with some cock and bull's story and here i had to give up nearly forty thousand dollars of good honest money twenty years ago i was offered the same grant for ten cents an acre and now i'm paying four bits but i didn't have the money then and i'm not sure i'd have bought it if i had but i need it now and i need it bad and that's why i'm letting them hold me up for such a figure

stopping at the last chance roadhouse on the outskirts of the city the next morning for a final drink as we were leaving uncle lance said to us over the cattle contract there's money in it good money too but we're not going to fill it out of our home brand not in this year of our lord i think too much of my cows to part with a single animal boys cows made las palomas what she is and as long as they win for me i intend to swear by them through thick and thin in good and bad repute fair weather or foul so june just as soon as the fall branding is over you can take tom with you for an interpreter and start for mexico to contract these cows las palomis is going to branch out and spread herself as a ranchman i can bring cows across for breeding purposes free of duty and i know of no good reason why i can't change my mind and sell them dan take trebusio out a cigar end of chapter ten chapter eleven of a texas matchmaker by andy adams this librivox recording is in the public domain a turkey bake deuce and i came back from mexico during christmas week on reaching las palomas we found frank and Ed Tully, the latter being also a trail foreman at the ranch. They were wintering in San Antonio, and were spending a few weeks at our ranch,

incidentally, on the lookout for several hundred saddle horses for trail purposes the coming spring. We had no horses for sale, but nevertheless Uncle Lance had prevailed on them to make Las Palomas headquarters during their stay in the country. The first night at the ranch, Miss Jean and I talked about, until nearly midnight. There had been so many happenings during my absence that it required a whole evening to tell them all. From the naming of Anita's baby to the rivalry between John and Theodore for the favor of Francis Valks, all the latest social news of the countryside was discussed. Miss Jean had attended the dance at Shepherds during the fall, and had heard it whispered

that Oxford and Esther were anything but happy. The latest work of the work. word from the Vox Ranch said that the couple had separated. At least there was some trouble, for when Oxenford had attempted to force her to return to Oakville, and had made some disparaging remarks, Tony Hunter had crimped the six-shooter over his head. I pretended not to be interested in this, but secretly, had I learned that Hunter had killed Oxenford, I should have had no very serious regrets. Uncle Lance had promised Tully and Nancredi, a time. turkey hunt during the holidays so on our unexpected return it was decided to have it at once there had been a heavy mass that year and in the ensignol ridges to the east wild turkeys were reported plentiful accordingly we set out the next afternoon for a camp hunt in some oak-crossed timbers which grew on the eastern border of our ranch lands taking two pack mules and forbusio as cook a party of a party of

of eight of us rode away, expecting to remain overnight. Uncle Lance knew of a fine camping spot, about ten miles from the ranch, when within a few miles of the place, Trebusio was sent on ahead with the pack mules to make camp. Boys will divide up here, said Uncle Lance, and take a little scout through these cross-timbers and try and locate some roosts. The camp will be in those narrows ahead yonder, where the burnt timber is to your right. Keep an eye open for havelina signs. There used to be plentiful through here when there was good mast.

Now, scatter out in pairs, and if you can knock down a gobbler or two, we'll have a turkey bake tonight. Dan Hampersat knew the camping spot, so I went with him, and together we took a big circle through the ensignal, keeping alert for game signs. Before we had gone far, evidence became plentiful, not only of turkeys, but of peckery and deer. Where the turkeys had recently been scratching, many times we dismounted and led our horses,

but either the turkeys were too wary for us, or else we had been deceived as to the freshness of the sign. Several successive shots on our right caused us to hurry out of the timber in the direction of the reports, Halting in the edge of the timber, we watched the strip of prairie between us and the next cover to the south. Soon a flock of fully a hundred wild turkeys came running out of the ensignol on the opposite side and started to cross to our ridge. Keeping under cover, we rode to intercept them, never losing sight of the covey. They were running fast, but when they were nearly halfway across the opening, there was another ship. shot, and they took the flight, sailing in the cover ahead of us, well out of range. But one gobbler was so fat that he was unable to fly over a hundred yards, and was still in

the open. We rode to cut him off, on sighting us he attempted to rise, but his pounds were against him, and when we crossed his course he was so winded that our horses ran all around him. After we had both shot a few times missing him, he squatted in some tall grass and stuck his head under a turf. Dismounting, Dan sprang on to him like a fox, and he was ours. We wrung his neck and agreed to report that we had shot him through the head, thus concealing in the absence of bullet wounds our poor marksmanship. When we reached the camp shortly before dark, we found the others had already arrived, ours making the six turkey in the evening's bag. We had drawn ours on killing it, as had the others, and after supper, Uncle Lance

superintendent the stuffing of the two largest birds. While this was in progress, others made a stiff mortar, and we coated each turkey with about three inches of the waxy play, feathers and all. Opening our campfire, we placed the turkeys together, covered them with ashes, and built a heaping fire over and around them. A number of haunts had been located by the others, but as we expected to make an early hunt in the morning, we decided not to visit any of the roosts that night.

After Uncle Lance had regaled us with hunting stories of an earlier day, the discussion innocently turned to my recent elopement. By this time the scars had healed fairly well, and I took the chafing in all good humor. Tully told of a personal experience, which, if it was the truth, argued that in time, I might become as indifferent to my recent mishap as anyone could wish. My prospects of Marion a few years ago, said Tully, lying full stretch before the fire, were a whole lot better than yours, quirk.

My ambition those days was the boss of herd up the trail and get top-notch wages. She was a Texas girl just like yours. bred up in van zant county she could ride a horse like an indian bad horses seemed afraid of her why i saw her once when she was about sixteen take a black stallion out of his stable lead him out with but a rope around his neck throw a half-hitch about his nose and mount him as though he were her pet bear back and without a bridle she rode him ten miles for a doctor there wasn't a mile of the distance either But he felt the court burning in his flank and knew he was being ridden by a master. Her father scolded her at the time and boasted about it later. She had dozens of admirers, and the first impression I ever made on her was when she was about twenty.

There was a big tournament being given, and all the young bloods in many counties came in to contest for the prizes. I was a double winner in the games and contests. won a roping prize and was the only lad that came inside the time limit as a lancer though several beat me on rings of course the tournament ended with a ball having won the lance prize it was my privilege of crowning the queen of the ball of course i wasn't going to throw away such a chance for there was no end of rivalry amongst the girls over it the crown was made of flowers or if there were none in season of live oak leaves Well, at the ball after the tournament, I crowned Miss Kate with a crown of oak leaves. After that I felt bold enough to crowd matters, and things came my way. We were to be married during Easter week, but her mother upped and died,

so we put it off a while for the sake of appearances. The next spring I got a chance to boss a herd up the trail for Jess Ellison. It was the chance of my life, and I couldn't think. of refusing. The girl put up quite a mouth about it, and I explained to her that a hundred a month wasn't offered to every man. She finally gave in, but still you could see she wasn't pleased. Girls that way don't sobby. Cattle matters a little bit. She promised to write me at several points, which I told her the herd would pass. When I bade her goodbye, tears stood in her eyes, though she'd tried to hide them. I'd have gambled my life on her that morning.

Well, we made a nice trip, good outfit and strong cattle. Uncle Jess mounted us ten horses to the man. Every one fourteen hands are better, for we were contracted for delivery in Nebraska. It was a five-month's drive with scarcely an incident on the way, just a run or two, and a dry drive or so. I had lots of time to think about Kate. When we reached the chisholm crossing on Red River, I felt certain that I would find the letter, but I didn't. I wrote her from there, but when we reached called well, nearly a letter either. The same look at Abilene, try as I might, I couldn't make it out. Something was wrong, but what it was was anybody's guess. At this last place we got our orders to deliver the cattle at the junction of the middle and lower loop. It was a terror of a long drive,

but that wasn't a circumstance compared to not hearing from Kate. I kept all this to myself, mind you. When a herd reached its destination, which it did on time, as hard luck would have it, there was a hitch in the payment. The herd was turned loose and all the outfit but myself sent home. I stayed there two months longer at a little place called Broken Bow. I held the bill of sale for the herd and would turn it over, transferring the cattle from one owner to another, on the word for my employer. At last I received a letter from Uncle Jess saying

that the payment in full have been made, so I surrendered the final document and came home. Those trains seemed to run awful slow. But I got home all too soon, for she had then been married three months. You see, an agent for eight-day clocks came along, and being a stranger took her eye. He was one of those nice dapper fellows, or a redneck tie, and could talk all day to a woman. He worked by the rule of three, tickle, talk, and flatter, with a few cutts thrown in for a palon. That gets nearly any of them.

They live in town now. He's a windmill agent. I never went near them. Meanwhile, the fire kept place with a talk, thanks to Uncle Lance's watchful eye. That's right. Trebusio carry up plenty of good Lena, he kept saying,

Bring in all the black jack-oak that you can find. It makes fine coals. Those are both big gobblers, and to bake them until they fall to pieces like a water, watermelon will require a steady fire till morning. Pile up a lot of wood, and if I wake during the night, trust me to look after the fire. I've baked so many turkeys this way that I'm an expert at the business. A girl's argument remarked Dan Hapersat, in a lull of talk, doesn't have to be very weighty

to fit any case. Anything she does is just defiable. That's one reason why I always kept shy. of women. I admit that I've toyed around with some of them, have tossed my tug on one or two just to see if they would run on the rope. But now generally I keep a wire fence between them and myself if they show any symptoms of being on the Mary. Maybe so I was in earnest once, back on the Trinity. But it seems that every time that I made a pass my loop would foul or fail to open, or there was brush in the way.

Just because you have a few gray hairs in your head, you think you're awfully foxy, don't you? said Uncle Lance to Dan. I've seen lots of independent fellows like you. If I had a little widow, who knew her cards, and just let her kitten up to you and act cultish, inside a week, you would be following her around like a pet lamb. I knew a fellow, said Nancredi, light in his pipe with a firebrand, that when the clerk asked him, when he went for a license to marry,

if he would swear that the young lady his intendant was over twenty-one. Yes, by God, I'll swear that she's over thirty-one. After the next pause and the yarning, I inquired, why a wild turkey always deceived itself by hiding its head and leaving the body exposed. That's it a fact we all know. No, volunteered Uncle Lance, but the why and wherefore is too deep for me. I take it that it's due to running to neck too much in their construction. Now an ostrich is the same way, all neck and not a lick of sense.

And the same applies to the human family. You take one of these long-necked cowmen, and what does he know outside of cattle? Nine times out of ten, I can tell a sensible girl, by merely looking at her neck. Now, snicker, you drad at young fools, just as if I wasn't talking horse sense to you. Some of you boys haven't got much more sobby than a fat old gobbler. When I first came to the state, said June Deweiss, who had been quietly and attentively listening to the stories, I stopped over on the Natchez River near a place called Shotabuck Crossing. I had an uncle living there, with whom I had made my home the first.

few years that I lived in Texas. There are more or less cattle there, but it's principally a cotton country. There was an old cuss living over there on that river who was land poor, but had a powerful pretty girl. Her old man owned any number of plantations on the river, generally had lots of niggers rented to look after. Miss Sally, the daughter, was the bell of the neighborhood.

She had all the graces with a fair mixture of the weaknesses of her sex. The trouble was there was no young man in the whole country fit to hold her horse. At least she and her folks entertained that idea. There was a storekeeper and a young doctor at the county seat, who it seems took turns calling on her. It looked like it was going to be a close race. Outside of these two, there wasn't a one of us who could touch her with a twenty-four-foot fish-pole. We simply took the side of the road when she passed by. About this time there drifted in from out west near Fort McAvitt, a young fellow named Curly Thorn. He had relatives living in that neighborhood. Out at the fort, he was a common foreman on a ranch.

Talk about your graceful riders. He sat a horse in the manner that left nothing to be desired. Well, Curly made himself very agreeable with all the girls on the range, but played no special favorites. He stayed in the country, visiting among cousins until camp meeting began over at the Alabama campground. During this meeting, Curley proved himself quite a gallant by carrying first one young lady and the next evening some other to camp meeting. During these two weeks of the meeting, someone introduced him to,

to Miss Sally. Now remember, he didn't play her for a favorite no more than any other. That's what miffed her. She thought he ought to. One Sunday afternoon she intimated to him, like a girl sometimes will, that she was going home and was sorry that she had no companion for the ride. This was sufficient for the gallant, Curly, to offer himself to her as an escort. She simply thought she was stealing a bow from some other girl, and he never dreamt he was dallying with nature's river royalty. But the only inequality in that couple, as they rode away from the ground, was an erroneous idea in her and her folks' minds. And that difference was, in the fact, that her old dad had more land than he could pay taxes on.

Well, Curly not only saw her home, but stayed for tea. That's the name girls half for supper over there on the next. and that night carried her back to the evening service. From that day to the close of the session, he was devotedly hers. A month afterward, when he left, it was the talk of the country that they were to be married during the coming holidays. But then there were the young doctor and the storekeeper still in the game. Curly was off the scene temporarily, but the other two were riding their best horses to a shadow.

Miss Sally's folks were pulling like bay steers for the merchant who had some money. While the young doctor had nothing but empty pill-bags and a saddle-horse or two, the doctor was the better-looking, and before meeting Curly Thorne, Miss Sally had favored him. Knowing one said they were engaged, but near the close of the race, there was sufficient home influence used for the storekeeper to take the lead and hold it until the showdown came. Her folks announced a wedding, and the merchant received the best wishes of his friends, while the young doctor took a trip for his health. Well, it developed afterwards that she was engaged to both the storekeeper and the doctor at the same time.

But that's nothing, my experience tells me, that a girl don't need broad shoulders to carry three or four engagements at the same time. Well, within a week of a wedding, who should drift in to spend Christmas but Curly Thorn. His cousins, of course, lost no time in giving him the lay of the land. But Curly acted indifferent, and never even offered the call on Miss Sally. Us fellows joked him about his girl, going to marry another fellow, and he didn't seem a little bit put out. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the sudden turn as a good joke on himself. But one morning, two days before the wedding was to take place, Miss Sally was.

was missing from her home, as was likewise Curly torn from the neighborhood. Yes, Thorne had eloped with her, and they were married the next morning in Nacadoches, and the funny thing about it was Curly never met her after his return until the night they eloped. But he had a girl cousin who had a finger in the pie. She and Miss Sally were sick as three in a bed, and Curly didn't have anything to do, but play the hand that was dealt him. Before I came to Las Palomas, I was over around Fort McAvitt and met Curly. We knew each other, and he took me home and had me stay overnight with him.

They had been married then four years. She had a baby on each knee and another in her arms. There was so much reality in life that she had no time to become a dreamer. Matrimony in that case was a good leveler of imaginary rank. I always admired Curly for the indifferent hand he played all through the various stages of the courtship. He never knew there was such a thing as difference. He simply coppered the play to win, and the cards came his way. Bullie for Curly, said Uncle Lance, arising and fixing the fire, as the rest of us unrolled our blankets.

If some of my rascals could make ten strikes like that, it would break a streak of bad luck, which has overshadowed Las Palomas for over thirty years. Great, Scott, but those gobblers smell good. I can hear them blubbering and sizzling in their shells. It will surely take an axe to crack that clay in the morning. But get under your blankets, lads, for I'll call you for a turkey breakfast about dawn. End of Chapter 11.

Chapter 12 of a Texas matchmaker by Andy Adams. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Summer of 77. During our trip into Mexico the fall before, Dewees contracted for 3,000 cows at two haciendas on the Rio San Juan. Early in the spring, June and I returned to receive the cattle. The ranch outfit under Uncle Lance was the follow some three weeks later and camp on the American side at Roma, Texas.

We made arrangements as we crossed into Mexico with a mercantile house in Meir to act as our bankers, depositing our own drafts and taking letters of credit to the interior. In buying the cows, we had designated Meir, which was just opposite Roma, as the place for settlement and Uncle Lance on his arrival brought drafts to cover our purchases, depositing them with the same merchant.

On receiving, we used a tally mark which served as a road brand, thus preventing a second branding, and throughout, much to the disgust of the Mexican vicaros, Deweiss enforced every humane idea which Nancredi had practiced the spring before in accepting the trail herd at Los Palomas.

There were endless quantities of, of stock cattle to select from on the two haciendas, and when ready to start under the specifications, a finer lot of cows would have been hard to find. The worst drawback was that they were constantly dropping calves on the road, and before we reached the river, we had a calf wagon in regular use. On arriving at the real grand, the then stage of water was fortunately low, and we crossed the herd without a halt, the import papers having been attended to in advance. Uncle Lance believed in plenty of help and had brought down from Las Palomas an ample outfit of men and horses. He had also anticipated the dropping of calves, and had rigged up a carrier,

the box of which was open framework. Thus until a calf was strong enough to follow, the mother, as she trailed along beside the wagon, could keep an eye on her office. We made good drives the first two or three days, but after clearing the first bottoms of the real grand, and on reaching the table lands, we made easy stages of ten to twelve miles a day. When near enough to calculate on our arrival at Las Palomas, the old Ranchero quit us and went in to the ranch. Several days later of Vicaro met the herd about thirty miles south of Santa Maria, and brought the information that the valley. Verdi outfit was at the ranch and instructions to veer westward and drive down to Gonzo on approaching the nuisces. By these orders the delivery on the home river would occur at least twenty miles west of the ranch headquarters. As we were passing to the westward of Santa Maria,

our employer and one of the buyers rode out from that ranch and met the herd. They had decided it not the brand until arriving at their destination on the Devil's River, which would take them at least a month longer. While this deviation was nothing to us, it was a gain to them. The purchaser was delighted with the cattle, and our handling of them, their being fully a thousand young calves, and on reaching their camp on the gonsau, the delivery was completed, four days in advance of the specified time. for fear of losses we had received a few head extra and on counting them over found we had not lost a single hoof the buyers received the extra cattle and the delivery was satisfactorily concluded

one of the partners returned with us to los palomus for the final settlement while the other taking charge of the herd turned them up to new aces the receiving outfit had fourteen men and some hundred and odd horses aside from their commissary they also had a calf-wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen and driven by a strapping big negro in view of the big calf-crop the partners concluded that an extra conveyance would not be amiss and on uncle lance making them a reasonable figure on our calf-wagon and four mules drawing it they never changed the word but took the outfit as it was late in the day when the delivery was made the double outfit remained in the same camp that night and with the best wishes bade each other farewell in the morning nearly a month had passed since deweese and i had left las palomas for the rio san juan and returning with the herd had met her own outfit at the rio grande during the interim before the ranch outfit had started the long talk of tournament on the noisces had finally been arranged the date had been set for the fifth of june and all of the home news which the outfit brought down to the real grand none was as welcome as this according to the program the contests were to include riding roping relay races and handling the lance several of us had never witnessed a tournament but as far as roping and riding were concerned we all considered ourselves past masters of the arts. The relay race was simple enough, and Dan Hapersat volunteered this explanation

of the Lance contest to those of us who were uninitiated. Well, said Dan, while we're riding home from the gonsau, a straight track is laid off about two hundred yards long. About every forty yards there's a post set up along the line with an arm reaching out over the track. From this there is suspended an iron ring, about two inches in diameter. The contestant is armed with a wooden lance of regulation length, and as he rides down this track at full speed, and within a time limit, he is to impale as many of these rings as possible. Each contestant is entitled to three trials, and the one impaling the most rings is declared

the victor. That's about all there is to it, except the award. The festivities, of course, close with a dance, in which the winner crowned. the queen of the ball that's the reason the girls always take such an interest in the lansing because the winner has the choosing of his queen i won at once over on the trinity and chose a little cripple girl had to do it or leave the country for it was looked upon as an engagement to marry oh i tell you if a girl is sweet on a fellow it's a mighty strong card to play before starting for the real grand the old ranchero had worked our horse stock forming fourteen new manadas so that on our return about the only work which could command our attention was the breaking of more saddle horses we had gentle two hundred the spring before and breaking a hundred and fifty now together with the old remudas would give las palomas fully five hundred saddle horses the ranch had the gelding's the men had time and there was no good excuse for not gentling more horses so after a few days rest the oldest and heaviest geldings were gathered and we then settled down to routine horsework

but not even this exciting employment could keep the coming tournament from our minds within a week after returning to the ranch we had laid off a lansing course and during every spare hour the nights of las palomas might be seen galloping over the course practicing i tried using the lance several times only to find that it was not as easy as it looked and i finally gave up the idea of lancing honors and turned my attention to the relay races miss jean had been the only representative of our ranch at shepherds on san jacinto day but she had had her eyes open on that occasion and on our return had a message for nearly every one of us i was not expecting any still the mistress of las palomas had met my old sweetheart and her sister mrs hunter at the ferry and the three had talked the matter over and mingled their tears in mutual sympathy i made a blustering talk which was to cover my real feelings and to show that i had grown indifferent towards esther but that tactful woman had not lived in vain and read me aright tom said she i was a young woman when you were a baby there are lots of things in which you might deceive me but esther mclead is not one of them you loved her once and you can't tell me that in less than a year you have forgotten her i won't say that men forget easier than women but you have never suffered one-tenth the heartaches over ester mclead that she has over you you can afford to be generous with her tom true she allowed an older sister to browbeat and bully her into marrying another man but she was an inexperienced girl then if you were honest you would admit that esther of her own accord would never have married jack oxenford

then why punish the innocent oh tom if you could only see her now sorrow and suffering have developed the woman in her and she is no longer the girl you knew and loved Miss Jean was hewing too close to the line for my comfort. Her observations were so near the truth that they touched me in a vulnerable spot. Yet as I paced the room, I expressed myself emphatically as never wishing to meet Esther McLeod again. I really felt that way, but I had not reckoned on the mistress of Las Palomas, nor considered that her strong sympathy for my former sweetheart had moved her to more than ordinary endeavor. the month of may passed uncle lance spent several weeks at the booth ranch on the frio at the home ranch practice for the contests went forward with vigor by the first of june we had sifted the candidates down until we had determined our best men for each entry the old ranchero and our segundo together with dan hapersat made up a good set of judges on our special fitness for the different contests, and we were finally picked in this order. Enrique Lopez was the rope. Pasquale Arispe was to ride, to Theodore Quail, fell the chance of handling the lance,

while I, being young and nimble on my feet, was decided on as the rider in the ten-mile relay race. In this contest I was fortunate in having the pick of over 350 saddle-horses. They were the accumulation. of years of the best that Las Paloma spread, and it was almost bewildering to make the final selection. But in this I had the benefit of the home judges, and when the latter differed on the speed of a horse, the trial usually settled the point. June Deweese proved to be the best judge of the ranch horses, yet Uncle Lance never yielded his opinion without a test of speed.

When the horses were finally decided on, we staked off a half a half a half-o'clock. half-mile circular track on the first bottom of the river, and every evening the horses were sent over the course. Under the conditions, a contestant was entitled to use as many horses as he wished, but must change mounts at least twenty times in riding the ten miles, and must finish under a time limit of twenty-five minutes. Out of our abundance, we decided to use ten mounts, thus allotting each horse two dashes of a half a mile, with a rest between the horse-breaking ended a few days before the appointed time las palomas stood on the tiptoe of expectancy over the coming tourney even miss jean rode having a gentle saddle-horse caught up for her use and taking daily rides about the ranch to witness the practice for she was as deeply interested as any of us in the forthcoming contests

born to the soil of texas she was a horsewoman of no ordinary ability and rode like a veteran on the appointed day las palomas was abandoned even the mexican contingent joining in the exodus for shepherds and only a few old servants remaining at the ranch as usual miss jean started by amulins the afternoon before taken along a horse for her own saddle the white element and the vicaros made an early start driving a remuda of thirty loose horses several of which were outlaws and a bell-mayor they were the picked horses of the ranch those which we expected to use in the contests and a change of mounts for the entire outfit on reaching the martial field we had heard it the horses the night before and the vicarrows were half-way to the ferry when we overtook them uncle lance was with us and in the height of his glory in one breath bragging on enrique and paschal and admonishing and cautioning theodore and myself in the next on nearing shepherds uncle lance proceeded us to hunt up the committee and enter a man from las palomas for each of the contests the ground had been well chosen a large open bottom on the north side of the river and about a mile above the ferry. The Lansing course was laid off.

Temporary corrals had been built to hold about thirty range cattle for the roping, and an equal number of outlaw horses for the riding contests. At the upper end of the valley, a half-mile circular race-course had been staked off. Throwing our outlaws into the corral and leaving the remuda in charge of two vicarrows, we galloped into shepherds with the gathering crowd,

from all indications this would be a red-lettered day at the ferry for the attendants drained a section of the country fully a hundred miles in diameter on the north from campleton on the attisosa to san patricio on the home river to the south and from the blanco on the east to well up the frio and san miguel on the west horsemen were flocking by platoons i did not know one man in twenty but deweese greeted them all as if they were near neighbors later in the morning conveyances began to arrive from oakville and nearby points and the presence of women lent variety to the scene under the rules all entries were to be made before ten o'clock the contests were due to begin half-hour later and each contestant was expected to be ready to compete in the order of his application there were eight entries in the relay race all told mine being the seventh which gave me a good opportunity to study the writing of those who preceded me there were ten or twelve entries each in the roping and riding contests while the knights of the lance numbered and the numbered and even 30. On account of a large number of entries, the contest would require a full day, running three classes simultaneously, allowing a slight intermission for lunch. The selection of disinterested judges for each class slightly delayed the commencement. After changing horses on

reaching the field, the contest with the lance opened with a lad from Raminera, who galloped over the course and got but a single ring. From the lateness of our entries, none of us would be called until afternoon, and we wandered at will from one section of the field to another. Red Ernest from Waas Ranch on the Frio was the first entry in the relay race. He had a good mount of eight Spanish horses, which he rode bareback, making many of his changes in less than fifteen seconds apiece, and finishing full three minutes under the time.

limit. The feet was cheered to the echo. I joined in with the rest, and numerous friendly bets were made at the time would not be lowered that day. Two other riders rode before the noon recess, only one of whom came under the time limit, and his time was a minute over Ernest's record. Miss Jean had camped the amulence in sight of the field, and kept open house to all comers, suspecting that she would have Mrs. Hunter and Esther for lunch, if they were present, I avoided our party and took dinner with Mrs. Booth. Meanwhile, Uncle Lance detailed Deweissan Happer set to handle my horses, allowing us five vicaros and distributing the other men as assistance to our other three contestants.

The day was an ideal one for contest, rather warm during the morning, but tempered later by a fine afternoon breeze. It was after four o'clock when I was called, with Waw's man still in the lead. Forming a small circle at the starting point, each of our vicaros led a pair of our horses and bridles only around the ring, constantly having in hand eight of my mount of ten. As handlers, I had two good men in our Segundo and Dan Happer set. I crossed the line amid the usual shouting with a running start, determined if possible, to lower the record of red earnest.

In making the changes, all I asked was a good grip on the main, and I found my seat as the horse shot away. The horses had broken into an easy sweat before the race began, and having stripped to the lowest possible ounce of clothing, I felt that I was getting out of them every fraction of speed they possessed. The ninth horse in my mount, a roan, for some unknown reason, sulked at starting. then bolted out on the prairie but got away with the loss of only about ten seconds running the half-mile like a scared wolf until it came the roan's turn to go again no one toward incident happened friendly timekeepers posting me at every change of mounts but when this bolter's turn came again he reared and plunged away stiff-legged crossed the inward furrow and before i could turn him again to the track cut inside the corner of the cross the inward furrow and before i could turn him again to the track cut inside the corner of the course of the cross the corner of the track cut inside the

course for two stakes, or possibly fifty yards. By this time I was beyond recall, but as I came round and past the starting point, the judges attempted to stop me, and I well knew my chances were over. Uncle Lance promptly waved all rights to the award, and I was allowed to finish the race, lowering Ernest's time over twenty seconds. The eighth contestant, so I learned later, barely came under the time limit. The Vicaros took charge of the relay mounts, and, reinvesting myself in my discarded clothing,

I mounted my horse to leave the field, when who should gallop up and extend sympathy and congratulations, but Miss Jean and my old sweetheart. There was no avoiding them, and discourtesy to the mistress of Las Palomas being out of the question, I greeted Esther with an affected warmness, in cordiality. As I released her hand, I could not help noticing how she had saddened into a serious woman, while the gentleness in her voice condemned me for my attitude toward her.

But Miss Jean artfully gave us little time for embarrassment, inviting me to show them the unconcluded program. From contest to contest we rode the field until the sun went down, and the trials ended. It was my first tournament, and nothing escaped my notice. There were fully one hundred and fifty women and girls, and possibly double that number of men, old and young, everyone mounted and galloping from one point of the field to another. Blushing maidens and their swains dropped out of the throng,

and from shady vantage points watched the crowd surged back and forth across the field of action. We were sorry to miss Enrique's roping, for having snapped his saddle-horn with the first cast he recovered his rope fastened it to the fork of his saddle-tree and tied his steer in fifty-four seconds or within ten of the winner's record when he apologized to miss jane for his bad luck hat and hand and his eyes as big as saucers one would have supposed that he had brought lasting disgrace on los palomas we were more fortunate in witnessing pascal's writing for this contest outlaws and spoiled horses had been collected from every quarter riders drew their mouths by lot and pascal drew its cinnamon-colored coyote from the ranch of uncle nate wilson of ramanera uncle nate was feeling a fine fetal and when he learned that his contribution to the outlaw horses had been drawn by a los palomas man he hunted up the ranchero i'll bet you a new five-dollar hat that that cinnamon horse throws your vicaro so high that birds build nests in his crotch before he hits the ground

uncle lance took the bet and disdainfully ran his eye up and down his old friend finally remarking nate you ought to keep perfectly sober on occasions like this you're unable to lose all your money pascal was a shallow-brained clownish fellow and after saddardly and after saddling up as he led the coyote into the open to mount he imitated a drunken vicaro tipsily admonishing the horse in spanish to behave himself he vaulted into the saddle and clouded his mount over the head with his hat the coyote resorted to every ruse known to a bucking horse to unseat his rider in the midst of which pascal languidly lolling in his saddle took a small bottle from his pocket and drinking its contents tossed it backward over his head look at that nate said uncle lance slapping mr wilson with his hat that's one of las palomas's vicaros bred with just enough sense to ride anything that wears hair we'll look at those new hats this evening in the fancy riding which followed paskell did a number of stunts he picked up hat and handkerchief from the ground at full speed and likewise gathered up silver dollars from alternate sides of his horse, has the animal sped over a short course. Stripping off his saddle and bridle, he rode the naked horse with the grace of an Indian. And but for his clownish indifference and the apparent ease in which he did things, the judges might have

taken his work more seriously, as it was. Our outfit and those friendly to our ranch were proud of his performance. But among outsiders, and even the judges, it was generally believed that he was tipsy, which was an injustice to him. On the conclusion of the contest with the lance, among the thirty participants, four were tied on honors, one of whom was Theodore Quayle. The other contest being over, the crowd gathered round the lancing course, excitement being at its highest pitch. A lad from the Blanco was the first called on for the finals, and after three efforts failed to make good his his former trial. Quail was the next called, and as he sped down the course, my heart stood

still for a moment. But as he returned, holding high as lance, five rings were impaled upon it. He was entitled to two more trials, but rested on his record until it was tied or beaten, and the next man was called. Foisting her way through the crowded field, Miss Jean, warmly congratulated Theodore, leaving Esther to my tender care. But at this juncture, my old sweetheart, caught sight of Francis Vox, and some gallant, approaching from the river's shade. Together we galloped out to meet them. Mrs. Vox's escort was a neighbor lad from the Frio, but both he and I, for the time being,

were relegated to oblivion. In the prospects of a Las Palomas man by the name of Quayle, winning the lancing contest, Miss Francis with a shrug, was for denying all interesting. in the result, but Esther and I doubled on her, forcing her to admit that it would be real nice if Teddy should win. I never was so aggravated over the indifference of a girl in my life, and my regard for my former sweetheart, on account of her enthusiasm, for a Las Palomas lad, kindled anew within me.

But as a third man sped over the course, we hastily returned to watch the final results. After last trial, the man threw down his lance, and riding up congratulated quail. The last contestant was a red-headed fellow, from the Atiscusa above Oakville, and seemed to have a host of friends. On his first trial over the course, he stripped four rings. But on neither subsequent effort did he equal his first attempt, imitating the former contestant, the red-headed fellow broke his lance and congratulated the winner the tourney was over esther and i urged miss francis to ride over with us and congratulate she demurred but as the crowd scattered i caught theodore's eye and signalling to him he rode out of the crowd and joined us the compliments of miss vaux to the winter were insipid and lifeless while esther as if to atone for her friend's love lack of interest, beamed with happiness over Quail's good luck.

Poor Teddy hardly knew which way to turn, and nice girl as she was. I almost hated Miss Francis for her indifferent attitude. A plain, blunt fellow, though he was, Quail had noticed the coolness in the greeting of the young lady whom he had no doubt had had in mind for months, in case he should win the privilege, the crown is queen of the ball. and unsettled in his mind, he excused himself on some trivial pretense and withdrew. Everyone was scattering to the picnic grounds for supper. And under the pretense of escorting Esther to the Vox conveyance,

I accompanied the young ladies. Managing the fall to the rear of Miss Francis and her gallant for the day, I bluntly asked my old sweetheart if she understood the attitude of her friend. For reply, she gave me a pitying glance. saying, oh, you boys know so little about a girl. You see that Teddy chooses Francis for his queen tonight, and leave the rest to me. On reaching their picnic camp, I excused myself, promising to meet them later at the dance, and rode over to our ambulance. Trebusio had supper already, and after it was over, I called Theodore to one side and repeated Esther's message.

quail was still doubtful and i called miss jean to my assistance hoping to convince him that miss vaux was not unfriendly towards him you always want to judge a woman by contrary said miss jean seating herself on a log beside us when it comes to acting her part always depend on a girl to conceal her true feelings especially if she has tact now from what you boys say my judgment is that she'll cry her eyes out if any other girl was chosen queen. Uncle Lance had promised Mr. Wilson to take supper with his family, and as we were all sprucing up for the dance, he returned. He had not been present at the finals for the Lansing contest, but from guests of the Wilson's had learned

that one of his boys had won the honors. So in riding into camp, as the finishing touches were being added to our rustic toilets, He accosted quail and said, Well, Theo, they tell me that you won the elephant. Great Scott, boy, That's the best luck that has struck Las Palomas since the big rain a year ago this month.

Of course, we all understand that you'll choose the oldest fox girl. What's that? You don't know? Well, I do. I had that all planned out in case you won. Ever since we decided that you was to contest as representative of Las Palomas. And now you want to balk, do you? Uncle Lance was showing some spirit, but his sister checked him with this explanation.

Just because Miss Francis didn't show any enthusiasm over Theo winning, he and Tom somehow have got the idea in their minds that she don't care a rep to be chosen queen. I've tried to explain it to them, but the boys don't understand girls, that's all. why if Theo were to choose any other girl, she'd set the river of fire. That's it, is it?

Snorted Uncle Lance, pulling his gray mustaches. Well, I've known for some time that Tom didn't have good sense, but I've always given you, Theo, credit for having a little. I'll gamble my all that what Jean says is Bible truth. Didn't I have my eye on you in that girl nearly a week during the hunt a year ago, and haven't you been riding my horse over to the frio once or twice a month ever since you can read a brand as far as i can but i can see that you're as blind as a bat about a girl now a young fellow listen to me when the master of ceremonies announces the winners of the day and your name is called throw out your brisket stand straight on those low legs of yours step forward and claim your privilege when the wreath is tendered you accept it carry it to the lady of your choice and kneeling before her if she bids you arise place the crown on her brow and lead the grand march i'd gladly give los palomas in every hoof on it for your years and a chance

the festivities began with falling darkness the master of ceremonies a school-teacher from oakville read out the successful contestants and the prizes to which they were entitled the name of theodore quail was the last to be called, and excusing himself to Miss Jean, who had him in tow. He walked forward with a military air, executing every movement in the ceremony like an actor. As the music struck up, he and the blushing Francis Vox, rare in rustic beauty, and crowned with a reef of live oak leaves, led the opening march. Hundreds of hands clapped in approval, and as the applause quieted down, I turned the look for a partner, only to meet Miss Jean and my former sweetheart. Both were in a seventh heaven of delight,

and promptly took occasion to remind me of my lack of foresight, repeating in chorus, didn't I tell you? But the music had broken into a waltz, which precluded any argument, and on the mistress's remarking, you young folks are missing a fine dance, involuntarily, my arm encircled my old sweetheart, and we drifted away into Elysian fields. The night after the first tournament of Shepherds on the noasis in June 77

lingers has a pleasant memory. Veiled in hazy retrospect, attempting to recall it, is like inviting the return of a childish dream when one has reached the years of maturity. If I dance that night with any other girl, then poor Esther McLeod, the fact has certainly escaped me. But somewhere in the archives of memory, there is an indelible picture of a stroll through dimly lighted picnic grounds of sitting on a rustic-set tea built around the base of a patriarchal live-oak and listening to a broken-hearted woman lay bare the sorrows which less than a year had brought her

i distinctly recall that my eyes though unused to weeping filled with tears when esther in words of deepest sorrow and contrition begged me to forgive her heedless and reckless act could i harbor resentment in the face of such entreaty the impulsiveness of youth refused to believe that true happiness had gone out of her life she was again to me as she had been before her unfortunate marriage and must be released from the hateful bonds that bound her firm in this resolve dawn stole upon us still sitting at the root of the old oak oblivious and happy in each other's presence having pledged anew our troth for time and eternity with the breaking of day the revellers dispersed quite a large contingent from those present rode several miles up the river with our party the remuda had been sent home the evening before with the returning vicaros while the impatience of the amulence mules frequently carried them in advance of the cavalcade the mistress of las palomas had as her guest returning miss julie wilson and the first time they passed us some four or five miles above the ferry i noticed uncle lance ride up swaggering in his saddle and poke glen gallop in the ribs with a wink and a nod toward the conveyance as the mules dashed past the pace we were traveling would carry us home by the middle of the forenoon and once we were reduced to the home crowd the old meshmaker broke out enthusiastically this tourney was what i call a success i don't care it tinker's darn for the prizes but the way you boys built up to the girls last night warmed the sluggish blood in my old veins

even if cotton did claim a dancer too with the oldest vox girl if theo and her don't make the riffle now well they simply can't help it having gone so far and did any of you notice scales in old june and dan cutting the pigeon wings like colts i reckon quirk will have to make some new resolutions this morning oh i heard about your declaring that you never wanted to see esther mclead again that's all right son but hereafter remember that a resolve about a woman is only good for the day it is made or until you meet her and notice will you ahead yonder that sister of mine playing second and fiddle as a matchmaker. Glenn, if I was you, the next time Miss Jewel looks back this way, I'd play sick, and maybe they'd let you ride in the amulins.

I can see at a glance that she's being poorly entertained. End of Chapter 12. Chapter 13 of a Texas matchmaker by Andy Adams. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Hide hunting. during the month of june only two showers fell which revived the grass but added not a drop of water to our tank supply or to the river when the coast winds which followed set in all hope for rain passed for another year during the residence of the old ranchero at las palomas the new aces valley had suffered several severe droughts as disastrous in their effects as a pestilence

there were places in its miles of meandering across our range where the river was paved with the bones of cattle which had perished with thirst realizing that such disasters repeated themselves the ranch was set in order that fall we branded the calf-drop with unusual care in every possible quarter we prepared for the worst a dozen wells were sunk over the tract and equipped with windmills there was sufficient water in the river and tanks during the summer and fall but by christmas the range was eaten off until the cattle ranging far came in only every other day to slack their thirst the social gaieties of the countryside received a check from the threatened drought at las palomas we observed only the usual christmas festivities miss jean always made it a point to have something extra for the holiday season, not only in her own household, but also among the Mexican families at headquarters and the outlying ranchitas. Among a number of delicacies brought up this time from Shepherds was a box of Florida oranges, and in assisting Miss Jean to fill the baskets for each Wacal,

Aaron's scales opened this box of oranges and found a letter evidently placed there by some mischievous girl in the packery from which she was a little. the oranges were shipped. There was not only a letter, but a visiting card and a small photograph of the writer. This could only be accepted by the discoverer as a challenge, for the sender surely knew this particular box was intended for shipment to Texas, and banteringly invited the recipient to reply. The missive certainly fell upon fertile soil, and scales, by right of discovery, delegated to himself the pleasure of answering. Scales was the black sheep of Los Palomas. Born of a rich aristocratic family in Maryland, he had early developed into a good-natured but reckless

spendthrift, and his disreputable associates had contributed no small part in forcing him to the refuge of a cattle ranch. He had been offered every opportunity to secure a good education, but during his last year in college had been expelled, and rather than face parental reproach, had taken passage in a coast schooner for Galveston, Texas. Then by easy stages he drifted westward, and at last, to his liking, found a home at Las Palomas. He made himself a useful man on the ranch,

but, not having been bred to the occupation and with a tendency to waywardness, gave a rather free reign to the vagabond spirit which possessed him. He was a good rider, even for a country, where everyone was a born horseman, but the use of the rope was an art he never attempted to master. With the conclusion of the holiday festivities, and on the return of the absentees, a feature, new to be in cattle life, presented itself,

hide-hunting. Fraders, who brought merchandise, from the coast, towns to the merchants of the interior were offering very liberal terms for return cargoes. About the only local product was flint hides, and of these there were very few, but the merchant at Shepard's Ferry offered so generous inducements that Uncle Lance investigated the matter. The result was his determination to rid his range of old, loggy, worthless bulls. heretofore they had been allowed to die of old age.

But ten cents a pound for Flint hides was an encouragement to remove these cumberers of the range and turn them to some profit. So we were ordered to kill every bull on the ranch over seven years old. In our round-up for branding, we had driven to the home range all outside cattle indiscriminately. They were still ranging near, so that at the commencement of this work, we had driven to the home range, all outside cattle indiscriminately. they were still ranging near so that at the commencement of this work nearly all the bulls in our brand were watering from the noisces these old residenter bulls never ranged over a mile away from water and during the middle of the day they could be found along the river bank many of them were ten to twelve years old and were as useless on the range as drones in autumn to a colony of honey-bees Las Palomas boasted quite an arsenal of firearms of every make and pattern, from a musket to a repeater.

The outfit was divided into two squads, one going down, nearly the Shepherds, and the other beginning operations considerably above the gonsu. June Deweiss took the downriver end, while Uncle Lance took some ten of us, with one wagon on the up-river trip. To me, this had all the appearance of a picnic. but the work proved to be anything but a picnic. To make the kill was most difficult. Not willing to leave the carcasses near the river, we usually sought the bulls coming into water.

But an ordinary charge of powder and lead, even when well directed at the forehead, rarely killed, and tended rather to aggravate the creature. Besides, we were compelled, in nearly every instance, to shoot from horseback. It was almost impossible to deliver an effective shot from in front. After one or more unsuccessful shots,

the bull usually started for the nearest thicket or the river. Then our ropes came into use. The work was very slow, for though we operated in pairs, the first week we did not average a hide-a-day to the man. After killing, there was the animal to skin, the hide to be dragged from a saddle pommel into a hide-yard and pegged out to dry. Until we had accumulated a load of hides,

Tribusio, Leo, our teamster, fell to me as partner. We had with us an abundance of our best horses, and those who were reliable with the rope had the first choice of the remuda. Tribusio was well mounted, but on account of his years was timid about using a rope,

and well he might be, for frequently, we found ourselves in a humorous predicament, and sometimes in one so grave, that hilarity was not even a remote possibility. The second morning of the hunt, Trubusio and I singled out a big black bull about a mile from the river. I had not yet been convinced that I could not make an effective shot from in front, and dismounting the track that the bull's attention and fired. The shot did not even stagger him, and he charged us.

Our horses avoided his rush, and he started for the river. Sheathing my carbine, I took down my rope and caught him before he had gone a hundred yards. As I threw my horse on its haunches to receive the shock, the weight and momentum of the bow dragged my double-sinched saddle over my horse's head and sent me sprawling on the ground. In wrapping the loose end of the rope around the pommel of the saddle, I had given it a half-hitch, and as I came to my feet my saddle and carbine were bumping merrily along after Toro. Regaining my horse, I soon overtook Trebusio, who was attempting to turn the animal back from the river

and urged him to tie on, but he hesitated, offering me his horse instead. As there was no time to waste, we changed horse. horses like relay riders. I soon overtook the animal and made a successful cast, catching the bull by the front feet. I threw Trebusio's horse, like a wheeler, back on his haunches, and on bringing the rope taunt, fetched Toro to his knees. But with the strain, the half-inch manila rope snapped at the pommel like a twine string. Then we were at our wits' end. The bull lumbering away, with the second rope noosed over one forefoot and leaving my saddle far in the rear. But after a moment's hesitation, my partner and I doubled on him, to make a trial of our guns.

Trebusio, having a favored old musket, while I had only my six-shooter. Trebusio, on my stripped horse, overtook the bull first, and attempted to turn him. but Al Toro was not to be stopped. On coming up myself, I tried the same tactics, firing several shots into the ground in front of him, but without deflecting the enraged bull from his course. Then I unloosed a Mexican blanket from Trebusio's saddle, and flaunting it in his face led him like a matador inviting a charge.

This held his attention until Trebusio, gaining courage, dashed past him from the rear and planted a musket ball behind the base of his ear, and the patriarch succumbed. After the first few days' work, we found that the most vulnerable spot was where the spinal cord connects with the base of the brain. A well-directed shot at this point, even from a six-shooter, never failed to bring Toro to grass, and some of us became so expert that we could deliver this favorite shot from a

running horse. The trouble was to get the bull to run evenly. That was one thing he objected to, and yet unless he did, we could not advantageously attack him with a six-shooter. Many of these old bulls were surly indisposition, and even when they did run, there was no telling what moment they would sulk, stop, without an instance notice and attempt to gore a passing horse. We usually camped two or three days at a place, taking in both sides of the river, and after the work was once well underway, we kept our wagon busy, hauling the dry hides to a common yard on the river opposite Las Palomas. Without apology, it can be admitted that we did not confine our killing to the Las Palomas brand alone, but all cumberers

on our range met the same fate. There were numerous stray bulls belonging to distant ranches, which had taken up their abode on the new aces, all of which were fished to our net. We kept the brand tally of every bull thus killed, for the primary motive was not one of profit, but to rid the range of these drones. When we had been at work some two weeks, we had an exciting chase one afternoon, in which Enrique Lopez figured as a hero. In coming into dinner that day, Uncle Lance told of a chase after a young Ladino bull, with which we were all familiar. The old Ranchero's hatred to wild cattle had caused him that morning to risk a long shot at this outlaw, wounding him. Juan Liao and Enrique Lopez, who were there, had both tried their

marksmanship and their ropes on him in vain. Dragging down horses and snapping ropes, the bull made his escape into a chaparral thicket. He must have been exceedingly nimble, for I have seen Uncle Lance kill a running deer at a hundred yards with a rifle. At any rate, the entire squad turned out after dinner to renew the attack. We saddled the best horses in our remuda for the occasion, and sallied forth to the lair of the Ladino Bull, like a procession of professional bullfighters. The chaparral thicket in which the outlaw had taken refuge lay about a mile and a half

back from the river, and contained about two acres. On reaching the edge of the thicket, Uncle Lance called for volunteers to beat the brush and rout out the bull. As this must be done on foot, responses were not numerous, but our employer relieved the embarrassment by assigning Vakeros to the duty, also directing Enrique to take one point of the thicket and me the other, with instructions to use our ropes should the outlaw quit the thicket for the river.

Detailing Trubusio, who was with us that afternoon, to assist him in leading the loose saddle horses, he divided the six other men into two squads under Theodore Quayle and Dan Haperset. When all was ready, Enrique and myself, took up our positions hiding in the outlined mesquite brush leaving the loose horse under saddle in the cover at a distance the thicket was oval in form lying with a point towards the river and we all felt confident if the bull were started he would make for the timber on the river with a whoop and a hurrah and a free discharge of firearms the beaters entered the chaparral from my position i could see enrique lying along the neck of his horse about fifty yards distant and i had fully made up my mind to give that bucolic vicaro the first chance

during the past two weeks my enthusiasm for roping stray bulls had undergone a change i was now quite willing that all honors of the afternoon should fall to the beaters approached without giving any warning that the bull had been sighted and so great was the strain and tension that i could feel the beating of my horse's heart beneath me the suspense was finally broken by one or two shots in rapid succession and as the sound died away the voice of juan leo rang out distinctly sidado poor el torro and the next moment there was a crackling of brush and a pale dun bull broke cover for a moment he halted on the border of the thicket then as the dim of the beaters increased struck boldly across the prairie for the river Enrique and I were after him without loss of time. Enrique made a successful cast for his horns and reigned in his horse, but when the slack of the rope was taken up, the rear cinch broke, the saddle was jerked forward,

on the horse's withers, and Enrique was compelled to free the rope or have his horse dragged down. I saw the mishap and giving my horse the rowl, rode at the bull and threw my rope. The loop neatly encircled his front feet, and when the shock came between horse and bull it fetched the torrote a somersault in the air but unhappily took off the pommel of my saddle the bull was on his feet in a jiffy and before i could recover my rope and rickie who had reset his saddle passed me followed by the entire squad uncle lance had been a witness to both mishaps and on overtaking us urged me to tie on to the bull again for answer i could only point to my missing pommel but every man in the squad had loosened his rope and it looked as if they would all fasten on to the ladino for they were all good ropers man after man threw his loop on him

but the dun outlaw snapped the ropes as if they had been cotton strings dragging down two horses with her riders and leaving them in the rear i rode up alongside anriki and offering him my rope but he refused it knowing it would be useless to try again with only a single cinch on his saddle the young rascal had a daring idea in mind we were within a quarter of a mile of the river an escape of the outlaw seemed probable when henriky rode down on the bull took up his tail and wrapping the brush on the pommel of his saddle turned his source abruptly to the left rolling the bull over like a hoop and of course dismounting himself in the act then before the dazed animal could rise with the agility of a panther the vicaro sprang beside his loins and as he floundered others leaped from their horses toro was pinioned and despatched with a shot then we loosened the cinches to allow her heaving horses to breathe and threw ourselves on the ground for a moment's rest that's the best kill we'll make on this trip said uncle lance as we mounted leaving two vicaros to take the hide i despise wild cattle and i've been hungry to get a shot at that fellow for the last three years enrique the day the baby is born i'll buy it a new cradle and tom shall have a new sea saddle, and will charge it to Las Palomas. She's the girl that pays the bills. Scarcely a day passed, but similar experiences were related around the campfire. In fact,

as the end of the work came in view, they became commonplace with us. Finally the two outfits were united at the General Hydeyard near the home ranch. Coils of small rope were brought from headquarters, and a detail of men remained in camp bailing the flint hides, while the remainder scoured the immediate country. A crude press was arranged, and by the aid of a long lever the hides were compressed in the convenient space for handling by the freighters. When we had nearly finished the killing and bailing, an unlooked-for incident occurred. While Deweiss was working down near Shepard's Ferry, report of our work,

circulated around the country, and his camp had been frequently visited by cattlemen. Having nothing to conceal, he had showed his list of outside brands killed, which was perfectly satisfactory in most instances. As was customary in selling cattle, we expected to make a report of every outside hide taken and settle for them, deducting the necessary expense. but in every community there are those who oppose prevailing customs and some who can always see sinister motives one forenoon when the bailing was nearly finished a delegation of men representing the brands of the frio in san miguel rode up to our hideyard they were all well-known cowmen and uncle lance being present saluted them in his usual hearty manner in response to an inquiry What he thought he was doing, Uncle Lamp jocularly replied,

Well, you see, you fellows, allow your old bulls to drift down on my range, expecting Los Palomas to pension them the remainder of their days. But that's where you get fooled. Ten cents a pound for flint hides, beasts letting these old staggers die of old age. And this being an idle season with nothing much to do, we wanted to have a little fun, and we've had it. But laying all jokes aside, fellows, it's a good idea to get rid of these old varmits. Hereafter I'm going to make a killing off every two or three years.

The boys have kept a list of all stray brands killed, and you can look them over and see how many of yours we got. We have bailed all the stray hides separate, so they can be looked over. But it's nearly noon, and you'd better all ride up to the ranch for dinner. They feed better up there than we do in camp. Rather than make a three-mile ride to the house, the visitors took dinner with the wagon, and about one o'clock Deweiss and a vicaro came in, dragging a hide between them. June cordially greeted the callers, including Henry Aeneer,

who represented the Las Marias Ranch, though I suppose it was well known to everyone present that there was no love lost between them. uncle lance asked our fortman for his list of outside brands explaining that these men wished to look them over everything seemed perfectly satisfactory to all parties concerned and after remaining in camp over an hour the weiss and the vicaro saddled fresh horses and rode away the visitors seemed in no hurry to go so uncle lance sat around camp entertaining them while the rest of us proceeded with our work of bailing before leaving however the entire party and company of our employer took a stroll about the hide yard which was some distance from camp during this tour of an inspection a near asked which were the bales of outside hides taken in de wiese's division claiming he represented a number of brands outside of las norillas the bales were pointed out and some dozen unbailed hides looked over on account the bailed and unbailed hides were found to tally exactly with the list submitted but unfortunately a near took occasion to insinuate that the list of brands rendered had been doctored uncle lance paid little attention though he heard but the other visitors remonstrated with a near this only seemed to make him more contentious finally matters came to an open rupture

when a near demanded the courtage be cut on certain bales to allow him to inspect them possibly he was within his rights but on the new aces during the seventies to question a man's word was equivalent to calling him a liar, and liar was a fighting word all over the cattle range. Well, Henry, said Uncle Lance, rather firmly, if you are not satisfied, I suppose I'll have to open the bells for you, but before I do, I'm going to send after June. Neither you nor anyone else can cast any reflection on a man in my employ. No unjust act can be charged in my presence against an absent man. The Vicaros tell me that my foreman is only around the bend of the river, and I am going to ask all you gentlemen to remain until I can send for him. John Cotton was dispatched after Deweiss. Conversation, meanwhile, became polite and changed to other subjects.

Those of us at work bailing hides went ahead as if nothing unusual was on the tapus. The visitors were all armed, which was nothing unusual. For the wearing of six-shooters was as common as the wearing of boots. During the interim, several level-headed visitors took Henry Aeneer to one side, evidently to reason with him and urge an apology, for they could readily see that Uncle Lance was justly offended. But it seemed that Aeneer would listen to no one, and while they were yet conversing among themselves,

John Cotton and our foreman galloped around the bend of the river and rode up to the yard. No doubt Cotton had explained the situation, but as they dismounted Uncle Lance stepped between his foreman and Aeneer, saying, June, Henry, here, questions the honesty of your list of strays killed and insist on our cutting the bales for his inspection.

Turning to Aeneer, Uncle Lance inquired, do you still insist on opening the bales? Yes, sir, I do. Do we step to? to one side of his employer, saying to Aeneer, "'You offered a cut of bail here today, and I'll cut your heart out. Behind my back, you question my word.

Question it to my face, you dirty sneak.' Aeneer sprang backward and the one side drawn a six-shooter in the movement, while June was equally active. Like a flash, two shots rang out, following the reports, Henry turned halfway round, while Dewey staggered a step backward.

Taking advantage of the instant, Uncle Lance sprang like a panther on the June and bore him to the ground, while the visitors fell on a near and disarmed him in a flash. They were dragged struggling farther apart, and after some semblance of sanity had returned, we stripped our foreman

and found an ugly flesh wound across his side under the armpit. The bullet having been deflected by a, a rib. A near had fared worse, and was spinning blood freely, and the mark of exiting interest of the bullet indicated that the point of one lung had been slightly chipped. I suppose this outcome is what you might call the amendate honorable, smiling, said George Nathan, one of the visitors, latered Uncle Lance. I always knew that there was a little bad blood existing between the boys, but I had no idea

that it would flash in the pan so suddenly or I'd have stayed at home. Shooting always lets me out, but the question now is, how are we going to get our man home? Uncle Lancet once offered them horses and a wagon, in case it near it would not go into Las Palomas. This he objected to, so a wagon was fitted up, and promising to return it the next day, our visitors departed with the best of feelings,

saved between the two belligerents. We sent June into the ranch and a man to Oakville after a surgeon, and resumed our work in the Hydeyard as if nothing had happened. Somewhere I have seen the statement that the climate of California was especially conducive to the healing of gunshot wounds. The same claim might be made in behalf of the Nuesa Valley, for within a month both the combatants were again in their saddle, Within a week after this incident, we concluded our work, and the hides were ready for the freighters.

We had spent over a month and had taken fully 700 hides, many of which when dry, would weigh 100 pounds, the totaled having a value between $5,000 and $6,000. Like their predecessors to Buffalo, the remains of the Lidinos were left to enrich the soil, but there was no danger of the extinction of the species, for at Las Palomas it was the custom to allow every tenth male calf to grow up a bull. End of Chapter 13 Chapter 14 of a Texas matchmaker by Andy Adams. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. A two-year's drought.

The spring of 78 was an early one, but the drought continued. and after the hide hunting was over we rode our range almost night and day thousands of cattle had drifted down from the frio river country which sections were suffering from drought as badly as the new aces the new wells were furnishing a limited supply of water but we rigged pulleys on the best of them and when the wind failed we had recourse to buckets and a rope worked from the pommel of a saddle a breeze usually arose about ten in the morning and fell about midnight during the lull the buckets rose and fell incessantly at eight wells with no lack of suffering cattle in attendance to consume it as fast as it was hoisted many thirsty animals gorged themselves and died in sight of the well weak ones being frequently trampled the death by the stronger while flint hides were corded at every watering point while flint hides were corded at every watering point the river had quit flowing and with the first warmth of spring the pools became rancid and stagnant in sandy and sub-irrigated sections under a marsh sun the grass made a sickly effort to spring but it lacked substance and so far from furnishing food for the cattle it only weakened them this was my first experience with a serious drought uncle lance however met the emergency as though it were part of the day's work riding continually with the rest of us

during the latter part of march aaron scales two vicaros and myself came in one night from the gonso and announced not over a month's supply of water in that creek we also reported to our employer that during our two days ride we had skinned some ten cattle four of which were in our own brand that's not as bad as it might be said the old ranchero philosophically you see boys i've been through three droughts since i began ranching on this river the second one in fifty-one was the worst cattle skulls were sick along the noisces that year as sunflowers in august in sixty six it was nearly as bad there being more cattle but it didn't hurt me very much as maverking had been good for some time before and for several years following, and I soon recovered my losses. The first one lasted three years, and had there been as many cattle as they are now, half of them would have died. The spring before the second drought, I acted as Padrino for Tribusio and his wife,

who was at that time a mere slip of a girl living at the mission. Before they had time to get married, the dry spell set in, and they put the wedding off until it should rain. I ridiculed the idea, but they were both superstitious and stuck it out. And honest, boys, there wasn't enough rain fell in two years to wet your shirt. In my forty years under the oasis, I've seen hard times, but that drought was the toughest of them all. Game and birds left the country, and the cattle were too poor to eat. Whenever our provisions ran low, I sent Trebusio to the coast with a load of hides, using six yoke of oxen to handle the cargo of about a tongue. The oxen were so poor that they had to stand twice

in one place to make a shadow, and we wouldn't take gold for our flint hides, but insisted on the staples of life. At one point on the road Trebusio had to give a quart of flour for watering his team, both going and coming. They said that when the Jews, quit a country, it's time for the Gentiles to leave. But we old-timers are just like a horse that chooses a new range, and we'll stay with it until he starves or dies with old age. I could see nothing reassuring in the outlook. Near the wells and along the river, the stock had trampled out the grass

until the ground was as bare as a city street. Miles distanced from the water, the old dry grasses, with only occasional green blade was the only grazing for the cattle. The black, waxy soil on the first bottom of the river, on which the mesquite grass had flourished, was as bare now as a plowed field, while the ground had cracked open in places to an incredible depth, so that without exercising caution it was dangerous to ride across.

This was the condition of the range at the approach of April. our horse stock to be sure fared better ranging farther and not requiring anything like the amount of water needed by the cattle it was nothing unusual to meet a las palomas manada from ten to twelve miles from the river and coming in only every second or third night to quench their thirst we were fortunate in having an abundance of saddle-horses which whether under saddle or not were always given the preference in the matter of water they were the motive power of the ranch and during this crisis though worked hard must be favored in every possible manner early that spring the old ranchero sent duis to the garto in an attempt to sell captain byler a herd of stock-horses for the trail the mission was a failure though arsugundo offered to sell a thousand in the straight las palomas brand at seven dollars ahead on a year's credit even this was no inducement to the trail drover and on dewees's return my employer tried san antonio and other points in texas in the hope of finding a market from several places favorable replies were received particularly from places north of the coloradoes River, for the drought was local and was chiefly confined to the southern portion of the state.

There was enough encouragement in the letter to justify the old rancheril's attempt to reduce the demand on the ranch's water supply by sending a herd of horse stock north on sale. Under ordinary conditions, every ranchman preferred to sell his surplus stock at the ranch, and Los Colomis was no exception, being generally congested with marketable animals. San Antonio was, however, beginning to be a local horse and mule market of some moment, and before my advent several small selected bunches of mares and mules and saddle-horses had been sent there, and had found a ready and profitable sale. But this was an emergency year, and it was decided to send a herd of stock horses up the country.

Accordingly, before April, we worked every manata, which we examined, expected to keep cutting out all the two-year-old fillies to these were added every mongrel-colored band to the number of twenty odd and when ready to start the herd numbered a few over twelve hundred of all ages from yearlings up a remuda of fifty saddle-horses broken in the spring of seventy-six were allotted to our use and our segundo myself and five mexican vicaros were detailed to drive the herd we were allowed two pack mules for our commissary, which was driven with the remuda, with instructions to sell and hurry home. We left our horse camp on the river, and started on the morning of the last day of March. Livestock commission firms in San Antonio were notified of our coming, and with six men to the herd and the seventh driving the remuda, we put twenty miles behind us the first day.

With the exception of water for saddle-stock, which we hoisted from a well, there was no hope of watering the herd before reaching Mr. Booth's ranch on the Frio. He had been husbanding his water supply, and early the second evening we watered the herd to its contentment from a single shaded pool. From the Frio we could not follow any road, but were compelled to direct our course wherever there was a prospect of water. By hobbling the bell-mayor of the remuda at evening, and making two watches of the night herding,

we easily systemized our work, until we reached the San Antonio River about twenty miles below the city, not over two days passed without water for all the stock, though, on account of the variation from our course, we were over a week in reaching San Antonio. Having moved the herd up near some old missions within five or six miles of the city, with an abundance of water and some grass, Duis went into town,

visiting the commission firms and looking for a buyer. Fortunately a firm, which was expecting our arrival, had a prospective purchaser from Fort Worth for about our number. Making a date with the firm to show our horses the next morning, our Segundo returned to the herd, elated. over the prospect of a sail. On their arrival the next morning, we had the horses already watered,

and were grazing them along an abrupt slope between the first and second bottoms of the river. The salesman understood his business, and drove the conveyance back and forth on the downhill side below the herd, and the rise in the ground made our range stock look as big as American horses. After looking at the animals for an hour,

from a buckboard, the prospective buyer insisted on looking at the remuda. But as these were gentle, he gave them a more critical examination, insisting on their being penned in a rope corral at our temporary camp, and had every horse that was then being ridden, unsaddled, to inspect their backs. The remuda was young, gentle, and sound, many of them submitting to be caught without a rope. The buyer was pleased with them, And when the price came up for discussion, Deweiss artfully set a high figure on the saddle-stock,

and to make his bluff good offered to reserve them and take them back to the ranch. But Tuttle would not consider the herd without the remuda, and sparring between them continued until all three returned the town. It was a day of expectancy to the Vicaros and myself. In examining the saddle-horses, the buyer acted like a cowman. but as regarding the range stock it was evident to me that his armor was vulnerable and if he got any of the best of our segundo he was welcome to it dewees returned shortly after dark coming directly to the herd where i and two vicaros were on guard to inform us that he had sold locks stock and barrel including the two pack mules i felt like shouting over the good news when june threw a damper on my enthusiasm by the news that he had sold for delivery at fort worth you see said duis by way of explanation the buyer is foreman of a cattle company out on the forks of the brazos in young county he doesn't sobbly range horses as well as he does cows

and when he had agreed on the saddle-stock and there were only two bits between us on the herd he offered me six bits ahead all round over and above his offer if i would put them in fort worth and i took him up so quick that i nearly bit my tongue doing it captain redmond tells me that it is only about three hundred miles and grass and water is reported good i intended to take him up at his offer anyhow and seventy-five cents a head extra will make the old man nearly a thousand dollars which is worth picking up we'll put them there easy in three weeks learn the trail and see the country besides uncle lance can't have any kick coming for i offered them to captain byler for seven dollars and here i'm getting ten six bits nearly four thousand dollars advance and we won't be gone five weeks. Any money down? Well, I should remark, 5,000 deposited with Smith and Redmond,

and I was particular to have it inserted in the contract between us that every saddle-horse, mare, mule, gilding, and Philly was to be in the straight horse-hook brand. There's a possibility that when Tuddle sees them again at Fort Worth, they won't look as large as they did on that hillside the same. morning. We made an early start from San Antonio the next morning, passing to the westward of the then-striggling city. The Vicaros were disturbed over the journey for Fort Worth was as foreign to them as a European seaport, but I jolied them into believing it was but a little

posseer. Though I had never ridden on a train myself, I pictured to them the luxuriant ease with which we would return, as well as the trip by stage to Oakville. I threw enough enthusiasm into my description of the good time we were going to have, coupled with their confidence in Deweis to convince them in spite of their forebodings. Arsugundo humored them in various ways, and after a week on the trail, water getting plentiful, using two guards, we only heard it until midnight, turning the herd loose from then until daybreak. It usually took us less than an hour to gather and count them in the morning,

and encouraged by their contentment a few days later, we loose-herded until darkness and then turned them free. From then on it was a picnic as far as work was concerned, and our saddle-horses and herd improved every day. After crossing the Colorado River at every available chance en route, we mailed a letter to the buyer, notifying him of our progress as we swept northward, when within a day's drive of the Brassos, we mailed our last letter, giving notice that we would deliver within three days of date. On reaching that river, we found it swimming for between 30 and 40 yards, but by tying up the

pack mules and cutting the herd in the four bunches, we swam the brassos with less than an hour's delay. Overhauling and transferring the packs to horses, throwing away everything but the barest necessities, we crossed the lightened commissary, the freed mules swimming with a remuda. On the morning of the twentieth day out from San Antonio, our Segundo rode in to the fort ahead of the herd. We followed at our regular gate, and near the middle of the forenoon were met by Deweese and Tuttle, who piloted us to a pasture west of the city, where an outfit was encamped to receive the herd. They numbered fifteen men, and looked at our insignificant crowd with contempt. But the count which followed showed we had not lost a hoof since we

left the new aces, although for the last ten nights the stock had had the fullest freedom. The receiving outfit looked the brands over carefully. The splendid grass and water of the past two weeks had transformed the famishing herd of a month before, and they were received without a question. Rounding in a remuda, her fresh mounts, before starting the town, the Vicaros and I did some fancy roping in catching out the whole. horses, partially from sheer lightness of heart, and because we were at our journey's end, and partially to show this North Texas outfit that we were like the proverbial singed cat, better than we looked.

Two of Turtles men rode into town with us that evening to lead back our mounts, the outfit having come in purposely to receive the horse herd and drive it to their ranch in Young County. While riding in, they thawed nicely toward us, but kept me busy interpreting for them with our Mexicans. Tuttle and Deweese rode together in the lead, and on nearing town, one of the strangers, bantered Pasquale,

to sell him a nice magway rope, which the Vicaro carried. When I interpreted the other's wish to him, Pascal loosened a lasso, and made a present of it to turtles men. I had almost as good a rope of the same material, which I presented to the other lad with us, and the drinks we afterwards consumed over this slight testimony

of the amicable relations existing between a northern and southern Texas outfit over the delivery and receiving of a horse-herd showed no evidence of a drought. The following morning I made inquiry for Frank Mancredi, and the drovers who had driven a trail-herd of cattle from las palomas two seasons before they were all well known about the fort but were absent at the time having put up two trail-herds that spring in uvaldi county dewees did not waste an hour more than was necessary in that town and while waiting for the banks to open arranged our transportation to san antonio we were all ready to start back before noon Fort Worth was a frontier town at the time, bustling an alert with livestock interests, but we were anxious to get home and promptly boarded a train for the south.

After entering the train, our Segundo gave each of the Vicaros and myself some spending money, the greater portion of which went to the butcher for fruits. He was an enterprising fellow and took a marked interest in our comfort and welfare. But on nearing San Antonio after midnight, he attempted to sell us our choice of three books, between the leaves of one which he had placed the five-dollar bill and in another a ten, and offered us our choice for two dollars. And June Duques became suddenly interested. Coming over to where we were sitting, he knocked the books on the floor,

kicked them under his seat, and threatened to bend a gun over the door. the bushers head unless he made himself very scarce. Then reminded us that there were tricks in all trades but ours, he kept an eye over us until we reached the city. We were delayed another day in San Antonio, settling with the commission firm and banking the money. The next morning we took stage for Oakville, where we arrived late at night. When a short distance out of San Antonio, I inquired of our driver,

who would relieve him beyond pleasant in, and was gratified to hear that his name was not Jack Martin. Not that I had anything particular against Martin, but I had no love for his wife, and had no desire to press the acquaintance any further with her or her husband. On reaching Oakville, we were within forty miles of Las Palomas. We had our saddles with us, and early the next morning, tried to hire horses,

But as the stage company domineered the village, we were unable to hire saddle-stock. And on appealing to the only livery in town, we were informed that Bethel and Oxenford had the first claim on their conveyances. Accordingly, Deweese and I visited the offices of the stage company, where, to our surprise, we came face to face with Jack Oxenford. I do not think he knew us, though we both knew him at a glance. the wees made known as once but only asked for a conveyance as far as shepherds yankee like oxenford had to know who we were where we had been and where we were going our segundo gave him rather a short answer but finally admitted that we belonged at las palomas then the junior member of the mail contractors became arrogant

claiming that the only conveyance capable of carrying our party was being held for a sheriff with some witnesses on second thought he offered to send us to the ferry by two lighter vehicles in consideration of five dollars apiece insolently remarking that we could either pay it or walk i will not repeat duise's reply which i silently endorsed with the soil of the noesasas valley once more under our feet we felt independent on returning to the vicaros we found a stranger among them bernaby cruz by name who was a moi amigo of santiago ortees one of our mexicans he belonged at the mission and when he learned of our predicament, offered to lend us his horse, and has he expected to be in town for a few days. The offer was gratefully accepted, and, within a quarter of an hour, Manuel Flores, had started for shepherds with an order to the merchant to send in several horses for us. It was less than two hours' ride to the ferry, and with the early start we expected Manuel

to return before noon. making ourselves at home in a coffee-house, conducted by a Mexican, De Weiss ordered a few bottles of wine to celebrate properly our drive and to entertain crews in our vicaros. Before the horses arrived, those of us who had any money left, spent it in the canteena, not wishing to carry it home where it would be useless. The result was that on the return of Flores with mounts. we were all about three sheets in the wind, reckless and defiant.

After saddling up, I suggested to June, that we ride by the stage office and show Mr. Oxenford that we were independent of him. The stage stand and office were on the outskirts of the scattered village, and while we could have avoided it, our Segundo willingly led the way, and called for the junior member of the firm. A hostler came to the door and informed us that Mr. Oxenfirred was not in. Then I'll just leave my card, said Deweis dismounting. Taking a brown cigarette paper from his pocket, he wrote his name on it, then pulling a tack from a notice pasted beside the office door,

he drew a six-shooter, and with it deftly tacked the cigarette paper against the office-door jam. remounting his horse and perfectly conscious at oxenford was within hearing he remarked to the hostler when your boss returns please tell him that those fellows from las palomas will neither walk with him nor ride with him we thought he might fret as to how we were to get home and we just have ridden by to tell him that he need feel no uneasiness since i have never had the pleasure of an introduction to him i put my name on that cigarette paper. Good day, sir. Arriving at Shepherds, we rested several hours, and on the suggestion of the merchant changed horses before starting home.

At the ferry, we learned that there had been no serious loss of cattle so far, but that nearly all the stock from the Frio and San Miguel had drifted across to the new aces. We also learned that the attendance on San Jacinto Day had been extremely light, not a person from Las Palomas being present, while the tournament for that year had been abandoned. During our ride up the river before darkness fell, we passed a strange medley of brands, many of which Duis assured me were owned from fifty to a hundred

miles to the north and west. Riding leisurely, it was nearly midnight when we sighted the ranch and found it a stir. An extra breeze had been blowing, and the vicaros were starting to their work at the wells in order to be on hand the moment the wind slackened. Around the two wells at the headquarters

were over a thousand cattle, whose constant moaning reached our ears over a mile from the ranch. Our return was like entering a house of mourning. Miss Jean barely greeted DeWise and myself,

while Uncle Lance paced a gallery without making a single inquiry as to what had become of the horse-herd. On the mistress's orders, servants sent out a cold luncheon and disappeared, as if in the presence of death

without a word of greeting. Ever thoughtful, Miss Jean added several little delicacies to our plain meal, and seating herself at the table with us gave us a clear outline of the situation. In seventy-odd miles of the meandrings of the river across our range, there was not a pool to the mile with water enough for a hundred cattle. The wells were gradually

becoming weaker, yielding less water every week. While of four new ones which were commenced before our departure, two were dry and worthless. The vicarros were then skinning, on an average forty dead cattle a day, fully half of which were in the Las Palomas' brus. ran. Sympathetically, as a sister could, she accounted for her brother's lack of interest in our return by his anxiety and years, and she cautioned us to let no evil report reach his ears, as this drought had unnerved him. Deweiss at once resumed his position on the ranch, and the next morning the ranchero held a short counsel with him, authorizing him to spare no expense to save the cattle.

duice returned the borrowed horses by henrique and sent a letter to the merchant at the ferry directing him to secure and send at least twenty men to los palomas the first day after our return we rode the mills and the river convinced that the sink other wells on the mesa would be fruitless the foreman decided to dig a number of shallow ones in the bed of the river in hopes of catching seepage water water. Accordingly the next morning I was sent with a commissary wagon and seven men to the mouth of the gonso, with instructions to begin sinking wells about two miles apart. Taking with us such tools as we needed, we commenced our first well at the confluence of the gansel with the noases. And a second one above. From timber along the river, we cut the necessary temporary curbing, and put it in place as the wells were sunk. On the third day both wells became so wet as to impede our work, and on our foreman's

riding by he ordered them curbed to the bottom, and a tripod set up over them on which to rig a rope and pulley. The next morning troughs and rigging, with a remuda of horses and a watering crew of four strange vicaros arrived. The wells were only about twenty feet deep. But by drying water as fast as the seapage accumulated, each was capable of watering several hundred head of cattle daily. By this time the weiss had secured ample help

and started a second crew of well diggers opposite the ranch, who worked down the river while my crew followed some fifteen miles above. By the end of the month of May, we had some twenty temporary wells in operation, and these, in addition to the water the pools afforded, relieved the situation to some extent, though the ravages of death by thirst went on a pace among the weaker cattle. With the beginning of June, we were operating nearly thirty wells. In some cases two vicaros could hoist all the water that accumulated in three wells. We had a string of camps along the river, and at every windmill on the mesa men were stationed night and day. Among the cattle the death

rate was increasing all over the rage. Frequently we took over a hundred skins in a single day, while at every camp cords of falling flint hides were accumulating. The heat of summer was upon us. The wind arose daily, sandstorms and dust clouds swept across the country, until our once prosperous range looked like a desert, withered, and accursed. Young cows forsook their offspring, in the hour of their birth. Motherless calves wondered about the range, hollow-eyed, their piteous appeals unheeded, until some lurking wolf sucked their blood and spread a feast to the vultures, constantly wheeling in great flights overhead. Priclipar, an extremely arid plant, affording both food and drink to herds during the drought had turned white blistered by the torrid sun until it had fallen down lifeless the chaparral was destitute of foliage and on the divides and hiramases had died

the native women stripped their wakals of every sacred picture and hung them on the withered trees about their doors where they hourly prayed to their patron saints in the humblest homes on las palomas campbells burned both night and day to appease the frowning deity the white element on the ranch worked almost unseasonly stirring the mexicans to the greatest effort the middle of june passed without a drop of rain but on the morning of the twentieth after working all night as pascal arispe and i were drawing water from a well on the border of the ensignal i felt a breeze spring up that started the windmill casting my eyes upward i noticed that the wind had veered to a quarter directly opposite to that of the customary coast breeze not being able to read aright the portent of the change in the wind i had to learn from that native-born son of the soil thomas he cried riding up excitedly in three days it will rain listen to me pasquale arisbe says that in three days the arroyals on the hacienda of Don Lancelot will run like a mill race. See, Campaniero, the wind has changed. The breeze is from the northwest this morning.

Before three days it will rain, Madre de Dios. The wind from the northwest continued steadily for two days, relieving us from work. On the morning of the third day, the signs in the sky and air were playing for falling. weather. Cattle, tottering with weakness, came into the well, and after drinking, playfully kicked up their heels on leaving. Before noon, the storm struck us like a cloudburst. Pascal and I took refuge under the wagon to avoid the hailstones. In spite of the parched ground, drinking

to its contentment, water flooded under the wagon, driving us out, but we laughed at the violence of the deluge. And after making everything secure, saddle our horses, and set out for home, taking our relay mounts with us. It was fifteen miles to the ranch, and in the eye of the storm, but those loose horses faced the rain as if they enjoyed it, while those under saddle followed the free ones as a hound does ascent. Within two hours after leaving the well we rained in the gate, and I saw the

uncle Lance and a number of the boys promenading the gallery. But the old ranchero leisurely walked down the pathway to the gate, and amid the downpour shouted to us, Turned those horses loose. This ranch is going to take a month's holiday. End of Chapter 14. Chapter 15 of a Texas matchmaker by Andy Adams. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. in commemoration a heavy rainfall continued the greater portion of two days none of us ventured away from the house until the weather settled and meantime i played the fiddle almost continuously night work and coarse living in camps had prepared us to enjoy the comforts of a house as well as to do justice to the well-laden table miss jean prided herself on special occasions and when the rain

ranch had company on good dinners, but in commemoration of the breaking of this drought, with none of us boys to share it, she spread a continual feast. The Mexican contingent were not forgotten by the master or mistress, and the ranch supplies in the warehouse were drawn upon, delicacies as well as staples, not only for the wa-cals, about the headquarters, but also for the outlying ranchitas. The native element had worked faithfully during the two years in which no rain to speak of had fallen, until the breaking hour and were not forgotten in the hour of deliverance.

Even the stranger, the caros, were compelled to share the hospitality of Las Palomas like invited guests. While the rain continued falling, Uncle Lance paced the gallery almost night and day. Fearful, least the downpour might stop. He stood guard. noting every change in the rainfall, barely taking time to eat or catch an hour's sleep. But when the grateful rain had continued until the evening of the second day, assuring a bountiful supply of water all over our range, he joined us at supper, exultant as a youth of twenty. Boys, said he, this has been a grand rain.

If our tanks hold, we will be independent for the next eighteen months. If not another drop falls, the river ought to flow for a year. I have seen worse droughts since I lived here. But what hurt us now was the amount of cattle and the heavy drift which flooded down from us from up the river and north on the Frio. The loss is nothing. We won't notice it in another year. I have kept a close tally of the hides taken,

and our brand will be short about two thousand, or less than ten percent of our total. numbers. They were principally old cows and will not be missed. The calf drop this fall will be short, but taking it up one side and down the other, we got off lucky. The third day after the rain began, the sun rose bright and clear. Not a hoof of cattle or horses was in sight, and though it was midsummer, the freshness of the earth and air was like that of a spring morning. Everyone felt like riding. While awaiting the arrival of saddle horses, the extra help hired during the drought, was called in and settled with. Two brothers, Fidel and Carlos Trejillo, begged for permanent employment.

They were promising young fellows, born on the Arances River, and after consulting with Deweis, Uncle Lance took both into permanent service on the ranch. A room in an outbuilding was allotted to them, and they were instructed to get their meals in the camp. kitchen. The remudas had wondered far, but one was finally brought in by a vicaro, and by pairs we mounted and rode away. On starting, the tanks demanded our first attention, and finding all four of them safe, we threw out of gear all the windmills. Then Theodore Quail and I were partners during the day's ride to the south, and on coming in at evening fell in with Uncle Lance and our Segundo, who had been as far west as the gone so. Quail and I had discussed during the day the prospect of a hunt at the Vox Ranch,

and on meeting our employer artfully interested the old ranchero regarding the amount of cat-sign seen that day along the arroyal Sordo. It's hard luck, boy, said he, to find ourselves afoot, and the hunting so promising. But we haven't a horse on the ranch that could carry a man, and miles in a straightaway dash after the hounds. It will be a month yet before the grass has substance enough in it to strengthen our remudas. Oh, if it hadn't been for the condition of saddle-stock, Don Pierre would have come right through the rain yesterday.

But when Las Palomas can't follow the hounds, for lack of mounts, you can depend on it that other ranches can't either. It just makes me sick to think of this good hunting. But what can we do for a month but fold our hands and sit down? But a few boys are itching for an excuse to get over on the Frio. Why? I'll make you a good one. This drought has knocked all the sociability out of the country. But now the ordeal is passed, Theodore, is in honor bound to go over to the Vox Ranch.

I don't suppose you boys have seen the girls on the Frio in San Miguel in six months. Time? that's about all we have got right now. Time? We've got time to burn. Our feeler had borne fruit. An excuse or permission to go to the Frio was what Quail and I were after,

and though no doubt the old matchmaker was equally anxious to have us go. In expressing our thanks for the promised vacation, we included several provisos, in case there was nothing to do, or if we concluded to go, when Uncle Lance turned in his saddle and gave us a withering look. I've often wondered, he said,

if the blood in your fellows is really red, or if it's white like a fish's. Now when I was your age, I had to steal chances to go see my girl, but I never gave her any show to forget me, and worried her to affair ye well. And if my observations and years go for anything, that's just the way girls like to have a fellow act,

of course they'll bluff and let on they must be wooed and all that just like frances did at the tournament a year ago i contend that with a clear field the only way to make any progress in sparking her girl is to get one arm around her waist and with the other hand keep her from scratching you that's the very way they like to be courted theodore and i dropped behind after this lecture and before we reached the ranch had agreed to ride over to the frio the next morning during our absence that day there had arrived at las palomas from the mission a padrino in the person of don alexandro trevino juana leal only daughter of trebuccio had been sought in marriage by a nephew of don alexandro and the latter dignified as a castilian noble was then at the house negotiating for the girl's hand juana was nearly eighteen had been born at the ranch and after reaching years of usefulness had been adopted into miss jean's household to ask for her hand required audacity for the master and mistress of las palomas it was like asking for a daughter of the house miss jean was agitated and all in a flutter trebusio and his wife were struck dumb for juana was the baby and only unmarried one of their children and the taker from las palomas they could never consent to that but uncle lance had gone through such experiences before and met the emergency with promptness that's all right little sister said the old matchmaker to miss jean who had come out to the gate where we were unsaddling don't you borrow any trouble in this matter leave things to me i've handled trifles like this among these natives for nearly forty years now

and I don't see any occasion to try and make out a funeral right after the drought's been broken by a fine rain. Shucks, girl, this is time for rejoicing. You go back in the house and entertain Don Alejandro with your best smiles till I come in. I want to have a talk with Trebusio and his wife before I meet to Badrino. There are several families of those Trevinos over around the mission, and I want to locate which tribe this also comes from. Some of them are good people, and some of them need a rope around their necks. And in a case of keeps like getting married, it's always the safe to know what's what, and who's who.

Now, sis, go on back in the house and entertain the dawn. Come with me, Tom. I saw our plans for the morrow vanish in the thin air. On arriving at the wakow, we were admitted. But a gloom-like, the pall of death, seemed to envelop the old Mexican couple. When we had taken seats around the small table, Tia Enez handed the Ranchero the formal written request. As it was penned in Spanish, it was passed to me to read,

and after running through it hastily, I read it aloud, several times stopping, to interpret to Uncle Lance certain extravagant phrases. The salutary was in the usual form, the esteem with which each family had always entertained for the other was dwelt upon at length, and choice her language was never used, then, the Patrino penned in asking for the hand of Donna Juana. This dainty missive was signed by the godfather of the swain, Don Alejandro Trevino, whose rubic riotously ran back and forth entirely across the delicate, tinted sheet. On the conclusion of the reading, Uncle Lance brushed the letter aside,

as of no moment, and turning to the old couple demanded to know, to which branch of the Trevino family, young Don Blas, belongs. The account of Trebusio and his wife was definite and clear. The father of the Swain conducted a small country store at the mission, and besides, had landed in cattle interests. He was a younger brother of Don Alejandro, who was the owner of a large land grant, had cattle in abundance, and was a representative man among the Spanish element. No better credentials could have been asked, but when their patron railed them,

as to the cause of their gloom, Tia Inez burst into tears, admitting, the match was satisfactory, but her baby would be carried away from Las Palomas, and she might never see her again. Her two sons, who lived at the ranch, allowed no day to pass without coming to see their mother, and the one who lived at a distant ranchita came at every opportunity. But if her little girl was carried away to a distant ranch, ah, that made it impossible. Let Don Lance, worthy patron of his people, forbid the match, and win the gratitude of an anguished mother. Invoking the saints to guide her aright, Don Inez threw herself on the bed in hysterical

lamentation. Realizing it is useless to argue with a woman in tears, the old matchmaker suggested to Trubuccio that we delay the answer the customary fortnight. Promising to do nothing further without consulting them, we withdrew from the Waccal. On returning to the house, we found Miss Jane entertaining the dawn to the best of her ability, and commanding my presence, the old matchmaker, advanced to meet the Padreno. with whom he had a slight acquaintance bidding his guest welcome to the ranch he listened to the don's apology for being such a stranger to las palomas until a matter of a delicate nature had brought him hither don halliandro was a distinguished-looking man and spoke his native tongue in a manner which put my efforts as an interpreter to shame the conversation was allowed to drift at will from the damages of the recent drought to the the prospect of a market for beaves that fall, until supper was announced.

After the evening repast was over, we retired to the gallery, and Uncle Lance reopened the matchmaking by inquiring of Don Alejandro if his nephew proposed taking his bride to the mission. The Don was all attention, fortunately, anticipating that the question might arise, he had discussed that very feature with his nephew. At present the young man was assisting his father at the mission, and in no time, no doubt, would succeed to the business. However, realizing that her living 50 miles' distance might be an objection to the girl's parents, he was not for insisting on that point, as no doubt Las Palomas offered equally good advantages

for business. He simply mentioned this by way of suggestion, and invited the opinion of his host. Well, now, Don Halliandro, said the old matchmaker, in flute-like tones, we are very simple people here at Las Palomas. Breeding a few horses and mules for home purposes, and the rearing of cattle has been our occupation. As the merchandising here at the ranch, I could not countenance it, as I refused that privilege to the stage company when they offered the run past Las Palomas. At present our few wants are supplied by a... merchant and shepherd's ferry, true at sturdy miles, but I sometimes wish it was further, as it is quite a temptation to my boys to ride there on various pretexts.

We send down every week for our mail, and such little necessities, as the ranch may need. If there was a store here, it would attract loafers and destroy the peace and contentment which do we now enjoy. I would object to it, one man to his trade, and another to his merchandise. The Padreino, with good diplomacy, heartily agreed that a store was a disturbing feature on a ranch, and instantly went off on a tangent on the splendid business possibilities of the mission. The matchmaker in return agreed as heartily with him, and grew reminiscent. In the spring of fifty-one said he, I made the match between Trebusio and Donna Inez, father and mother of Joanna.

was a vicaro of mine at the time. Aenez being a mission girl, and I have taken a great interest in the couple ever since. All their children were born here and still live on the ranch. Understand, Don Alejandro, I have no personal feeling in the matter beyond the wishes of the parents of the girl. My sister has taken a great interest in Joanna,

having had the girl under her charge for the past eight years. Of course, I feel a pride in Joanna, and she is a fine girl. If your nephew wins her, I shall tell the lucky rascal when he comes to claim her that he has won the pride of Las Palomas. I take it, Don Halliandro,

that your visit and request was rather unexpected here, though I'm aware that Joanna has visited among cousins at the mission several times the past few years, but that she had lost her heart to some of your young gallants comes as a surprise to me, and from what you're in the surprise to me,

and from what I learned, to her parents also. Under the circumstances, if I were you, I would not urge an immediate reply, but give them the customary period to think it over. Our vicaros will not be very busy for some time to come, and it will not inconvenience us to send the reply by messenger to the mission. And tell Don Blas,

even should the reply be unfavorable, not to be discouraged. Women you know are peculiar. Ah, Don Halliandro, when you and I were young and went courting, would we have been discouraged by a first refusal? Signor Trevino appreciated the compliment, and, with a genial smile, slapped his host on the back, while the old matchmaker gave vent to a vociferous guffal. The conversation thereafter took several tacks, but always reverted to the proposed match. As the hour grew late, the host apologized to.

his guest, as no doubt he was tired by his long ride, and offered to show him to his room. The Padrino denied all weariness, maintaining, that the enjoyable evening had rested him, but reluctantly allowed himself to be shown to his apartment. No sooner were good-night spoken, then the old Ranchelle returned, and, snapping his fingers for attention, motioned me to follow. by a circuitous route we reached the wakal of trebuccio the old couple had not yet retired and joanna blushingly admitted us uncle lance jollied the old people like a robust healthy son amusing his elders we took seats as before around the small table and uncle lanc scattered the gloom of the wakal with his gaiety las palomas forever said he striking the table with his bony fist this pedrino from the mission is a very fine gentleman but a poor matchmaker just because young donblas is the son of a trevino the keeper of a picayune tienda at the mission was that any reason to presume for the hand of a daughter of las palomas

was he any better than a vicaro just because he doled out friolies by the court and never saw a piece of money larger than a media why a las palomas vicaro was a prince compared to a fawning attendant in a mission store let tia inez stop fretting herself about losing duana it would not be yet awhile just leave matters to him and he'd send don alexandro home pleased with his visit and hopeful over the match even if it never took place and none of those frowns from the young lady as we all arose in parting the old matchmaker went over to gawanna and shaking his finger at her said now look here my little girl your mistress your parents and myself are all interested in you and don't think we won't act to your best interests you've seen this young fellow ride by on a horse several times haven't you danced with him a few times under the eyes of a chaperone at the last fiesta haven't you and that's all you care to know are you ready to marry him well well it's fortunate that the marriage customs of the mexican protect such innocence as you now if young don blast had worked under me for a year as a vicaro i might be as ready to the match as you are for then i'd know whether he was worthy of you what does a girl of your age know about a man but when you have as many gray hairs in your head as your mother has you will thank me for cautioning every one to proceed slowly in this match now dry those tears and go to your mother the next morning don halliandro proposed returning to the mission

but the old ranchero hooted the idea and informed his guest that he had ordered the ambulance as he intended showing him the recent improvements made on las palomas when the guest protested against a longer absence from home the host art intimately that by remaining another day a favorable reply might possibly go with him. Don Alejandro finally consented. I was pressed in as driver and interpreter, and our team tore away from the ranch with a flourish. To put it mildly, I was disgusted at having my plans for the day knocked in the head, yet knew better than protest. As we drove along, myriads of grassblades were peeping up since the rain, giving every view a greenish cast. Nearly every windmill on the ranch on our circuit was pointed out, and we passed three of our four tanks, one of which was over a half mile in length.

After stopping at an outline Ranchita for refreshments, we spent the afternoon in a similar manner. From a swell of the prairie some ten miles to the westward of the ranch, we could distinctly see an outline of the Gonzo. halting the amulins, the old ranchero, pointed out to his guest the meandering of that creek from its confluence with apparent stream until it became lost in the hills to the southward. That tract of ground, said he, is my last landed addition to Las Palomas. It lies north and south, giving me six miles frontage on the noisces, and extending north of the river

just about four miles. Don Halliandro, when I note the great change which has come over this valley since I settled here, it convinces me that if one wishes to follow ranching, he'd better acquire title to what range he needs. Land has advanced in price from a few cents an acre to four bits, and now they say the next generation will see it worth a dollar. This Gonso grant contains 114 sections, and I have my eye on one or two other adjoining tracks. My generation will not need it, but the one who succeeds me may. Now, as we drive home, I'll try to show you the northern boundary of our range.

It's fairly well outlined by the divide between the noases and the Frio rivers. From the conversation which followed until we reached headquarters, I readily understood that the old matchmaker was showing the rows and concealing its thorn. His motive was not always clear to me, for one would have supposed, from his almost boastful claims, regarding its extent and carrying capacity for cattle,

he was showing the ranch to a prospective buyer. But as we neared home, the conversation innocently drifted to the Mexican element and their love for the land to which they were born. Then I understood why I was driving four mules instead of basking in the smiles of my own sweetheart on the San Miguel, nor did this boasting cease during the evening, but alternated from lands and cattle to the native people,

and finally centered about a Mexican girl, who had been so fortunate as to have been born to the soil of Las Palomas. When Don Alejandro asked for his horse the following morning on leaving, Uncle Lance, Quail and myself formed the guard of honor to escort our guest a distance on his way. He took leave of the mistress of Las Palomas in an obeisance worthy of an old-time cavalier. Once we were off, Uncle Lance pretended

to have had final interview with the parents in which they had insisted on the customary time in which to consider the proposal. The Padreno graciously accepted the situation, thanking his host for his interest in behalf of his nephew. on reaching the river where our way separated, all halted for a few minutes at parting. Well done, Alejandro, said the old ranchero. This is my limit of escort to guests of the ranch.

Now, the only hope I have in parting is, in case the reply should be unfavorable, that Don Blas will not be discouraged, and that we may see you again at Las Palomas. Tender my congratulations to your nephew and tell him, that a welcome always awaits him in case he finds time and inclination to visit us. I take some little interest in matches. These boys of mine are going north to the Frio on a court and errand today, but our marriage customs are inferior to yours, and our young people left to themselves don't seem to marry.

Don Halliandro, if you and I had the makings of the matches, there'd be a cradle rocking in every wakal. Both smiled, said their adios amigos, and he was gone. As our guests cantered away down the river road, Quail and I began looking for a ford. The river had been on a rampage, and while we were seeking out a crossing our employer, at time for a few comments. The don's tickled with his prospects. He thinks he's got half an inch of rope on Joanna right now.

But if I thought your prospects were no better than I know. his are, you wouldn't tire any horse flesh of mine by riding to the Frio and the San Miguel. But go right on and stay as long as you want to, for I am in no hurry to see your faces again. Tom, with the ice broken as it is, as soon as Esther can remove her disabilities, well, you won't have to run off the next time. And Theodore, remember what I told you the other day about sparking a girl. You're too timid and backward. for a young fellow. I don't care if you come home with one eye, scratched out, just so you

and Francis have come to an understanding and name the day." End of Chapter 15. Chapter 16 of a Texas matchmaker by Andy Adams. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Matchmaking. After our return to the Frio, my first duty was writing, relative to the proposed match, an unfavorable reply to Don Alejandro Trevino. On resuming work, we spent six weeks bailing hides, thus occupying our time until the beginning of the branding season. A general round-up on the Nuasas Valley, commencing on the coast at Corpus Christie Bay, had been agreed upon among the cowmen of the country. In pursuance of the play, four well-mounted men were sent out from our ranch with Wilson's wagon to the coast.

Our Segundo, following a week later, with the wagon, remuda, and twelve men, to meet the rodeo at San Patricio as they worked up the river. Our cattle had drifted in every direction during the drought, and though many of them had returned since the range had again become good, they were still widely scattered. So Uncle Lance took the rest of us and started for the Frio, working down that river and along to new aces, until we met the round-up coming up from below. During this cowhunt I carried my fiddle with me in the wagon, and at nearly every ranch we passed, we stopped and had a dance.

Not over once a week did we send in cattle to the ranch to Bran. And on meeting the rodeo from below, de Weiss had over 3,000 of our cattle. After taking these in and branding the calves, we worked over our home range until near the holidays. On our return to the ranch, we learned that young Blast Trevino from the mission had passed Las Palomas some days before. He had stopped in passing, but finding the ranchero absent,

pled a matter of business at Santa Maria, promising the call in his return. He was then at the ranch on the Taron Callas, and hourly expecting his reappearance the women of the household were in an agitated state of mind. Since the formal answer had been sent, no word had come from Don Blas, and a rival had meanwhile sprung up

in the person of Fidel Trejillo. Within a month after his employment, I noticed the new Vicaro casting shy glances at Chawanna. But until the cow hunt on the frio, I did not recognize the fine handwriting of the old matchmaker. Though my services were never called for as an interpreter between Uncle Lance and the new man, anyone could see there was an understanding between them.

That the old rancheros pushing Fidel forward was evident during the fall cow hunting by his sending that Mexican into Las Palomas with every bunch of can. cattle gathered. That evening Don Blas rode into the ranch, accompanied by Father Norquin. The priest belonged at the mission, and their meeting at Santa Maria might, of course, have been accidental. None of the Padres' parishioners at headquarters were expecting him, however, for several months, and Padres are able, pedrinos, sometimes, among their own faith, even despotic. take an account as it appeared of the ulterior motive uncle lance welcomed the arrivals with a hearty hospitality

which to a stranger seemed so genuine has to dispel any suspicion not in many a day had a visitor at las palomas received more courteous consideration than did father norquin the choices meant which grew in the enclosures about the wells was none too good for the juleps which were concocted by miss jean had the master and mistress of the ranch been communicants of his church the rosy-cheek padre could have received no more marked attention the conversation touched lightly on various topics until santa maria ranch was mentioned when uncle lance asked the padre if don matte had yet built him a chapel the priest shrugged his shoulders deprecatingly and answered the question with another when las palomas proposed building a place of worship well father i'm glad you brought the matter up again replied the host that i should have lived here over forty years and never done anything for your church or my people who belong to your faith is certainly saying little in my behalf i never had the matter brought home to me so clearly as during last summer's drought Do you remember that old maxim regarding when the devil was sick? Well, I was good and sick. And if you had happened in then, and had asked for a chapel, not that I have any confidence

in your teaching, you could have got a church with a staple on it. I was in such sore straits that the women were kept busy making candles, and we burnt them in every what cow until the hour of deliverance. Helping himself from the proffered snuff-box of the Padre, the host turned to his guest, and in all sincerity continued. Yes, father, who ought to build you a nice place of worship. We could quarry the rock during idle time, and burn her own lime right here on the ranch. While you are here, give me some plans, and we'll show you that the white element of Las Palomas

are not such hopeless heretics as you suppose. Now if we build the chapel, I'm just going to ask one favor in return. I expect to die and be buried on this ranch. You are a younger man by twenty years and will outlive me, and on the day of my burial I want you to lay aside your creed and preach my funeral in this little chapel which you and I are going to build. I have been a witness to the self-sacrifice of you and other people. priests ever since I lived here. Father, I like an honest man, and the earnestness of your

cloth for the betterment of my people no one can question. And my covenant is, that you are to preach a simple sermon, merely commemorating the fact that here lived a man named Lovelace, who died and would be seen among his fellow men no more. These being facts you can mention them, but beyond that, her fear our faiths might differ, the less said the better. Won't you have another mint julep before supper? No. You will, won't you, Don Blas? That the old ranchero was in earnest about building a chapel on Las Palomas, there was no doubt. In fact, the credit should be given to Miss Jean, for she had been urging the matter ever since my coming to the ranch. At headquarters and outlying ranchitas of the land,

there were nearly twenty families or over a hundred persons of all ages but that the old matchmaker was going to make the most out of his opportunity by erecting the building at an opportune time there was not the shadow of a question the evening passed without mention of the real errand of our guests the conversation was allowed to wander at will during which several times it drifted into gentle repartee between host and padre both artfully avoiding the guests the conversation was allowed to wander at will during which several times it drifted into gentle repartee between host and padre both artfully avoiding the rock of matchmaking. But the next morning, as if anxious to begin the day's work early, Father Norquin, on a rising, inquired for his host, strutted out to the corrals, and on meeting him promptly inquired why, during the previous summer,

Don Alejandro Trevino's mission to obtain the hand of Juana Leal had failed. That's so, assented Uncle Lance very affably, Don Alejandro was here as godfather to his next. nephew. And this young man, with you is Don Blas, the bear. Well, why did we waste so much time last night talking about chapels and death when we might have made a match in less time? You priests have everything in your favor as padrinos, but are so slow that a rival might

appear and win the girl while you were drumming up your courage. I don't write Spanish myself, but I have boys here on the ranch who do. of them, if I remember rightly, wrote the answer at the request of Joanna's mother. If my memory hasn't failed me entirely, the parents objected to being separated from their only daughter. You know how that is among your people, and I never like to interfere in family matters. But from what I hear, Don Blas has a rival now. Yes, young Trevino failed to press his suit, and a girl will stand for nearly anything but

neglect. But that's one thing they won't stand for, not when there's a handsome fellow at hand to play the bear. Then the old lover is easily forgotten for the new, huh, father? Ah, Don Lance, I know your reputation has a matchmaker, replied Father Norquin, in a rich French accent. Report says that had you not had a hand in it, the match would have been successful. The supposition is that it only lacked your approval. The daughter of A Vakero refusing a Trevino, tut-tut, man. A hearty guffal greeted these aspersions. And so you've heard I was a matchmaker, have you? Of course you believe it, just like any other old granny. Now, of course, when I'm asked by any of my people to act as Padrino, I never refuse

any more than you do. I've made many a match and hope to be spared to make several more. But come, they're calling us to breakfast. And after they're they're. that will take a walk over to the ranch-berian ground. It's less than a half a mile in that point of Ansanal, yonder. I want to show you what I think would be a nice spot for our chapel. The conversation during breakfast was artfully directed by the host to avoid the dangerous shoals, though the Padre constantly kept an eye on Joanna as she passed back and forth. As we arose from the table and were passing to the gallery, Uncle Lance nudged the priest and poking Don Blass in the ribs said,

"'Is it Joanna a stunning fine cook? Got up that breakfast herself. There isn't an 18-year-old girl in Texas who could make as fine biscuits as she does.' But Las Palomas raises just as fine girls as she does horses and cattle. The rascal who gets her for a wife can thank his lucky stars. Don Blas, you ought to have had me for Padrino. Your uncle and the Padre here are too pokey. Why, if I was making a match for as fine a girl as Juana is, I'd set the river of fire before I'd let an unfavorable answer discourage me. Now the Padre and I are going for a short walk, and we'll leave you here at the house to work out your own salvation. Don't pay any attention to the mistress, as I want to tell you right now,

If you expect the wind-jawanna, never depend on old fogy padrinos like your uncle and father Norquin. Do a little hustling for yourself. The old Ranchero and the priest were gone nearly an hour, and on their return looked at another sight in the rear of the Mexican quarters. It was a pretty knoll, and as the two joined us, where we were repairing a windmill at the corrals, Father Norquin, in an ecstasy of delight, said, well, my children, the chapel is assured at Las Palomas. Don Lance wanted to build it over in the Encinol, with twice as nice as sight right here in the rancho. We may need the building for a school some day, and if we should, we don't want it a mile away, the very idea. And the master tells me

that a chapel has been the wish of his sister for years, poor woman, to have such a brother. I must hasten to the house and thank her. No sooner had the Padre started, then I was called aside by my employer. Tom said he, You slip around the Tia Inezas' Waccal, and tell her that I am going to send Father Norquin over to see her. Tell her to stand firm on not letty Joanna leave the ranch for the mission. Tell her that I have promised a Padre a chapel for Las Palomas,

and rather than miss it, the priest would consign the whole Trevino family to endless perdition. Tell her to laugh at his scoldings and inform him that Chihuanna can get a husband without going so far, and that you heard me say that I was going to give Fidel the day he marries her daughter, the same number of heifers, that all her brothers got, impressed on Tia Inez's mind, that it means something to be born to Las Palomas. I set out on my errand, and he hastened the way to overtake the Padre, before the latter reached the house.

Tia Inez welcomed me, no doubt anticipating, that I was the bearer of some message. When I gave her the message, her eyes beamed with gratitude, and she devoutly crossed her breast, invoking the blessing of the saints upon the master. I added a few words of encouragement of my own, that I understood that when we quarried the rock for the chapel, there was to be enough extra cut to build a stone cottage for Joanna and Fidonald.

this was pure invention on my part but i felt a very friendly interest in las palomas for i expected to bring my bride to it as soon as possible therefore if i could help the present match forward by the use of a little fiction why not father norquins time was limited at las palomas as he was under appointment to return to santa maria that evening therefore it became an active morning about the ranch long before we had finished the report for the return to santa maria that evening therefore it became an active morning about the ranch long before we had finished the repairs on the wood mill, a mozo from the house, came out to the corrals to say that I was wanted by the master. Returning with the servant, I found Uncle Lance and the mistress of the ranch entertaining their company before a cheerful fire in the sitting-room. On my entrance, my employer said, Tom, I've sent for you, because I want you to go over with the Padre to the Waccal of

Joanna's parents. Father Norquin here is such an old granny that he believes I interfered, or the reply of last summer would have been favorable. Now, Tom, you're not to open your mouth one way or the other. The Padre will state, his errand, and the old couple will answer him in your presence. Don Blast will remain here, and whatever the answer is, he and I must abide by it. Really, as I have said, I have no interest in the match, except the wealth. affair of the girl. Go on now, father, and let's see what you can do as a pedrino. As we arose to go, Miss Jane interposed and suggested that, out of deference to Father

Norquin, the old couple be sent for, but her brother objected. He wanted the parents to make their own answer beneath their own roof, unembarrassed by any influence. As we left the room, the old matchmaker accompanied us as far as the gate where he hauled to the gate where he halted and said to the Padre, Father Norquin, in a case like the present, you will not mind my saying that your wish is not absolute, and I am sending a witness with you to see that you issue no preemptory orders on this ranch,

and remember that this old couple have been over thirty years in my employ, and temper your words to them as you would to your own parents, where they living. Joanna was born here, which means a great deal, and with the approval of her parents she'll marry the man of her choice, and no pedrino, let him be priest or layman, can crack his whip on the soil of Las Palomas to the contrary. As my guest, you must excuse me for talking so plain,

but my people are as dear to me as your church is to you. As my employer turned and leisurely walked back to the house, Father Norquin stood stock still. I was slightly embarrassed myself, but it was easy to see that the Padre's plans had received a severe shock. I made several starts toward the Mexican quarters before the priest shook away his hesitations and joined me. That the old Ranchero's words had agitated him was very evident in his voice and manner. Several times he stopped me and demanded explanations.

Finally, raising the question of arrival, I told him all I knew about the matter, that Fidel and Ova Carroll on the ranch had found favor in Joanna's eyes, that he was a favorite man with master and mistress. But what view the girl's parents took of the matter I was unable to say. This cleared up the situation wonderfully, and the Padre brightened as we neared the Wachau. Tribusio was absent, and while awaiting his return, the priest became amiable and delivered a number of messages from friends and relatives at the mission. Tia Inez was somewhat embarrassed at first, but gradually grew composed, and before the return of her husband, all three of us,

were chatting like cronies. On the appearance of Tio Trebusio, coffee was ordered, and the Padre told several good stories over which we all laughed heartily. Cigarettes were next, and in due time, Father Norquins, very good-naturedly, inquired why an unfavorable answer regarding the marriage of their daughter with young Blastrovino had been returned the previous summer. The old couple looked at each other a moment. When the husband turned in his chair, and with a shrug of his shoulders and a jerk of his head, referred the priest to his wife.

Tia Inez met the Padre's gaze, and in a clear, concise manner, and her native tongue, gave her reasons. Father Norquin explained the prominence of the Trevino family and their disappointment over the refusal, and asked, the decision was final, to which he received an affirmative reply. Instead of showing any displeasure, he rose to take his departure,

turning in the doorway to say to the old couple, My children, peace and happiness in this life is a priceless blessing. I should be untrue to my trust did I counsel a marriage that would give a parent a moment of unhappiness. My blessings upon this house and its dwellers, and upon its sons and daughters as they go forth to homes of their own. While he lifted his hand in benediction, the old couple and myself bowed our heads for a moment, after which the Padre and I passed outside. I was as solemn as an owl, and yet inwardly delighted. at the turn of affairs, but Father Norquin had nothing to conceal. While delight was wreathed all over his rosy countenance,

again and again he stopped me to make inquiries about Fidel the new Vicaro. That lucky rascal was a good-looking native, a much larger youth than the aspiring Don Blass, and I pictured him to the Padre as an Adonis, to the question as if he were in the ranch at present, Fortune favored me, as Fidel, and nearly all the regular Vicaros were cutting timber in the ensignol that day, with which to build new corrals at one of the outlying tanks. As he would not return before dark, I knew the Padre was due at Santa Maria that evening. My description of him made Don Blas a mere pygmy in comparison.

But we finally reached the house, and on our re-entering the sitting-room, young Trevino, very courteously arose, and stood until Father Norquist should be seated. But the latter faced his parishioner, saying, You young simpleton, why did you drag me up here on a fool's errand? I was led to believe that our generous host was the instigator of the unfavorable answer to your uncle's negotiations last summer. Now I have the same answer repeated from the lips of the girl's parents. Consider the predicament in which you have placed a servant of the church.

every law of hospitality has been outraged through your invasility and to complete my humiliation i have received only kindness on every hand the chapel which i have desired for years is now a certainty thanks to the master and mistress of las palomas what apology can i offer for your hold on there father interrupted uncle lance if you owe this ranch an apology save your breath for a more important occasion don blas is all right any suitor who would not be jealous of a girl like joanna is not welcome at las palomas why when i was his age i was suspicious of my sweetheart's own father and you should make allowance for this young man's years and impetuosity sit down father and let's have a talk about this chapel that's what interests me most right now you see within a few days my boys will have all the palisades cut for the new corrals and then we can turn her attention to getting out the rock for the chapel we have a quarry of nice soft stone all opened up and i'll put a dozen vicaros to blocking out the rock in a few days We always have a big stock of sac of wasted grass on hand for thatching locales, and plenty of limestone to burn for the lime, sand in abundance, and all we lack is the masons. You'll have to send them out from the mission, but I'll pay them.

Oh, I reckon the good Lord loves Las Palomas, for you see, he's placed everything convenient with which to build the chapel. Father Norquan could not remain seated, but paced the room, enumerating the many little adornments which the Mother Church would be glad to supply. Enthusiastic as a child over a promised toy, no other thought entered the simple Padre's mind until dinner was announced. All during the meal, the object of our guest's mission was entirely lost sight of in contemplation of the coming chapel. The Padre seemed as anxious to avoid the subject of matchmaking as his host. A poor Don Blast sat like a willing sacrifice, unable to say a word.

I sympathized with him, for I knew what it was to meet disappointment. At the conclusion of the midday repast, Father Norquin flew into a great bustle in preparing to start for Santa Maria, and I was dispatched for the horses. Our guest and my employer were waiting at the style when I let up their mounts, and at the final parting the old matchmaker said to the priest, Now remember, I expect you to have the chapel completed by Easter Sunday, when I want you to come out and spend at least two weeks with us and see that it is finished to suit you, and arrange for the dedication. Las Palomas will build the chapel, but when our work is done, yours commences. and i want to tell you right now that there's liable to be several weddings in it before the mortar gets good and dry i have an unpretty good authority that one of my boys and pierre vox's eldest girl are about ready to have you pronounce them men and wife no he's not of any faith but she's a good catholic now look here father norquin if i have to proselyte you to my way of thinking it'll never hurt you any i was never afraid to do what was right

and when at los palomas you'd needn't be afraid either even if we have to start a new creed well good-bye to both of you we had a windmill to repair that afternoon some five miles from the ranch so i did not return to the house until evening but when all gathered around the supper-table that night uncle lance was throwing bouquets at himself for the crafty manner in which he had switched the padre from his mission and yet sent him away delighted he admitted that he was scared on the appearance of father norquin as a pedrino on account of the fact that a priest was usually supreme among his own people that he had early come to the conclusion if there was to be any coercion used in this case he was determined to get in his bluff first but miss jean ridiculed the idea that there was any serious danger goodness me lanc said she i could have told you there was no cause for alarm in this case between fredale and joanna i've been a very liberal chaperone oh well now never mind about the particulars once to try his nerve i gave him a chance and i happened to know the rascal kissed her the moment my back was turned oh i think gawanna will stay at los palomas end of chapter sixteen chapter seventeen of a tex matchmaker by andy adams this librivox recording is in the public domain winter at los palomas the winter succeeding the drought was an unusually mild one frost and sleet being unseen at los palomas after the holidays several warm rains fell affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring

the preceding winter had been gloomy but this proved to be the most social one since my advent for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during christmas week has two little neighborhood happenings we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to shepherds after the mail when the native help of the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel uncle lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to wilson's ranch for a hunt gallop went of course but just why he took scales along unless with the design of making a mesh between one of the younger daughters of this neighboring ranchman and the Marylander was not entirely clear. When he wanted to, Scales could make himself very agreeable, and had it not been for his profligate disposition, his being taken along on the hunt would have been no mystery. Everyone on the ranch, including the master and mistress, were cognizant of the fact that, for the past year, he had maintained a correspondence with a girl in Florida.

the one whose letter and photograph had been found in the box of oranges he hardly deserved the confidence of that roguish girl for he showed her letters to any one who cared to read them i had read every line of the whole correspondence and it was plain that scales had deceived the girl into believing that he was a prominent ranchman when in reality the best that could be said of him was that he was a lovable vagabond From the last letter, it was clear that he had promised to marry the girl during the Christmas week just past, but had asked for a postponement on the ground that the drought had prevented him from selling his beaves. When Uncle Lance made the discovery, during a cowhunt the fall before, of the correspondence between scales and the Florida girl, he said to us around the campfire that night, well, all I've got to say is that girl down in Florida is hard up, why it's entirely contrary to a girl's nature to want to be wooed by letter.

Until the leopard changes his spots, the good old way of putting your arm around the girl and whispering that you love her will continue to be popular. If I was to hazard an opinion about that girl, Aaron, I'd say that she was ambitious to rise above her surroundings. The chances are that she wants to get away from home, and possibly she's as much displeased with the young men in the orange country as I sometimes get with you dot-rotted cow hands. Now, I'm not one of those people who's always harping about the youth of his day, and generations being so much better than the present.

That's all humbug. But what does get me is that you youngsters'ers'am. don't profit more by the experience of an old man like me who's been married three times. Line upon line and precept upon precept, I have preached this thing to my boys for the last ten years, and what has it amounted to? Not a single white bride has ever been brought to Las Palomas. They can call me a matchmaker if they want to, but the evidence is to the contrary. This was on the night after we passed shepherds, where Scales had received a letter from the Florida girl.

But why, he should accompany the hunt now to Rim Minera, unless the old Ranchero proposed reforming him, was too deep a problem for me. On leaving for Wilson's, there was the usual bustle, hounds responding to the horn and horses under saddle champing their bits. I had hoped that permission to go over to the Frile in San Miguel would be given John and myself, but my employer's mind was to absorb in something else, and we were overlooked in the hurry to get away. Since the quarrying of the rock had commenced, my work had been overseeing the native help, of which we had some fifteen cutting and hauling.

In numerous places within a mile of the headquarters, a soft porous rock cropped out, by using a crowbar with a tempered chisel point the mexicans easily channeled the rock into blocks eighteen by thirty inches splitting each stone of foot in thickness so that when hauled to the place of use each piece was ready to lay up in the wall the ridge house at headquarters was built out of this rock and where permanency was required it was the best material available whitening and apparently becoming firmer with time and exposure i had not seen my sweetheart in nearly a month but there i was chained to a rock quarry and mule teams the very idea of gallop and though prolificate scales riding the hounds and basking in the society of charming girls nettled me The remainder of the ranch, outfit was under Deweiss, building the new corrals, so that I never heard my own tongue spoken except at meals and about the house. My orders included the cutting of a few hundred rock extra above the needs of the chapel, and when this got noised among the help, I had to explain that there was some talk of building the stone cottage and intimated that it was for Joanna and Fidel. But that lucky rascal was one of the crew cutting rock, and from some source or other he had learned that I was liable to need a cottage at Las Palomas in the near future. The fact that I was acting Segundo over the quarrying outfit was taken advantage of by Fidel to clear his skirts and charge the extra rock to my matrimonial expectations.

He was a fast workman, and on every stone he split from the mother ledge he sang out, Ootropedra for Don Thomas, and within a few minutes' time someone else would cry out, Otroucillar poor Fidel Iwana, or Atropedra, poor Padre Norquin. A week passed, and there was no return of the hunters. We had so systemized our work at the quarry that my presence was so. hardly needed. So every evening I urged Cotton to sound the mistress for permission to visit our sweethearts. John was a good-natured fellow who could be easily led or pushed forward, and I had come to look upon Miss Jean as a ready supporter of any of her brother's projects. For that reason her

permission was as good as the masters, but she parried all Cotton's hints, pleading the neglect of our work in the absence of her brother. I was disgusted with the monotony of quarry work, and likewise was John overbuilding corrals, as no cowhand ever enthuses over manual labor, when an incident occurred, which afforded the opportunity desired. The mistress needed some small articles from the store at Shepherds, and a Mexican boy had been sent down on this errand, and also to get the mail of the past two weeks. On the boy's return, he brought a message from the merchant, saying that Henry Aeneer had been accidentally killed by a horse that day, and that the burial would take place at ten o'clock the next morning. The news threw the mistress

of Las Palomas into a flutter. Her brother was absent, and she felt a delicacy in consulting to Weiss, and very naturally turned to me for advice. funerals in the noeces valley were so very rare that i advised going even if the unfortunate man had stood not too high in our estimation a near lived on the divide between shepherds and the frio at a ranch called las norris as this ranch was not over ten miles from the mouth of the san miguel the astute mind can readily see the gleam of my acts in attending funerals were such events that i knew to a certainty that all the countryside within reach would attend and the vaux ranch was not over fifteen miles distance from los acting on my advice the mistress ordered the ambulance to be ready to start by three o'clock the next morning and gave every one on the ranch who cared permission to go along all of us took advantage of the offer except de wies who when out of hearing of the mistress excused himself rather profanely the boy had returned late in the day but we lost no time in acting on miss jean's orders fortunately the ambulance teams were in hand hauling rock but we rushed out several vicaros to bring in the remuda which contained our best saddle horses it was after dark when they returned with the mounts wanted and warning trebuccio that we would call him

at an early hour everyone retired for a few hours rest i would resent the charge that i am selfish or unsympathetic yet before falling asleep that night the deplorable accident was entirely overlooked in the anticipated pleasure of seeing esther as it was fully a thirty-five mile drive we started at daybreak and to encourage the mules quail and hapersat rode in the lead until sunup when they'd dropped to the rear with cotton and myself. We did not go by way of shepherds, but crossed the river several miles above the ferry, following an old cotton road made during the war, from the interior of the state to Matamoros, Mexico. It was sometimes before the hour named for the burial

when we sighted Las Norris on the divide, and spurred up the ambulance team to reach the ranch in time for the funeral. the services were conducted by a strange minister who happened to be visiting in oakville but what impressed me in particular was the solicitude of miss jean for the widow she had been frequently entertained at los palomas by its mistress as the sweetheart of june de wese though since her marriage to unir a decided coolness had existed between the two women but in the present hour of trouble the past was forgotten and they mingled their tears like sisters. On our return, which was to be by way of the Voxes, I joined those from the Maclead Ranch,

while Hapersat and Cotton accompanied the amulence to the Vox home. Nearly everyone going our way was on horseback, and when the cavalcade was some distance from L'Ossdoria, my sweetheart dropped to the rear for a confidential chat and told me that a lawyer from Corpus Christi, an old friend of the family had come up for the purpose of taking the preliminary steps for securing her freedom, and that she expected to be relieved of the odious ties which bound her to Oxenford at the May term of the court. This was pleasant news to me, for there would be no reason for delaying our marriage.

Hapersat rode down to the San Miguel the next morning to inform Quayle and myself that the mistress was then on the way to spend the night with the widow Aeneer, and that the rest of us were to report at home the following evening. She had apparently inspected the lines on the frio, and finding everything favorable, turned to other fields. I was disappointed, for Esther and I had planned to go up to the Vox Ranch during the visit. Dan suggested that we ride home together by way of the Voxes, but Quayle bitterly refused even to go near the ranch. he felt very sore and revengeful over being jilted by frances after she had let him crown her queen of the ball at the tournament dance so agreeing to meet on the divide the next day for the ride back to los palomas we parted the next afternoon on reaching the divide between the frio and the home river theodore and i scanned the horizon in vain for any horsemen we dismounted and after waiting nearly an hour descried two specks to the northward which we knew must be our men

on coming up they also threw themselves on the ground and we indulged in a cigarette while we compared notes i had nothing to conceal and frankly confessed that Esther and I expected to marry during the latter part of May. Cotton, though, seemed recitent, and though Theodore cross-questioned him rather severely, was non-committal and dumb as an oyster. But before we recrossed into waces that evening, John and I, haven't fallen far to the rear of the other two, he admitted to me that his wedding would occur within a month after Lent. It was to be a confidence between us, but I advised him to take Uncle Lance into the secret at once. But on reaching the ranch, we learned that the hunting party had not returned, nor had the

mistress. The next morning we resumed our work. Quail and Cotton at Corral Building, and I at Rock Quarry. The work had progressed during my absence, and the number of pieces desired was nearing completion. And with the number of pieces desired was nearing completion. And with the work, but at one team hauling the workshop was already congested with cut building stone. By noon the quarry was so cluttered with blocks that I ordered half the help to take axes and go up to the ensignall to cut dry oak wood for burning the lime. With the remainder of my outfit, we cleaned out and sealed off the walls of an old lime kiln, which had served ever since the first rock building rose on Las Palomas. the oven was cut in the same porous formation the interior resembling an immense jug possibly twelve feet in diameter and fifteen feet in height to the surface of the ledge

by locating the kiln near the abrupt wall of an abandoned quarry ventilation was given from below by a connecting tunnel some twenty feet in length layers of wooden limestone were placed within until the interior was filled when it was filled when it was given to the tunnel some twenty feet in length layers of wooden limestone were placed within until the interior was filled when it was filled when it was was fired and after burning for a few hours the draught was cut off below and above and the heat retained until the limestone was properly burned near the middle of the afternoon the drivers hauling the blocks drove near the kiln and shouted that the hunters had returned scaling off the burnt rock in the interior and removing the debris made it late before our job was finished then one of the vicaros working on the outside, told us that the amulins had crossed the river over an hour before, and was then in the ranch. This was good news, and mounting our horses, we galloped into the headquarters, and found the corral outfit already there. Miss Jean soon had our Segundo an unwilling prisoner in a corner,

and from his impatient manner and her low tones it was plain to be seen that her two days' visit with Mrs. Anir had resulted in some word for de Weiss. Not wishing to intrude, I avoided them in search of my employer, finding him in Gallup at an outhouse, holding a hound while scales, was taking a few stitches in an ugly cut which the dog had received from a havelina. Paying no attention to the two boys, I gave him the news and bluntly informed him that Esther and I expected to marry in May. "'Bully for you, Tom,' said he.

"'Hold this four-foot, and look out he don't bite you. So she'll get her divorce at the May term, and then all outdoors can't stand in your way the next time. Now that means you'll have to get out fully two hundred more of those building rock, for your cottage will need three rooms. Take another stitch, not your thread well, and be quick about it. i tell you the hobelina were pretty fierce this is the fifth dog we've doctored since we returned on freeing the poor hound we both looked the pack over carefully and as no others needed attention erin and glen were excused no sooner were they out of hearing than i suggested that the order be made for five hundred stone as no doubt john cotton would also need a cottage shortly after lent

the old matchmaker beamed with smiles is that right tom he inquired of course you boys tell each other what you would hardly tell me and so they have made the riffle at last why of course they shall have a cottage and it will be so near that i can hear the baby when it cries bully for tow-headed john oh i reckon las palomas is coming to the front this year three new cottages and three new brides is not to be sneezed at does your mistress know all this good news i informed him that i had not seen miss jean to speak to since the funeral and that cotton wished his intentions kept a secret of course he said that's just like a sap-headed youth as if getting married was anything to be ashamed of why when i was the age of you boys i'd have felt proud over the fact once it kept the secret does he well i'll tell everybody i meet and i'll send word to the ferry and to every ranch within a hundred miles that our john cotton and frank vaux are going to get married in the spring there's nothing disgraceful in matrimony and i'll publish this so wide that neither them will dare back out i've had my eye on that girl for years and now when there's a prospect of her becoming the wife of one of my boys he wants it kept the secret well i don't think it'll keep after that i felt more comfortable over my confession before what we were called the supper every one in the house including the mexicans about headquarters knew that cotton and i were soon to be married

and all during the evening the same subject was revived at every lull in the conversation though dewees kept constantly intruding the corral building and making inquiries after the hunt what difference does it make if we hunted or not replied uncle lance to his foreman with some little feeling suppose we did hunt every third or fourth day those wilson folk have a way of entertaining friends which makes riding after hounds seem commonplace why the girls had glen and erin on the ground until old man nate and myself could hardly get them out on a hunt at all and when they did provided the girls were to the girls were to the ground until old man nait and myself could hardly get them out on a hunt at all and when they did provided the girls were along they managed to get separated and along about dusk they'd come slouching in by pairs looking as innocent as turtle doves not that those wilson girls can't ride for i never saw a better horsewoman than susy the one who took such a shine to scales i noticed miss jean cast a reproving glance at her brother on his connecting the name of susy wilson with that of his vagabond employee the mistress was a puritan in morals that scales fell far below her ideal there was no doubt and that the brother knew too well not to differ with her on this subject when all the boys had retired except cotton and me the brother and sister became frank with each other well now you must not blame me if miss susy was attentive to aaron said the old matchmaker in conciliation pacing the room he was from las palomas and their guest and i see no harm in the girls being courteous and polite susy was just as nice as pie to me

and i hope you don't think i don't entertain the highest regard for nate wilson's family suppose one of the girls did smile a little too much on aaron was that my fault now mind you i never said a word one way or the other but i'll bet every cow on las palomas that aran's scales vagabondon on that he is, can get Susie Wilson for the asking. I know your standard of morals, but you must make allowance for others who look upon things differently from you and me. You remember Catherine Vetter, who married Carrie Troop at the close of the war? There's a similar case for you. Catherine married Troop just because he was so wicked, and at least that was the reason she gave, and she and you were old run-togethers.

and you remember too that getting married was a turning-point in carry troop's life who knows but aaron might sober down if he was to marry just because a man has sown a few wild oats in his youth does that condemn him for all time you want to be more liberal give me the man who has stood the fire test of life in preference to the one who's never been tempted now lance you know that you had a motive in taking errand down to the wilson's said the sister reprovingly don't get the idea that i can't read you like an open book your argument is as good as an admission of your object in going to Ramanera. Ever since Scales got that flirtation with Susie Vox last summer, it was easy to see that Aaron was a favorite with you. Why don't you take Hapersat around and introduce him to some nice girls? Honest, Lance, I wouldn't give, poor old Dan,

for the big beef corral full of rascals like Scales. Look at how he trifled with that silly girl in Florida. Instead of continuing the argument, the Wiley Ranchero changed the subject. The trouble with Dan is he's too old. When a fellow begins to get a little gray around the edges, he gets so foxy that you couldn't bait him into a matrimonial trap with sweet grapes. But, sis, what's the matter with your keeping an eye open for a girl for Dan if he's such a favorite with you?

If I had hefty interest in him that you profess, I certainly wouldn't ask anyone to help. It wouldn't surprise me if the boys take the Marion freely after John and Tom bring their brides to Las Palomas. Now that Mrs. Anir is a widow, there's the same old chance for June. If Glenn doesn't make the riffle with Miss June, he ought to be shot on general principles. And I don't know, little sister, if you and I have to be shot on general principles. if you and i were both to oppose it that we could prevent that rascal of an errand from marrying into the wilson family you have no idea what a case susy and scales scared up during our ten days hunt that only leaves dan and theodore but what's the use of counting the chicken so soon you go to bed for i'm going to send to the mission to-morrow after the masons there's no use in mind turning in for i won't sleep away wink tonight, thinking all this over.

End of Chapter 17. Chapter 18 of a Texas matchmaker by Andy Adams. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. An Indian scare. Near the close of January 79, the Nuesa Valley was stirred by an Indian scare. I had a distinct recollection of two similar scares in my boyhood on the San Antonio River, in which I never caught a glimpse of the noble red man. But whether the rumors were groundless or not, Las Palomas set her house in order.

The worst thing we had to fear was the loss of our saddle-stock, as they were gentle and could be easily run off and corralled on the range by stretching lariots. At this time, the ranch had some ten remudas, including nearly 500 saddle-hors. some of them ranging 10 or 15 miles from the ranch. On receipt of the first rumor, every remuda was brought in home and put under a general herd, night and day. These Indians scarce, said Uncle Lance, are just about as regular as droughts. When I first settled here, the Indians hunted up and down this valley every few years,

but they never molested anything. Why I got well acquainted with several. several bucks and used to swap raw hide with them for buckskin. Game was so abundant that there was no temptation to kill cattle or steal horses, but the rascals seemed to be getting worse ever since. The last scare was just ten years ago next month and kept us all guessing. The renegades were kickapoo's and came down the Frio from out west. One Sunday morning they surprised two of Wall's Vicaros, while the latter were dressing a wild hog which they had killed. The Mexicans had only one horse and one gun between them. One of them took the horse, and the other

took the carbine. Not daring to follow the one with a gun for fear of Amiscade, the Indians gave chase to the Vicaro on horseback, whom they easily captured. After stripping him of all his clothing, they tied his hands with thongs and pinned the poor devil to a tree with spear thrust through the back. The other Mexican made his escape in the chaparral

and got back to the ranch. As it happened, there was only a man or two at Law's place at the time and no attempt was made to follow the Indians who, after killing the Vicaro, went on west to Altita Creek,

the one which puts in the nuisus from the north. just about twenty miles above the gansu waw had a sheep camp on the head of the altito and there the kikapoos killed two of his pistor's and robbed the camp from that creek on westward their course was marked with murders and horse-stealing but the country was so sparsely settled that little or no resistance could be offered and the redskins escaped without punishment at that time they were armed with bow and arrow and speed years, but I have a good authority that all these Western tribes now have firearms. The very name of Indian scares women and children, and if they should come down this river, we must keep in the open and avoid ambush as that is an Indian forte. All the women and children at the outlying Ranchitas were brought into headquarters,

the men being left to look after the houses and their stock and flocks. In the interim, Father Norquin and the Masons had arrived, and the chapel was daily taking shape. But the rumors of the Indian raid thickened. Reports came in of shepherds shot with their flocks over near Esplanato Lake and along the Leona River, and Las Palomas took on an air of an armed camp. Though he never ceased to ride the range, whenever duty called, we went always in squads of four or five. The first abatement of the scare took place when one evening

the cavalcade of Texas Rangers reached our ranch from DeWitt County. They consisted of 15 mounted men under Lieutenant Frank Barr with a commissary of four pack mules. The detachment was from one of the crack companies of the state and had with them several half-blooded trailers. though every man in the squad was more or less an expert in that line they were travelling light and had covered over a hundred miles during the day and a half preceding their arrival at headquarters the hospitality of las palomas was theirs to command and as their most urgent need was mounts they were made welcome to the pick of every horse under herd sunrise saw a ranger guests on their way leaving the high tension relaxed and every one of every horse under herd sunrised saw a range your guests on their way leaving the high tension relaxed and every one on the ranch breathing easier but the indian scared did not prove an ill wind to the plans of father norquin

with a concentration of the people from the ranchitas and those belonging at the home ranch the chapel building went on by leaps and bounds a native carpenter had been secured from santa maria and the enthusiastic padre laying aside his vestments worked with his hands as a common laborer the energy with which he inspired the natives made him a valuable overseer from assisting the carpenter and hewing the rafters to advising the masons in laying a keystone or with his own hands mixing the mortar and tamping the earth to give firm foundation to the cement floor he was the directing spirit Very little lumber was used in the construction of buildings at Las Palomas. The houses were thatched with a coarse salt grass. Called by the natives Sakawista, every year in the overflowed portions of the valley, great quantities of this material were cut by the native help

and stored against its need. The grass sometimes grew two feet in height, and at cutting, was wrapped tightly and tied in ham, about two inches in diameter. For fastening to the roofing lathe, green blades of the Spanish dagger were used, which, after being roasted over a fire, to toughen the fiber,

were split into thongs, and bound the hands securely in a solid mass, layer upon layer like shingles. Crude as it may appear, this was a most serviceable roof, being both rain-proof and impervious to heat while owing to its compactness,

a live coal of fire laid upon it would smoulder, but not ignite. No sooner had the masons finished the plastering of the interior walls and cementing the floor, than they began on a two-roomed cottage. As its white walls arose, conjecture was rife,

as the who was to occupy it. I made no bones of the fact that I expected to occupy a wakal in the near future, but denied, that this was to be mine, as I had been promised one with three rooms. Out of hearing of our employer, John Cotton also religiously denied that the tiny house was for his use. Fidel, however, took the chafing without a denial, the Padre and Uncle Lance

being his two worst tormentors. During the previous visit of the Padre, when the chapel was decided on, the order for the finishing materials for the... for the building had been placed with a merchant at Shepherds and was brought up from Corpus Christi through his freighters. We now had noticed from the merchant that his teamsters had returned, and two four-mule teams went down to the ferry for the lumber, glassware, sashes, and doors. Miss Jean had been importuning the Padre daily to know when the dedication would take place as she was planning to invite the countryside. Ah, my daughter, replied the priest,

we must learn to cultivate patience. All things that abide are of slow but steady growth, and my work is for eternity. Therefore I must be an earnest servant, so that when my life's duty ends, it can be said in truth, well done, thou good and faithful servant. But I am as anxious to consecrate this building

to the master's service as anyone. My good woman, if I only had a few parishioners like you, we would work wonders among these natives. On the return of the mule teams, the completion of the building could be determined, and the Padre announced the 21st of February as a date of dedication. On reaching this decision,

the ranch was set in order for an occasion of more than ordinary moment. Fidel and Juana were impatient to be married, and the master and mistress had decided that the ceremony should be performed the day after the dedication, and all the guests of the ranch should remain for the festivities. The Padre, still in command, dispatched the Vicaro to the mission, announcing the completion of the chapel and asking for a brother priest to bring out certain vestments and assist in the dedicatory exercises. The Indian scare was subsiding, and as no word had come from the Rangers, confidence grew that the worst was over. So he scattered in every direction inviting guests, from the booths on the Frio to the Wilsons of Raminera,

and along the home river as far as Lagarto. Our friends were bidden in the name of the master and mistress of Las Palomas. On my return from taking the invitations to the ranches north, the chapel was just receiving the finishing touches. The cross, crowning the front, glistened in fresh paint, while on the interior walls shown cheap lithographs of the Madonna and Christ. The old Padre, proud and jealous as a brine groom over his bride, directed the young friar here and there, himself standing aloof and studying with the old father.

with an artist's eye every effect in color and drapery. The only discordant note in the interior was the rough benches in the building of which Father Norquin himself had worked, thus following, as he repeatedly admonished us, in the footsteps of his master, the carpenter of Galilee. The ceremony of dedication was to be followed by a mass at high noon. Don Mateo Gonzales of Santa Maria, sent his regrets, as did likewise Don't Alejandro Trevino of the mission.

But the other invited guests came early and stayed late. The women and children of the outlying Ranchitas had not yet returned to their homes, and with our invited guests made an assembly of nearly 150 persons. Unexpectedly, and within two hours of the appointed time for the service to convince, A cavalcade was sighted approaching the ranch from the west. As they turned in towards headquarters, someone recognized the horses,

and a shout of welcome greeted our ranger guests of over two weeks before. Uncle Lance met them as if they had been expected and invited the lieutenant and his men to dismount and remain a few days as guests of Las Palomas. When they urged the importance of continuing on their journey to report to the governor the host replied lieutenant bar that don't go here fall out of your saddles and borrow all the razors and white shirts on the ranch for we need you for the dedication of the chapel to-day and for a wedding and in fair for to-morrow we don't see you along this river as often as we'd like to and when you do happen along in time for his peaceful duty you can't get away so easily. If you had any special report to make to your superiors, why? Write her out,

and I'll send a vicarrel with it to Oakville this afternoon, and it'll go north on the stage tomorrow. But, Lieutenant, you mustn't think you can ride right past Los Palomis when you're not under emergency orders. Now, fall off those horses and spruce up a little, for I intend to introduce you to some as nice girls as you ever met. You may be a little. You may They may want to quit rangering some day, and I may need a man about your size, and I'm getting tired of single ones." Lieutenant Barr surrendered, saddles were stripped from horses, packs were unlashed from mules, and every animal was sent to our remudas under-herd.

The accoutrements were stacked inside the gate like haycocks. With slickers thrown over them, the carbines were thrown on the gallery, and from every nail, or hook on the wall, belts and six-shooters hung in groups. These rangers were just ordinary-looking men, and they might have been mistaken for an outfit of cow-hands. In age they ranged from a smiling youth of twenty to grizzled men of forty. Yet in every countenance was written a resolute determination. All the razors of the ranch were brought into immediate use, while every presentable shirt, collar and tie in the house, was unearthed and placed at their disposal. While arranging hasty toilets, the men informed us that when they reached Esposanto's lake,

the Redskins had left, and that they had trailed them south until the Indians had crossed the real grand into Mexico, several days in advance of their arrival. The usual number of isolated sheep herders killed and of horses stolen, where they were were the features of that raid. The guests had been arriving all morning. The booths had reached the ranch the night before, and the last to put in an appearance was the contingent from the Frio in San Miguel. Before the appearance of the rangers they had been sighted across the river, and they rode up

with peer-vox like a captain of the old guard in the lead. Ah, Don Lance, he cried, what you think. They say Don Pierre, no rides fast going to church. These youngsters laugh all the time, and say I never get here unless the dogs is along. Sacre! At all times, like I was old man, homrey. Keep away from this horse, he allow nobody but me to lay one hand on him. Keep away, I told you.

I helped the girls to dismount, Miss Jean, kissing them right. and left, and bustling them off into the house to tidy up as fast as possible, for the hour was almost at hand. On catching sight of Mrs. Anir, fresh and charming in her widow's weeds, Uncle Lance brushed Don Pierre's side and cordially greeted her. Vicaros took the horses, and as I strolled up the pathway with Esther, I noticed an upper window full of ranger faces peering down on the girls. Before this last contingent had had time to spruce up,

Pesquale's eldest boy rode around all the Waccals, ringing a small handbell to summon the population to the dedication. Outside of her home crowd, we had forty white guests, not including the two booth children and the priests. As fast as the rangers were made presentable, the masters and mistress introduced them to all the girls present. Of course, there were a few who could not be enticed near a woman, but Quail and Hapersat, like kindred spirits, took the backward ones under their wing, and the procession started for the chapel.

The audience was typical of the Texas frontier at the close of the 70s. Two priests of European birth conducted the services. Pioneer cowmen of various nationalities and their families intermingles. and occupied central seats. By the side of his host, a veteran of 36, when Mexican rule was driven from the land, sat Lieutenant Barr, then engaged in accomplishing a second redemption of a state from crime and lawlessness. Lovable and esteemed men were present, who had followed the fortunes of war until the

southern flag, to which they had rallied, went down and defeat. The younger generation of men was stalwart in physique, while the girls were modest in their rustic beauty. Sitting on the cement floor on three sides of us were the natives of the ranch, civilized, but with little improvement over their Aztec ancestors. The dedicatory exercises were brief and simple. Everyone was invited to remain for the celebration of the first mass in the newly consecrated building. Many who were not communicants accepted, but noticing the mistress and my sweetheart, taking their leave, I joined them and assisted in arranging the table so that all our guests could be seated at two sittings.

At the conclusion of the service, dinner was waiting, and Father Norquin and Mr. Nate Wilson were asked to carve at one table, while the young friar and Lieutenant Barr, in a similar capacity, officiating, at the other. There was so much volunteer help in the kitchen that I was soon excused and joined the younger people on the gallery. As to whom Cotton and Gallup were monopolizing, there was no doubt,

but I had a curiosity to notice what scales would do when placed between two fires, but not for nothing had he cultivated the acquaintance of a sandy-mustached young ranger, who was at that moment entertaining Susanna Vox in an alcove at the farther end of the veranda. Aaron, when returning from the chapel, with Susie Wilson,

had succeeded in getting no nearer the house than a clump of oak trees which sheltered an old rustic settee. And when the young folks were called into dinner, the vagabond scales and Miss Wilson of Ramanira had to be called the second time. In seating the younger generation, Miss Jean showed her finesses. Nearly all the rangers had dined at the first table.

But the widow Aeneer waited for the second one. Why, only a privileged few of us could guess. Artfully, and with seeming unconsciousness on the part of everyone, Deweese was placed beside the charming widow, though I had a suspicion that June was the only innocent party in the company. Captain Beiler and I were carving at the same table, at which our foreman and the widow were seated, and, being in the secret, I noted step by step the progress of the widow and the signs of gradual surrender of the corporal Segundo. I had a distinct recollection of having once smashed some earnest resolves, and of having capitulated under similar circumstances,

and now being happily in love, I secretly wished success to little God Cupid in the case in hand. And all during that afternoon and evening it was clearly apparent to anyone who cared to notice that success was very likely. The evening was a memorable one at Las Palomas. Never before in my knowledge had the ranch had so many and such amiable guests. The Rangers took kindly to our hospitality. And Father Norquin waddled about, God blessing everyone, old and young, frivolous and sedate. Owing to the nature of the services of the day, the evening was spent in conversation among the elders, while the younger element promenaded the spacious gallery, were occupied alcoves, nooks, and corners about the grounds.

On retiring for the night, the men jenched. yielded the house to the women guests, sleeping on the upper and lower verandas, while the ranger contingent, scorning beds or shelter, unrolled their blankets under the spreading live oaks in the yard.

But the real interest centered in the marriage of Fidel and Joanna, which took place at six o'clock the following evening. Everyone, including the native element, repaired to the new chapel to attend the wedding. Uncle Lance and his

sister had rivaled each other as to whether man or maid should have the better outfit. Fidel was physically far above the average of the natives, slightly bow-legged, stolid, and the coolest person in the church. The bride was in quite a flutter, but having been coached and rehearsed daily by her mistress, managed to get through the ordeal. The young priest performed the ceremony, using his own native tongue. the rich silvery accents of Spanish. At the conclusion of the service,

everyone congratulated the happy couple, the women and girls in tears, the sterner sex, without demonstration of feeling. When we were outside the chapel and waiting for our sweethearts to dry the tears and join us, Uncle Lance came swaggering over to John Cotton and me,

and slapping us both on the back, said, "'Boys, that rascal of a Fidel, had a splendid nerve. "'Did you notice how he faced the guns, without a tremor? "'Never batted an eye, but took his medicine like a little man. "'I hope both of you boys will show equally good nerve "'when your turn comes. "'Why, I doubt if there was a ranger in the whole squad, "'unless it was that red-headed rascal who kissed the bride,

"'who would have stood the test like that vicaro.' without a shiver. And it's something you can't get used to. Now, as you all know, I've been married three times. The first two times I was as cool as most, but the third whirl I trembled all over. Quavers ran through me, my tongue was palsied, my teeth chattered, my knees knocked together,

and I felt like a man that was sent for and couldn't go. Now, mind you, it was the third time and I was only forty-five. What a night that was. The contents of the warehouse had been shifted. Native musicians had come up from Santa Maria, and every one about the home ranch who could strum a guitar was pressed into service.

The store-room was given over to the natives, and after honoring the occasion with her presence, has patrons, the master and mistress, after the opening dance, withdrew in company with their guests. The night had then barely commenced, claiming two guitarists, we soon had our guests waltzing on the veranda,

whole and spacious dining room, to the music of my fiddle. Several of the rangers could play, and by taking turns, everyone had a joyous time, including the two priests. Among the Mexicans, the dancing continued until daybreak.

Shortly after midnight, Our guests retired, and the next morning found all, including the priests, preparing to take their departure. As was customary, we rode a short distance with our guests, bidding them again to Las Palomas, and receiving similar invitations in return. With the exception of Captain Byler, the Rangers were the last to take their leave. When the mules were packed and their mounts settled, the old Ranchero extended them a welcome, whenever they came that way again. Well now, Mr. Lovelace, said Lieutenant Barr,

you had better not press that invitation too far. The good time we had with you, discounts, rangering for the state of Texas. Rest assured, sir, that we will not soon forget the hospitality of Las Palomas, nor its ability to entertain. Push on with the Pax, boys, and I'll take leave of the mistress in behalf of you all,

and overtake the squad before it reaches the river. End of Chapter 18 Chapter 19 of a Texas matchmaker by Andy Adams. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Horse brands. Before gathering the Phillies and mares that spring, and while riding the range, locating our horse stock,

Pasquale brought in word late one evening that a Ladino's stallion had killed the regular one and was then in possession of the manada the fight between the outlaw and the ranch stallion had evidently occurred above the mouth of the gonzo and several miles to the north of the home river for he had accidentally found the carcass of the dead horse at a small lake and recognizing the animal by his color had immediately scoured the country in search of the band he had finally located the manada many miles off their reigns he had finally located the manada many miles off their range but at sight of the vicaro the ladino usurper had deserted the mares halting however out of gunshot yet following at a safe distance as pasquale drifted them back leaving the manada on their former range pasquale had ridden into the ranch and reported it was then too late in the day to start against the interloper as the range was fully twenty-five miles away and we were delayed the next morning in getting up speedy saddle-horses from distant various remunas and did not get away from the ranch until after dinner but then we started taking the usual pack mules and provisioned for a week's outing included in the party was captain frank biler the regular home crowd and three mexicans

with an extra saddle-horse for each we rode away merrily to declare war on the ladino's stallion this is the third time since i've been ranching here said uncle lance to captain frank as we rode along that i've had stallions killed there always has been bands of wild horses west here between the leona and nuaisa river and around espanto lake now that country is settling up the people walk down the bands and the small stallions escape and in drifting about find our range they're wily rascals and our old stallions don't stand any more show with them than a fat hogwood with a half a hard wood with a half a hushabye Havilina. That's why I take as much pride in killing one as I do a rattlesnake. We made camp early that evening on the home river opposite the range of the Manada, sending out Pasquale to locate the band and watch them until dark. Uncle Lance outlined his idea of circling the band and bagging the outlaw in the uncertain light of dawn. Pascuali reported on his return, after dark, that the Monad don't.

were contentedly feeding on their accustomed range within three miles of camp. Pascuali had watched the band for an hour and described the Ladino stallion as a cinnamon-colored coyote, splendidly proportioned and unusually large for a Mustang. Naturally, an expectation of the coming sport, the horses became the topic around the campfire that night. Every man present was a born horseman, and there was a generous rivalry for the honor in telling horse stories.

Aaron Scales joined the group at a fortunate time to introduce an incident from his own experiences, and, raking out a coal of fire for his pipe, began. The first ranch I ever worked on, said he, was located on the Navidad in Lavaca County. It was quite a new country then. rather broken and timbered in places and full of bear and wolves. Our outfit was working some cattle before the general round-up in the spring. We wanted to move one brand to another range as soon as the grass would permit, and we were gathering them for that purpose.

We had some ninety saddle-horses with us to do the work, sufficient to mount fifteen men. One night we camped in a favorite spot, and as we had no cattle to hold that night, all the horses were thrown loose, with the usual precautions of hobbling, except two or three on picket. All but about ten head wore the bracelets, and those ten were pals,

their partners wearing the hemp. Early in the evening, probably nine o'clock, with a bright fire burning, and the boys spreading down their beds for the night, suddenly the horses were heard running, and the next moment they hobbled in the camp like a school of porpoises trampling over the beds and crowding up to the fire and the wagon they almost knocked down some of the boys so sudden was their entrance then they set up a terrible knickering for mates the boys went amongst them and the horses that were timid and shy almost harassed their riders trembling in limb and muscle the while through fear like a leaf We concluded a bear had sent at the camp, and in approaching it had circled round and run

amok our saddle horses. Every horse by instinct is afraid of a bear, but more particularly a range-raised one. It's the same instinct that makes it impossible to ride or drive a range-raised horse over a rattlesnake. Well, after the boys had petted their mounts and quieted their fears, they were still reluctant to leave camp, but stood around for several hours, evidently feeling more secure in our presence. Now and then, one of the free ones would graze out a little distance, cautiously sniff the air, then trot back to the others. We built up a big fire to scare

away any bear or wolves that might be in the vicinity. But the horses stayed like invited guests, perfectly contented as long as we would pet them and talk to them. Some of the boys crawled under the wagon, hoping to get a little sleep, rather than spread their beds where a horse could stampede over it. Near midnight we took ropes and saddle blankets and drove them several hundred yards from camp. The rest of the night we slept with one eye open, expecting every moment to hear them take fright and return. they didn't but at daylight every horse was within five hundred yards of the wagon and when we unhobbled them and broke camp that morning we had to throw riders in the lead to hold them back

on the conclusion of scales's experience there was no lack of volunteers to take up the thread though an unwritten law forbade interruptions our employer was among the group and out of deference to our guests the boys remained silent uncle lance finally regaled us with an account of a fight between range stallions which he had once witnessed and on its conclusion theodore quail took his turn the man i was working for once moved nearly a thousand head of mixed-range stock of which about three hundred were young mules from the san saba to the concho river it was a dry country and we were compelled to follow the maccavit and fort chadbourne trail we had timed our drives so that we reached creeks once a day at least sometimes oftener it was the latter part of summer and was unusually hot and droughty there was one drive of twenty-five miles ahead that the owner knew of without water and we had planned this drive so as to reach it at noon drive half-way make a dry camp over night and reach the pools by noon the next day imagine our chagrin on reaching the watering-place to find the stream dry we lost several hours riding up and down the arroyo in hopes of finding relief for the men if not for the stock it had been dusty for weeks the cook had a little water in his cave but only enough for drinking purposes it was twenty miles yet to the concho and making it before night we must turning back was farther than going ahead and the afternoon was fearfully hot

the heat waves looked like a sea of fire the first part of the afternoon drive was a gradual ascent for fifteen miles and then came a narrow plateau of a divide as we reached this mesa a sorrier-looking lot of men horses and mules can hardly be imagined we had already travelled over forty miles without water for the stock and five more lay between us and the coveted river The heat was oppressive to the men, but the herd suffered most from the fine alkali dust which enveloped them. Their eyebrows and nostrils were whitened with his fine powder, while all colors merged into one. On reaching this divide, we could see the cottonwoods that outlined the stream ahead. Before we had fully crossed this watershed and begun the descent, the mules would trot along beside the riders and the lead, evening permitting us to lay our hands on their back. It was getting late in the day

before the first friendly breeze of the afternoon blew softly in our faces. Then, great Scott, what a change came over, man and heard. The mules in front threw up their heads and broke into a grand chorus. Those that were strung out, took up the refrain and trotted forward. The horses set up a rival concert,

in a higher key. They had scented the water five miles off. All hands except one man on each side now rode in the lead. Every once in a while some enthusiastic mule would break through the line of horsemen and would have to be brought back

every time we came to an elevation where we could catch the breeze the Grand Horse and Mule concert would break out anew. At the last elevation between us, and the water, several mules broke through, and before they could be brought back, the whole herd had broken into a run which was impossible to check. We opened out then and let them go. The concho was barely running, but had long deep pools here and there into which horses and mules

plunged, dropping down, rolled over, and then got up to knicker and bray. The young mules did everything but drink while the horses were crazy with delight. When the wagon came up, we went into camp and left them to play out their hands. There was no hurting to do that night, as the water would hold them as readily as a hundred men. Well, I'm going to hunt my blankets, said Uncle Lance, rising. You understand, Captain, that you are to sleep with me to-night. Davy Crockett once said that the politest man he ever met in Washington simply set out the decanter and glasses, and then walked over and looked out the window while he took a drink. Now I want to be equally polite, and don't want to hurry you to sleep.

But whenever you get tired of yarning, you'll find the bed with me in it, to the windward of that live oak treetop over yonder. Captain Frank showed no inclination to accept the invitation, just then, but assured his host, that he would join him later. An hour or two passed by. Haven't you fellas gone to bed yet? Came an inquiry from out of the fallen treetop. Beyond the fire in a voice,

which we all recognized. All right, boys, sit up all night and tell full stories if you want to. But remember, I'll have the last rascal of you in the saddle an hour before daybreak. I have little sympathy for a man who won't sleep when he has

a good chance. So if you don't turn in at all, it will be all right, but you'll be routed out at three in the morning, and the man who requires a second calling will get a bucket of water in his face. Captain Frank and several of us rose expecting to take the hint of our employer when our good intentions were arrested by a query from Dan Hapersat. Did any of you ever walk down a wild horse? None of us had, and we turned back and receded ourselves in the group. I had a little whirl of it once when I was a youngster, said Dan,

except we didn't walk. It was well known that there were several bands of wild horses ranging in the southwest corner of Tom Green County. Those who had seen them described one band as numbering forty to fifty head

with a fine chestnut stallion as a leader. Their range was well located when water was plentiful, but During certain months of the year the shallow lagoons where they watered, dried up, and they were compelled to leave. It was when they were forced to go to other waters that glimpses of them were to be had, and then only at a distance of one or two miles.

There was an outfit made up one spring to go out to their range and walk these horses down. This season of the year was selected, as the lagoons would be full of water. and the horses would naturally be reduced in flesh and strength after the winter as well as weak and thin-blooded from their first taste of grass we took along two wagons one loaded with grain for our mounts these saddled horses had been needing grain for months before we started and their flesh was firm and solid we headed for the lagoons which were known to a few of our party and when we came within ten miles of the water-hole we saw fresh signs of a band, places where they had apparently grazed within a week. But it was the second day before we caught sight of the wild horses, and too late in the day to give them chase. They were watering at a large lake south of our camp, and we did not disturb them. We watched them until nightfall, and that night we planned to give them chase at daybreak.

Four of us were to do the riding by turns. and imaginary stations were allotted to the four quarters of our camp if they refused to leave their range and circled we could send them at least a hundred and fifty miles of first day ourselves riding possibly a hundred and this riding would be divided among four horses with plenty of fresh ones at camp for a change being the lightest rider in the party it was decided that i was to give them the first chase we had a crafty plainsman for our captain and long before daylight he and i rode out and waited for the first peep of day before the sun had risen we sighted the wild herd within a mile of the place where darkness had settled over them the night previous with a few parting instructions from our captain i rode leisurely between them and the lake where they had watered the evening before at first sight of me They took fright and ran to a slight elevation. There they halted a moment, crannning their necks and sniffing the air. This was my first fair view of the chestnut stallion.

He refused a break into a gallop and even stopped before the rest, turning defiantly on this intruder of his domain. From the course I was riding every moment I was expecting them to catch the wind of me. Suddenly they sent it me, knew me for an enemy, and with the stallion in the lead, they were off to the south. It was an exciting ride that morning. Without a halt they ran twenty miles to the south, and then turned to the left, and there halted on an elevation. But a shot in the air told them that all was not well, and they moved on. For an hour and a half they kept their course to the east, and at last turned to the north.

This was, as we had calculated about their range. In another hour at the farthest a new rider with a fresh horse would take up the running. My horse was still fresh and enjoying the chase when on a swell of the plain I made out the rider who was to relieve me, and that it was early yet in the day the Mustangs had covered sixty miles to my forty. When I saw my relief locate the band, I turned and rode leisurely to camp. When the last two riders came into camp that night,

they reported, having left the herd at a new lake to which the Mustang had led them, some fifteen miles from our camp to the westward. Each day for the following week was a repetition of the first with varying incident, but each day it was plain to be seen that they were fagging fast. Toward the evening of the eighth day,

the rider dared not crowd them for fear of their splitting into small bands a thing to be avoided. On the ninth day, two riders took them at a time, pushing them unmercifully, but preventing them from splitting. And in the evening of this day they could be turned at the will of the riders. It was then agreed that after half-day's chase on the morrow, they could be handled with ease. By noon next day we had driven them within a mile of our camp. They were tired out, and we turned them into an impromptu corral made of wagons and ropes, all but the chestnut stallion. At the last he escaped us.

He stopped on a little knoll and took a farewell look at his band. There were four old United States cavalry horses among our captive band of Mustangs, gray with age and worthless, no telling where they came from. We clamped a mule-shoe over the passerns of the younger horses, tied toggles to the others, and the next morning set out on a return to the settlements. Under his promise the old ranchero had to camp a stir over an hour before dawn. Horses were brought in from picket ropes and divided into two squads. pastqually leading off to the windward of where the band was located at dusk previous the rest of the men followed uncle lance to complete the leeward side of the circle

the location of the manada had been described as between a small hill covered with spanish bayonet on one hand and a sacca wista flat nearly a mile distance on the other both well-known landmarks as we rode out and approached the location we dropped the man every half mile until the hill and adjoining salt flat had been surrounded we had divided what rifles the ranch owned between the two squads so that each side of the circle was armed with four guns i had a carbine and had been stationed about midway on the leeward half circle at first sighing of dawn the signal agreed upon a turkey call sounded back down the line and we advance the circle was fully two miles in diameter and on receiving the signal i rode slowly forward halting at every sound it was a cloudy morning and dawn came late for clear vision several times i dismounted and an approaching object at a distance drove my horse before me only to find that as light increased i was mistaken when both the flat and the dagger-crowned hill came into view not a living object was in sight i had made the calculation that had the manata grazed during the night we should be far to the leeward of the band for it was reasonable to expect that they would feed against the wind but there was also the possibility that the outlaw might have heard it to band several miles distant during the night and while i was meditating on this theory a shot rang out about a mile distant and behind the hill giving my horse the rowl i rode in the direction of the report but before i reached the hill the manada tore around it almost running into me

the coyote mustang was leading the band but as i halted for a shot he turned inward and the mayor's intervening cut off my opportunity but the warning shot had reached every rider on the circle and as i applied rowled and quirk to turn the band teal tribusio cut in before me and headed them backward as the band whirled away from us the stallion forged to the front and by biting and a free use of his heels attempted to turn the manada on their former course but it mattered little which way they turned now for our cordon was closing round them the windward line then being less than a mile distant as the band struck the eastward or windward line of horsemen the mayors except for the control of the stallion would have yielded but now under his leadership they recoiled like a band of ladinos but every time they approached the line of the closing circle they were checked and as the cordon closed to less than a half mile in diameter in spite of the outlaw's lashings the manada quieted down and halted then we unsung our carbines and rifles and slowly closed in upon the quarry several times the mustang stallion came to the outskirts of the band uttering a single piercing snort but never exposing himself for a shot little by little as we edged in he grew impatient and finally trotted out boldly as if determined to forsake his harem and rushed the line but the moment he cleared the band and he grew impatient and finally trotted out boldly as if determined to forsake his harem and rushed the line but the moment he cleared the band uncle lance dismounted and as he knelt the stallion stopped like a statue gave a single challenging snort which was answered by a rifle report and he fell in his tracks

end of chapter nineteen chapter twenty of a tex matchmaker by andy adams this librivox recording is in the public domain shadows Spring was now at hand after an unusually mild winter. With the breaking of the drought of the summer before, there had sprung up all through the ensignal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives Margosa fallow weed. This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it. The results showed that their ensigns,

instincts were true, for with very rare exceptions, every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher's block. Truly, it was a year of fatness, succeeding a lean one. Never during my acquaintance with Los Palomas had I seen the cattle come through a winter in such splendid condition. But now, there was no market. Faint rumors reached us of trail herds being put up in nearby counties, and it was known that several large large cities. ranchers in new aces county were going to try the experiment of sending their own cattle up the trail lack of demand was discouraging to most ranchmen and our range was glutted with heavy steer cattle the first spring work of any importance was gathering the horses to fill the contract we had with captain byler previous to the herd which deweese had sold and delivered at fort worth the year before our horse stock had amounted to about four thousand head with the present sale the ranch holdings would be much reduced and it was our intention to retain all monadas used in the breeding of mules

when we commenced gathering we worked over every one of our sixty-odd bands cutting out all the fillies and barren mayors in disposing of whole monadas we kept only the geldings and yearlings throwing in the old stallions for good measure as they would be worthless to us when separated from their harems in less than a week's time we had made up the herd and as they were all in the straight horse-hoof we did not road brand them while gathering them we put them under day and night herd throwing in five remudas as we had agreed but keeping back the bell-mayors as they were gentle and would be useful in forming new bands of saddle-horses the day before the appointed time for the delivery the drover brought up saddle horses and enough picked mares to make his herd number fifteen hundred the only unpleasant episode of the sale was a difference between theodore quail and my employer quail had cultivated the friendship of the drover until the latter had partially promised him a job with a herd in case there was no objection but when uncle lance learned that theodore expected to accompany the horses he took captain frank to task for attempting to entice away his men the drover entered a strong disclaimer maintaining that he had promised quail a place only in case it was satisfactory to all concerned further that in trail work with horses he preferred mexican vicaros and had only made the conditional promise as a favor to the young man Uncle Lance accepted the explanation and apologized to the drover, but fell on Theodore Quayle,

and cruelly unbraided him for forsaking the ranch without cause or reason. Theodore was speechless with humiliation, but no sooner were their hasty words spoken than my employer saw that he had grievously hurt another's feelings and humbly craved Quail's pardon. The incident passed and was apparently forgotten. The herd started north on the trail on the 25th of March. Quail stayed on at Los Palomas, and we resumed our regular spring work on the ranch. While gathering the mares and fillies, we had cut out all the geldings, four years old and upward,

to the number of nearly two hundred. And now our usual routine of horse-breaking commenced. The masons had completed their work, on all three of the cottages, and returned to the mission, but the carpenter yet remained to finish up the woodwork. Fidel and Juana had begun housekeeping in their little home, and the cozy warmth which radiated from it made me impatient to see my cottage finished. Through the mistress's arrangements had been made for the front rooms in both John's cottage and mine to be floored instead of cemented. Some two weeks before Easter's

Sunday, Cotton returned from the Frio, where he had been making a call on his intended. Uncle Lancet once questioned him to know if they had set the day and was informed that the marriage would occur within ten days after Lent, and that he expected, first, to make a hurry trip to San Antonio for a wedding gift. "'That's all right, John,' said the old Ranchero approvingly, and I expect Quirk. Might as well go with you. You can both draw every cent, do you, and take your time, as wages will go right on, the same

as if you are working. There will not be much to do except the usual horse-breaking and a little repairing about the ranch. It's quite likely I shan't be able to spare Tom in the early summer, for if no cattle-buyer comes along soon, I'm going to send June to the coast and let him sniff around for one. I'd like the best in the world to sell about 3,000 beaves, and we never had fatter ones than we have today. If we can make a sale, it'll keep us busy all the four part of the summer, so both of you fellows knock off any day you want to and go up to the city, and go horseback, for this ranch don't give Bethel and Oxenford stages any more of its money.

With this encouragement, we'd decide, at the start for the city the next morning. But that evening I concluded to give a certain roan, gelding, a final ride before turning him over to the Vicaros. He was a vicious rascal, and after trying a hundred maneuvers to unhorsed me, reared, and fell backward, and before I could free my foot from the stirrup, caught my left ankle, fracturing several of the small bones in the joint. That settled my going anywhere on horseback for a month. As the next morning, I could not touch my foot to the ground. John did not like to go alone, and the mistress insisted that Theodore was well entitled to a vacation. The master consented, each was paid

the wages due him, and catching up their own private horses, the old cronies started off to San Antonio. They expected to make Mr. Booth's ranch in a little over half a day, and from there a 60-mile ride would put them in the city. After the departure of the boys, the dull routine of ranch work went heavily forward. The horse-breaking continued. Vicaro's rowed the range, looking after the calf crop, while I had to content myself with nursing a crippled foot and hobbling about on crutches. Had I been able to ride a horse, it was quite possible that a ranch on the San Miguel would have had me as its guests, and I must needs content myself with lying around the house, visiting with Rwana, or watching the carpenters finishing the cottages. I tried several

times to interest my mistress in a scheme to invite my sweetheart over for a week or two, but she put me off on one pretext and another. until i was vexed at her lack of enthusiasm but truth compels me to do the good woman justice and i am now satisfied that my vexation was due to my own peevishness over my condition and not to neglect on her part and just then she was taking such an absorbing interest in june and the widow and likewise so sisterly a concern for dan hapersat that it was little wonder she could give me no special attention when i was soon to be married it was the bird in the bush that charmed miss jean toward the close of march a number of showers fell and we had a week of damp cloudy weather this was unfortunate has it called nearly every man from the horse-breaking to ride the range and look after the young calves one of the worst enemies of a newly-born calf is screw-worms which flourish in wet weather and prove fatal unless removed for no young calf withstands the pest over a few days clear dry weather was the best preventative against screw-worms but until the present damp spell abated every man in the ranch was in the saddle from sunrise the sunset.

In the midst of this emergency work, a beef buyer, by the name of Wayne Orah Hood, reached the ranch. He was representing the leases of a steamship company plying between New Orleans and Texas coast points. The merchant at the ferry had advised Orahood to visit Las Palomas, but on his arrival about noon there was not a white man on the ranch to show him the captain, I knew the anxiety of my employer to dispose of his mature beefs, and as the buyer was impatient,

there was nothing to do but get up horses and ride the range with him. Miss Jean was anxious to have the stock shone, and in spite of my lameness I ordered saddle horses for both of us. Unable to wear a boot, and still hobbling on crutches, I managed to Indian mount an old horse, my left foot still too inflamed to rest in the stirrup. From the ranch we rode for the Ensenow ridges and sandy lanes to the southeast, where the fallow weed still throve and rank profusion, and where our heaviest steers were liable to range.

By riding far from the watering points, we encountered the older cattle, and within an hour after leaving the ranch, I was showing some of the largest beaves on Las Palomas. How that beef buyer did ride, scarcely giving the cattle a passing look, he kept me leading the way from place to place where our saleable stock was to be encountered. Avoiding the ranchitos and wells, where the cows and younger cattle were to be found, we circled the extreme outskirts of our range, only occasionally halting and then, but for a single glance over some prime beaves. We turned westward from the Ensenow at a gallop, passing about midway between Santa Maria

and the home ranch. Then we pushed on for the hills around the head of the Gonzo. Not once in the entire ride did we encounter anyone but a Mexican vicaro, and there was no relief for my foot in meeting him. Several times I had an inclination to ask Mr. Orahood to remember my sore ankle, an unstricken the broken country, I suggest that we ride slower, as many of our oldest beaves ranged through these hills. This suggestion enabled me to ease up and to show our best cattle to advantage until the sunset.

We were then twenty-five miles from the ranch, but neither distance nor approaching darkness checked weighing Orahood's enthusiasm. A dozen times he remarked, we'll look at a few more cattle sun and then ride in home. we did finally turn homeward and at a leisurely gate but not until it was too dark to see cattle and it was several hours after darkness when we sighted the lamps at headquarters and finished the last lap in our afternoon's sixty-mile ride my employer and mr orahood had met before and greeted each other with a rugged cordiality common among cowmen the others had eaten their supper but while we had eaten their supper but while we had eaten their supper but while we had met before and greeted each other with a rugged cordiality common among cowmen the others had eaten their supper but while the buyer and i satisfied the inner man uncle lance sat with us at the table and sparred with orahood in repartee or asking regarding mutual friends artfully avoiding any mention of cattle but after we had finished mr orahood spoke of his mission admitted deprecatingly that he had taken a little ride south and west that afternoon and if it was not too much trouble he would like to look over our beaves on the north of the new aces in the morning.

He showed no enthusiasm, but acknowledged that he was buying for shipment, and thought that another month's good grass, ought to put our steers in fair condition. I noticed Uncle Lance clouding up over the buyer's lack of appreciation, but he controlled himself. And when Mr. Orahood expressed a wish to retire, my employer said to his guest, as with candle in hand, the two stood in parting. Well, now, Wayne, that's too bad about the cattle being so thin.

I've been working my horse stock lately, and didn't get any chance to ride the range until this wet spell. But since the screwworms got so bad, being short-handed, I had to get out and rustle myself, or we'd lost a lot of calves. Of course, I've noticed a steer now and then, and have been sorry to find them so spring poor. Actually, Wayne, if we were expecting company, we'd have to send to the ferry and get a piece of bacon, as I haven't seen a hoof fit to kill. The roast beef which you had for supper, well, that was sent to us by a neighbor who has fat cows. About a year ago now, water was

awful scarce with us, and a few old cows died up down this valley. I suppose you didn't hear of it, living so far away, herefore, every time we had a drought, there was such a volunteer growth of fallow weed, that the cattle got mud-fat, following every dry spell. Still I'll show you a few cattle among the Wahia bush and sand-hills on the divide in the morning, and see what you think of them, but of course if they lack flesh, in case you are buying for shipment, I shan't expect you to bid on them. The old Ranch-Shero and the buyer rode away early the next morning, and did not return into the middle of the afternoon, having agreed on a sale. I was asked to write and duplicate

the terms and conditions. In substance, Las Palomas Ranch agreed to deliver at Rockport on the coast on the 20th of May, and for each of the following three months, twelve hundred and fifty beaves, four-year-olds and upward. The consideration was $27.50 per head, payable on delivery. I knew my employer had oversold his holdings, but there would be no trouble in making up the 5,000 head, as all our neighbors would gladly turn in cattle to fill the contract. The buyer was working on commission, and the larger the quantity he could contract for, the better he was suited. After the agreement had been signed and duplicate, Mr. Orahood smilingly admitted that ours were the best beaves he had bought that spring. I knew it, said Uncle Lance.

You don't suppose I've been ranching in this valley over forty years, without knowing a fat steer when I see one. Tom, send a mucacho after a bundle of mint. Wayne, you haven't got a lick of sense in riding. I'm as tired as a dog. the buyer returned to shepherds the next morning the horse-breaking was almost completed except allotting them into remudas assigning bell mayors and putting each band under herd for a week or ten days the weather was faring off relieving the strain of riding the range and the ranch once more relaxed into its languid existence by a peculiar coincidence easter sunday occurred on april the thirteenth that year it being also the 66th birthday of the Ranchero. Miss Jean usually gave a little home dinner on her brother's birthday and had planned for one this occasion,

which was but a few days distant. In the mail, which had been sent for on Saturday before Easter, a letter had come from John Cotton to his employer, saying that he would start home in a few days, and one at Father Norquin sent for, as the wedding would take place on the first. the nineteenth of the month. He also mentioned the fact that Theodore expected to spend a day or two with the booths returning, but he would ride directly down to the Valks Ranch,

and possibly the two would reach home about the same time. I doubt if Uncle Lance ever enjoyed a happier birthday than this one. There was every reason why he should enjoy it. For a man of his age, his years rested lightly. The ranch had never been more prosperous. even the drought of the year before had not proved an ill wind for the damage then sustained had been made up by conditions resulting in one of the largest sails of cattle in the history of the ranch the chapel in three new cottages had been built without loss of time and at very little expense a number of children had been born to the soil while the natives were as loyal to their master as subjects in the days of feudalism There was but one thing lacking to fill the cup to overflowing. The ranchero was childless, possessed with a love of the land so deep as to be almost his religion he felt the need of an air.

Birthdays to a band of my years, said Uncle Lance, over Easter dinner, are food for reflection. When one nears the limit of his allotted days and looks back over his career, there is little that satisfies. financial success is a poor equivalent for other things. But here I am preaching when I ought to be rejoicing. Someone get John's letter and read it again. Let's see. The 19th falls on Saturday.

Lucky day for Las Palomas. Well, we'll have the Padre here, and if he says barbecue of beef, down goes the fattest one on the ranch. This is the year in which we expect to press our luck. I begin to feel it in my old bone, that the turning point has come. When Father Norquin arrives, I think,

I'll have him preach as a sermon on the evils of single life. But then it's hardly necessary, for most of you boys, have got your eye on some girl right now. Well, hasten the day, every rascal of you, and you'll find the cottage ready at a month's notice. The morning following Easter,

opened bright and clear, while in every hand were the signs of spring. a vicaro was dispatched to the mission to summon the padre carrying both a letter and the compliments of the ranch among the jobs outline for the week was the repairing of a well the walls of which had caved in choking a valuable water supply with debris this morning deweese took a few men and went to the well to raise the piping and make the necessary repairs curbing being the most important but while the foreman and santiago ortez were standing on a temporary platform some thirty feet down a sudden and unexpected cave-in occurred above them duis saw the danger called to his companion and in a flash laid hold of a rope with which materials were being lowered the foreman's warning to his companion reached the helpers above and duis was hastily windlassed to the surface but the unfortunate vicaro was caught by the falling debris he and the platform being carried down into the water beneath the body of artis was recovered late that evening a coffin was made during the night and the next morning the unfortunate man was laid in his narrow home the accident threw gloom over the ranch yet no one dreamt that a second disaster was at hand but the middle of the week passed without the return of either of the absent boys foul play began to be suspected

and meanwhile father norquin arrived fully expecting the solemn eyes within a few days the marriage of one of the missing men aaron scales was despatched to the vaux ranch and returned the next morning by daybreak with the information that neither quail nor cotton had been seen on the frio recently a vicaro was sent to the booth ranch who brought back the intelligence that neither the missing boys had been seen since they passed northward some two weeks before father norquen as deeply affected as any one returned to the mission unable to offer a word of consolation several days passed without tidings as the days lengthened into a week the master as deeply mortified over the incident as if the two had been his own sons let his suspicion fall on quail and at last when light was thrown on the mystery the old ranch sherrill's intuition proved correct my injured foot improved slowly and before i was able to resume my duties on the ranch i rode over one day to the san miguel for a short visit tony hunter had been down to oakville a few days before my arrival and while there had met Clint Dansdale. Who was well acquainted with quail and cotton. Clint, it appeared, had been in San Antonio and met our missing men,

and the three had spent a week in the city chumming together. As Danzdale was also on horseback, the trio had agreed to start home the same time, traveling in company until their ways separated. Cotton had told Dansdale what business had brought him to the city, and received the latter's congratulations the boys had decided to leave her home on the ninth and on the morning of the day set forth moneyless but rich in trinkance and togery but somewhere about forty miles south of san antonio they met a trail herd of cattle from the aranza river some trouble had occurred between the foreman and his men the day before and that morning several of the latter had taken french leave on meeting the travellers the trail boss being short-handed had offered all three of them a berth quail had accepted without a question the other two had stayed all night with a herd

danesdale attempting to dissuade cotton and quail on the other hand persuaded him to go with the cattle in the end quail's persuasions won danesdale admitted that the opportunity appealed strongly to him but he refused to trail foreman's blandishments and returned to his ranch while the two las palomas lads accompanied the herd neither one knowing or caring where they were going when i returned home and reported this to my employer he was visibly affected so that explains all said he and my surmises regarding theodore were correct i have no particular right to charge him with ingratitude and yet this ranch was as much his home as mine he had the same to eat drink and wear as i had with none of the concern and yet he deserted me i never spoke harshly to him but once and now i wish i had let him go with captain byler that would have saved me cotton and the present disgrace to los palomis i ought to have known that a good honest boy like john would be putty in the hands of a fellow like theodore but it's just like a fool boy to throw away his chances in life they still sell their birthright for a mess of pottage and there stands the empty cottage to remind me that i have something to learn old as i am my temper will sometimes get away from me tom you are my next hope and i am almost afraid some unseen obstacle will arise as this one did does frances know the facts i answered that hunter had kept the facts to himself not even acquainting his own people with them

so that aside from myself he was the first to know the particulars after pacing the room for a time in meditation uncle lance finally halted and asked me if scales would be a capable messenger to carry the news to the vaux family i admitted that he was the most tactful man on the ranch aaron was summoned given the particulars and commanded to use the best diplomacy at his command in transmitting the facts and to withhold nothing to express to the ranchman and his family the deep humiliation everyone at Las Palomas felt over the actions of John Cotton. Years afterward I met Quail at a trail town in the north. In the limited time at our command, the old days we spent together in the Nuesas Valley occupied most of our conversation. Unmentioned by me, his desertion of Las Palomas would introduce by himself, and in attempting to apologize for his actions he said, he said, said, Quirk, that was the only dirty act I was ever guilty of. I never want to meet the

people the trick was practiced on. Leaving Los Palomas was as much my privilege as going there was, but I was unfortunate enough to incur a few debts while living there that nothing but personal revenge could ever repay. Had it been any other man than Lance Lovelace, here I would have died the morning Captain Byler's horse-herd started. from the Nuesa's river. But he was an old man, and my hand was held, and my tongue was silent.

You know the tricks of a certain girl who, with her foot on my neck, stretched forth a welcoming hand to a rival. Tom, I have lived to pay her my last obligation, and a revenge so sweet that if I die an outcast on the roadside, all accounts are square.

End of chapter 20. Chapter 21. of a Texas matchmaker by Andy Adams. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Interlocutory Proceedings A big summer's work lay before us. When Uncle Lance realized, the permanent loss of three men

from the working force of Las Palomas, he rallied to the situation. The ranch would have to run a double outfit the greater portion of the summer, and men would have to be secured to fill our ranks. White men who are willing to isolate themselves on a frontier ranch were scarce, but the natives, when properly treated, were serviceable and were bred to the occupation and inclined to domesticity made ideal vicaros.

My injured foot improved slowly, and as soon as I was able to ride, it fell to me to secure the extra help needed. The desertion of quail and cotton had shaken my employer's confidence to a noticeable degree, and in giving me my orders to secure Vicaros, he said, Tom, you take a good horse and go down the Tairn-callus and engage five Vicaros. Satisfy yourself that the men are fit for the work, and hire every one by the year. if any of them are in debt a hundred dollars is my limit of advanced money to free them and hire no man who has no family for i'm losing confidence every minute in single ones especially if they are white we have a few empty wakals and the more children that i see running naked about the ranch the better it suits me i'll never get my money back in building that cotton cottage until i see a mother even though she is a mexican

standing in the door with a baby in her arms. The older I get, the more I see my mistake, and depending on the white element. I was gone some three days in securing the needed help. It was a delicate errand, for no ranchero liked to see people leave his lands, and it was only where I found men unemployed that I applied for and secured them.

We set wagons from Las Palomas after their few effects, and had all the families contentedly housed either about the headquarters or at the outlying ranchitas before the first contingent of beaves was gathered but the attempt to induce any of the new families to occupy the stone cottage proved futile as they were superstitious there was a belief among the natives which no persuasion could remove regarding houses that were built for others and never occupied the new building was tendered to tio tribusio and his wife instead of their own palisaded wakal but it remained tenetless an eyesore to its builder near the latter end of april contract was let for two new tanks on the gonsau grant of land had it not been for the sale of beef which would require our time the greater portion of the summer it was my employer's intention to have built these reservoirs with ranch help but with the amount of work we had in sight it was decided to let the contract to parties who made it their business and were outfitted for the purpose accordingly in company with a contractor uncle lancin myself spent the last few days of the month laying off and planning the reservoir sites on two small tributaries which formed the gonso we were planning to locate these tanks several miles above the juncture of the small rivulets and as far apart as possible then the first rainfall which would make running water would assure us a year's supply on the extreme southwestern portion of our range the contractor had a big outfit of oxen and mules

and the conditions called for one of the reservoirs to be completed before june fifteenth thus if rains fell when they were expected one receptacle at least would be in readiness when returning one evening from starting the work we found tony hunter a guest of the ranch he had come over for the special purpose of seeing me but as the matter was not entirely under my control my employer was brought in to the consultation in the docket for the may term of court the divorce proceedings between esther and jack oxenford would come up for a hearing at oakville on the seventh of the month hunter was anxious if possible to have all his friends present at the trial but dates were getting a little close for our first contingent of beaves was due on the coast on the twentieth and to gather and drive them would require not less than ten days a cross bill had been filed by oxenford's attorney at the last hour and a fight was going to be made to prevent the decree from issuing the judge was a holdover from the reconstruction regime having secured his appointment through the influence of congressional friends one of whom was the uncle of the junior stage man unless the statutory grounds were clear there was a doubt expressed by esther's attorney whether the court would grant the decree but that was the least of hunter's fears for in his eyes the man who would wilfully abuse a woman had no rights in court or out tony however had enemies for he in oxford had had a personal altercation and since the separation the martin family had taken the side of jack's employer

and severed all connections with the ranch that the male contractors had the village of oakville under their control we all agreed as we had tested that on our return from fort worth the store spring before. In all the circumstances, though Hunter, had no misgivings as to the ultimate result, yet being a witness and accused of being the main instigator in the case, he felt that he ought, as a matter of precaution, to have a friend or two with him. Well now, Tony, said my employer, this is crowding the mourners just a trifle. But Las Palomas was never called on in a good cause, but she could lend a man to me. man or two, even if they had to get up from the dinner table and go hungry. I don't suppose the trial will last over a day or two at the furthest, and even if it did,

the boys could ride home in the night. In our first bunch and in half a day, we'll gather every beef and two rodeos and start that evening. Steamships won't wait, and if we were a day behind time, they might want to hold out demurge on us. If it wasn't for that, the boys could stay a week, and you would be welcome to them. Of course, Tom will want to go,

and about the next best man I could suggest would be June. I'd like the best in the world to go myself, but you see how I'm situated, getting these cattle off in a new tank building at the same time. Now, you boys make your own arrangements among yourselves, and this ranch stands ready to back up anything you say or do. Tony remained overnight, and we made arrangements to meet him, either at Shepherds the evening before, or in Oakville on the morning of the trial.

Owing to the behavior of quail and cotton, none of us had attended the celebration of San Jacinto Day at the ferry. Nor had anyone from the Vox or MacLeed ranches, for while they did not be able to be able to be. not understand a situation it was obvious that something was wrong and they had remained away as did las palomas but several of hunters friends from the san miguel had been present and likewise had oxenford and reports came back to the ranch of the latter's conduct and of certain threats he had made when he found there was no one present to resent them the next morning before starting home Tony said to our Segundo and myself. Then I'll depend on you too.

I may have a few other friends who'll want to attend. I don't need very many for a coward like Jack Oxenford. He is perfectly capable of abusing an unprotected woman or an old man if he had a crowd of friends behind him to sick him on. Oh, he's a cur all right, for when I told him that he was whelped under a house, he never resented it. he loves me all right or has good cause too why i bent the cylinder pin on a new six-shooter over his head when he had a gun on him and he forgot to use it i don't expect any trouble but if you don't look a sneaking cur right in the eye he may slip up behind and bite you after making arrangements to turn in two hundred bees on our second contingent and send a man with them to the coast hunter returned home

there was no special program for the interim until gathering the beaves commenced yet on a big ranch like las palomas there is always work while deweis finished curbing the well in which ortees had lost his life i sawed off and cut new threads on all the rods and piping belonging to that particular windmill with a tireless energy for one of his years uncle lance rode the range until he could have told at a distance one-half his holdings of cattle by flesh marks alone a few days before the date set for the trial enrique brought in word one evening that an outfit of strange men were in camp north of the river on the gonso track the vicaro was unable to make out their business but he was satisfied they were not there for pleasure so my employer and i made an early start the next morning to see who the campers were on the extreme northwestern corner of our range fully twenty-five miles from headquarters we met them and found they were a corps of engineers running a preliminary survey for a railroad they were in the employ of the international and great northern company which was then contemplating extending their line to some point on the real grand while there was nothing definite in this prior survey it sounded a note of warning it sounded a note of warning for the course they were running would carry the line up the gonso on the south side of the river passing between the new tanks and leaving our range through a sag in the hills on the south end of the grant

the engineer in charge very courteously informed my employer that he was under instructions to run from san antonio to different points on the river three separate lines during the present summer he also informed the us that the other two preliminary surveys would be run farther west, and there was a possibility that Las Palomas lands would be missed entirely, a prospect that was very gratifying to Uncle Lance. Tom said he, as we rode away, I've been dreading this very thing for years. It was my wish that I would never live to see the necessity of fencing our lands, and today a railroad survey is being run across las palomas i had hoped that when i died this valley would be an open range and as primitive as a day of my coming to it here a railroad threatens our peace and the signs are on every hand that will have to fence to protect ourselves but let it come for we can't stop it if i am spared within the next year i'll secure every tract of land for sale adjoining the ranch if it cost me a dollar an acre then if it comes to the pinch las palomis will have for all time land and to spare

you haven't noticed the changes in the country but nearly all this chaparral has grown up and the timber is twice as heavy along the river as when i first settled here i hate the sight even of a necessity like a windmill and god knows we have no need of a railroad to a ranch that doesn't sell fat beaves over once in ten years transportation is the least of its troubles about dusk on the evening of the day preceding the trial june duwisa and i rode into shepherds expecting to remain over night shortly after our arrival tony hunter hastily came in and informed us that he had been unable to get hotel accommodations for his wife and esther and oakville and had it not been that they had old friends in the village all of them would have had to return to the ferry for the night these friends of the mcleed family told hunter that the stage people had coerced the two hotels into refusing them and had otherwise prejudiced the community in oxenford's favor hunter had learned also that the junior member of the stage firm had collected a crowd of hangers-on and being liberal in the use of money had convinced the rabble of the village that he was an innocent and injured party the attorney for esther had arrived and had cautioned every one interested on their side of the case to be reserved and careful under every circumstance as they had a bitter fight on their hands the next morning all three of us rode into the village court had been in session over a week and the sheriff had sworn in several deputies to preserve the peace as there was considerable bitterness between litigants outside the divorce case

these under-shariffs made it a point to see that every one put aside his arms on reaching the town and tried as far as lay in their power to maintain the peace during the early days of the reconstruction regime before opening the term the presiding judge had frequently called on the state for a company of texas rangers to preserve order and enforce the mandates of the court but in seventy-nine there seemed a little occasion for such a display of force and a few fearless officers were considered sufficient on reaching the village we rode to the house where the women were awaiting us fortunately there was ample corral room at the stable so we were independent of hostelries and liveries mrs hunter was the very reverse of her husband being a timid woman while poor esther was very nervous under the dread of the coming trial but we cheered them with our presence and by the time court opened they had recovered their composure our party numbered four women and five men esther lacked several summers of being as old as her sister while i was by five years the youngest of the men and naturally looked to my elders for leadership having left our arms at the house we entered the court-room in his decorous and well-behaved manner as if it had been a house of worship and this a sabbath morning a peculiar stillness pervaded the room which could have been mistaken as an omen of peace or the tension similar to the lull before a battle personally i was composed but as i allowed my eyes from time to time to rest upon esther

she had never seemed so near and dear to me as in that opening hour of court she looked very pale and moved by the subtle power of love i vowed that should any harm come to or any insulting words be spoken of her my vengeance would be sure and swift court convened and the case was called as might have been expected the judge held that under the pleadings it was not a jury case The panel was accordingly excused for the day and joined those curiously inclined in the main body of the room. The complaining witnesses were called. And under direct examination, the essential facts were brought forth laying the foundation for a legal separation. The plaintiff was the last witness to testify. As she told her simple story, a hush fell over the room. every spectator, from the judge on the bench to the sheriff, being eager to catch every syllable of the recital.

But as in duty bound to a client, the attorney for the defendant, a young man, what come from San Antonio to conduct the case, opened a sharp cross-questioning. As the examination proceeded, an altercation between the attorneys was prevented only by the presence of the sheriff and deputies. Before the inquiry progressed, the attorney for the plaintiff apologized to the court, pleading extenuating circumstances, and the offense offered to his client. Under his teachings, he informed the court the purity of womanhood was above suspicion, and no man who wished to be acknowledged as a gentleman among his equals would impugn or question the statement of a lady. The witness understand was more to him than an ordinary.

client as her father and himself had been young men together and volunteered unto the same flag his friend offering up his life in its defence and he spared to carry home the news of an unmarked grave on a southern battle-field it was a privilege to him to offer his assistance and counseled to-day to a daughter of an old comrade and any one who had the temerity to offer an affront to this witness would be held to a personal account for his conduct the first day was consumed in taking testimony the defense introduced much evidence in rebuttal without regard to the truth or their oaths a line of witnesses were introduced who contradicted every essential point of the plaintiff's case. When the credibility of their testimony was attacked, they sought refuge in the technicalities of the law, and were supported by rulings of the presiding judge. When Oxenfirred took the stand in his own behalf, there was not a dozen persons present who believed the perjured statements which fell from his lips. Yet when his testimony was subjected to rigid cross-questioning, every attempt to reach the truth, precipitous.

a controversy between attorneys as bitter as it was personal that the defendant at the bar had escaped prosecution for swindling the government out of large sums of money for mail service never performed was well known to everyone present including the judge yet he was allowed to testify against the character of a woman pure as a child while his own past was protected from exposure by rulings from the bench When the evidence was all in, court adjourned until the following day. That evening our trio, after escorting the women to the home of their friend, visited every drinking resort hotel and public house in the village, meeting groups of Oxenford's witnesses, even himself, as he dispensed good cheer to his henchmen. But no one dared to say a discourteous word,

and after amusing ourselves by a few games of billiards we mounted our horses and returned to the shepherds for the night as we rode along leisurely all three of us admitted misgivings as to the result for it was clear that the court had favored the defense yet we had a belief that the statutory grounds were sufficient and on that our hopes hung the next morning found our party in court at the opening hour the entire four noon was occupied by the attorney for the plaintiff in reviewing the evidence, analyzing, and weighing every particle, showing an insight into human motives which proved him a master in his profession. After the noon recess, the young lawyer from the city addressed the court for two hours, his remarks running from bombastic to flights of oratory, and from eulogies upon his client to praise of the unpeachable credibility of the witnesses for the defense. In concluding, the older lawyer prefaced his remarks,

by alluding to the divine intent of the institution of marriage and contending that of the two women were morally the better. In showing the influence of the stronger upon the weaker sex, he asserted that it was in the power of the man to lift the woman or sink her into despair. In his peroration he rose to the occasion, and amid breathless silence, facing the court, who quailed before him,

demanded whether this was a temple of justice. Replying to his own interrogatory, he dipped his brush in the sunshine of life and sketched the throne with womanhood enshrined upon it. While chivalry existed among men, it mattered little, he said, as to the decree of courts for in the higher tribunal human hearts women would remain forever in control at its conclusion women were hysterical and men were aroused from their usual languor by the eloquence of the speaker had the judge rendered an adverse decision at that moment he would have needed protection for to the men of the south it was innate to be chivalrous to womanhood

but the court was cautious and after announcing that he would take the case under advisement until morning adjourned for the day all during the evening men stood about in small groups and discussed the trial the consensus of opinion was favorable to the plaintiff but in order to offset public opinion oxford and a squad of his followers made the rounds of the public places offering to wager any sum of money that the decree would not be granted since feeling was running rather high our little party avoided the other faction and as we were under the necessity of riding out to the ferry for accommodation concluded to start earlier than the evening before after saddling we rode around the square and at the invitation of deweiss dismounted before a public-house for a drink and a cigar before starting we were aware that the town was against us and to maintain a bold front was a matter of necessity on buckling our belts in compliance with the sheriff's orders we hung our six shooters on the pommels of our saddles and entered the bar-room other customers were being waited on and several minutes passed before we were served the place was rather crowded and as we were being waited on a rabble of ruffs surged through the rear door led by jack oxenford he walked up to within two feet of me where i stood at the counter and apparently addressing the barkeeper as we were charging our glasses said in a defiant tone i'll bet a thousand dollars judge thornton refuses to grant a separation between my wife and me the words flashed through me like an electric shock and understanding the motive

I turned on the speaker, and, with a palm of my hand, dealt him a slap in the face that sent him staggering back into the arms of his friends. Never before or since had I felt the desire to take human life which possessed me at that instant. With no means of defense in my possession but a penknife, I backed away from him, he doing the like, and both keeping close to the bar, which was about twenty feet long. In one hand I gripped the open-bladed pocket-knife, and with the other, behind my back, retreated to my end of the counter, as did Oxenfir to his, never taken our eyes off each other. On reaching his end of the bar, I noticed the barkeeper, going through the motions that looked like passing him a gun, and in the same instant some friend behind me laid the butt of a pistol

in my hand behind my back. Dropping the knife, I shifted the six-shooter to my right hand, and advancing on the object of my hate, fired, in such rapid succession, that I was unable to tell whether my fire was being returned. When my gun was empty, the intervening clouds of smoke prevented any view of my adversary. But my lust for his life was only intensified when, on turning to my friends, I saw Deweis supporting Hunter in his arms. Knowing that one or the other had given me the pistol,

I begged them for another to finish my work, but at that moment the smoke arose sufficiently to reveal my enemy, crippling down at the farther end of the bar, a smoking pistol in his hand. As Oxenford sank to the floor, several of his friends ran to his side, and Dewees noticing the movement

rallied the wounded man in his arms, shaking him until his eyes opened. June, exultingly, as a savage cried, Tony, for God's sake, stand up just a moment longer. Yonder he lies, let me carry you over so you can watch the cur die. Turning to me, he continued, Tom, you got your man, run for your life, don't let them get you. Passing out of the house during the excitement, I was in my saddle, in an instant riding like a fiend for shepherds. The sun was nearly an hour high, and with a good horse under me,

I covered the ten miles to the ferry in less than an hour. Portions of the route were sheltered by timber along the river, but once, as I crossed a rise opposite a large bend, I sighted a posse in pursuit several miles to the rear. On reaching shepherds, fortunately for me, a single horse stood at the hitchrack. The merchant and owner of the horse came to the door as I dashed up, and never offering a word of explanation,

I changed horses. Luckily the owner of the horse was Red Ernest, a friend of mine, and feeling that they would not have long to wait for explanations, I shook out the reins and gave him the rowl. I knew the country, and soon left the river road, taken an airline course for Los Palomas, which I reached within two hours after nightfall. In a few profane words,

I explained the situation to my employer and asked for a horse that would put the real grand behind me before morning. A number were on picket nearby, and several of the boys ran for the best mounts available. A purse was forced into my pocket, well filled with gold. Meanwhile, I had in my possession an extra six-shooter, and now that I had a moment's time to notice it,

recognized the gun as belonging to Tony Hunter. Filling the empty chambers and waving at farewell to my friends, I passed out by the rear and reached the saddle shed where a well-known horse was being saddled by dexterous hands. Once on his back, I soon passed the 80 miles between me and the real grand. which I swam out of my horse the next morning within an hour after sunrise. End of Chapter 21. Chapter 22 of a Texas matchmaker by Andy Adams. This Libra Vox recording is in the public domain. Sunset

Of my exile of over two years in Mexico, little need be said. By easy stages I reached the haciendas. on the rio san juan where we had received the cows in the summer of seventy-seven the reception extended me was all one could ask but cooled when it appeared that my errand was one of refuge and not of business i concealed my offense and was given appointment as corporal segundo over a squad of the caros but while the hacienda to which i was attached was larger than las palomas's with greater holdings than livestock, yet my life there was one of penal servitude. I strove to blot out past memories in the innocent pleasures of my associates, mingling in all the social festivities, dancing with the dark-eyed seignoritas, and gambling at every fiesta.

Yet in the midst of the dissipation, there was ever present to my mind the thought of a girl, likewise, living a life of loneliness at the mouth of the San Miguel. During my banishment but twice did any word or message reach me from the Nuesa Valley. Within a few months after my locating on the real San Juan, Enrique Lopez, a trusted Vicaro from Las Palomas, came to the Hossienda, apparently seeking employment, recognizing me at a glance at the first opportunity he slipped me a letter unsigned and in an unknown hand after reading it i breathed easier for both hunter and oxenford had recovered the former having been shot through the upper lobe of a lung while the latter having sustained three wounds one of which resulted in the loss of an arm

the judge had reserved his decision until the recover of both men was assured but before the final adjournment of court refused a decree i had had misgivings that this would be the result and the message warned me to remain away as the stage company was still offering a reward for my arrest and riky loitered around the camp several days and on being refused employment made inquiry for a ranch in the south and rode away in the darkness of evening but we had several little chats together in which the rascal delivered many oral messages one of which he swore by all the saints had been entrusted to him by my own sweetheart while visiting at the ranch. But Enrique was capable of enriching any oral message, and I was compelled to read between the line. Yet I hope the saints to whom he daily prayed will blot out any untruthful embellishments.

The second message was given me by Frank Nancredi, early in January 81. As was his custom, he was buying saddle-horses at Las Palomas during the winter for trail purposes, when he learned of my whereabouts in mexico duise had given him directions where i could be found and as the real san juan country was noted for good horses nancredi and a companion rode directly from the duis's valley to the hacienda where i was employed they were on the lookout for a thousand saddle horses and after buying two hundred from the ranch where i was employed secured my services as interpreter in buying the remainder we were less than a month in securing the number wanted and i accompanied the herd to the real grand on his way to texas nancredi offered me every encouragement to leave mexico assuring me that bethlin oxenford had lost their mail contract between San Antonio and Brownsville, and were now operating in other sections of the state.

He was unable to give me the particulars, but frauds had been discovered in star route lines, and the government had revoked nearly all mail contracts in southern Texas. The trail boss promised me a job with any of their herds, and assured me that a cowhand of my abilities would never want a situation in the north. i was anxious to go with him and would have done so but felt a compunction which i did not care to broach to him for i was satisfied that he would not understand the summer passed during which i made it a point to meet other drovers from texas who were buying horses and cattle from several sources the report of nancredi that the stage line south from san antonio was now in new hands was confirmed One drover assured me that a national scandal had grown out of the Star Route contracts, and several officials in high authority had been arraigned for conspiracy to defraud.

He further asserted that the new contractor was now carrying the mail for ten percent of what was formerly allowed to Bethel and Oxenford and making money at the reduced rate. This news was encouraging, and after an exile of over two, years and a half, I recrossed the real grand on the same horse on which I had entered. Carefully avoiding ranches where I was known, two short rides put me in Las Palomas, reaching headquarters after nightfall, where, in seclusion, I spent a restless day and night. A few new faces were about the ranch, but the old friends bade me welcome and assured me that my fears were groundless.

During the brief time at my disposal, Miss Jean, entertained me with numerous disclosures regarding my old sweetheart. The one that both pleased and interested me was that she was contented and happy and that her resignation was due to religious faith. According to my hostess's story, a camp meeting had been held at Shepherds during the fall after my banishment by a sect calling themselves predestitarians.

and I have since learned that a belief in a predetermined state is entertained by a great many good people, and I admit it seemed as if fate had ordained that Esther MacLeod and I should never wed. But it was a great satisfaction to know that she felt resigned and could draw solace from a spiritual source, even though the same was denied to me. During the last meeting between Esther and Miss Jean, but a few weeks before, the former had confessed that there was no hope of our ever marrying. As I had not seen my parents for several years, I continued my journey to my old home on the San Antonio River, leaving Las Palomas after nightfall.

I passed the McLeod Ranch after midnight, halting my horse to rest. I reviewed the past, and the best reasoning at my command showed nothing in front. encouraging on the horizon. That Esther had sought consolation from a spiritual source did not discourage me, for, under my observation, where it had been put to the test, the love of man and wife overrode it. But to expect this contented girl to renounce her faith and become my wife was expecting her to share with me nothing unless it was the chance of a felon's cell. And I remounted my horse and rode away under a starry sky, somewhat of a fatalist myself.

But I derived contentment from my decision, and on reaching home no one could have told that I had loved and lost. My parents were delighted to see me after my extended absence. My sisters were growing fast into womanhood, and I was bidden the welcome of a prodigal son. During this visit a new avenue in life opened before me. As through the influence of my eldest brother, I secured a situation with a drover and followed the cattle trail

until the occupation became a lost one. My last visit to Las Palomas was during the winter of 1894-95. It lacked but a few months of twenty years since my advent into Nuesa Valley. After the death of Oxenford, smallpox, I had been a frequent visitor at the ranch, business of one nature and another calling me there.

But in this last visit the wonderful changes which two decades had wrought in the country visibly impressed me, and I detected a note of decay in the old ranch. A railroad had been built passing within ten miles of the western boundary line of the Gonso Grant. The Las Palomas range had been fenced, several large tracts of land having been added after my severing active connections with a ranch. Even the cattle, in spite of all the efforts made for their improvement, were not so good as in the old days of the open range, or before there was a strand of wire between the noisces

and real grand rivers. But the alterations in the country were nothing compared to the changes in my old master and mistress. Uncle Lance was a little. nearing his eighty-second birthday physically feeble but mentally as active as the first morning of our long acquaintance miss jean over twenty years the junior of the ranchero had mellowed into a ripeness consistent with her days and in all my aimless wanderings i never saw a brother and sister of their ages more devoted to or dependent on each other on the occasion of this past visit i was in the employ of a life-stock commission firm a member of our house expected to attend the cattle convention at fort worth in the near future and i had been sent into the range sections to note the conditions of stock and solicit for my employers the spring before our firm had placed sixty thousand cattle for customers the man continued and the house had inquiry sufficient to justify them in sending me out to secure of all ages not less than a hundred thousand steer cattle and thus once more i found myself a guest of las palomas don't talk cattle to me said uncle lance when i mention my business go to june he'll give you the ages and numbers and whatever you do tom don't oversell us for why our fences have cut us off till it seems like old friends

don't want the neighbor any more in the days of the open range i used to sell every hoof i had a chance to but since then things have changed why only last year a jury indicted a young man below here on the river for maverick ate a yearling and sent him to huntsville for five years that's a fair sample of these modern days there isn't a cowman in texas to-day who amounts to a pinch of snuff but got his start the same way. But if a poor fellow looks out of the corner of his eye now at a critter, they imagine he wants to steal it. Oh, I know them. And the bigger rustlers they were themselves on the open range, the bitterer their persecution of the man who follows their example.

June Deweis was then the active manager of the ranch, and after securing a classification of their saleable stock, I made out a memorandum and secured authority in writing to sell their holdings at prevailing prices for Nuasa's river cattle. The remainder of the day was spent with my old friends in a social visit, and as we delved into the musty past, the old man's love of the land and his matchmaking instincts constantly cropped out. Tom said he, in answer to a remark of mine, I was an awful fool to think my experience.

could be of any use to you boys. Every last rascal of you went off on the trail and left me here with a big ranch to handle. Gallup was no better than the rest, for he kept Julie Wilson waiting until now she's an old maid. Sis here always called scales of vagabond, but I still believe something could have been made of him with a little encouragement.

But when the exodus of the cattle to the north was at its height, he went off with a trail-herd just like the rest of you then he followed the trail town as a gambler saved money and after the cattle driving ended married and adventurous and that's the end of him the lack of a market was one of the great drawbacks to ranching but when the trail took every hoof we could breed and every horse we could spare it also took my boys tom when you get old you'll understand that-and-you'll understand that we could breed and every horse we could spare it also took my boys tom when you get old you'll understand that all is vanity and vexation of spirit but i'm perfectly resigned now and my will las palomas and everything i have goes to jean she can dispose of it as she sees fit and if i knew she was going to leave it to father norquin or his successor my finger wouldn't be raised to stop it i spent a lifetime of hard work acquiring this land and now there is no one to care for the old old ranch. I washed my hands of it. Knowing the lifetime of self-sacrifice in securing the land of Los Palomas, I sympathized with the old Ranchero in his despondency.

I never blamed you much, Tom, he resumed after his silence, but there's something about cattle life which I can't explain. It seems to disqualify a man for ever making a good citizen afterward. He roams and runs around, wasting his youth. and get so foxy he never marries but june and the widow made the rifle finally i protested yes they did and that's something to the good but they never had any children waited ten years after a nera was killed and then got married that was one of jean's matches tom you must go over and see joanna before you go there's a match that i made just think of it they have eight children and fidel is prouder over them than i ever was over this ranch the natives have never disappointed me but the caucasians seemed to be played out i remained over night at the ranch after supper sitting in his chair before a cheerful fire uncle lance dozed off to sleep leaving his sister and myself to entertain each other i had little to say of my past and the future was not encouraging except there was always work to do. But Miss Jean unfolded like the pages of an absorbing chronicle, and gave me the history

of my old acquaintances in the valley. Only a few of the girls had married, Frances Vox, after flirting away her youth, had taken the veil in one of the orders in her church. My old sweetheart was contentedly living a life of seclusion on the ranch on which she was born, apparently happy, but still interested in any word of me in my wanderings. The young men of my acquaintance, except where married, were scattered wide the whereabouts of nearly all of them unknown. Tony Hunter had held the McLeod estate together, and it had prospered exceedingly under his management.

My old friend, Red Ernest, who outrode me in the relay race at the tournament in June 77 was married and serving in the custom service on the real grand as a mounted river guard. The next morning I made the round of the Mexican quarters, greeting my old friends before taking my leave and starting for the railroad. The cottage which had been built for Esther and me stood vacant and windowless, being used only for a storehouse for Zakuista. As I rode away, the sight oppressed me. It brought back the June time of my life, even the hour and instant in which our paths separated. On reaching the last swell of ground, several miles from the ranch,

which would give me a glimpse of headquarters, I halted my horse in a farewell view. The sleepy old ranch cozily nested among the ensignal oaks revived a hundred memories some sad some happy many of which have returned in retrospect during lonely hours since end of chapter twenty two end of a texas matchmaker by andy adams