The Pride of Palomar

  IX

  It was as he had left it. He smiled sadly as he noted his civilianclothes laid out on the bed. However, he would not wear them to-night.A little later, while he was hanging them in the clothes-press, apropitiatory cough sounded at the door. Turning, he beheld thestrangest sight ever seen on the Rancho Palomar--a butler, bearing atray covered with a napkin.

  "Good-evening," quoth Don Miguel civilly. "Set it down on the littletable yonder, please. May I inquire why you bear the tray on your lefthand and carry a pistol in your right?"

  "Your servant, the man Pablo, has threatened my life, sir, if I daredbear your dinner to you, sir. He met me a moment ago and demanded thatI surrender the tray to him, sir. Instead, I returned to the kitchen,possessed myself of this pistol, and defied him, sir."

  "I apologize for Pablo, and will see to it that he does not disturb youagain--er--"

  "Murray, sir."

  "Thank you, Murray."

  The butler was about to advance into the room and set the tray on thetable as directed, when an unexpected _contretemps_ occurred. Aswarthy hand followed by a chambray-clad arm was thrust in the door,and the pistol snatched out of Murray's hand before the latter evenknew what was about to transpire. Pablo Artelan stepped into the room.

  "_Vamos_! Go!" he ordered, curtly, and relieved the astonished butlerof the tray. Murray glanced at Don Miguel.

  "Perhaps you'd better go," Don Miguel suggested, weakly. "Pablo is atrifle jealous of the job of waiting on me. We'll iron everything outin the morning. Good-night, Murray."

  "_Buenas noches, mono mio_," Pablo grunted.

  "I have a slight knowledge of the Spanish tongue, sir," Murrayprotested. "This blackamoor has insulted me, sir. Just now he said,in effect, 'Good-night, monkey mine.' Earlier in the evening, heattempted to murder Mr. Parker's guest, Mr. Okada."

  "It's a pity he didn't succeed," Don Miguel replied, and drew a dollarfrom his pocket. "You are very kind, Murray, but hereafter I shall notrequire your attendance. Pablo, give Murray his pistol."

  Pablo returned the weapon.

  "She ees one of those leetle lady-pistols, Don Miguel. She can't killsomebody if she try," he declared, contemptuously. Murray pouched thedollar gratefully and beat a hurried retreat.

  From under his denim jumper, Pablo brought forth a pint of claret.

  "When the damned proheebeetion she's come, you father hee's sell fiftycow and buy plenty booze," he explained. He broke off into Spanish."This wine, we stored in the old bakery, and your father entrusted mewith the key. It is true. Although it is not lawful to permit one ofmy blood to have charge of wines and liquors, nevertheless, yoursainted father reposed great confidence in me. Since his death, I havenot touched one drop, although I was beset with temptation, seeing thatif we did not drink it, others would. But Carolina would have none ofit, and, as you know, your father, who is now, beyond doubt, anarchangel, was greatly opposed to any man who drank alone. How oftenhave I heard him declare that such fellows were not of the _gente_!And Carolina always refused to believe that you were dead. As aresult, the years will be many before that wine is finished."

  "My good Pablo, your great faith deserves a great reward. It is mywish that, to-night, you and Carolina shall drink one pint each to myhealth. Have you given some of this wine to the Parkers?"

  Pablo shook his head vigorously.

  "That fellow, _El Mono_, was desirous of serving some to his master,and demanded of me the key, which I refused. Later, Senor Parker madethe same demand. Him I refused also. This made him angry, and heordered me to depart from El Palomar. Naturally, I told him to go tothe devil. Don Miguel, this gringo grub appears to be better than Ihad imagined."

  Farrel had little appetite for food, but, to please Pablo, he drank thesoup and toyed with a piece of toast and a glass of wine while themajordomo related to him the events which had taken place at El Palomarsince that never-to-be-forgotten day when Tony Moreno had ridden inwith the telegram from Washington.

  "Your beloved father--may the smile of Jesus warm him!--said nothingwhen he read this accursed message, Don Miguel. For three days, hetasted no food; throughout the days he sat beside me on the bench underthe catalpa tree, gazing down into the San Gregorio as if he watchedfor you to ride up the road. He shed no tears--at least, not in thepresence of his servants--but he was possessed of a great trembling.At the end of the third day, I rode to the mission and informed FatherDominic. Ah, Don Miguel, my heart was afflicted tenfold worse thanbefore to see that holy man weep for you. When he had wept a space, heordered Father Andreas to say a high mass for the repose of your soul,while he came up to the hacienda to remind your father of the comfortsof religion. Whereat, for the first time since that vagabond Morenocame with his evil tidings, your father smiled. 'Good Father Dominic,'said he, 'I have need of the comfort of your presence and yourfriendship, but I would not blot out with thoughts of religion thememory of the honor that has come upon my house. God has been good tome. To me has been given the privilege of siring a man, and I shallnot affront him with requests for further favors. To-morrow, in ElToro, a general will pin on my breast the medal for gallantry thatbelongs to my dead son. As for this trembling, it is but a palsy thatcomes to many men of my age.'"

  "He had a slight touch of it before I left," Don Miguel reminded Pablo.

  "The following day," Pablo continued, "I assisted him to dress, and wasoverjoyed to observe that the trembling had abated by half. By hisdirection, I saddled Panchito with the black carved-leather saddle, andhe mounted with my aid and rode to El Toro. I followed on the blackmare. At El Toro, in the plaza, in the presence of all the people, agreat general shook your father's hand and pinned upon his breast themedal that belongs to you. It was a proud moment for all of us. Thenwe rode back to the San Gregorio. At the mission, your fatherdismounted and went into the chapel to pray for your soul. For twohours, I waited before entering to seek him. I found him kneeling withhis great body spread out over the _prie-dieu_ where the heads of yourhouse have prayed since the Mission de la Madre Dolorosa was built.His brain was alive, but one side of him was dead, and he smiled withhis eyes. We carried him home in Father Dominic's automobile, and, twoweeks later, he died in sanctity. The _gente_ of San Marcos Countyattended his funeral.

  "In February came _Senor_ Parker, with great assurance, and endeavoredto take possession. He showed me a paper, but what do I know ofpapers? I showed him your rifle, and he departed, to return with DonNicolas Sandoval, the sheriff, who explained matters to me and warnedme to avoid violence. I have dwelt here since in sorrow andperplexity, and because I have ridden the fences and watched over thestock, there has been no great effort made to disturb me. They have acook--a Japanese, and two Japanese women servants. Also, this evening,Senor Parker brought with him as a guest another Japanese, whom hetreats with as much consideration as if the fellow were your saintedfather. I do not understand such people. This Japanese visitor wasgiven this room, but this honor I denied him."

  "My father's business affairs are greatly tangled, Pablo. I shall havequite a task to place them in order," Don Miguel informed him, sadly.

  "If it is permitted an old servant to appear curious, Don Miguel, howlong must we submit to the presence of these strangers?"

  "For the present, Pablo, I am the master here; therefore, these peopleare my guests. It has never been the custom with my people to bediscourteous to guests."

  "I shall try to remember that," Pablo replied, bitterly. "Forgive me,Don Miguel, for forgetting it. Perhaps I have not played well my partas the representative of my master during his absence."

  "Do not distress yourself further in the matter, Pablo. What food havewe at the ranch? Is there sufficient with which to enable Carolina toserve breakfast?"

  "To serve it where, Don Miguel?"

  "Where but in my home?"

  "Blood of the devil!" Pablo slapped his thigh and grinned in theknowledge that the last of the Farrels, having come h
ome, had decidedto waste no time in assuming his natural position as the master of theRancho Palomar. "We have oranges," he began, enumerating each courseof the forthcoming meal on his tobacco-stained fingers. "Then there isflour in my possession for biscuits, and, two weeks ago, I robbed abee-tree; so we have honey. Our coffee is not of the best, but it iscoffee. And we have eggs."

  "Any butter, sugar, and cream?"

  "Alas, no, Don Miguel!"

  "Saddle a horse at once, go down to the mission, and borrow some fromFather Dominic. If he has none, ride over to the Gonzales rancho andget it. Bacon, also, if they have it. Tell Carolina I will havebreakfast for five at half after eight."

  "But this Japanese cook of _Senor_ Parker's, Don Miguel?"

  "I am not in a mood to be troubled by trifles tonight, Pablo."

  "I understand, Don Miguel. The matter may safely be entrusted to me."He picked up the tray. "Sweet rest to you, sir, and may our Saviourgrant a quick healing to your bruised heart. Good-night."

  "Good-night, Pablo." Farrel rose and laid his hand on the oldretainer's shoulder. "I never bothered to tell you this before, Pablo,but I want you to know that I do appreciate you and Carolinatremendously. You've stuck to me and mine, and you'll always have ahome with me."

  "Child," Pablo queried, huskily, "must we leave the rancho?"

  "I'm afraid we must, Pablo. I shall know more about our plans after Ihave talked with Senor Parker."