CHAPTER XXII
Ramon went first to the ranch at the foot of the mountains which his unclehad used as a headquarters, and which had belonged to the family for abouthalf a century. It consisted merely of an _adobe_ ranch house and barn anda log corral for rounding up horses.
Here Ramon left his machine. Here also he exchanged his business suit forcorduroys, a wide hat and high-heeled riding boots. He greatly fanciedhimself in this costume and he embellished it with a silk bandana ofbright scarlet and with a large pair of silver spurs which had belonged tohis uncle, and which he found in the saddle room of the barn. From theaccoutrement in this room he also selected the most pretentious-lookingsaddle. It was a heavy stock saddle, with German silver mountings andsaddle bags covered with black bear fur. A small red and black Navajoblanket served as a saddle pad and he found a fine Navajo bridle, too,woven of black horsehair, with a big hand-hammered silver buckle on eachcheek.
He had the old Mexican who acted as caretaker for the ranch drive all ofthe ranch horses into the corral, and chose a spirited roan mare for asaddle animal. He always rode a roan horse when he could get one because aroan mustang has more spirit than one of any other colour.
The most modern part of his equipment was his weapon. He did not want tocarry one openly, so he had purchased a small but highly efficientautomatic pistol, which he wore in a shoulder scabbard inside his shirtand under his left elbow.
When his preparations were completed he rode straight to the town ofAlfego where the powerful Solomon had his establishment, dismounted underthe big cottonwoods and strolled into the long, dark cluttered _adobe_room which was Solomon Alfego's store. Three or four Mexican clerks werewaiting upon as many Mexican customers, with much polite, low-voicedconversation, punctuated by long silences while the customers turned thegoods over and over in their hands. Ramon's entrance created a slightdiversion. None of them knew him, for he had not been in that country foryears, but all of them recognized that he was a person of weight andimportance. He saluted all at once, lifting his hat, with a cordial "_Comolo va, amigos_," and then devoted himself to an apparently interestedinspection of the stock. This, if conscientiously done, would haveafforded a week's occupation, for Solomon Alfego served as sole merchantfor a large territory and had to be prepared to supply almost every humanwant. There were shelves of dry goods and of hardware, of tobacco and ofmedicines. In the centre of the store was a long rack, heavily laden withsaddlery and harness of all kinds, and all around the top of the room,above the shelves, ran a row of religious pictures, including popes,saints, and cardinals, Mary with the infant, Christ crucified and Christbearing the cross, all done in bright colours and framed, for sale atabout three dollars each.
It was not long before word of the stranger's arrival reached Alfego inhis little office behind the store, and he came bustling out, beaming andpolite.
"This is Senor Solomon Alfego?" Ramon enquired in his most formal Spanish.
"I am Solomon Alfego," replied the bulky little man, with a low bow, "andwhat can I do for the Senor?"
"I am Ramon Delcasar," Ramon replied, extending his hand with a smile,"and it may be that you can do much for me."
"Ah-h-h!" breathed Alfego, with another bow, "Ramon Delcasar! And I knewyou when you were _un muchachito_" (a little boy). He bent over andmeasured scant two feet from the floor with his hand. "My house is yours.I am at your service. _Siempre!_"
The two strolled about the store, talking of the weather, politics,business, the old days--everything except what they were both thinkingabout. Alfego opened a box of cigars, and having lit a couple of these,they went out on the long porch and sat down on an old buggy seat tocontinue the conversation. Alfego admired Ramon's horse and especially hissilver-mounted saddle.
"Ha! you like the saddle!" Ramon exclaimed in well-stimulated delight. Herose, swiftly undid the cinches, and dropped saddle and blanket at thefeet of his host. "It is yours!" he announced.
"A thousand thanks," Alfego replied. "Come; I wish to show you some Navajoblankets I bought the other day." He led the way into the store, anddirected one of his clerks to bring forth a great stack of the heavyIndian weaves, and began turning them over. They were blankets of the bestquality, and some of the designs in red, black and grey were ofexceptional beauty. Ramon stood smiling while his host turned over oneblanket after another. As he displayed each one he turned his brightpop-eyes on Ramon with an eager enquiring look. At last when he had seenthem all, Ramon permitted himself to pick up and examine the one heconsidered the best with a restrained murmur of admiration.
"You like it!" exclaimed Alfego with delight. "It is yours!"
Mutual good feeling having thus been signalized in the traditional Mexicanmanner by an exchange of gifts, Alfego now showed his guest all over hisestablishment. It included, in addition to the store, several ware roomswhere were piled stinking bales of sheep and goat and cow hides, sacks ofraw wool and of corn, pelts of wild animals and bags of _pinon_ nuts, andof beans, all taken from the Mexicans in trade. Afterward Ramon met thefamily, of patriarchal proportions, including an astonishing number oflittle brown children having the bright eyes and well developed noses ofthe great Solomon. Then came supper, a long and bountiful feast, at whichgreat quantities of mutton, chile, and beans were served.
Having thus been duly impressed with the greatness and substance of hishost, and also with his friendly attitude, Ramon was led into the littleoffice, offered a seat and a fresh cigar. He knew that at last the propertime had come for him to declare himself.
"My friend," he said, leaning toward Alfego confidentially, "I have cometo this country and to you for a great purpose. You know that a richgringo has been buying the lands of the poor people--my people andyours--all through this country. You know that he intends to own all ofthis country--to take it away from us Mexicans. If he succeeds, he willtake away all of your business, all of my lands. You and I must fight himtogether. Am I right?"
Solomon nodded his head slowly, watching Ramon with wide bright eyes.
"_Verdad!_" he pronounced unctuously.
"I have come," Ramon went on more boldly, "because my own lands are indanger, but also because I love the Mexican people, and hate the gringos!Some one must go among these good people and warn them not to sell theirlands, not to be cheated out of their birthrights. My friend, I have comehere to do that."
"_Bueno!_" exclaimed Alfego. "_Muy bueno!_"
"My friend, I must have your help."
Ramon said this as impressively as possible, and paused expectantly, butas Alfego said nothing, he went on, gathering his wits for the supremeeffort.
"I know that you are a leader in the great fraternity of the penitentbrothers, who are the best and most pious of men. My friend, I wish tobecome one of them. I wish to mingle my blood with theirs and with theblood of Christ, that all of us may be united in our great purpose to keepthis country for the Spanish people, who conquered it from thebarbarians."
Alfego looked very grave, puffed his cigar violently three times and spatbefore he answered.
"My young friend," (he spoke slowly and solemnly) "to pour out your bloodin penance and to consecrate your body to Christ is a great thing to do.Have you meditated deeply upon this step? Are you sure the Lord Jesus hascalled you to his service? And what assurance have I that you are sincerein all you say, that if I make you my brother in the blood of Christ, youwill truly be as a brother to me?"
Ramon bowed his head.
"I have thought long on this," he said softly, "and I know my heart. Idesire to be a blood brother to all these, my people. And to you--I giveyou my word as a Delcasar that I will serve you well, that I will be as abrother to you."
There was a silence during which Alfego stared with profound gravity atthe ash on the end of his cigar.
"Have you heard," Ramon went on, in the same soft and emotional tone ofvoice, "that the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad is going to build a linethrough the San Antonio Valley?"
> Alfego, without altering his look of rapt meditation, nodded his headslowly.
"Do you suppose that you will gain anything by that, if this gringo getsthese lands?" Ramon went on. "You know that you will not. But I will makeyou my partner. And I will give you the option on any of my mountain landthat you may wish to rent for sheep range. More than that, I will make youa written agreement to do these things. In all ways we will be asbrothers."
"You are a worthy and pious young man!" exclaimed Solomon Alfego, rollinghis eyes upward, his voice vibrant with emotion. "You shall be my brotherin the blood of Christ."