Argosy, Vol. 117, No. 3 — page 77: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CROSSROADS, - She had. stopped her horse in the shelter of the ridge and sat there to look back on the camp. She had seen him waken and stir about. She had waited there still until she saw him take the trail after her. Did it mean that she actually expected him to follow her? Was that the meaning of the plain trail she had left? _ He started up with an. exclamation and swung into the saddle. Plain as writing down. the slope her trail continued. He galloped along it with a reckless speed. CHAPTER IX. ONATE TALKS: INFORMALLY. JN the capital city of the state Sheriff Onate was a. personage to be sought. out. and flattered with ceremonious. greetings. For the vast majority of the electorate in that. state was Mexican, and among. the Mexicans Sheriff. Onate was a man of sorts. They admired him. for a pomp of. presence and a grace of manner which no white man west of the Mississippi could rival. Represented by a man. of such dignity, they felt confident. he would get for them all they might wish. It is true that Sheriff Onate did not achieve much in the way of arrests, but. his own. small office: was an in- significant matter. What really counted was his position in the state. It was known that if he dropped. a. word in the ear of the governor action was apt to result. controlled even he himself could nat: esti- mate. At least it ran up into the thousands, Accordingly, in. the capital men listened. when he spoke. He was more revered in a lobby. of the legislature than he was in. his office in Guadalupe. The time of his coming was. particularly well chosen. Fer the state election was within. striking distance, and Governor Boardman, though he had. lined his pockets comfortably during his. term, was not yet in such a position that he could build a: certain white-verandaed house which: he had in mind. Accordingly there was. probably no: ene: in: the entire city so. glad to: see the great sheriff as was the governor himself. All of this- the sheriff knew perfectly well. What number of votes Onate He knew also that in his heart. the governor hated the ground upon. which he walked, and this merely increased the satisfaction of. the benign Onate. Straight to the offices of the governor he walked; walked, fot he wished that many men might see him com- ing. That night many invitations to dine would wait for him at his hotel. The man in the outer office had red hair and.a.pug-nose. He was a newcomer, also. For both reasons his reception of Onate: was far from. cordial, for he saw in the smoky whites of Onate’s eyes that. the man: was of Indian blood: And the Irish remain. the Irish the world around. He told the sheriff to sit down and wait his turn. Where- at. the cheeks of the sheriff swelled with poisonous. anger. Luckily, the private secretary passed through the outer office at that. moment. The effusiyeness of his greeting made amends, in some degree. With one eye Onate enjoyed it; with the other he relished. the red-faced discomforture of the pug- nosed Irishman. And he followed the sec- retary into the inner sanctum. The governor had just signed. an im- portant letter, and was screwing back. the gold-chased cover of his pen. while he pond- ered deeply whether or ne. he had made his terms a little too cheaply with a cértain corporation. At sight of the sheriff he rolled to his feet. Literally rolled, for he was a. very plump little man, and slid into: and out. of a chair with a singular undulatory motion. His pudgy hand met the soft palm of Onate, and. they smiled upon one another. If the color of their skins was different the color of their hearts was the: same. “T have called—” began. Sheriff oaaka: tucking: his hat under his arm, and half bowing. ~“ Cut. out the formality, Don Porfirio,” said the governor breezily, “ and. try that chair—-no, that ome by the window. Here’s a box of cigars—and here’s a milder brand.” In slang the governor kept abreast of the times. If in. other things he backslid. a. little he did not lose votes thereby. So the: account left. a comfortable balance in his faver. ‘“ Shoot!” repeated the governor, and. se COMMICLOOOkKS COU