The Bells of San Juan

by Jackson Gregory

  CHAPTER XVI

  THE MEXICAN FROM MEXICO

  Enrique del Rio promptly became known to San Juan as the Mexican fromMexico, this to distinguish him from the many Mexicans, as San Juanknew them, who had never seen that turbulent field of intrigue andrevolt from which their sires had come. He showed himself from theoutset to be a gentleman of culture, discernment, and ability. He wassuave, he was polished, he gave certain signs of refinement.

  His first afternoon and evening he bestowed upon Jim Galloway. Thesecond day found him registered at Struve's hotel. The followingmorning he presented himself with a sheaf of credentials at the bank,asking for John Engle. With him came Ignacio Chavez in the role ofinterpreter. Del Rio spoke absolutely no English and had informedhimself that Engle's Spanish was inadequate for the occasion.

  "He is Senor Don Enrique del Rio," explained Ignacio, touched by thespell of the other's munificence and immaculate clothes. "He wouldlike to shake the hand of Senor Engle to become acquainted and thenfriends. . . . He brings papers to tell who and what he is in MexicoCity, whence he has departed because of too damn much fight down there;he wishes to put some money here in the _banco_, which he can takeaway again to buy a big ranch and many cattle and horses. He has theother money in a _banco_ in New York, where he sent it out from Mexicotwo, three months ago."

  And so on, while Engle gravely listened and shrewdly, after his fashionin business hours, probed for the inner man under the outer polish,while del Rio nodded and smiled and never withdrew his night-black eyesfrom Engle's face.

  Del Rio, it appeared, had gone first to the Casa Blanca because he hadheard of Jim Galloway as one of the most influential men of the county.Since arriving in San Juan, however, he had heard this and that, mererumors, which caused him to come to Engle. He, a stranger, could illafford in the beginning to have his name coupled with that of any mannot known for his spotless integrity. Senor Engle understood? . . .Later, when del Rio had found the properties to his liking and hadbuilded a home, his wife and two daughters would arrive. Now theytravelled in California.

  In the end Engle accepted the Mexican's deposits, which amounted toapproximately a thousand dollars, and which were to be drawn againstmerely as an expense account until del Rio found his ranch. And thefirst item of expense was the purchase from Engle himself of a finesaddle-animal, a pure-blooded, clean-limbed young mare, sister toPersis. After which the Mexican spent a great deal of his time ridingabout the country, looking at ranches. He visited Engle's two places,called upon Norton at Las Flores, ferreting out prices, looking atwater and feed, examining soil.

  It was a bare fortnight after the coming of del Rio when out of LasPalmas came word of fresh lawlessness. The superintendent of the threeQuigley mines had been surprised the night before pay-day, forced atthe point of a revolver to open his own safe, and robbed of severalthousand dollars. A man on horseback rushed word to San Juan, foundTom Cutter, who located Norton the same afternoon at his ranch at LasFlores.

  "Rod, old man," cried Cutter angrily, "this damned thing has got tostop! You haven't a much better friend than I am, I guess, and I'mtelling you straight that the whole county is getting sore on you.They will talk more than ever now, saying that it's up to you to getresults and that you don't get them."

  "The stick-up was last night?" asked the sheriff coolly.

  "Yes," snapped Cutter.

  "You were in San Juan?"

  "Yes."

  "Where was Jim Galloway? Was he in town?"

  "No, he wasn't. I don't know where he was. But I do know where heought to be. . . ."

  "Was that Mexican gent, del Rio, in town?"

  Cutter opened his eyes.

  "No. I don't think so. You haven't got anything on him, have you?"

  "Only what you told me. Remember that his first day in San Juan hewent to Galloway like a homing pigeon."

  Norton went for his horse, saddled, and rode swiftly to Las Palmas. Inthe mining-camp he went immediately to the office of Nate Kemble, thesuperintendent, whom he found cursing volubly.

  "It's up to you," were the sharp words of greeting as Kemble wheeledupon the sheriff. "What the hell do you think you're for, anyway?Good Lord, man, if you can't cut the mustard, why don't you crawl outand let a man who _can_ wear your star?"

  "Easy there, Kemble," said Norton quietly. "You can do your raring andpitching after I'm gone. Tell me about it. What time did it happen?"

  "It was hardly dark."

  "How many men jumped you?"

  "Just one. But . . ."

  "Just one, eh?" He pondered the information. "That isn't the usualbrand of Galloway work, is it? Get a good slant at him?"

  "At his clothes," growled Kemble, slamming himself down dejectedly inhis chair. "His face was hid, of course."

  "Ever see a Mexican named del Rio?"

  Like Cutter before him, Kemble started.

  "Don't ask me what I mean," Norton cut him short. "Del Rio is a prettybig man for a Mexican; was this highwayman about his size?"

  Kemble hesitated.

  "It's hard to say just how big a man is when he comes in on you likethat," he said at last. "At a guess I'd say that the man who stuck meup was a little taller than del Rio. But I wouldn't swear to it."

  "It might have been del Rio himself, then?" Norton insisted.

  "Yes. Or it might have been the Devil's grandmother. I don't . . ."

  "See anything of del Rio the last few days?"

  "Saw him yesterday. He was in camp. Was talking mines."

  "See anything of Galloway hereabouts of late?"

  "No. Haven't seen him for a month or two."

  Norton asked a few other questions, kept his own thoughts to himself,and rode away. Less than a mile from the camp he met Jim Gallowayriding a sweat-wet horse. The two men reined in sharply, each man'seyes matching the other's for hardness. Galloway's face was red, thefiery red of anger.

  "Going back for what you forgot, Jim?" asked Norton.

  For a moment Galloway, staring back at him, seemed utterly speechlessin the grip of his wrath. Norton did not remember ever having seensuch blazing anger in the prominent eyes.

  "Between you and me, Rod Norton," muttered Galloway at last, "I haveturned a trick or two in my time. But this job is none of my doing andif I wise up as to who put it over he'll go under the sand or into thepen, and I'll put him there."

  Norton laughed.

  "In other words, some free-lance has made a bid to break your corner onthe crime market, eh?" he jeered. "Put one over on you without yourknowledge and consent? And without splitting two ways? That what youmean?"

  "I mean that I'd pay five hundred dollars out of my own pocket rightnow for the dead-wood on the man who robbed Kemble."

  "Kid Rickard is around once more; sure he didn't do it?"

  "Yes, I am. Kid Rickard didn't do it."

  Norton eased himself in the saddle, thoughtfully regarding Galloway.And then, very abruptly:

  "How about your friend, del Rio?"

  It was the third time that he had mentioned del Rio's name in thisconnection and to the third man. And now, but slightly different indegree only, he saw the same look in Galloway's eyes which he hadbrought into Cutter's and Kemble's.

  "Del Rio?" repeated Galloway frowningly. "What makes you say that?"

  "I'll collect your five hundred later," was Norton's laughing response.Swerving out a little as he passed, he rode on.