fifty
cow and buy plenty booze," he explained. He broke off into Spanish.
"This wine, we stored in the old bakery, and your father entrusted me
with the key. It is true. Although it is not lawful to permit one of
my blood to have charge of wines and liquors, nevertheless, your
sainted father reposed great confidence in me. Since his death, I have
not touched one drop, although I was beset with temptation, seeing that
if we did not drink it, others would. But Carolina would have none of
it, and, as you know, your father, who is now, beyond doubt, an
archangel, was greatly opposed to any man who drank alone. How often
have I heard him declare that such fellows were not of the _gente_!
And Carolina always refused to believe that you were dead. As a
result, the years will be many before that wine is finished."

"My good Pablo, your great faith deserves a great reward. It is my
wish that, to-night, you and Carolina shall drink one pint each to my
health. 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 made
the same demand. Him I refused also. This made him angry, and he
ordered me to depart from El Palomar. Naturally, I told him to go to
the devil. Don Miguel, this gringo grub appears to be better than I
had imagined."

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

"Your beloved father--may the smile of Jesus warm him!--said nothing
when he read this accursed message, Don Miguel. For three days, he
tasted no food; throughout the days he sat beside me on the bench under
the catalpa tree, gazing down into the San Gregorio as if he watched
for you to ride up the road. He shed no tears--at least, not in the
presence 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 Father
Dominic. Ah, Don Miguel, my heart was afflicted tenfold worse than
before to see that holy man weep for you. When he had wept a space, he
ordered Father Andreas to say a high mass for the repose of your soul,
while he came up to the