The Mesa Trail

so sold antiques, real and fraudulent; he had a wholesale

ost exactly three hundred years since the ancestor of Coravel Tio had come to Santa Fé as a conquistador. Coravel Tio was wont

ruth in him when he was not selling his ancestor's armour to tourists-and even then, if he happened to like the looks of the tourist, he would gently insinuate that as a bu

ave made Chippendale's eyes water, ivories, old paintings, manuscripts from ancient missions. A

Uncle Coravel and heeded him not, shouldered him aside; and Coravel Tio, knowing his fathers to have been conquistadores, smiled gently at the world. His name was usually dismissed wit

erribly keen with every passing year. His brain was like a seething volcano-a volcano which seems

p with Thady Shea, this Coravel Tio was standing in talk with

t. "They say the majority is assured, that the bill already drawn,

l, passively, his dar

le take away our capital? We must prevent it! We must do something!

opped a pile beside him-a gaudy red bl

were thinking only of his wares. Then suddenly his eyes lifted to the other man, and he smiled. In his smile

t been moved! Nor will it be moved. And, Se?or Cota, let me whisper something to you! I hear that you have bought a new automobile. That is very nice, very nice! But, se?or,

urtively crossed himself, wonder and

barbaric apparel testified to a knowing eye. The others were two white men who together approached the curio dealer. Coravel Tio stepped

the two. The dealer merely smiled and nodded, in

Coravel Tio. "This is my s

dalena, and we had a scrap with some fellers and laid 'em out. Right after that, a native by the name of Baca tipped us off that th

ed greatly puzzl

"I am a curio dealer. I do not kno

ed at him disgustedly. "Mu

able to help you-it seems to me that someone wrote me for a couple of men. Exc

ert. My partner h

swiftly inspected a telegraph form, and nodded to himself in a satisfied manner. He returned

u drive over to Domingo this afternoon with my cousin, who lives there. You may stay

, Lewis, spoke

rk, mister. We ai

. "You will not work for a native, my friends.

reet, they paused and looked at each other. T

now we was worried over wo

ugged his shoulder

in the Indian tongue itself. As he spoke, however, he saw the stolid redskin make a slight gesture. Catlike, Cor

eyes closely set, a moustache bristling over a square mouth, ruthless hardness st

oprietor. "Morning, Coravel Tio. I been looking for someone who can talk Injun. I've got a proposition that wo

Coravel Tio s

r language, but he joined the army and is still in service. Myself, I know of it only a word or two. But

lso spoke the tongue well, intervened and tried to employ the Indian as interpreter. To both interrogators the Pueb

you thanks, Mr. Mackintavers, for getting my wholesale department that order from the St. Louis dealer. I

ween his square white teeth, and handed the other to Coravel Tio. "You can repay me here an

nished. "Se?or, I am a curio dealer, no more! You

chewing on his cigar.

a particular f

uoise, queer Indian things, odd relics. Her mail often comes here, remaining until sh

intavers. "Has she

onths-no, more than that! M

she is?" demanded

ar of Mackintavers. That ear bore a half-healed scar, like a bullet

e me last week that he had met her in Las Vegas. Everyon

probably be at the Aztec House for a few days. Let me kno

nt accompanied him to the door and watched him stride up the narrow street, cursing the burros laden with mountain wood that b

ed the Indian, in the latter's native tongue. The redski

matter to discuss with

those who know them intimately can testify that they sometimes have affairs, perhaps touching upon the queer stone idols of their father

omething," prompted th

one of the wooden pillars that supported the roo

er. There on the other side of the water I saw the strangest thing in the world. I went home and told the governor of the puebl

t all. The Pueblo lighted

have never before seen white folk able to reach that place, unless it were the Trail Runner who takes pictures of us and sells them to tourists. These were

asked Coravel

the woman, and they fought. She beat him off and pointed a gun at him. Then he seemed to be weeping like a woman, and he

vel Tio. "Oh! P

ns," pursued the stolid red man

as though dismissing the subject. "Could

swimming the water there. But that m

and I will pay you well. There is

self at the desk, and began to write in a fair, round hand.

The two small sacks in the centre were even more interestin

perhaps five dollars a ton; no good. Number sixteen is strontianite. This is converted into certain nitrates use

o men at Domingo who wish work-they will be there until you arrive: Joe Gilbert and Alf Lewis. Meet me there also, please. I will tak

ngo. You must give me location, etc., in order to arrange details of filing, land and minera

she should know that the most important t

wrapped the parcel in oiled silk and again in a small waterproof N

er," he said, gravely. "If you fail, there is trouble for

ndian's face; then he took the package and turned to the doorway