That ain't what's up. I only kem to tell ye-- Sportin' or courtin'--trot homeward for your life! Gals will be gals, and p'r'aps it's just ez well ye Larned there was one had no wish to be--a wife. POET What? PHILOSOPHER Is this true? JONES OF MARIPOSA I reckon it looks like it. She saw ye comin'. My gun was standin' by; She made a grab, and 'fore I up could strike it, Blazed at ye both! The critter is SO shy! POET Who? JONES OF MARIPOSA My darter! PHILOSOPHER Rosa? JONES OF MARIPOSA Same! Good-by! JACK OF THE TULES (SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA) Shrewdly you question, Senor, and I fancy You are no novice. Confess that to little Of my poor gossip of Mission and Pueblo You are a stranger! Am I not right? Ah! believe me, that ever Since we joined company at the posada I've watched you closely, and--pardon an old priest-- I've caught you smiling! Smiling to hear an old fellow like me talk Gossip of pillage and robbers, and even Air his opinion of law and alcaldes Like any other! Now!--by that twist of the wrist on the bridle, By that straight line from the heel to the shoulder, By that curt speech,--nay! nay! no offense, son,-- You are a soldier? No? Then a man of affairs? San Sebastian! 'Twould serve me right if I prattled thus wildly To--say a sheriff? No?--just caballero? Well, more's the pity. Ah! what we want here's a man of your presence; Sano, Secreto,--yes, all the four S's, Joined with a boldness and dash, when the time comes, And--may I say it?-- One not TOO hard on the poor country people, Peons and silly vaqueros, who, dazzled By reckless skill, and, perchance, reckless largesse, Wink at some queer things. No? You would crush THEM as well as the robbers,-- Root them out, scatter them? Ah you are bitter-- And yet--quien sabe, perhaps that's the one way To catch their leader. As to myself, now, I'd share your displeasure; For I admit in this Jack of the Tules Certain good points. He still comes to confession-- You'd "like to catch him"? Ah, if you did at such times, you might lead him Home by a thread. Good! Again you are smiling: You have no faith in such shrift, and but little In priest or penitent. Bueno! We take no offense, sir; whatever It please you to say, it becomes us, for Church sake, To bear in peace. Yet, if you were kinder-- And less suspicious--