came with his evil tidings, your father smiled.  ‘Good Father Dominic,’ said he, ’I have need of the comfort of your presence and your friendship, but I would not blot out with thoughts of religion the memory of the honor that has come upon my house.  God has been good to me.  To me has been given the privilege of siring a man, and I shall not affront him with requests for further favors.  To-morrow, in El Toro, a general will pin on my breast the medal for gallantry that belongs to my dead son.  As for this trembling, it is but a palsy that comes to many men of my age.’”

“He had a slight touch of it before I left,” Don Miguel reminded Pablo.

“The following day,” Pablo continued, “I assisted him to dress, and was overjoyed to observe that the trembling had abated by half.  By his direction, I saddled Panchito with the black carved-leather saddle, and he mounted with my aid and rode to El Toro.  I followed on the black mare.  At El Toro, in the plaza, in the presence of all the people, a great general shook your father’s hand and pinned upon his breast the medal that belongs to you.  It was a proud moment for all of us.  Then we rode back to the San Gregorio.  At the mission, your father dismounted and went into the chapel to pray for your soul.  For two hours, I waited before entering to seek him.  I found him kneeling with his great body spread out over the prie-dieu where the heads of your house have prayed since the Mission de la Madre Dolorosa was built.  His brain was alive, but one side of him was dead, and he smiled with his eyes.  We carried him home in Father Dominic’s automobile, and, two weeks later, he died in sanctity.  The gente of San Marcos County attended his funeral.

“In February came Senor Parker, with great assurance, and endeavored to take possession.  He showed me a paper, but what do I know of papers?  I showed him your rifle, and he departed, to return with Don Nicolas Sandoval, the sheriff, who explained matters to me and warned me to avoid violence.  I have dwelt here since in sorrow and perplexity, and because I have ridden the fences and watched over the stock, there has been no great effort made to disturb me.  They have a cook—­a Japanese, and two Japanese women servants.  Also, this evening, Senor Parker brought with him as a guest another Japanese, whom he treats with as much consideration as if the fellow were your sainted father.  I do not understand such people.  This Japanese visitor was given this room, but this honor I denied him.”

“My father’s business affairs are greatly tangled, Pablo.  I shall have quite a task to place them in order,” Don Miguel informed him, sadly.

“If it is permitted an old servant to appear curious, Don Miguel, how long must we submit to the presence of these strangers?”

“For the present, Pablo, I am the master here; therefore, these people are my guests.  It has never been the custom with my people to be discourteous to guests.”