But gold. Never! The Mexicans never needed it, save to
gamble. Judas is their national scapegoat.
The sheriff has collated every story of attack. Valois draws out
the personality of the leading actor in this revelry of death. A
superb horseman, of medium size, who handles his American dragoon
revolvers with lightning rapidity. A young man in a yellow,
black-striped scrape. He is always superbly mounted. He has curling
blackest hair. Two dark eyes, burning under bushy brows, are the
principal features. This man has either led the murderers or been
present at the fiercest attacks. In many pistol duels, he has
killed some poor devil in plain sight of his comrades.
Valois decides to search all towns where Spanish women abound,
for such a romantic figure. This bandit must need supplies and
ammunition. He must visit women, the fandango, and the attractions
of monte. He must have friends to give him news of treasure movements.
Valois watches secretly the Spanish quarters of all the mountain
towns and the great ranchos.
The Louisianian knows that every gambling-shop and dance-house is
a centre of spies and marauders. The throngs of unnoticed Mexicans,
in a land where every traveller is an armed horseman, enable these
robber fiends to mingle with the innocent.
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