Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1904 — SENOR JIM DANDY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SENOR JIM DANDY

By MARION WOODWARD

When the American Silver company opened Its mine ut La Paz on concessions granted hy the Peruvian government it was tacitly understood that the corporation would ho '"assessed” now and then for the benefit of a new revolutionary leader, but there was to be no flirt her extortion. There was none, and tlie profits began.to pile up. Then there came a call from So nor OaKolnni. The sen >r was not the president of Peru nor yet the general of its army nor the admiral of its navy. He was simply t'asolani. outlaw and guerrilla. When Peru was at war he was a guerrilla and aimed to kill more enemies than friends. When he was at peaec.hu was an outlaw and robber and showed no favor. lie hud his headquarters in the mountains and a band of fifty cutthroats to do Ids bidding. and lie was both feared and respected. Many attempts had been made to capture or kill him, but he always came out on top, und when bribes were offered lie took the money and shot the hearers. It was a merry life that Senor Casolani led. There was robbery In the morning, killing at noon and the sack-

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away the hours of evening. He lived ou the fat of the land, felt that he owned all of South America, and there were times when lie used to actually ache for some one to defy him. After the American mine began shipping ore that was 90 per cent pure and the stockholders lmd received a first dividend of 00 per cent the senor made a call at La I’az. He left his bodyguard of ten ruffians outside, entered the offices and stated Ids case in a soft and gentle voice. He wanted a loan of $5,000 in cash, and lie didn't want to spend more than half an hour haggling about it. *

Old Iluabaseo, native assistant superintendent at the mine, had known of the senor for many years. In fact, the senor had cut off his brother’s ears and bis brother-in-law's bead on a festive occasion, and bad only missed him by a hair's breadth. With old Iluabaseo to plead his case, assisted by threats to call in his bodyguard and turn them loose, the senor departed a richer and happier man. Three mouths later lie tried the same thing and won. He tried it a third time and was ns courteously received.

Then the officials in New York rebelled and sent Jimmy Clayton down to La I'az to replace the other superintendent and stop the leak. The most that any of them knew about Jimmy was that be had come from a good family, had been left half a million dollars at the age of twenty-four and three years later was without a shilling to his name. He would not know a mine when he saw one, and his executive abilities had never been tested, but certain stockholders got the Idea that Jimmy would be a match for Seuor Casolanl, ami he was furnished with an outfit and shipped off to the Peruvian coast. He bad been at La Paz for two weeks when old Huabaseo said In confidence to the small office force, all natives: “My children, I don’t exactly understand the Senor Americano. He is soft and gentle and silent, but now and then I catch a look that reminds me of sleeping danger. I must wait until I see him In the presence of Casolanl. He, too. Is soft and gentle and silent, but whnt a devil! The Senor Americano will either prove a milksop or what they call In his country a Jim dandy. Walt for a few days and we shall see.”

Another fortnight passed away, and then the famous guerrilla called. This was the fourth call, and he had growu so used to the road and the humility of his receptions that he came alone. He had heard of the new superintendent and had a curiosity to see him. In his heart he respected a brave m«n, and as he entered the offices, carelessly switching his leg with a branch cut from a tree, he found himself hoping that Senor Clayton would show a bit of gameness. The American sat reading a newspaper with bis feet on the window sill, and Senor Casolanl bowed tow before him, purely in sarcasm, however, and politely said:

“Permit me to Introduce myself as Senor Casolani, and to hope that Senor Clayton is well.” ’‘Thanks, awfully,” replied Jimmy as he looked up from his paper and back again.

“Ybu may have heard of me?” continued the guerrilla, secretly admiring the other’s coolness, though it stung him at the same time. “Y-e-s. You are the itiferuai murderer and outlaw who has been prancing through this part of the country for the Inst seven or eight years. Yes, I have heard of you. In fact, I was sent down here to mnke your better acquaintance, and I am glad you have called.”

“The usual semiannual payment is due, 1 believe.” suggested the man as his eyes began to burn in a way to make old lluabasco’s flesh creep, "And lik.-wise .something else,” grimly replied Clayton. “I do not understand the senor." “No? Well, if I should tell you io get out of here, would you understand that?” It was evident to Casolani that he had a man of mettle to deal with, and then* was a smile on ills face as he thought of liow he would make the Americano beg for bis life and lick the dust off the floor before he was through with him. “Does the seuor wish to insult me?” asked the guerrilla gently. “I couldn't if I wanted to! Look here, Casoilni, this thing is played out!”

“You mean—you mean”— “I mean that if you don't take yourself off and keep away from La Pa* I’ll kill you like a dog. That’s pat, and you don't want to miss it. You've killed scores and robbed hundreds, and think yourself a devil of a fellow, but I’m not afraid of you. There’s the door you came in at, and if you are not gone in two minutes I’ll kick you out!” “And now let me have my say,” replied the guerrilla in a voice hoarse with passion and with eyes blazing like a mad tiger. "1 do not shoot yon where you sit because’’— “Because yon are a coward at heart,” interrupted Clayton.

“Because I admire a brave man. You are gaiue, senor, and I respect you. Let me say, however, that tomorrow I will return and sweep everything here off the face of the earth and carry away your ears in my pocket. Today the mine may work; tomorrow it shall be closed down forever. Today there are 200 living men here; tomorrow all shall be dead or scattered. That Is the word of Casolani, senor.”

“And 1 am much obliged to him. Will you walk out or be kicked out?” The guerrilla walked out and was soon lost to sight in the forest, and old Hnabasco whispered to his subordinates:

<r Jfdt _ yet, my children—not yet The Senor Americano la cool and calm, and there Is a sting to bis words, but he may be what his countrymen call a bluffer. We must wait another day.” There was but one approach to the mine, and Senor Casolanl and his band would come by that road. Men were brought up from the depths of the mine to dig and trench, the electrician laid his wires and the civil engineer planted his dyaumite, and for two hours before the guerrillas appeared next day Senor Clayton sat on the same chair with a lever within his reach. Nobody had run away, nor had work been suspended. Everything was going on as usual wheu fifty or sixty cutthroats came charging down the wide road, yells on their lips and knives in their hands. Senor Clayton looked up and watched, and after a bit his hand reached out and touched the lever. There was an explosion which made the mountain tremble in its bowels. Then he picked up his paper and began reading again. ”My children,” said old Huabaaco after the excited people had counted up the dead and identified Don Casolanl among the number, “I told you first we must wait until Senor Casolanl had called; then I told you we must wait for today. Now I tell you we need wait no longer. Let us go back to the office and give what the Americanos call three cheers for what the same people also call a jim dandy of a man!”

"WILL YOU WAlK OUT OR BE KIOUD OUT?”