[Illustration: Little hands caught hold of him and fought with the current. Frontispiece. Page 30]
A DAUGHTER OF THE DONS
_A Story of New Mexico Today_
BY
WILLIAM MACLEOD RAINE
AUTHOR OF
WYOMING, BUCKY O'CONNOR, MAVERICKS, A TEXAS RANGER, BRAND BLOTTERS, RIDGWAY OF MONTANA, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED BY
D.C. HUTCHISON
[Illustration: Colophon.]
NEW YORK
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS
COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY
G.W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY
_A Daughter of the Dons._
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. DON MANUEL INTRODUCES HIMSELF 5
II. THE TWO GRANTS 15
III. FISHERMAN'S LUCK 27
IV. AT THE YUSTE HACIENDA 42
V. "AN OPTIMISTIC GUY" 61
VI. JUANITA 76
VII. TWO MESSAGES 88
VIII. TAMING AN OUTLAW 101
IX. OF DON MANUEL AND MOONLIGHT 111
X. MR. AINSA DELIVERS A MESSAGE 123
XI. THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY AND THE TWENTIETH 137
XII. "I BELIEVE YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH HER TOO" 149
XIII. AMBUSHED 159
XIV. MANUEL TO THE RESCUE 173
XV. ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD 193
XVI. VALENCIA MAKES A PROMISE 201
XVII. AN OBSTINATE MAN 213
XVIII. MANUEL INTERFERES 230
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Daughter of the Dons by William MacLeod Raine
- 2: That's the shafthouse of the Last Dollar
- 3: Bowed the New Mexican politely
- 4: His hand constantly on the lever
- 5: Senor he cried enthusiastically
- 6: Pesquiera glanced at the bandage round the head
- 7: Pesquiera talked with his hands and shoulders
- 8: Pesquiera threw up his neat little hands in despair
- 9: Pesquiera had overplayed his hand
- 10: Russet and brown and red peppered the slopes
- 11: Running open the noose of the lariat
- 12: A hop toad splashing in the puddle
- 13: You'll have to go back to the ranch with me
- 14: You are interested in Miss Valdes
- 15: Welcome to the Yuste hacienda
- 16: To find his hostess in corduroy skirt
- 17: You are familiar with the Valdes grant
- 18: The original grantee was Don Bartolome de Valdes
- 19: Miss Valdes would regret any trouble
- 20: It followed then that she must be Valencia Valdes
- 21: I took you to be Miss Maria Yuste
- 22: I'll not trouble you for the buggy
- 23: The clapper little person of Don Manuel Pesquiera
- 24: The senorita said I was to insist
- 25: I don't see why Miss Valdes let you come
- 26: Juanita and I will take care of him
- 27: A thousand curses take the gringo
- 28: Answered Pablo Menendez brusquely
- 29: Once again the swift color poured into the dark cheeks
- 30: Corbett answered his smile as she arranged the coverlets
- 31: Gordon got up on an elbow in his excitement
- 32: And right hot off the reel you hand one to this Pesky fellow
- 33: I guess Miss Valdes knows that already
- 34: Miss Valdes would recommend Mr
- 35: Davis hastened forward as fast as he could
- 36: And Dick picked up his hat from the dust
- 37: Dick shook his head imperturbably
- 38: From which a slim young Mexican was leading the sorrel
- 39: He's got every hawss trick there is
- 40: As to a signal the bronco rose
- 41: But no living man lays hands on Pedro Menendez
- 42: Then set his guitar down softly
- 43: Don Manuel never quickened her pulses
- 44: No matter how Manuel interpreted it
- 45: Pedro was troubled in his mind
- 46: He said he would horsewhip Pedro
- 47: AINSA DELIVERS A MESSAGE Back to Davis
- 48: Ainsa and have a talk with him
- 49: Ainsa met his persiflage promptly
- 50: Ainsa attempted to twirl his mustache
- 51: Ramon retailed the chicken shooting episode
- 52: And you must send Manuel to me
- 53: His walk took him past the San Miguel Church
- 54: Called at the office of his attorney
- 55: Don Bartolome for instance was not merely a cattleman
- 56: Taken from within the original Valdes grant
- 57: You have certainly stirred things up with your suit
- 58: Don't you reckon Santa Fe can stand a little stirring up
- 59: Pesquiera has hired them to watch you
- 60: Would you like to see the old Valdes house here in Santa Fe
- 61: The old Don wrote a stiff angular hand
- 62: Gordon told her the price he had paid
- 63: You're making a fight for the Rio Chama Valley
- 64: Presently the conversation drifted to the Valdes family
- 65: His shoulders began to sway forward
- 66: Occasionally her activities shocked Manuel
- 67: Valencia appeared on the porch dressed for riding
- 68: For the wrong she had done him Valencia asked forgiveness
- 69: Miss Valdes burned with impatience
- 70: Juanita gave the information sullenly
- 71: Juanita says that Pablo and Sebastian have gone to kill him
- 72: Pesquiera shook hands with Valencia
- 73: I'm going to Santa Fe to night
- 74: By a young Mexican one of Miss Valdes servants
- 75: Miss Underwood looked quickly at him
- 76: Davis that his friend had disappeared
- 77: Let's offer a reward for Pablo and Sebastian say
- 78: False clews in abundance were brought to Davis and Pesquiera
- 79: Interrupted Manuel impatiently
- 80: But Valencia brushed past and left the room
- 81: He saw that one of the men was Pablo Menendez
- 82: Senor retorted Pablo quietly
- 83: The eyes of the miner had grown hard and steelly
- 84: Of Menendez he asked an explanation
- 85: If these stood for Alvaro Valdes
- 86: Pablo flung back significantly
- 87: Miss Valdes must be backing Pesquiera
- 88: He stepped aside and let Pesquiera come into the hall
- 89: Most certainly it iss your right
- 90: He turned away and gave directions to Pablo
- 91: What have you done with Sebastian
- 92: Valencia turned to him impetuously
- 93: Was not Manuel in every way worthy of her love
- 94: Valencia passed on to her table
- 95: I reckon I'll have to try to look out for myself
- 96: Sebastian owns land under the Valdes grant
- 97: Miss Valdes turned to the older man
- 98: He did not ask of anyone where Valencia was
- 99: This quarrel lies between him and me
- 100: Surely your vanity He smiled a little sadly
- 101: Recognized the boy as Juan Gardiez
- 102: They had seen nothing of Pablo or of Sebastian
- 103: Then there's Miss Valdes and this Pesky fellow
- 104: His imagination wouldn't have put spooks on horseback
- 105: Gordon gave a sudden exclamation of dismay
- 106: There ain't a sign of a foothold below
- 107: Straight for the spitting rifles Don Manuel ran
- 108: Don Manuel bowed punctiliously to Gordon
- 109: He sank to his knees beside Gordon
- 110: She began to divide her time more equitably
- 111: Now about that wedding present
- 112: Stalwart young American if effrontery it was
- 113: Small wonder the gallant Spaniard Don Manuel loved her
- 114: She turned dim eyes on him and nodded
- 115: But Pesquiera did not say a word
- 116: She is back there in the milkhouse churning
- 117: Pablo had been her first lover
- 118: Title and interest in the Moreno grant to Valencia Valdes
- 119: Dick read the enclosed telegram and passed it to Pesquiera
- 120: Valencia was leaning across the balustrade of the stairway
- 121: I think a good deal of the prince consort