The Federals had plenty of money to buy mounts.
Whom did Don Ricardo suspect?
The old man was non-committal. Suspicion was one thing, proof was
quite another; and conviction was difficult under the best of
circumstances. Why, even a cow's recognition of her own calf was
not evidence for a court, and alibis were easily proven. Unless
the thieves were caught in the very act there was no case against
them, and--por Dios!--one could not be for ever on guard. Who
could tell where the malefactors would strike next? Now, in Mexico
one could afford to kill an undesirable neighbor without so much
formality. But, thank God! Don Ricardo was not a Mexican. No, he
was a good American citizen. It was something to make him sleep
well in these war-times.
"Just the same, I'll bet he'd sleep better if the Lewis outfit was
cleaned up," Dave ventured, and Blaze agreed.
Guzman caught his enemy's name and nodded.
"Ah! That sin verguenza! He sells arms to the Candeleristas and
horses to the Potosistas. Perhaps he steals my calves. Who knows?"
"Senor Lewis doesn't need to steal. He has money," Jones argued.
"True! But who is so rich that he would not be richer? Lewis
employs men who are poor, and he himself is above nothing.
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