tricks and secrets of his profession. He had found that the Mexicans
were good buyers, if handled scientifically, for they would never
leave the store until they had spent all their money. Therefore, in
order to encourage our customers, we kept a barrel of firewater under
the counter as a trade starter. One or more drams of old Magnolia
would start the ball to roll finely. Our merchandise cost mark was
made up from the words, "God help us!" Every letter of this pious
sentiment designated one of the numbers from one to nine and a cross
stood for naught. When I said to uncle, "No wonder that our business
prospers under this mark--God help us!--but say, who helps our
customers?" he was nonplussed for a moment, and then he laughed
heartily and said that this had never worried him yet.

There was not much money in circulation in New Mexico at that time,
as the country was without railroads and too isolated to market farm
produce, wool and hides profitably. Mining for gold was carried on at
Pinos Altos, near the southern boundary, but the Apaches did not
encourage prospecting to any extent. During the period of the
discovery of gold in California, in the days of "forty-nine," the
people of New Mexico had become quite wealthy through supplying the
California placer miners with mutton sheep at the price of an ounce
of gold dust per head, when muttons cost half a dollar on the Rio
Grande. At that rate of profit they could afford the time and expense
of driving their herds of sheep to market at Los Angeles, even though
the Apaches of Arizona took their toll and fattened on stolen mutton.



CHAPTER VI. INDIAN LORE. THE WILY NAVAJO