There was, it is true, considerable hilarity, smoking, and some gambling there until a late hour, but this could not be said to interfere with the rest and comfort of other people.

A clue to the mystery of so extraordinary a propriety was given by Jovita herself.

One day she walked into Parks' Emporium and demanded an interview with the proprietor.
"You have made the rules for thees Booki ?" "Yes--that is--I and my friends have." "And when one shall not have mind the rule--when one have say, 'No! damn the rule,' what shall you make to him?
Shall you aprison him ?" Mr.Parks hastened to say with a superior, yet engaging smile that it never had been necessary, as the rules were obligatory upon the honor and consent of all--and were never broken.

"Except," he added, still more engagingly, "she would remember, in her case--with their consent." "And your caballeros break not the rules ?" "No." "Then they shall not break the rules of me--at MY TIENDA! Look! I have made the rule that I shall not have a caballero drunk at my house; I have made the rule that I shall not sell him the aguardiente when he have too mooch.

I have made the rule that when he gamble too mooch, when he put up too mooch money, I say 'No!' I will not that he shall! I make one more rule: that he shall not quarrel nor fight in my house.