The Spaniard sat in a round armed wooden chair, gracefully smoking a cigarette, while his guests busied themselves making purchases. First the boys bought some new clothes, which they retired behind a counter to put on, and emerged in proper apparel for the plains.
Blue flannel shirts, and pants of the same color, held up by leather belts, with much glitter of silver on them, then they bought a sombrero apiece, not after the Mexican style, but of the American type. Jim had a red band around his and Jo had a blue.
"Now we want some handkerchiefs to tie around our necks," said Jo.
"Of course," remarked Jim with a wink, "something that will catch the eyes of the ladies."
So M. Gonsalves brought out a brilliant assortment of handkerchiefs.
"Here's a very fine article, gents," he said holding out a red silk handkerchief, clustered with white horseshoes.
"Nothing the matter with that," admitted Jim admiringly, with a droll look at Jo. "But this plain red one will suit me. My brother would probably like the horseshoe one." But Jo also declined.
"I will take the dark blue one," he said, "it matches my costume better."
"Gee! but you will look like a color scheme," laughed Jim, "blue eyes, blue pants, shirt, tie and socks, and hat band, you ought to be a sailor on the blue Pacific."
"The next things are boots," remarked Jo.