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The Li "Good enough!" he mi -, a fte. ?watching him for ? minute in silence, and leaving the new boss in commcn? he went back and started supper. That was tho beginning of a new day at the Eagle Tall, and v/hen De Lancey came back from town-whith er he went whenever he could conjure up an errand-he found that, for once, ho had not been missed. Dud was doing the blacksmithing, Amigo was directing the gang, and a fresh meBs of beans was on the fire, tho first kettleful having gone to rein force the Yaqui's backbone. But they were beans well spent, and Bud did not regret the raid on his grub-pile. If ho could get half as much work for what he fed the Mexicana be could well rest content. "But how did 'his Indian happen to find you?" den. led Phil, when his pardner had ex, led hi? acquisition. "Say, ho mus > . deserted from his company wi .aey brought then, back from "zuma!" "More"' ikcly." assented Bud. "Ho ain't ta.Kin-- n 'i, but I notice ho keeps hiB eye c -?-they'd shoot In for a deserter if they "ould ketch him. I'd hate to see him go tl ot way." "Well, If he's as good as this, let's take caro of him!" cried Phil with enthusiasm. "I'll tell you, ? j, there's something big coming off j ?tty soon and I'd like to ?tay arm- -1 town a little more If I coule*, i * . -t to keep track of things." "P'r instance? ?.???o od Hooker dryly. It had c k \K '. that Phil was spending a gi d dr-, of time in town already. "Well, there's tl-n ." .utlon. Sure aa shooting they're; go ? 5 to poll one soon. There's two \3u . sand Mexican miners working at Fo-tuna, and they say every ono of Vu bas got a rifle burled. Kow they're beginning to quit and drift out into the hills, and we're likely to hear from them any time." "AU the moro reason for staying in camp, then," remarked Bud. "I'll tell you. Phil, I need you here. That dogged ledge ie lost, good and plenty, and I need you Yo say where to dig. We ain't doing much better than old Aragon did-Just rooting around In that rock pile-let'n do a little timber? lng, and sink." "You can't timber that rock," an swered De Lr-.ncey decidedly. "And besides, lt's cheaper to make a cut twenty feet deep than it Is to tunnel or sink a shaft. Walt th' we get to that porphyry contact - then well know where? we're at." "All right," grumbled Bud; "Lut seems like we're a long timo getting there. What's the news downtown?" "Well, tho fireworks have begun again over in Chihuahua-Orozco and Salazar and that bunch-but it seems there was something to this Mocte suma Beare, after all. I was talk',ag to an American mining man from down that way and bo told me that the fed ?rala marched out to where the rebelB were and then sat down and watched them cross tho river without firing on them-some kind of an understanding between Bernardo Bravo and these blackleg federals. .The only fighting there waa was when a bunch of twenty Taquia got away from their offlcera in the rough country and went after Bernardo Bm vo by their lonesome. That threw a big scare into him, too, but he man aged to fight them off-and if I wai 'making a guess I'd bet that your Yaqui friend waa one of that fighting twenty?' "I reckon," assented Bud; "but don't you say nothing. I need that hombre In my business. Come on, let's go up . and look at that cut-I come across an old board today, down In the muck, and I bet you lt's a piece that Kruger left. Funny we don't come across some of his tools, though, or the hole Where the powder went off." "When we do that," observed Phil, "we'll be where we're going. Nothing to do then but lay off the men and v^?t till I get tty papera. That's why I Say don't hurry eo- hard-we- haven't got our title to this claim, pardner, and .are wont gs?. f?her-not for some time yet fe e yo-.i'd bit thin ledge-" "Well, If I hit it/ rceiarked Bud, "111 B tay with lt-you can trust mc tor that Hello. whL-.s tho Yaqui found?" As they came up me f*ttS Amigo quit work and, while tb.- i.Ih/'ca?. j followet! suit and gatbert 1 v ipectontlj oeblnc him, be picked jp .hree - y drillt and an Iron drill'01 (ja anu 7rc3ente? them to Bud. ?Jvldently he bad 1-amcd the object of their search from ;hc Mexicans, bul ii be looked for any demonstrations o! dolight at eight cn tl eso much-sought ' for tools ha was doon- ed to disappoint ment tor both vud and Phil hat schooled themselves to keep' theil faces straight. "Um-rn," said Bud, "old drills, eh Where yon find tbeai?" -The Yaqui lad the way to the fact of the cut and showed the spot, a hob beneath, the pile of riven rock; ant ? a Mexican, not to be outdone, grabbet taedjt__._._ r and of B By DANDE -'"j. '." fi.. -'?Ml, pawing solemnly "ouno " c ..J LU j ra of the bole; and t. - ....?5 bia handkerchief with fine dit Sc carriol " own to the creek. Vhere. ..? .. ii er's pan, he washed it out \ refill -. ??.'' liping the waste over thc irling the water around . only a little dirt was lef .. bottom of the pan. Then, while ai '.*.*' 'exicans looked on, he t.,,* ? toward tho edge, scanning ..ie ?.V. remnant for gold and quit wi ti ~ ccior. "Nada!" i ..ud, throwing down tho pan, and som?3 .? . the Mexi cans sensed t ..int tl* i mine had turned out a ? ' ? times he -went back to bud F ooped up the barren di d then 'old the mea they coul. "No more wc he raid, n"ectlng a effected bitterness; un* nada <s nottilng!" A?tU with this sad, U" uo means unusual, ending to tbei. (~e, the Mexicans went away o th. imp, speculating among i tinsel ..a to whether they could ge. Uielr ,.ay. But when the last of then. '\ad gone Phil beckoned Bud into the tent and showed bim a piece of iarts. "Juut ts!:'1 a .U?K . ? ,h.i... un oitid, and a single glance '.-' ' Hooker that it was full of a .es of gold. "I plckec . ... up M b?.. .ney weren't looking," whispered De Laacey, hts eyes dancing with triumph. "It's the same rock-the samo as Kruger's 1" "Well, put 'er there, then, par du or!" cried Bud, grabbing at. De Lancey'a hand; "we've struck it!" And with a broad grin on their de ceitful faces they danced silently around the tent, after which they paid off the Mexicans and bade them "adios!" CHAPTER XIV. It ls a great sensation-striking lt rich-one ot the greatest in tho world. Borne men punch a burro over the desert all their lives ia the hope ot achieving lt once; Bud and Phil had taken a chance, and the prize now lay within their grasp. Only a little while now -a month, maybe,- if the officials were, alow-and the .title would be' theirs. I The l?exlcan miners, blinded by thalr ignorance, went their way, weil contented to get iheir money. Nobody knew. There was nothing to do hut to wait. Bet io walt, as some people know, ia tbn hardest work in the world. For the first few days they lingered about the . mine, gloating over lt in secret, laughing back and forth, stag ing gay Bongo-then, as the ecstasy passed and the weariness of walting set In. they west two ways. Bonis fascination, unexplained to Bud, drew Le Lancey to the town. Ho left in tho morning and carno back at night, but Hooker stayed at.the mine. Day and night, week-days and Bun days, he watched it Jealously, lest someone should slip in and surprise their secret-and for company be had ila pet horse. Copper Bottom, and the Yaqui Indian, Amigo, . ignacio was the indian's real name, for the Yaquis are all good Catholics and named uniformly after the aalnts; but Bud had started to call bim Amigo, or friend, and Ignacio had conferred the same nam? on him. Poor Ignacio I His four-dollar day ! job had gone glimmering In ?ia.lt a day, but when the Mexican 1?. bo re rs ' departed he lingered around the camp, < doing odd jobs, until ho won a place . for himself. \ At night be slept up tn the rocks, ' where no treachery' could take him . unaware, but at the first peep Ot dawn it was always Amigo who arose and . Ut the fire. j Then; if no ono got up. he cooked a j breakfast after his own'ideas, boiling Ute coffee until it was as strong as lye, broiling-meat on sticks, and went to turn ont the horses. With the memory of many envious glances cast at Copper Bottom, Hooker had built a stout corral, where he kept the horses up at night, allowing them to grace close-hobbledin the daytime. A Mexican insurrecto oa foot is a contradiction bf terms, if there arv any horses or mules in the* country, and sevoral hands of ex-miners from Fortuna bsd gone through their camp in that condition, with new rifles in their nanda. But If they had any de signs on the Eagle Tall live stock they speedily gave them np; for, while ho would feed them and even listen to their false tales of patriotism, Bud had no respect for numbers when lt esme to admiring his horse. Even 'with the Ynqui, much as hs trusted him, he had reservations about Copper Bottom; and anco, when ho found him petting him and stroking his hose, he shook his head forbid dingly. And from that day on, chough he watered Copper Bottom and eared for bia wanta, . Amigo was careful never to caress him. , /. Bat in sll other natter*, even to lending him his gun. Bud trusted the Yaqui absolutely. It waa about a w?.f.k after ko carno to cacsp that Amir" sighted a dcor, and when ^ud loam .. .' / . ' ' COOLIDGE tam ?1U rifle '. o efl . ?iii a emt,... shot / Sf >a a.* *"1 ne cunio Ir ping bawlc fro; - a > trip and made sipriB for c. c n, and thia ti 'ie brr ugh' ng peccary, wi no ro?ate- t, Indian style. er that, meat was low, Hu,. ,.-nt him ant, and each timo ho brough.. . . ? a wild hog or a deer for every cartridge. The one ?rubs under which the Yaqui Buffered was tho apparent falb uro of the mine, and, after slipping up Into the cut a few times, he finally came back radiant , "Mira!" he said, holding out a piece of rock; and when Hooker gazed at the chunk of quartz he pointed to tho specks of gold and grunted, "Oro!" "Seguro!" answered Bud, and going down Into his pocket, he produced an- j Two Men, One of Them ? Rurale!" other like it. At this the Yaqui cocked his hoad to one side and regarded him strangely. "Why you no dig gold?" he asked at last, and then Dud told him the story. "We havo an enemy," he said, "who might ?teal lt from us. So now we wait for papers. When we get them, ?we dig!" "Ah!" breathed Amigo, his face sud denly clearing up; "and can I work for you then?" "SI," answered Bud, "for four dol lars a day. But now you help me watch, so nobody comes." "Stawono!" exclaimed the Indian, well satisfied, and after that he spent hours on the hilltop, hlB black head thrust cut over tho Crest like a chuck a wal la lizard aa ho- Conned the land below. '"*"?* ^ r So the day3 went by until throe weeks had passed, and still 'no papers carno. Ae hin anxiety Increased Phil fell Into the patyj of staying in town overnight, and finally ho was gone for two days. The third day was drawing to a close, and Bud wan getting rest less, when suddenly he beheld the Yaqui bounding down the bill In great leaps and making signs down the canyon. "Two.men!" he called, dashing up to the tent; "one of them a rural!" "Why a rural?" asked Bud, mysti fied. "To take me!" cried Amigo, striking himself violently on th? breast. "Lend me your rifle!" "No," answered Bud, after a pause; "you might get into trouble. Run and bide . In the rocks-I will signal you when to come back." "Muy bien," said the Yaqui obedi ently, and, turning, he went up over rocka like a xnountain-ehebp, bounding from boulder1 to boulder Until be dis appeared 'among tho hilltops. Then, aa Bud brought in his horse and shut bim hastily tosida his corral, the two indera came around the point-? rural and Aragon!1 Now, in; Mexico a rural, aa Bud wei* knew, means trouble-and Aragon meant mora trouble, trouble for hun. Certainly, BO busy a man aa Doh Cipri ano would not come clear to his camp to help capture a Yaqui deserter. Bud sensed it from th? start that this waa another attempt lo get possession ot their mine, and he awaited their com ing grimly. " *S tardes," he said In reply to the rural's abrupt enlute, and then he stood silent before his tent, looking them over shrewdly. The rural waa a hard-looking citizen, as many ot them are, , but On . this occasion he seemed V trifle embarrassed, glancing Inquiringly at Aragon. Aa for Aragon, ne was1 gazing et a long lice of Jerked meat which Amigo had hung out to diy, and his drooped, eye! opened up suddenly as be turned bia cold regvurd upon Hooker. -' <'Sonor," t?o said? speaking with ali i ccu s lng harshness, "wo aro looking for the mon who are stealing my omises. cattle, ?nd 1 s ' <a?e no lar -o go. Whero did >o;-. tnt that meat?" "I got lt from i dcor," returned Bud; "thero lo hi:1 m the fence; you can see lt if you'll look." The rural, glad >? croat % a diver sion, rodo over and cv inLr.ed l'ii? hide and came back eat nl??i? out Aragou was not so easily appeut -.1. "By what right," he demeuded truc ulently, "do you,, an American, kill deer in our country? Have y "Un special permit which ls required t "No, sunor," answered Ho-;!,... "r* berly; "the deer was killed by a Mex ican I have working for me!" "Ha!" sneered Aragon, aud then be paused, balked. "Where is this Mexican?" inquired the rural, bis professional instincts aroused, and wblle*nud waB explaining that he was out in tho billa some where, Aragon spurred his horse up dos? r aad tw- curiously into hts tent "V hat ore looking for?" de mai: ' M' J I.ok' rply, and then Ara gon uowci n._ -id. "1 nm looking for the drills and drill spoon," ho said; "the ones you stole when you took my mine!" "Then get back out of there!" cried Bud, seizing bis horse by the blt and throwing bim back on his haunches; "und etay out!" he added, as be dropped his hand to his gun. "But if the rural wishes to search," be said, turning to that astounded official, "he 1B welcome to do so." "Muchas gracias, no!" returned the rural, shaking a-finger in front of bis face, and then he strode over to where Aragon was muttering and ?poko in a low tone. "No!" dissented Aragon, shaking his bead violently; "no-no! I want this man arrested 1" ho cried, turning vin dictively upon B,(id. "He has stolen my tools-my mine-my land! He Ima no business here-no title! This land is mine, and I tell bim to go. Pronto!" be shouted, menacing Hooker with his rldtug-whip, hut Bud uuiy shifted hls! feet and stopped- listening to his ex cited Spanish. "No, senor," he said, when it was all over, "this claim, j belongs to my pard ner. De Lancey.,' ?tfou have no-" "Ha! De Lancey!" Jeered Aragon, suddenly indulging himself in a sar donic laugh. "Do Lancey! Ha, ba!" "What's the matter?" cried Hooker, os the rural Joined In with a derisive smirk. "Say, speak up, hombre!" he threatened, stepping closer as his eyes took on a dangerous gleam. "And let me tell you now," ho added, "that if any man touches a bair of MB head l il hill him like a dog!" T' s i ral backed his horse away, as If huuuenly discovering that the Amer ican was dangerous, and then, salut ing respectfully as be took his leave, he said: "The Senor De Lancey ls in Jail!" They whirled their horses at that and galloped off down the canyon, and aa Bud gazed after them he burst into a frenzy of curses. Then, with the one thought of setting Phil free, he ran out to the corral and hurled the saddle on hie hone. It was through some chicanery, ho knew-some low-down trick on the part of Aragon-that his pardner had been Imprisoned, and he swore to have him out or know the reason why. . R' thur that or he would go after A rag' and take it out of - his hide. It was outside Buds simple coi even to question his pardnei'a inno cence, but, innocent or guilty, he would have him out If he had to tear down the Jail. So ho slapped his saddle-gun into the sling, reached for his quirt, and vent dashing down the canyon. At a turn in the road he came suddenly upon ' Aragon and the rural, spilt a way between ?hem, and . leaned for ward as Copper Bottom burned up the trail. ? lt was long sines the shiny sorrel hsd been given hts hesd, and be need ed neither whip nor spurs- -but a mile or two down the arroyo Bud suddenly reined him in and looked behind. Then he turned abruptly np the hillside and jumped him out on a point, looked again, and rode slowly back up the trail. Aragon and the rural were not in sight-the question was, were they following? For a short distaoce bo rodo warily, not to be. surprised In his suspicion; then, ss ho found tracks turning back, he gave head to his horse and galloped swiftly tb camp. The horses of the men he sought stood at the edge of the mine-dump, and, throwing bis brfdle-reln down be? side them, Bod leaped off and rvri up tbe caf. ' Then he stopped short and reached for his six-shooter. The two men were up at the ead, down on their knees, and digging like dogs after a rabbit ' ? So-eager were they in their search so confident tn their fancied security, that 'tiiey never looked*up from their work, and the tram p o? Hoo.r jr's boots was 'drowned by their grabbing until he stood above thom. Thoro 'bo paused, his pistol in hand; and waited grimly foT developments. .-"Hal" cried Arag?n, gTr^bi* 7 St * piece of quarts that esme -.^ 1 lo io.! ..Kl I,-Fi tftog?T- Tie tire r a second "piece "rom hlB pocket and placed them together. "It ls tho same!" he said. Still half-burled in tho excavation, he turned suddenly as a shadow crossed h'm, to get the light, und his ! Jaw dropped at tho sight or Hud. "I'll trouble you for that rock," ob served Hud, holding out his bund, and as the rura' tumped, Aragon handed over the oro "hero was a moment's silence as Hut >d over '-then he stepped ba. and mo them out with MB gun. Down the Jagged cut the. rrled, awed Into a guilty silence by his an ger, and when he let them mount without a word the rural looked back, surprised. Even then Dud said noth ing, but the swing of the Texan's gun spoke for him, and they rode quickly Out of sight. "You dad-burned greasers!" growled Dud, returning his pistol with a Jab to its holster. Then he looked at tho ore. There were two pieces, one fresh dug and the other worn, and as he ga*zod at them the worn piece seemed strungely familiar. Aragon had been comparing them-but where had ho got the worn piece? Once more Dud looked lt over, and then the rock fell from his hand. It was the first piece they had found" the piece that belonged to Phil! CHAPTER XV. When the solid earth qunkes, though it move but a thousandth of an Inch beneath our feet, the humun brain reels and we become dizzy, sick and afraid. So, too, at the thought that . some truste*' '-iond has played ue I false, the mi -ns back upon Itself aud we dor ht . stability of every- . thing-foi - :.. ?ni. Then, ae we I find all the '.eos ..traight up, the world intact, ?MI-'' *' y hills In their proper places, . a i thc treacherous doubts asir"- ai 'tB'.cn ?J the voice of reason. . i awful moment Hooker saw hh . t '. strayed by his friend, either thi .. weakness or through guile; tt?'d il.on his mind straightened itself ' .e remembered that Phil was in ..'hat more natural, then, than that Hit. rurales should search h i H pockets and give the' ore to Aragon? He | stooped and picked up tho chunk of . rt '- -that precious, pocket-worn spec- I ' that bad brought them the first 1 I :e of success-and wiped it on j In. ... eve. Mechanically he placed it beside tho < other pleco which Aragon, had gouged ' from the edgo, and while he gazed at them he wondered what to do-to I leave their mino and go to IIIB friend, or to let his friend walt and stand guard by their treasure-and bia heart told him to go to his friend. So he swung up on his horse nnd followed slowly, and as soon as lt was dark' he rode secretly through Old Fortuna and on till he came to tho Sall lt waa a square stone structure, built across the street from the can tina in order to be convenient for the drunks, and as Bud rode up close and stared at it, some ono hailed him through the bars. dlo thqre, pardner," called Hook .1 ?ringing down and striding over to ..io l-'-.ck winnow, "how long have they h'? J you in here?" "Two drys," answered Phil from the inner daraness; "but it neem s like a lifetime to me. Say, Dud, there's a Mexican in here thia's got the Jim jams-regular tequila Jag-can't you get me eut?" "Well, I euro will!" answered Bud; "what have they got you in for? Where's dur friend, Don Juan? Why didn't he-let me know?" "You can search me!" railed De Lancey. "Seems like everybody quita you down here the minute you get into trouble. 1 got.arrested night be fo?-? last by those'd-d rurales 7 anoel Del Rey wes behind lt, you v-an bet your life on that-and I've been hero ever since!" "Well, What .'? vou pinched for? *Vho do I go ? i. t.V' . "Pinched for nothing!" cried De Lancey bitterly. "Pinched because I'm a Mexican citizen and can't pro ,'.-t jtfyeelft' I'm incomunicado for three deya!" "Weil, I'll get you out, all right," said Hooker, leaning closer against the bars. "Here, have a smoke- did they frisk you of your makings?" "No!" ansppod De Lancey crossly, "but I'm out of everything by this time. Bud, I tell you I've had a time of Itt They threw me tn here with thia crazy, murdering Mexican and I haven't had a wink of sleep for two days. He's quiet now, but 1 dont want any more." "Well, say," began Bud again, "what are you charged with? Maybe I can grease somebody's paw and get you ont tonight!" There was an awkward pause at this, and finally De Lancey dropped his white face against the bara and bia voice became low and beseeching. "I'll tell you, Bud," he said, "I haven't been quite on the square with you-I've been holding out a little. But you know how lt ls-When a fel low's in love. I've been going to seo Gracia!" "Oh!"commented Hooker,and Blood very quiet while he waited. ! "Yea, I've been going to see her," hurried on Ph li. "1 know I promised; I but, honest, Bud, 1 couldn't help lt. lt just seemed as If my wjiole being I waa wrapped up in her, and I had to do lt. She'd be looking for me when I came and wont-nnd then I fixed it with ber maid to take ber a letter. And then I met her secretly, back by the garden gate. Yon know they've lot some holes punched in the wall loopholed during tho fight last sum-? mer-and we'd-** I !.. !3? take your -word Jor that," ! "What Are You Pinched For-r broke In Hooker liai ably, r'i\\il gel To the point! What ure you pinched for?" "Well," went on De Lancey, hir voice quavering at the reproof, "1 was going to tell you, if you'll liaten to nie. Somebody saw us there and told Ara gon-he shut her up for a punishment and she slipped mo out a note-well, 1 couldn't stund lt-I hired tho string baud and wo went down there In a hack to give lier a serenade. Hut this cad, Manuel del Hey, who has been acting like r, jealous ass all along, swooped down on us with a detach ment of his rurales and took 41s al! to ?all. He let tho musicians out the next morning, but I've been "hero ever Bince." "Yea, and what are you charged with?" demunded Hud brusquely. "Drunk," confessed Phil, and Hud grunted. "Huh!" he said "and me out watch ing that mine night and day!" "Oh, I know I've done you dirt, Hud." walled Do Lancoy; "but I didn't mean to, and I'll never>do lt again." "Never do what?" inquired Hud roughly. "I won't touch another drop ol booze as long us I'm lu Mexico!" cried Phil. "Not a drop!" "And how about the girl?" continued Hud inexorably. "Her old man wa? out and tried to jump our mino today how about her?" "Well," faltered De Lancey, 'TU Bbc-" "You know your promise!" reminded Bud. . .. . ; "tea; I know.. But-ob, Bud, if you know how loyal I've been to you-if you knew ?what offers I've resisted the mino stundB in my name, you know." "Well?" "Well, Aragon came around to me lost week and.said, if I'd give him 0 half interest in lt he'd-well, never mind-lt wuB a great temptation. But did I fall for lt? Not on your Ufo! I know you, Hud, and I know you're hon ost-you'd stay by me to the last ditch, and I'll do tho sumo by you. But I'm In love, Hud, and that would make a man forget his promise if be wasn't true as steel." "Yes," commented Hooker dryly. "I don't reckon I eau count on you much from now on. Hero, take a look at this and see what you make of lt." HO draw thc plcco ot oro that ho had taken from Aragon from lils pocket and held lt up in the moonlight. "Well, feel of it, then," be said. "Shucks, you ought to know that piece of rock, Phil -it's the first one ve found in our mine!". "No!" exclaimed De Lancey, start ing back; "why-where'd you get lt?" "Never mind where I got it!" an swered Hooker. "The question ia: What did you do with lt?" "Well, I might os well como through with it," confessed Phil, the last of his aBsurintd gone. "I gave lt to Gracia!" "And I took lt away from Aragon," continued Bud, "while ho was digging somo more chunks out of our mine. So that ls your idea of being true as steel, ls lt,? You've done noble by me and Kruger, haven't you? Yes, you've been a good pardner, I don't think!" "Well; don't throw mo down, Bud!" pleaded Phil. "There's some mistake somewhere. Her father must have found it and taken lt away! I'd stake my life on lt that Gracia would never betray me!" '.Well, think lt over for a while," suggested Bud, edging his words with sarcasm. 'Tm going up to the hotel!" "No; come back!" cried De Lancey, clamoring at the -bars. "Come on bock, Bud! Here!" he said, thrust ing his hand out through the heavy 1 irena. "I'll give you my word for it j -I won't see her again until we get our title! Will that satisfy you? Then give mo your band, pardner-I'm sorry . I did you wrong!" j "It ?ln't mb," replied Hooker sober ly, SB he took the trembling hand; "lt's Kruger. But'if you'll keep your word, Phil, maybe we can win out yet. I'm I going up to find tho comisarlo." -1 A brief Interview with that smiling Individual and the case of Phil De Lancey watt laid bare. He had been engaged lit a desperate rivalry with Manuel de! Rey tot the bund of Gra-1 cia Aragon, and hts present incarcera tion waa not only for singing rag-time beneath the Aragon windows, but for trying' to whip the captain of the ru rales when the latter tried to place him ni der arrest " 'And L e Lancey was the prisoner not 6f ino eoni Uar io, but cit th? captai ti of the rurales. . gorajUJioart, Dud rodo { ? . ? ff ?,.-?--. > ... -M.-t i -olTThrbugh the 'Mexican quarters to the cuartel of the rurales, but the cap tain was inexorable. "No, seuor," he said, waving an elo quent Unger before li in nose, "I cannot release your friend. No, senor!" "But what is he charged with?" per sisted Hud, "and when 1B iii? trial? You can't keep him shut up without a trial." At this tlie captain of the rurales lifted his eyebrows and one closely waxed mustachio and smiled mysteri ously. "Y como no?" he inquired. "And why not? Is be not n Mexican citi zen?" "Well, perhaps he la!" thundered Hud. suddenly rising to his full'height, "but 1 am hot! I am an Amorican, senor capitan, and 'there are other Americans! If ' you hold my friend without a trial I will come and tear your Jail down-and tho comisarlo will not Bf?p me, either!" "Ah!" observed the dandy little cap tain, shrugging his mustachio once more and blinking, and while Hooker raged back and forth he looked him over appraisingly. "One moment!" he said at lae!, rais ing a quieting hand. "These are peril ous times, senor, in which all tho de fenders of Fortuna should stund to gether. I do not wiall to have a dif ference with the Americans when Ber nardo Bravo and hie men are inarch ing to take our town. No, I value tho friendship, of the valiant Americans very highly-so I will let your friend go. But first he must promise me ono thing-not to trouble the Honor Ara gon by making further love to his daughter!" "Very well!" replied Bud. "Ho haB already promised that to me; so come on and let him out." "To you?" repeated Manuel del Rey with a faint smile. "Then, perhaps-" ' "Perhaps nothing!" broke lu Hooker shortly. "Come onl<* He led the way impatiently while the captain, his ?aber clanking, strodO out and rodo beside him. He WBB not a big man, thia swashing captain of the rural police, bin he was master, nevertheless, ot a great district, from Fortuna to the line, with a reputation . for quick work lu the pursuance of hts duty no well as in the primrose ways of love. Ip the insurrections and raldlngs of the previous summer he had given tho coup de grace with his revolver tb more than one embryo bandit, and in his love affairs ho hud shown that he could'be equally summary ^ Tho elegant Fells I-urtu, who for a time had lingered near the charming Gracia, had finally found himself up against a pair of pistols with the op tton of either flghtlug Captain del Hoy pr returning to his parents. Tho young Sion concluded to beat a retreat For " like offense -Philip. Be, Lancey had been unceremoniously thrown into jail; and now the capitan turnod hut attention tc Bud Hooker, whose mind he bod not yet fathomed. "Excuse me, senor," he said, after a brief silence, "but your words left mb In doubt-whether to regard you as a friend Or a rival." "What?" demanded Bud, whose knowledge of Spanish did not extend to the elegancies. "You said," explained the. captain politely, "that your friend had prom ised you he would not trouble the lady further. Does that mean that you are interested in her yourself, or merely that you perceive tho hopelessness of bis suit and wish to protect him from a greater evil that may well befall him? For look you, senor, the girl in , mine, mid no man can come between us!" "Huh!" snorted Bud. who caught the last all right Then he huighed shortly and shrugged his sboulfHrs. Ill don't know what you're talking abou?* he said gruffly, "but he will stay away, all right." "Muy bien," responded Del Rey care lessly and, dismounting at the jail, be threw open tho door and stood asido for his rival to como 'out. "Muchas gracias, se?or capitan," sa luted Bcd, HB the door1 clanged to be hind his pardner. Hut Phil still bristled with anger and defiance, and the cap tain perceived that there would be no thanks from him. "It ls nothing," ho replied, bowing politely, and something in the way ho said it made De Lancey choko with rage. But there by tho careel door was not the place for picking quarrels. They went to the hotel, where Don Juan, all apologies for ills apparent neglect-which he excused on tho ground that De Lancey had been held Incomunicado-placated them as beat he could and hurried on to the news. "My gracious, Don Felipe," he cried, "you don't know how'sorry I was to see you in jail, but the captain's or ders were that no one should go near you-and la Mexico we obey the ru rales, you know! Otherwise we ara placed against a wall and shot "But have you heard the news from down below? Ah, what terrible times they are having there-ranches raldod, women stolen, rich men held for ran eo m ! Yes, it is worse than ever! Al ready I am receiving telegrams to pre par? rooms for the refugees, and the people are coming In Crowds. "Our friend, the'Senor Luna, and his son Fells have been taken by Ber nardo Bravo I Only by an enormous ransom was he able to sa va his wife and daughters, and bia friends must now pay for him. "At thc ranch cf tbs rich Spaniard, Alvarez, there has been a great battle tn which the red-floggers were defeat ed with losses. NOW Bernardo Bravo swears he will avenge bis men, and Alvares baa armed bia Yaqui work men. "He ia a brave man, thia Colonel Alvares, and h 13 Yaquis are all war riors from Uta hills, but Bernardo ha?