The Anderson daily intelligencer. (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, July 07, 1914, Image 7
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?