The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-08-27
CHAPTER ~.

imam duWh 10 the present day the
world has been full OF young men
sworn To friendship and seeking ad.
venture In pairs "Pardnera.' they call
them In the west. and though the word
has not crept into the dictionary yet.
II ~ as different from partner" as a
friend IL from business associate.
They travel together. these PARTNERS
OF the West. and whether they be COW
boys or Cousin Jacks" the boss who
hroa one OF them hrcs both OF them.
and they go share and share In every.
thing.
bud Hooker and Philip DE Lancey
had met by chance In III Paso when
the revolution was just beginning to
boil and the city was swarming with
Adventures. The agents OF the rebels
we're everywhere. urging Americans to
Join their cause, Military preferment.
cash payments. and grants of land
were the bats they used, but Hooker
stood out from the first and took DE
Laneey with him. A Mexican promise
aid not pass current where he was
born and they went to the mines In
stead
Then the war broke out and, while
fugitiveB streamed out OF stricken
Chihuahua. they finally struck out
against the tide. lighting their way TO
u certain mine far back In the Sierra
Madrea. where they could dig the gold
On shares.
Behind them the battle wRged !.
Casaa Granden was taken and retaken:
Juarez. Aqua Negra and chihuahua
fell: Don Poriirlo. the Old Man OF Mex.
leo. went out aud Madero took his
place. and stin they worked for their
stake.
Then new arms and ammunition
flowed IN from across the border:
0rozco and bis rebel chiefs went out.
and tho breath OF war tanned higher
against tho hills. Al last the first
broken band OF rebels came struggling
by. and. reading hate and envy
In their mwless eyes. the Americans
dug up their gold at shutdown and rode
all tho night for their lives.
And now. welded together by all that
toll and danger. they were pardners.
eherluhing no delusiona as to each
others strength or weaknesses. but
Joined together for better or worse.
II was the last thing that either Of
them expected. but three days after
they fed out OF Mexico. and with all
their money unspent. the hand OF fate
seized upon them and sent them back
TO another adventure.
Il was early morning again. with
crowds along the street. and as they
amhled slowly along toward tho line
the men on tho corners stared at them
The bunch OF cowboys saEed at bud.
Who aported new pair OF high. heeled
boots, and knew him by the way he
rode; and tho mining men looked
searchingly at he Laneey. as II to
guess the secret of his quest
A squad of mounted troopers. riding
out ou border patrol. Eaacd after them
questloningly. but bud and Phil rode
on sohcrly. leading their pack. and
headed for Aqua NeEra across the line
u was a grim place to look az. this
border town OF Aqua Negra. for tho
war had swept Il twice, A broad waste
Of level land lay between Il and the
prosperous American city. and across
this swath. where tho Mausers and
machine guns had twice moved. lay
the huddle OF low houses which
marked the domain OF Mexico
Pussy little customs officials. turk,
lng like spiders IN their cooped-u up
guardhoaaes. rushed out "a they
crossed the deep trench and demanded
their permit 10 bear arms The mo.
ment they crossed the tine the air
seemed 10 be poryaded with Latin ex-
citahility aud Indian jealousy but he
l'ancey Fvptied IN nertd spanish and
before his polite assurances and bil
some compliments Il was dlsslpated in
a nomcnt
Good Pass ca, amigos" crtcd the
eeady eyed little isfe. pastlnE label
GA their pack "Adtos. seuor~ he
added. returning Phils salute with
military flourish. and with scerufut
stance AZ iud he ohsrrvsd that the
Ecatloman Was muy caballcro
Huh" remarked nnd. a. thoy rods
on through the town. wore in Mexico
al right sill ttEht Talk with both
hasds aud set busy wth your eye
bTo~~ and boiy Joe. i0oS Al then
pelonaa
The Pelones referred l0 werp =
squad OF Mexican federal soldiers. So
called frum their heads betpg shaved
aud they ~erw marching dog gvaly to
and tro through the thorny mesqut
bushes IN re~ponss to shouted orders
irunl an Gfifcrr Being from Eacatecas
shers the breed is short. they stood
aboat a. hish ~ their guns. and their
crumPlsd linen suite aud Mapping san
daAs dstractsd sadly from the soldierly
/ sH~ct
hiE and hulkins. and swelling With
the pride OF hls kind. Hooker looked
them over Slowly. aud spoke his bid
den thought
I SOader.~ no said. turning 10 PIN
hos many OF them l could uek with
oUr hand
Well. they're nothing bot lot OF
petty eonvicts, anyway" answered Do
lancey. but here's some BOYS ahead
that III bet could hold you. man for
man. husky as you are. old fellow