The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-07-18

pardners for two years now and he
never give nothing Away yeti He
talks, but he don't forget himself And
the way he can palaver them Mexicans
is a wonder"
Very likely. very likely" agreed
Kruger, and then he sat a while in
silence
I'VE got few thousand dollars with
US. too" volunteered Bud at last Pm
good worker, If that's what you want
and Phil, he's a mining engineer"
"Um-m," grunted Kruger, Juggling at
his beard, but he did not come out
with his proposal
Il tell you,'' he said at last. I'm
not doing much talking about this
proposition of mine. It's a big thing,
and somebody might beat me to it
You know what L am, 1 guess. I've
pulled on some Of the biggest deals in
this country for a poor man, and
don't make many mistakes-not about
mineral, anyway. And when 1 tell you
that this Is rich-you're talking with
man that knows"
He fixed his shrewd, blue eyes on
the young mans open countenance
and waited for him to speak
That's right" he continued. as Bud
finally nodded non-committally; she's
sure rich. I've had an eye on this
proposition for years-just waiting for
the right time to come And now it's
come! All 1 need is the man. 1t
amt dangerous undertaking least
wise L don't think it is-but l got to
have somebody 1 can trust. I'm willing
to pay you good wages, or I'll let you
in on the deal-but you'll have to go
down into Mexico"
'Nothin' doing!" responded Bud
with instant decision. IF it's in Art
IONA I'll talk to you, but no more Mex
leo for me. I've got something pretty
good down there myself, as far as that
goes"
What's the matter?" inquired Kru-
ger, set back by the abrupt refusal;
"seared?"
Yes, I'm scared" admitted Bud.
and he challenged the old man with
his eyes.
Must have had little trouble.
them"
well, you might call it that" agreed
Bud. We been on the dodge for a
month A bunch Of reVoltosos tried to
! get our treasure, and when we skipped
out on EN- they tried to get u.s."
Well" continued Kruger, this
| proposition of mine is different. You
| was over in the Sierra Madres, where
] the natives are bad These Sonora
Mexicans amt like them Chihuahua
| fellers-they're Americanized. I'll tell
| you, if it wasn't that the people would
| know me I'd go down after this mine
myself. The country's perfectly quiet.
| There's lots of Americans down there
yet, and they don't even know there is
a revolution. 1t amt far from the rail-
road. you see, and that makes a lot of
| difference
l He lowered his voice to a conf
Dental whisper as he revealed the ap-
proximate locality Of his bonanza, but
Bud remained unimpressed-
Yes" he said, I'VE was near rail-
road-the NorthWestern-and seemed
like them red-faggers did nothing else
but burn bridges and ditch supply
trains. When they finally whipped EN-
of the whole bunch took to the hills.
That's where we got it again"
Well" argued Kruger, this rail
road of ours is all right, and they run
train over it every day. The con
centrator at Fortunate lowered his
voice again-"hasn't been shut down q
day, and you'll be within fifteen miles
OF that town. No." he whispered; 81
could get a hundred Americans to go
in on this tomorrow, as far's the revo
lutfon's concerned 1t amt dangerous
but 1 want somebody can trust"
Nope" pronounced Bud, rising pom
derously to his feet; '1f it was this
side the line I'd stay with you till the
hair slipped. on anything, but"
well, let's talk it over again some
time" urged Kruger, following him
along out cit amt often 1 get took
with young Teller the way was with
you, and 1 believe we can make it yet
Where are you staying in town."
up at the COchise," said Bud
"Come on with mel told my pardnel
I'd meet him there"