Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-09-24
CHAPTER xvI-continued.

CHAPTER HVt-Conrihueo'
ri wonder where that logged In
dian went to-" he said for the hun
dredth time, as the deep shadows
gathered in the valley. "By Joe, Phil,
If Amigo comes back I'm going to go
ahead on that mine. l want to Keep
him around here, and we might as
we'll get out some ore, if it's only for
a grub-stake. Come on-what do you
say? Well open her u%p--there's moth
ing to hide now. Well, I'll do it my
self, then-this setting around is get
ting on my nerves"
His ~far-seeing eyes, trained from his
boyhood to search the hills for cattle,
scanned the tops of the ridges as he
spoke; and while he sat and %pondered
they noted every rock.
Then at last he rose up slowly and
gazed at a certain spot. He waved
his arm, reckoning the distant point
of blackness to come in, and soon
from around a point in the canyon the
Yaqui appeared, bearing a heavy Maui
ser rifle on his arm.
Across his broad breast hung the
same familiar car~tridge-belt, two more
encircled his hips, and he walked
with his head held high, like the war
rior that he was.
Evidently his fight had led to the
place where his arms had been hid, for
he wore the regulation k~nife-bayonet
at his hip and around his hat was the
red ribbon of his people, but Bud was
too polite to ask him about his jour
ney. Since his coming the Yaqui had
always maintained a certain mystery,
and now, though his eyes were big
with portent and he smiled at the jests
about his gun, he simply waved his
hand to the south and east and muir
INJURED:
"Muchos r~evoltosos!"
"Seguro;" answered Bud jokingly;
"but have you killed any"
mot yeti" returned the Indian, and
he did not smile at that.
81 wonder what that Indian is wait
ing around here for?" remarked Phil in
English. HE must have his eye on
somebody"
Yeah, l bet" agreed Bud, regard
ing his savage friend with a specula-
tive interest. Most Of them Yaqui
soldiers was farmhands in this coun-
try before they rounded them up. l
reckon he's looking for the man that
had him deported.
Tired, Amigo" he inquired in
Spanish, and Ignacio gravely acknowl-
edged that he was, a little.
Then drink plenty coffee" went on
Hooker. Eat lots-tomorrow we go
: to work in the mine"
Tomorrow" repeated the Indian.
as II considering his other engage
ments; good" He nodded a smiling
assent.
After a month and more OF idleness
Bud and Amigo performed prodigies
of labor In the cut, rolling down
boulders, lifting them up on the tram,
and clearing away the face of the cliff.
Their tram was ramshackle, their
track the abandoned rails from older
workings, and their tools little more
than their hands, but by noon the last
broken fragments we're heaved aside
and the shattered ledge revealed.
A low cry of wonder escaped the
Yaqui as he gazed at the rich vein o.
ore, and as he Ia the grim smile OF
Buds rugged countenance he showed
is white teeth in sympathy.
Que bueno!" he murmured. "Hov
good!' gathering the precious frag
ments in his handkerchief.
AT the camp they crushed tn,
picked ore In a mortar and PANIED !
in the creek. and for the moment d
Lancey dropped his air OF preoccu
pancy as he stared at the streak o
pure gold. Like a yellow film 1t la
along the edge Of the last fine tailings
and when skilful washing had left
oare. It cleaned like a Jewel in tn
pan.
"By Joye, Bud!" he cried, that's tn
real stuff it goes a dollar to tn
pan easyip
Sure thingi" assented Bud. Let
round q lot OF 1t and wash 1t as we 6
then wen have some getaway none
when things break loose here!"
"Fn go you" answered Phil, an
5ud's heart warmed toward him as b
watched him pound up a piece Of OF
and go to swirlIng the dirt in II
pan.
But alas for the fond hopes he che
tshedi Even as he washed out t.
gold Phil's mind wandered far ava
back to the hotel where Gracia Ar
gon sat watching by the window.
Her hair was the color of gold, spt
fine and refined again: yes. 1t WI
worth more than this golden drol
that he caught in the bottom OF b
pan, And what was gold II he cou
not have herr
He paused III his labor and q dream
smile parted hts lips then he brol
into q song:
gwestihoaey bee. be sweet 10 me.
NY heerffd 1ffpe. but here's tho key: !
Look up the garden gate. honeyyvH
know ri wait.
Undsr The eambier rose tree-ea.