The Elbert County tribune., 1914-09-04

friendship OF the valiant Americans
very highly-so will let your friend
go. But first he must promise me one
thing-not to trouble the Senior Ara
gon by making further love to his
daughter!"
Very well." replied Bud He has
already promised that to me; 30 come
on and let him out
ITO your" repeated Manuel del Rey
witk faint smile Then. perhaps"
Perhaps nothing!" broke in Hooker
shortly. Come on!"
He led the way impatiently while
the captain, his saber clanking, strobe
out and rode beside him. He was not
a big man. this swashing captain of
the rural police, but he was master
nevertheless. of great district. from
Fortuna to the line, with a reputation
for quick work in the pursuance of his
duty as well as in the primrose ways
OF love.
In the instructions and raidings of
the previous summer he had given the
coup de grace with his revolver to
more than one embryo bandit. and in
his love affairs he had shown that he
cOuiu De equally summary.
The elegant Feliz Luna. who for
time had fingered near the charming
Gracia, had finally found himself up
against a pair OF pistols with the op-
ton of either fighting Captain del Rey
or returning to his parents. The young
man concluded to beat retreat. For
a like offense Philip De Lancey had
been unceremoniously thrown into
jail; and now the captain turned his
attention to Bud Hooker, whose mind
he had not yet fathomed.
Excuse me. senor," he said, after
brief silence, ~but your words left me
In doubt-whether to regard you as
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-inean that you are
Interested in her yourself, or merely
that you perceive the hopelessness OF
his suit and wish to protect him from
greater evil that may well befall
mine, and no man can come between
us!"
"Huh," snorted Bud. who caught
the last all right. Then he laughed
shortly and shrugged his shoulders. II
don't know what you're talking about"
he said grufiiy. but he will stay away.
all right"
"Muy bien," responded Del Rey care
lessly and. dismounting at the jail. he
threw open the door and stood aside
for his rival to come out
"Muchas gracias, senior captain" sa-
luted Bud, as the door changed to be-
hind his pardner. But Phil still bristled
with anger and defiance, and the cap
tain perceived that there would be no
thanks from him.
TT is nothing" he replied. bowling
politely, and something in the way he
said it made De Lancey choke with
rage. But there by the carcel door
was not the place for picking quarrels.
They went to the hotel. where Don
Juan, all apologies for his apparent
neglect-which he excused on the
ground that De Lancey had been held
incomunicado-plac them as best
he could and hurried on to the news.
MY gracious Don Felipe" he cried,
you don't know how sorry l was to
see you in Jail, but the captains or
ders were that no one should go near
you-and in Mexico we obey the ru-
rales, you know. Otherwise we are
placed against a wall and shot.
But have you heard the news from
down below? All, what terrible times
they are having there-ranches raided
women stolen. rich men held for ran
som! Yes, it is worse than everi AL
ready l am receiving kilograms 70 pre-
pare rooms for the refugees, and the
people are coming in crowds.
Our friend, the Senor Luna, and
his son Feliz have been taken by Ber-
nardo Bravo! Only by an enormous
ransom was he able to save his wife
and daughters, and his friends must
now pay for him.
AT the ranch of the rich Spaniard.
Alvarez. there has been a great battle
in which the red-haggers were defeat
ed with losses. Now Bernardo Bravo
swears he will avenge his men, and
Alvarez has armed his Yaqui work
men.
He is brave man, this Colonel
Alvarez, and his Yaquis are all war
riors from the hills; but Bernardo has
gathered all the insurrectos in the
country together-Campos, Rojas, the
brothers Escaboza-and they may
crush him with their numbers. But
now there is other news-that they
are marching upon Fortuna and Ell
Tigre. to seize the mines and mills
and hold the rich American companies
up for ransom.
mo. senores. you must not return