Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-11-06
CHAPTER XIX-Conti7ued.

be IOOkcQ the a0ODe HOuoo o'oi
Shougbtfully, listened long to the
news OF the border and Of the rurales'
raid on their camp, and retired to the
rocks for the night. Even Bud never
knew where he slept-somewhere up
on the hillside-in caves or clefts In
the vocks-and not even the most
pressing invitation could make him
share the house for a night. To Amigo,
as to an animal. a house was q trap;
and he knew that the times were
tFcacherous.
So indeed they were, as Hooker was
TO learn to his sorrow, and but for the
Yaqui and his murderous knife he
might easily have learned 1t too late.
Ii was evening, after a rainless day,
and Bud was cooking. by the open fire,
when suddenly Amigo vanished and
four men rode In from above. They
were armed with rifles, as betltted the
times, but gave no signs of ruillanly
brayado, and after a few words Bud In.
Vitsd them to get down and eat.
"Muchas gracias, %senor," said the
leader. ~dismounting and laying his rifle
against a log, 1--WE are not hungry"
Then have some Coffee" invited
Hooker, who made 1t q point to feed
every n wbo stopped, regardless of
their merit; 0hd once more the Next
n declined, At this Bud looked at
him sharply. for his refusal did not
.augur well, end 1t struck him the
mans face was familiar. He was tall
for a Mexican and heavily built, but
with a rather sinister cast of counte-
nance.
Where have | seen you before?"
asked Bud. after trying In vain to
place him. in Fortuna?"
NO, senor," answered the Mexican
poaisely. Il have never been In that
,city. is 1t far"
Ten miles by the trail" responded
Hooker. by no means treasured, and
under pretext of inviting them to eat.
he took a look at the other men. II
SAAEJ hthh hOA pbOGpCu W tui, NIdt
fhen WAS their errand while the sun
was sinking SO low? And why this
cullen refusal of the coffee which every
Mexican drinks?
Bud stepped into the house, as II on
some errand, and watched them UNI
Seen from the interior. Seeing them
exchange glances then, he leaned his
rifle just inside the door and went
about his cooking.
IL vas one of the chances he took
Z living out In the brush, but he hat
come to know this low-browed type o.
semi bandit all too well and had small
respect for their courage. In case O
trouble Amigo vas close by In tn,
rocks somewhere, probably with hi
gun In his hand-but with a little pa
Cience and circumspection the unwel
como visitors would doubtless NOV,
IN
So ne thought, but instead they lin
,sered. and when supper was cooked h
decided to go to a show-down-and
they again refused to eat he woul
send them on their way.
Ven amigos" he said, spreadin
out the tin plates for them. Come an
eat"
The three low-brows glared at thei
leader, who had done what little tall
ing there was so far. and, seized wit
q sudden animation, he immediatel
Tose to his feet.
Many thanks, senor," he said wit
"a erin ing and specious politenes
We have come far and the trail
Long, so We will eat. The times al
hard for poor men now-this traito
Madero, has made US all hungry. 1t
by him that we poor working men al
driven to insurrection-but we kno
that the Americans are our friend
Yes, senior, / will take some of 20,
beans. and thank YOU"
He filled a plate as he spoke al
lifted a biscuit from the oven, CO
tinuing with his false patter while Il
others fell to in Silence.
Perhaps you have heard, s%enor,"
vent on, the saying which is in Il
land: Mucho trabajo. pace diner
NO hay f~rijoles, viva Madero! tMu
work, little money; no beans, 10.
LIVE Madero!l