Gilpin observer., 1914-09-24

four retainers. II you touch that gun
I'll kill you'll"
There was a pause. in which the
Mexicans sat frozen to their saddles,
and then De Lancey broke the silence
You must not think, Senior Ara
gon." he began. speaking with Ger.
tain bitterness, that you can carry
your point like this. My friend here is
Texan, and II your men stir he will
kill them. But there Is law in this
country for every man-what is Il that
you want?"
II want this mining claim" shouted
Aragon, that you have 80 unjustly ta-
ken from me through that scoundrel
Mendez! And l want you to step
aside, so that can set up my monu-
ments and take possession of It,"
"The Senor Aragon has not been to
the agente mineral today" suggested
De Lancey suavely. "If he had taken
the trouble he would not"
Enough" cried Aragon. still trying
to carry 1t of cavalierly; 81 sent my
servant to the mining agent yesterday
and he reported that the permit had
lapsed."
"If he had taken the pains to in
quire for new permits, however" re-
turned De Lancey, "he would have
found that one has been issued to me-
/ am now Mexican citizen, like your
SELF"
"You!" screamed Aragon, his eyes
bulging with establishment; and then,
finding himself tricked, he turned sud
denly upon one Of his retainers and
struck him with his whip.
Son Of goat!" he stormed. "Pig!
Is this the way you obey my orders!"
But though he raved and scolded, he
had gone too far, and there was no
putting the blame on his servant. In
his desire to humiliate the hated grin
gos he had thrown down all his guards,
and even De Lancey saw all too clear
ly what his intentions in the matter
had been.
Spare your cursing. Senior Aragon,"
he said. "and after this" he added
you can save your pretty words. too
for somebody else. We shall re-
main here and hold our property"
"Ha! You Americana" exclaimed
Aragon, as he chewed bitterly on his
defeat. you will rob us of every
thing-even our government. So you
are Mexican citizen, eh?, You must
value this barren mine very highly to
give up the protection Of your govern
ment But perhaps you are acquainted
with man named Kruger?" he
sneered.
He would sell his honor any time
to defraud Mexican of his rights,
and doubt not 1t was he who sent
you here. Yes, l have known 1t from
the first-but will fool him yet!
so you are a Mexican citizen. Senior
De Lancey? Bien. then you shall pay
the full price Of your citizenship Be-
fore our law you are now no more than
that poor pelado. Mendez. You cannot
appeal now to your consul at Gads-
den-you are only a Mexican! Very
well!"
He shrugged his shoulders and
smiled significantly.
NO." retorted De Lancey angrily;
you are right cannot appeal to my
government! But let me tell you some
thing, Senior Mexicano! An American
needs no government to protect him
he has his gun, and that Is enough"
Yes added Bud, who had caught
the drift of the last. "and he has his
friends, too; don't forget that!" He
strobe over toward Aragon and men
aced him with threatening finger.
IF anything happens to my friend"
he hissed. you will have me to whip!
And now, senor." he added. speaking
in the idiom of the country, go with
God-and do not come back!"
"Pah!" spat back Aragon, his hate
fer the pushing foreigner showing in
every glance; II will beat you yet!
And l pray God the revoltosos come
this way, if they take the full half of
my cattle-so long as they get you
two!"
Very WE'LL" nodded Bud as Aragon
and his men turned away, but be
careful you do not send any!"
"Good!" he continued, smiling GRIM
ly at the pallid Phil; now we got him
where we want him-out in the open.
And I'll just remember them four pai-
sanos he had with him-they're his
handy men. the boys with nerve-and
don't never let one of 'em catch you
out after dark"
De Lancey sat down on a rock and
wiped his face.
Heavens. Bud" he groaned. II
never would have believed 1t Of him
l thought he was on the square. But
1t just goes to prove the old saying
every Mexican has got a streak OF yell
low in him somewhere. All you've
got to do is to trust him long enough
and you'll find 1t out. Well. we're hep
to Mr. Aragon, all right"
81 never seen one OF these polite.
palavering Mexicans yet" observed
Bud sagely, that wasn't crooked. And
this feller Aragon is mean. to boot
But that's a game" he added, that
tuo cap nlay at I don't know how vo,,