Gilpin observer., 1914-11-12
CHAPTER XIX.


which had swept in from the south
east died away. No more, as in the
months that had passed, did the dust.
pillar rise from the dump of the For
tuna mill and go swirling up the can
yon.
A great calm and heat settled over
the harassed land. and above the far
blue wall of the Sierras the first thun-
der caps of the rainy season rose up
till they obscured the sky. Then, with
a rush of conflicting winds, a leaden
silence. and crash of Pickering light,
the storm burst in tropic fury and was
gone as quickly as it had come.
So, while the rich landowners of the
hot country sat idle and watched it
grow, another storm gathered behind
the distant Sierras; and, as empty
rumors lulled them to false security,
suddenly from the north came the
news of dashing raids, of railroads
cut, troops routed. and the whole bor-
der occupied by swarming rebels.
In day the southern country was
isolated and cut off from escape and,
while the hordes of Chihuahua insur-
rectos laid siege to Aqua Negra, the
belated Spanish haciendados came
scuttling once more to Fortuna. There,
at least, was an American town where
the courage of the Anglo-Saxon would
protect their women in extremity. And,
If worst came to worst, it was better
to pay ransom to red-fiag generals
than to fall victims to bandits and loot
ers.
AS the bass roar of the great whistle
reverberated over the hills Bud Hook
er left his lonely camp almost gladly.
and with his hard-won gold-dust safe
beneath his belt, went galloping into
town.
Not for three weeks-not since he
received the wire from Phil and To-
Gated the Eagle Tail mine-had he
dared to leave his claim. Rurales, out
laws and Mexican patriots had dropped
in from day to day and eaten up most
of his food, but none of them had
caught him mapping and he had no in
tention that they should.
A conspiracy had sprung up to get
rid Of him, to harry him out of the
country. and behind 1t was Aragon.
But now. with the big whistle blowing,
Aragon would have other concerns.
He had his wife and daughter. the
beautiful Gracia, to hurry to the town,
and perhaps the thought OF being
caught and held for ransom would de-
ter him from stealing mines. So rea-
soned Bud. and. dragging a reluctant
packanimal behind him. he came rid
ing in for supplies.
At the store he bought -four and cof-
fee and the other things which he
needed most. As he was passing by
the hotel Don Juan de Dios halted him
for moment, rushing out and thrust
ing q bundle OF letters into his hands
and hurrying back into the house, as
II fearful of being detected in such an
act Of friendship.
Long before he had lost his pardner
Bud had decided that Don Juan was a
trimmer, a man who tried to be all
things to all people-as a good hotel
keeper SHOULDN'T now he altered his
opinion little. for the letters were
from Phil. He read them over in the
crowded plaza. into which the first
refugees were just beginning to pour,
and frowned as he skinned through
the last.
or Gracia and vain protestations of
devotion there was enough and to
spare, but nothing about the mine,
Only in the first one. written on the
very day he had deserted. did he so
much as attempt an excuse for SO pre-
cipitately abandoning their claim and
his Mexican citizenship. Phil wrote:
My mail was being sent through head
quarters and looked over by Dol Rey, so
l knew | would never receive the papers
even II they came. l hope you don't feel
hard about II. pardner. Kruger says to
come out right away. would have
stayed with 1t. but It wasn't any use.
And now. Bud. l want to ask you some