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

There was a world of Nexicans in
the plaza when Hooker rode down
through the town. Never, it seemed to
him, had he seen so many or liked
them less.
To the handful of Americans who
remained to man the mill and mine,
they were easily a hundred to one;
and though their eyes were wide with
fear of the imminent rebels, they had
an evil way of staring at him which
he did not relish.
Even at the hotel, where the Span
ish-Mexican a~ristocracy was massed
ten deep, he sensed the same feeling
of yelled hostility and wondered vague
ly what it might portend. If Philip De
Lancey, for making love to a girl, was
drafted into the army, what would
happen to him if these people should
ever break loose? And did they have
the courage to do their worst?
He fingered around the door for g
while, hoping to meet Don Juan OF
some American who would tell him
the news; then, Disguised with every
thing, he flung away and left them to
themselves. Fortuna was not a white
mans c%ountry-he could see that with.
out a diagram-but at the same time
he intended to hold his mine until he
could hear from Phil.
Let the tides Of instruction come
and go, let the ~red-faggers take the
town and the federals take it bach
again-at the end he would still BIZ
found at the Eagle Tail, unless Phi
received his title to the mine.
As for Aragon, whose fine Italian
hand he perceived behind the sudde1
taking off of Phil, let him make wha
trades he would with the rurales ant
Manuel del Rey, even to the giving o
his daughters hand; but if. taking ad
vantage Of the unsettled times, HI
dared to try to steal their mine, thel
there would be war to the knife.
1t is a fine, comforting thing to b
single-minded and of one purpose. Al
the rest Of life is simplified and OIL
dered then, and a mar knows when t
raise his hand and when to hold
back.
In his letter Phil had said nothin
about their mine, but he was a Mex
can citizen still, and the mine was
his name. Bud was his pardner an
free to hold 1t in his stead; and tha
he determined to do-not only hold
, but work it for a stake. Then, whe
, the tide was passed and all made ce
tain, they could turn it over to Kruge
! and quit the accurscd country.
As for the girl, Bud decided thu
! she could take care of herself withol
any assistance from him, and di
J, missed her from his mind.
! Back at the mine he found Amie
I guarding camp from the hilltop, an
after telling him the gist of his tro'
bles, the two Of them went to wdr
r Every day, while one of them dug o
|. the ore, the other crushed and washe
i it and watched as he horned out Il
v gold. Their rifles they kept besic
v them and pistols in their belts; ar
d every time a Mexican dropped in.
camp, as one did now and then in Il
/" general unrest, he felt the silent me
ace Of arms In readiness and continue
& on his way.
For a week they labored OF togethe
grim, watchful, expectant-then,
d the break of day, they heard a dista
rattle Of arms. like the tearing of
d cloth, and knew that the battle W,
ID on. 5sBf5f
b The great whistle at Fortuna open
with it's full, bass roar, and Ami
Of snatched up his gun and went lopil
ir down the canyon, drawn irresistit
,e by the sound OF conflict. Bud LINGERIE
climbing higher and higher to get
ID view OF the country. But his you
Il blood clamored for action too, o.
a soon he was mounted and gone.
!. The fighting was not at the Anne
th can town, but down the valley by c
RI Fortuna, and az Hooker galloped
Be toward the sound Of the firing he
ticed that 1t was on the move
ID. ready the cowardiy rebels we're
ID. treating-4the volunteers from Fortu
were hurrying to get closer to the
the rurales were riding to flank the
ut and when Bud Jumped his horse
he the list hill and looked down into I
EsFAabfoAd. cultivated valley he saw5a
Of dust OF their flight.