Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-10-22

"Why-you rode over and spoke to
him--and he looked at me--and then
he-killed him"
She gave way to a paroxysm OF grief
at this, and Bud looked around him,
wondering That she was weak and
hungry he knew, but what was this
she was saying?
Il reckon | don't understand what
you're driving at" he said at last
Wish you'd eat something-youl feel
better"
mo. won't eat" she declared, SIT.
ting up and frownng. mir. Hooker"
she went on very miserably, what did
you mean this morning when YOU
laughed! | said l hated poor Manuel
and you said-well. what you did
and you laughed! Did you think-oh,
you couldn't have--that really want
ed him killed.
IVY. sure mott" cried Hooker
heartily. Il knowed you was fooling!
Didn't j laugh at your Say. what kind
of "a Teller do you think am, anyway?
Dye think I'd get an Indian to do my
killing?"
oh. then didn't you?" she cried,
suddenly Frightening up. you know.
you talk so rough sometimes-and
never do know what you mean! You
said you guessed you'd have to kill
him for me. you know, and-oh, II was
too awful! must be getting foolish,
I'm so tired out, but-what did you
tell that Indian?"
Bud glanced at her sharply for
moment and then decided to humor
her. Perhaps. II he could get her
quieted, she would stop talking and
begin to cat.
He asked me who was after us" he
said. and / told him 1t was Del Rey."
Yes, and what did he say then?"
HE didn't say nothing-iest lined
out for the pass"
And didn't you say you wanted
hlm-killed?"
MOI" burst out Bud, half angrily.
Haven't told you once? / did not!
That Indian had reasons of his own,
believe inches got a scar along his
ribs where Del Rey shot him with a
six-shooter! And, furthermore" he
added. as her face cleared at this ex-
PLANTATION of the mystery. you'd better
try to take me at my word for the rest
Of this trip! Looks to me like you've
been associating with these Mexicans
too much"
why. what do you mean?" she de.
manded curly.
Il mean this" answered Hooker, be
ing as we're on the subject again
Ever since I've knowed you you've
been talking about brave men and
all that; and more'n once you've limited
that wasn't brave because wouldn't
fight.
I'D just like to tell you, to put
your mind at rest, that my father was
n sergeant in the Texas rangers and no
hundred Mexicans was ever able to
make him crawl. He served for ten
years on the Texas border and never
turned his back to no man-let alone
a Mex. l was brought up by him to
be peaceable and quiet, but don't you
never think, because I run away from
Manuel del Rey. that / was afraid to
face him"
He paused and regarded her intent
ly, and her eyes fell before his.
You must excuse me-" she said,
looking wistfully away, II did mott
did not understand. And so the poor
Yaqui was only avenging an injury"
she went on, reaching out one slender
hand toward the food. "Ah, can I'M
derstand 1t now-he looked SO savage
and fierce. But"-she paused again,
set back by a sudden thought-"didn't
you know he would kill him."
Yes, maam." answered Hooker
quietly, y did"
"Then-then why didn't you"
That was between them two" no
replied doggedly. Del Rey shot him
once when he was wounded and left
him for dead. He must have killed
some of his people, too; his wife meb-
be. for all | know. He never would
talk about 1t. but he come back to get
his revenge. | don't shoot no man
from cover myself, but that ain't it
1t was between them two"
And your" she suggested. IF you
had fought Del Rey?"
81 would have met him in the open,"
said Hooker.
And yet"
Il didn't want to-" he ended bluntly.
Didn't want to fight him and didn't
want to kill him. Had no call to- And
then-well, there was you"
All" she breathed, and a flush
mounted her pale cheeks. She smiled
as she reached out once more for the
food and Hooker resolved to do his
best at gallantry. it seemed to make
her so happy.
so you were thinking of me-" she
challenged sweetly, all the while? /
thought perhaps | was a nuisance and
in the way. ] thought perhaps you did
not like me because-well, because