The Ordway new era., 1914-12-18

THE roadmAstef came into town
this morning on velocipede and said
that the Yaquis are insuferable. think
ing that II was their renown ~ dsht.
err and not the news Of the dynamite
that drove all the soldiers fron town.
-However, Aqua Negra 10 once more
In the hands Of the government: the
track 10 clear and most Of the bridges
repaired: 60 Why quarrel with the
Yaquisf While they are. Of course.
nothing but Indians, they serve their
purpose In battle.~
well. guess yes!" responded Bud
warmly. Serve their purpose. chr
Where were these Mexican soldiers
and them Spanish officers when the
Yaquis were taking the town. And
that was Just like q dog-soned Mexi-
can-setting that time-fuse and then
not having II 90 OF. More'n likely the
poor zap that nred II was 30 seairt he
couldn't hold match-probably
never lit II, Jest dropped the match
and run. They're . bum bunch. II
you want 70 know what think. I'd
rather have Q Yaqui than . hundred
Of 'em!"
"A hundred Of whomr inquired .
cool voice behind him. and looking up
Hooker saw the beautiful Gracia gar
ing out at him through the screen
door.
"A hundred Mexieans!" be repeated.
and Gracia murmured "oh!" and was
gone. Psi
Miss Arason IL very loyal to her
country. observed Don Juan. but
Hooker only grunted.
Somehow. since those four Msxicans
had come to his camp. he had soured
on everything south Of the line: and
sven the charming Gracia could not
make him take back his words. II she
had intended the remark - . chal-
lenSe-a subtle invitation u follow
her and defend his faith-she failed
for once Of her purpose. for II there
was any particular man in Mexico that
Bud hated mors than another Il was
her false-hearted father.
Hooker had. in fact, thought more
seriously Of making her Q half-orphan
than Of winning her goodwill. and he
fingered about the hotel not to make
love to the daughter. but to strike ter.
ror TO Aragon.
The company being good. and .
train being expected soon. Bud stayed
over another day. In the morning.
when he came down for breakfaat, he
found that Aragon had ned before him.
With his wife, daughter and retinue.
he had moved suddenly back to his
homo. Hooker grinned when Don Juaa
told him the news.
''Well. why not?' he asked. chuck
Ling maliciously. Here it'a the mid
die OF the rainy season and the war
going on all summer and nary . rebel
in sight. Where's that big hght you
was telling about-the battle Of For
tunaf You've made regular fortune
out Of these refugees, BrachAg(q6sA
but fail to see the enemy"
"Ah. you may laugh" shrugged the
hotel.keepsr. "but walt! The time win
come. The rebels are lost now-sone
day. when you least expect It. they
will come upon US and then, believe
me. my guests will be glad they are
here. What fs a few weeks bill com
pared to being held for ransom! Look
at that rich Senior Luna. who was here
for time in the spring. Against my
advice he hurried home and now he
10 paying the price. Ten thousand
pesos It cost to save his wife and
family. and for himself and son his
friends advanced ten thousand more.
make no evil prophecies. but II
would be better for our friend II he
stayed on at my poor hotel"
Whose friendf" inquired Bud
bluffiy. but Don Juan struck him upon
the back with elephantine playfulness
and hurried OF to his duties.
Az for Hooker. he tarried in town
the Sunday paper and then. well sat.
fsfled that the times were quiet and
wars thing Of the past. he ambled
back to the Eagle Tail and settled
down for rest. -,l.sl.-..l,,5..' y.
Flat on his back by the doorway
he lay on his bed and smoked. reading
his way through the lurid supplement
and watching the trail with one eye.
Since the fight with Aragon's Mexi.
cans all his apprehensions had left
him. He had written briefly to Phil
and Kruger, and now he was holding
the fort
It had been = close shave, but he
had escaped the cowardly assassins
and had Aragon in his power. Not BY
any force Of law. but by the force Of
fear and the gnawing weakness Of Ara.
gon's own evil conscience.
Aragon was afraid Of what he had
done. but It was the suspense which
rendered him 90 pitiabls. On . day
he had sent four armed Mexicans
to kill this Texan-not one had re.
turned and the Texan regarded him
sneeringly. This It was that broke
the Spaniard's will. for he knew not
what to think. But as tor Bud. he lay
on his back BY the doorway and
laughed 1.-THE funny page.
Az he sprawled there At his reading.