Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-07-24

lau1c VI HILL
IN all such festivities the two pard-
ners stayed together; Bud, with a
broad. indulgent grin, listening to the
end. and Phil, his eyes alight with
liquor and good cheer. talking and
laughing far into the night.
Outside the winter winds we're still
cold and the Mexicans went wrapped
to the eyebrows; but within the merry
company was slow to quit, and Phil,
making up for the lonely months
when he had entirely lacked an audi
ence, sat long in the seat Of honor and
was always the last to go.
But on the evening after their spat
Bud sat off to one side, and ever Phil's
sprightly and ventriloquistic
ton with Observation-Disclosures
called forth only a feeting smile.
Bud was thinking, and when en-
gagged in that arduous occupation even
the saucy little girl behind the door
could not beguile him.
But, after he had studied 1t all out
and come to a definite conclusion, he
did not deliver an ultimatum. The old,
good-natured smile simply came back
to his rugged face; he rolled a cigar
cite; and then for the rest of the eve
ming he lay back and enjoyed the
show. Only in the morning. when
they went out to the corral to get their
horses, he carried his war-bag, with
him and, after throwing the saddle ON
to Copper Bottom. he did the same for
their spare mount.
What are you going to pack out,
Bud?" inquired Phil, and Bud slapped
his canvas-covered bed for an answer.
Then, with a heave, he snaked it out
of the harnessroom where 1t had been
stored and slung it deftly across the
p~ack-saddle.
why, what's the matter?" said De
Lancey, when they we're on their way;
don't you like the hotel?"
Hotels f1ne," conceded Bud, but I
reckon I'd better camp out at the
mine. Want to keep my eye on that
Mexican of ours"
Jaw, he's all right" protested Phil.
Sure" said Bud; II amt afraid
he'll steal something--but he might
take a notion to quit the country"
why, what for?" challenged De
Lancey. Hes got his wife and family
here"
That's nothing-to a Mexicani"
~countered Bud. But 1 amt figuring on
the excuse he'd give-that won't buy
me nothing-what l want to do is to
keep him from going. Because If we
lose that Mex now, we lose our mine"
"And-'
mo and to it," said Bud doggedly.
1--WE amt going to lose him"
"But if we did" persisted De Lam
cey, why, then you think"
your friend would get it," finished
Hooker grimly.
"Ah, l see," nodded De Lancey.
noting the accent on friend" "You
don't approve of my making friends
with Aragon."
ooh, that's all right" shrugged the
big cowboy; ut won't make no differ
ence now. Go ahead. If you want o."
you mean you car get along with
out me?"
"No.' answered Bud, Il don't mean
nothing-except what l say. If you
want to palaver around with Aragon,
go to it. I'll round up Mendez and his
family and keep 'em right there at the
mine until we get them papers signed
after that l don't care what hap
pens"
"Oh, all right" murmured De Lam
cey in a subdued tone; but If his con-
science smote him for the moment 1t
did not lead to the making of any sem
timental New Years resolutions, for
he stopped when he came to the store
and exchanged salutations with Ara
gon, who was lounging expectantly be-
fore his door.
"Buenos dias, Don Ciprianol" he
hailed. How are you this morning?"
"Ah, good morning. Don Felipe" re-
sponded Aragon, stepping forth from
the shadow of the door. Il am very
well, thank you-and your"
THE same!" answered Phil, as If it
were a great piece of news. ut is fine
weather-no?"
Yes, but a little dry!" said Aragon,
and SO they passed it back and forth
III the accepted Spanish manner, while
Bud hooked one leg over the horn of
his saddle and regarded the hacienda
with languid eyes.
But as his gaze swept thealength OF
the uncovered corredor it halted for
a moment and a slow smile came over
his face. In the green depths of a
passion-fiower vine he had detected
a quick, birdlike motion; and then
suddenly, like a transformation scene,
he beheld a merry face, framed and
illuminated by soft, golden locks, peer
ing out at him from among the bios
SONS Except for that brief smile he
made no sign that he saw her, and
when he looked up again the face had
disappeared.