The Ordway new era., 1914-12-04

tow. nas ossa put under marital iaw
and tho captain IL In full charge. They
quarreled over the favor of q lady. and
now your friend 10 in JAIL
II didn't see him when come by"
observed Hooker.
Y .Ah, no-not In the carcel-in the
cuartel. the guardhouse Of the
rurales!" SEE
Much obiiged!v nodded Bud, and
rode on through the town. The street
Of the Mexican quarter was nlled
with strangs people hhrryinE to and
fro: long packtrsins loaded with
trunks and curious bundles came
swinging up from below: and . pair Of
ruFales. looking fierce. under their
huge sombreros stood guard BY the
cuartel door.
"Whers is tho captain?" demandsd
Hooked. After requesting him to hang
his pistol belt on his saddle-horn, .
sergeant showed him in TO the chief.
Manuel del Rey was very busy with
papers and orders. but as the Ameri-
can appeared In the doorway he rose
and greeted him with bow.
''Ah, good morning, senor." he said.
with one swfft glance to read his mood.
-You are in search of your friend
mol" &.
"si. senor." answered Hooker. but
with none of the animosity which the
captain had expected. Where 10 hef"
Il regret very much" I" began the Of
hcer. speaking with military formally.
hut It 10 my duty to inform you that
the Senior De Lancey has left Fortuna
Last night he did me the honor TO en-
list In my company Of rurales-he 10
now on his way to the north to assist
In guarding the railroad"
"WhatT shouted Bud. hardly able
to believe his ears. But when the cap
tain repeated II he no longer doubted
his Spanish. < ls-558. &.
'But why!" he cried; why did he
Join the rurales I"
"Ah. senior. shrugged Del Rey. was
he not Mexican citizenf Very well.
then; be could be summoned for mill
taTy servics. But the circumstances
were these. Your friend came yester-
day to this town. where ! am at pres
ent military Commander. and made an
unprovoked assault upon my person.
For this.S according, to Law. he should
have bsen shot at sunrise. But, not
wishing Ito occasion unpleasantness
with the Americans now residing here,
offered him the alternative Of mill
tary service. He 10 now enlisted ~ .
rural for. term Of fiye year,"
"Ffve yearsi" exclaimed Hooker:
and then, instead Of starting the ex-
pected rough-house-upon which the
rural guards were prepared to Jump ON
his, back-he simply threw down his
hat and cursed. Not anyone In par
ticular. but everything In general;
and at the end Of 1t he turned once
more upon the watchfud captain. = Z
"Dispenseme. senor." he said. this
Ii the truth. = itfr "a
"Si. senor." returned Captain del
Rey. "But before leaving with his do
tachment your friend wrpts this letter.
which ha requested me 70 dslivsr- To-
y66.~ ( Z :,
He offered with. flourish sealed
envelope. from which Bud extracted .
short note.
Dear Bud: fi5
When you ret thu shall b. far away.
], must have been mad. but II 10 too late
nNw. Rather than b executed have
enlisted ~ . rural. But shall try to be
brave for her sake. Take care Of her.
Bud-for mel PHIL
Bud read It through again and medi-
tated ponderously. Than he folded It
up and thrust It in his pocket.
"Muchas gracias, senior captain" he
said. saiuting and turning upon his
heel; and while all the Mexicans mar
veled at the inscrutable ways Of Amer
icanos. he mounted and rode away.