Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-09-16
y.9IaE-5sN. = .-N1fhA .Ns4!tr1 sI-If.. ~
CHAPTER xvll---continued

derce. battle near Fortuna
CHAPTER xvll---continued
s-sW hat,asenor!!" she bantered; "you
do not speak? Surely, then. your
friend De Lancey was wrong when
.She1said you would save me! For look,
Mr.. Hooker, I am promised to marry
Il dear Phil: but how can ! manage that
when Manuel del Reyi is watching me?
It Is impossible. is 1t not" s$
5$HsSeems 50" mnttered Bud. and In
the back OF his head he began to think
quickly. Here was the fo~untainhead
or his misfortunes;; and II she had her
way she would lay all his plans In
ruins-and even then not marry Phil.
IN fact. from the light way she spoke,
5he seneed that she did not intend to
4 marry him. Her grudge was against
Manuel del Rey who drove away all
her lovers. 4
Yell he yentured, there's no
rush, i reckon-Phil's enlisted for five
years: ~ ssS 80! q
aHa!. she. cried conrltemiptuously;
""anld do you think he will, serve7N No!
AT a word from me he will fee to the
border and I shall join him in the
United Statest" "
sWhat?"i demanded Bud; "Phil' de-
sert?" !.
In q moment he saw what such a
move would mean to hlm--.to Kruger
and the Eagle Tail-and he woke sud
denly from: his calm: "A
Here now,"''he said, scowling as he
saw that. she was laughing at him,
you've, made me and Phil enough
trouble. You let that boy alone.
savvy?", I'LL
He stopped toward her as he spoke,
fixing her with masterful eyes that
had}tamed manya bad horse and man,
and she shrank away instinctively.
Then she glanced ct him shyly and
edged over toward the open door.
/. I will do what i please, Mr.. Hook
er," she returned, balancing on the
verge Of night.
All right Bud came back; "but
don't you call me In on lit You've
made fool Of Phil suppose you'd
like to get me. too. Then your father
would grab our mine
What do you mean" she chal.
lenged. turning back upon him.
II mean this,"' responded Hooker
warmly. "Phil holds the title to our
mine. II he deserts he loses his Mexi.
can citizenship and his claim is no
good. But you don't need to think that
your father will get the mine then, be-
cause he'll have to whip me frst!"
-.O-ho!" she sneered; go that IL
what you are thinking Of! You are =
true gringoS MI. Hooker-always
thinking about the money!"
~ j returned Bud: land ven ct
that i believe your old mar will best
mel"
She laughed again, with sudden
capriciousness,,t and stood tapping the
floor with her foot. 5Ss
All, / see" she said at length. gaz-
ing at him reproachfully; you think
il am working for my father. You
think / got poor Phil into all this
trouble In order to cheat him OF his
mine. But let me tell you. Senior
Gringo," she cried with sudden fire,
.that i did not! have nothing to do
with my father and his schemes. But
Sff< you do not trust me-"
She turned dramatically to go. but
when Hooker made no effort to stay
her she returned once more to the At
tack. Al Z
sNo," she said, 1T was because he
was an American-because he was
brave-that l put my faith in Phil.
These Mexican men are cowards-they
are afraid to stand up and fight! But
Philip dared to make love to me-he
dared to sing to me at highland
when Manuel del Rey tried to stop him
he stood up and made a fight!
"Ah, that is. what l admire-a man
who is brave! And let me tell you,
Senior Hooker, I shall always love your
friend! II I could run away would
marry him tomorrow; but this cur.
Manuel del Rey. stands in the way.
Even my own father is against me-.
But / don't care--I don't care what
AhppCA0.|OAAy w A0S IAAAA 49, -"
not your friend!" ny :
She paused now and glanced at him
shyly, and as her eloquent eyes me
his own Bud felt suddenly that she
was sincere. The gnawing and zorro.
sive doubts that had eaten at his heart
fell away. and he saw her now in her
true beauty, with no uneasy thoughts
OF treachery to poison his honest love.
IT believe you, lady" he said. "And
I'm glad to know you." he added. TAX.
ing of his hat and bowling awkwardly.
Anything Lean do for you. don't hest.
tate to ask for it-only / can't go
against my pardners on this mine"
He bowed again and ~retreated
toward the door, but she followed him
fmpulsively. ~ T.
Shake hands," she said, holding out,
both her own, "and will you help me?'
""Sure!" answered Bud, and as her
aoft fngore clocod m hic he tnok them