Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-07-08

st WeL, exclaimed Pn1l, "Wnat III tne
world was he talking to you about?"
"Oh, some kind Of a mining deal"
grumbled Bud. Wanted me to go
down into Mexico!"
"What'd you tell him ?" challenged
the little man, sitting up suddenly In
his chair. Say. that old boys got
rocks!"
He can keep EN- for all Of me" ob-
served Bud comfortably. you know
what l think about Mexico"
Sure; but what was his proposi-
ton? What did he want you to dc?
Search me! To was mighty mys-
ferrous about II. Said he wanted q
man he could trust" &#
well, holy Moses, Bud!"Scried Phil.
wake up! Didn't you get his PROPOSE
tion?"
mo. he wasn't talking about 1t. Said
1t was aygood thing and he'd pay me
well, or let me In on the deal: but
when he hollered Mexico ! quit I've
got a plenty" .@
yes, but-"the little q choked
and could say no more. Well. you're
one Jim dandy business man, Bud
Hooker. he burst out at last. YOU'D
let" 4 81
Well. what's the matters" demand
ed Hooker def1antly. do you want to
go back into Mexico? Nor me. neither!
What you kicking about? )"
you might have led him on and
got the scheme. anyway. Maybe
there's a million in It Come on, let's
60 over and talk to him. I'd take q,
chance, Tilt wal good enough"
Jaw, don't be a fool, Phil urged
the cowboy plaintively. We've got no
call to hear his scheme unless we want
TO go in on II. Leave him alone and
he'll do something for us on this side,
EOh. cripes. what's the matter with
your" ~ EaE g9e
He heayed himself reluctantly up
out OF his chair and5moved over to
where Kruger was sitting. sS
Mr.. Kruger" he said, as the old
man turned to meet him. 'I'll make
you acquainted with Mr. De Lancey.E
my pardner. My names Hooker"
".Glad to know you, Hooker" re
6QOuucO Al O6OAs oA0AAA6 IA " ~~AS
hand. "How'do. Mr.. De Lancey."
He gave Phil q rather crusty nod a
he spoke. but De Lancey was dragging
up another chair and failed to notice.
"Mr.. Hooker was telling me about
some proposition you had. to go down
into Mexico."8he began. drawing up
closer while the old man watched him
from under his eyebrows. That's one
tough country to do business IN right
now. but at the same time
THE country's perfectly quiet" put
in Kruger-"perfectly quiet"
We'll, maybe so,' " qualified De Ian.
cey; ''but when it comes to getting In.
supplies"
.Not q bit OF trouble in the world. :
said the old man crabbedly. Not q
Bit s5Ss %5E@E5
well" came back De Lancey,
what's the matter, then! What Is
the proposition, anyway"
Henry Kruger blinked and eyed him
intently.
.I've stated the proposition to Hook
er," he said. 'and he refused It That's
enough, amt 1T"
De Lancey laughed and turned away
"sWell. yes, L guess 1t is" Then. in
passing, he said to Bud: go ahead
and talk to him."
He walked away, lighting a cigarette
and smiling good-naturedly. and the
old-timer turned to Bud.
That's a smart man you've got fo1
a pardner,"" he remarked. "A smart
man. You. want to look out" he added
"or8 he'll get away with you"
"Nope,' said Bud. You don't know
him like l do. He's straight q q die
"A man can be straight and still get
away with you" observed the veteran
shrewdly. Yes, indeed" He paused
to let this bit OF wisdom sink in. and
then he spoke again.
You'd better quit-while you're
lucky" he suggested. you quit and
come with me" he urged, "and II we
strike it I'll make you . rich man. ]
don't need your pardner OF this deal
I need Just one man that can keep his
head. shut. Listen now: I'll tell you
what 1t Is.
81 know where there's a lost mine
down in Mexico. II I'd tell you the
name you'd know it In q minute, and
it's free gold. too. Now there's . fel.
low that had that land located for ten
years, but he couldn't md the lead
Dye see? And when this second revo-
luton came on he let it go-he neg
lected to pay his mining taxes and let
it 60 back to the government And
now all I want is q quiet man to slip
In and denounce that land and open
up the lead. Here. look at this!"
He went down into his pocket and
brought out a buckskin sack. from
which he handed over a piece Of we'll
worn quartz.
To BE coNTINUED.). 49,