The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-05-30


cantly; this job I've got calls for
man like that"
well, Pills all right" spoke up
Bud, with sudden warmth. I'VE been
pardners for two years now and he
never give nothing away yet! He
talks, but he don't forget himself. And
the way he can palaver them Mexicans
is wonder"
Every likely, very likely" agreed
Kruger, and then he sat while In
silence.
1--WE got few thousand dollars with
us, too" volunteered Bud at last. Pm
good worker, If that's what you want
and Phil, he's mining engineer"
"Um-m," grunted Kruger, Juggling at
his beard, but he did not come out
with his proposal.
IT tell you," he said at last. I'm
not doing much talking about this
proposition of NINE It's big thing,
and somebody might beat me to it.
You know what l am, guess. I've
pulled off some of the biggest deals in
this country for poor man, and l
don't make many mistakes-not about
mineral, anyway. And when tell you
that this is rich-you're talking with a
man that knows"
He fixed his shrewd, blue eyes on
| the young mans open countenance
and waited for him to speak.
That's right" he continued, as Bud
finally nodded non-committally; she's
sure rich. I've had an eye on this
proposition for years-just waiting for
the right time to come. And now it's
come! All l need is the man. 1t
amt dangerous undertaking
wise l don't think it is-but | got to
have somebody can trust. I'm willing
to pay you good wages, or I'll let you
in on the deal-but you'll have to 90
down into Mexico"
"Nothin' doing!" responded Bud
with instant decision. IF it's in Ari-
IONA I'll talk to you, but no more Mex.
leo for me. I've got something pretty
good down there myself, as far as that
goes"
whats the natter" inquired Kru.
ger, set back by the abrupt refusal;
"scared?"
"Yes, I'm scared" admitted Bud,
and he challenged the old man with
his eyes.
Must have had little trouble,
them"
well, you might call 1t that" agreed
Bud. 1--WE been on the dodge for
month. A bunch of revoltosos tried to
get our treasure, and when we skipped
out on EN- they tried to get US"
'Well," continued Kruger, this
proposition of mine is different. You
was over in the Sierra Madres. where
the natives are bad. These Sonora
Mexicans amt like them Chihuahua
fellers-they're Americanized I'll tell
you, If 1t wasn't that the people would
know me I'd 60 down after this mine
myself. The country's perfectly quiet
There's lots of Americans down there
yet, and they don't even know there is
revolution. 1t amt far from the rail.
road, you see, and that makes a lot Of
difference"
He lowered his voice to a conf.
dental whisper as he revealed the ap-
proximate locality of his bonanza, but
Bud remained unimpressed
Yes he said, I'VE was near rail.
road-the Northwestern-and seemed
like them red-Aaggers did nothing else
but burn bridges and ditch supply
trains. When they finally whipped EN-
off the whole bunch took to the hills.
That's where we got it again.
Well" argued Kruger, this rail
road of ours is all right, and they run
a train over it every day. The con-
centrator at Fortuna he lowered his
voice again-"hasn't been shut down a
day, and you'll be within fifteen miles
of that town. No." he whispered; q
could get hundred Americans to go
in on this tomorrow, as fairs the revo.
lution's concerned. 1t amt dangerous
but want somebody can trust"
"Nope," pronounced Bud, rising pom
l5derously to his feet; IF it was this
side the line I'd stay with you till the
hair slipped. on anything, but"
We'll, let's talk it over again some
, time" urged Kruger, following him
along out. 1T amt often get took
with young Teller the way was with
you, and believe We can make it yet
Where are you staying in town."
up at the Cochise," said Bud
Come on with mel told my pardnel
I'd meet him there"
They turned up the broad main
street and passed in through the pol
ished stone portals of the Cochise, 9
hotel so spacious in its interior and SC
richly appointed in its furnishings that
New Yorker, waking up there, might
easily imagine himself on Fifth ave
nue..
1t was hardly a place to be looked
, for in the West, and as Bud led the
way across the echoing lobby to a pail
of stuffed chairs he had a vague feel
ing of being in church. Stained-glass
u,ipdou,s abova tho winding Stairu,a We