The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-07-03
By DANE COOLIDGE
CHAPTER Viii.

quite so cordial with her father-at
least, that was what Hooker thought,
and he was 30 badly peeved at the
way things had gone that he said it,
too.
Then. Of course, they quarreled. and,
one thing leading to another, Phil told
Bud he had very low way of speak
Ing. Bud replied that, whatever his
deficiencies Of speech might be, he
was not fool enough to be drawn in
by skirt, and Phil rebuked him again.
Then, with scornful grunt, Bud
Hooker rode on in silence and they
said no more about it.
1t was gay life that they led at
night for the Fortuna hotel was filed
with men of their kind, since all the
staid married men had either moved
across the line with their families or
were under orders to come straight
home.
In the daytime the hotel was nearly
deserted, for every man in town was
working for the company; but in the
evening, when they gathered around
the massive stove, 1t was a merry COM
pany indeed.
There were college men, full of good
stories and stories not so good, world
wanderers and adventures with such
tales of the East and West as never
have been written in books. But not
college boy could match stories with
Phil De Lancey, and few wanderers
there were who could tell him any
thing new about Mexico Also, when
1t came to popular songs, he knew
both the words and the tune. So he
was much in demand, and Don Juan
passed many drinks across the bar be-
cause Of him.
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 were 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 90.
But on the evening after their spat
Bud sat off to one side, and even Pills
sprightly and ventriloquistic converse
ton with Observation-Disclosures
called forth only fieeting 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 It 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 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 1t out
of the harnessroom where 1t had been
stored and slung it deity across the
pack-saddle.
"Why, what's the matter?" said De
Lancey, when they were on their way;
don't you like the hotel?"
Hotels fine," 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; Il amt afraid
he'll steal something-but he might
take q notion to quit the country
why. what for7" challenged De
Lancey. "He's got his wife and family
here"
"That's nothing-to q Mexican!"
countered Bud. But amt figuring on
the excuse he'd give-that won't buy
me nothing-what I want to do is to
keep him from going. Because II we
lose that Mex now, we lose our NINE"
"And-"
mo and to It," said Bud doggedly.
I'VE amt going to lose him"
But II we did," persisted De Lam
cey, "why, then you think"
"Your friend would get It," finished
Hooker grimly.
"Ah, see," nodded De Lancey,
noting the accent on friend" You
don't approve of my making friends
with Aragon."
/ "Oh, that's all right" shrugged the
big cowboy; ut won't make no differ
ence now. 90 ahead, II you want to-"
"You mean you can get along with
out meH"
mo- answered Bud. II don't mean