Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-10-30

trimmer. a man who tried to be IN
things to all people-as q good hotel
keeper shouldn't now he altered hif
opinion a little, for the letters were
from Phil. He read them over in the
crowded plaza, into which the first
refugees were just beginning to pour,
and frowned as he skinned through
the last
OF Gracia and vain protestations OF
devotion there was enough and to
spare, but nothing about the mine.
Only in the first one. written on the
very day he had deserted. did he 30
much as attempt an C u for so pre-
cipitately abandoning their claim and
his Mexican citizenship. Phil wrote:
MY mali was being sent through head
quarters and looked over by Del Rey, so
l knew l would never receive the papers,
even II they came. l hope you don't feel
hard about II, pardner. Kruger says to
come out right away. l would v
stayed with II. but Il wasn't any use
And now, Bud, I wan to ask you some
thing. When you come out. bring Graoia
with you. Don't leave her at the mercy
Of Del Rey. l would come myself II u
wasn't sure death. Be quick about IT,
Bud: I count on you.
The other letters were all like that
but nothing about the mine. And yet
It was the mine that Bud was fighting
for-that they had fought for from the
first. The railroad was torn up now,
and a flight with Gracia was hopeless,
but it was just as we'll. for he new
would abandon the Eagle Tail.
In two months, or three, when the
rebels were whipped of. his papers
might come. Then he could pay his
taxes and transfer his title and con-
slider the stealing Of Gracia. But since
he had seer her and touched her hand
something held him back-a grudging
reluctance-and he was glad that his
duty lay elsewhere. II she was his
girl now he would come down and get
her anyway.
But she was not his girl and. gazins
back grimly at the seething plaza and
the hotel that hid her from sight ne
rode somberly down the road. After
all, there was nothing to get excitsd
about-every revoltoso In the country
was lined UP around Aqua Negra and,
with four hundred soldiers to oppose
them and artillery to shell their nd
vance, 1t would be many a long day DO
fore they took that town.
Twice already Aqua Negra had
fallen before such attacks, but o II
was protected by rifle-pits and ma
chine guns set high on mud roofs. And
then there we're the Yaquis, still faith
fu! to Madero. They alone could hole
the town, II they made up their minds
to fight. So reasoned Hooker, mullinl
over the news that he had heard. BuI
he watched the ridges warily, for the
weather was good for raiders.
A day passed, and then another, ant
the big whistle blew only for thu
shifts; the loneliness Of the hills op
messed him as he gazed out at thu
ouiyering heat. And then, like a toat
after a shower. Amigo came padding
into camp on the heels Of q thunder
storm. his sandals hung on his hip ant
his big feet sQuelching through tn
mud.
Across his shoulders he wore a ga.
serape, woven by some patient womai
of his tribe; and in the belt besid'
Buds pistol he carried a heavy knife
blacksmithed from a ten-inch file b,
some Yaqui hillman. All In all, b.
was a fine barbarian. but he looke'
good to the lonely Bud.
lola. Amigo!" he hailed. steppinI
out from the adobe house where b
had moved to avoid the rains: an
Amigo ANSWERED with his honest smil
which carried no hint of savagery o
deceit.
Try as he would, Bud could no
bring himself to think OF his Yaqui a
dangerous; and ven when he ba,
anced the Indians murderous bowie
knife in his hands he regarded 1t wit
a grin. It was q heavy weapon, broa'
across the back. keen on n edge
, and drawn to a point that was bot
sharp and strong. The haft wa
/. wrapped with rawhide to hold tn
clutch OF the hand.
What do you do with thls?" querie
u1oLar "Chon wood7 SKIN daar7"
a.. Eyes, chop wood" answered Amigo
/, but he replaced 1t carefully In his bel
ITO RE C~ONTINUED)