The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-09-18
copyright, 1914, by Frank A. Munsey.l
CHAPTER XIV.

In land Of class privilege and off,
cial graft it is often only in times Of
anarchy that poor man can get his
rights. For eight months Hooker had
battled against the petty intrigue of
Aragon and the agente mineral, and
then suddenly, when the times turned
to war and fear gripped at their hearts,
he rose up and claimed his own, hold
ing out his brawny right hand and de-
manding the concession of his mine.
In day the whirligig of fortune had
turned, and it was the fighting man
who dominated. He spoke quietly and
made no threats, but the look in his
eye was enough, and the agente gave
him his papers. Then he wrote out a
receipt for the mining tax and Bud
stepped forth like king.
With his papers inside his shirt and
a belt of gold around his waist there
was nothing left in Mexico for him.
Once on his horse and headed for the
line and he could laugh at them all.
In Gadsden he could show title to
Kruger, he could give answer for his
trust and look the world in the eye.
It had been long and strenuous
fight; fight made against seemingly
insurmountable odds; fight that had
cost him much, but he had won. He
had proved the trust Kruger had
placed in him, and it had been fight
worth winning
Yes, he was a man now-but his
work was not quite done. UP at the
big house, with the screeching women
around her, was Graeia Aragon, and
he owed her something for his rough
words. To pay her for that he would
stay. Whatever she asked now he
would grant 1t; and if worst came to
worst he would take her with him and
make good his promise to Phil. He
had given his word and that was
enough. Now he had only to wait.
II would not be long, for the parley
would soon be over, and if the coward
ly rurales surrendered the town to
the bandits he would make break for
the line and civilization with the girl
It would be a hard ride, and alone he
would have no fear Of the results, but
he would chance 1t even with the girl
rather than leave her.
The boy lieutenant, the brothers
Mendoza, the superintendent, and Man
uel del Rey, all were out on the hill
side talking terms with Bernardo
Bravo and his chiefs. With the rebels
it was largely bluff, since field
glasses had shown them to be short of
cartridges; but they had over thou
sand men massed along the ridges
and, with courage, could easily take
the town.
Bud knew that courage was the one
thing lacking. 1t was the one thing
that was always lacking in these Mex
lean fights. The Mexican bandit takes
but little chance when he goes to war.
AS for the Mendozas and their So
moran miners, they were properly
chagrined at their waste of ammuni-
ton and swore by Santa Guadalupe to
fight 1t out with hand grenades. Even
as their leaders wrangled the Mexican
powder men were busily manufacture
ing bombs, and all the while the su-
perintendent was glancing to the
south, for swift couriers had been sent
to Alvarez, the doughty Spanish ha-
ciendado of the hot country, to beg
him to come to their relief.
Twice before Alvarez had met the
rebels. The first time he spoke them
we'll and they ran off all his horses.
The second time he armed his Yaquis
and Yaqui Mayo rancheros against
them and drove them from his domain,
infiicting a sanguinary punishment.
Since then he had been itching to-
engage them in pitched battle. and