The Elbert County tribune., 1914-09-25


fed from them alone.
THE roadmaster came into town
this morning on velocipede and said
that the Yaquis are insufferable. think
Ing that it was their renown as fight
ers and not the news of the dynamite
that drove all the soldiers from town
However. Aqua Negra is once more
in the hands of the government; the
track Is clear and most of the bridges
repaired: so why quarrel with the
Yaquis? While they are. of course.
nothing but Indians. they serve their
purpose in battle"
We'll. | guess yes" responded Bud
warmly. Serve their purpose. eh?
Where we're these Mexican soldiers
and them Spanish officers when the
Yaquis we're taking the town. And
that was just like dog-goned Mexi-
setting that time-fuse and then
not having it go off. More'n likely the
poor yap that fired 1t was so scairt he
couldn't hold match-probably
never lit it. jest dropped the match
and run. They're bum bunch. If
you want to know what | think. I'd
rather have Q Yaqui than hundred
of 'em,"
"a hundred OF whom" inquired a
cool voice behind him, and looking up
Hooker saw she beautiful .Gracia gaz-
ing out at him through the screen
door.
"A hundred Mexicans," he repeated.
and Gracia murmured oh" and was
gone.
Miss Aragon is very loyal to her
country" observed Don Juan. but
Hooker only grunted.
Somehow. since those four Mexicans
had come to his camp. he had soured
on everything south OF the line; and
even the charming Gracia could not
make him take back his words. II she
had intended the remark as a chai-
lenge-a subtle invitation to follow
her and defend his faith-she failed
for once of her purpose. for II there
asany particular man in Mexico that
her false-hearted father.
Hooker had, in fact, thought more
seriously of making her half-orphan
than of winning her goodwill. and he
fingered about the hotel, not to make
love to the daughter. but to strike ter
ror to Aragon.
The company being good. and a
train being expected soon, Bud stayed
over another day. In the morning,
when he came down for breakfast, he
found that Aragon had fed before him.
With his wife, daughter and retinue.
he had moved suddenly back to his
home Hooker grinned when Don Juan
told him the news.
We'll. why not?" he asked. chuck
ling maliciously. Here it's the mid
die OF the rainy season and the war
going on all summer and nary a rebel
in sight. Where's that big fight you
was telling about-the battle of For
tuna? You've made regular fortune
out OF these refugees, Brachamonte.
but fail to see the enemy
"Ah. you may laugh" shrugged the
hotel-keeper. but wait! The time will
come. The rebels are lost now-some
day, when you least expect it, they
will come upon us and then, believe
me. my guests will be glad they are
here. What is few weeks bill com
pared to being held for ransom? Look
at that rich Senior Luna, who was here
for time in the spring Against my
advice he hurried home and now he
is paying the price. Ten thousand
pesos 1t cost to save his wife and
family. and for himself and son his
friends advanced ten thousand more.
l make no evil prophecies. but it
would be better for our friend If he
stayed on at my poor hotel"
Whose friend?'' inquired Bud
bluffly, but Don Juan struck him upon
the back with elephantine playfulness
and hurried off to his duties
As for Hooker. he tarried in town
until he got his mail and a copy of
the Sunday paper and then. well sat
isfied that the times were quiet and
wars thing of the past. he ambled
back to the Eagle Tail and settled
down for rest. %
Flat on his back by the doorway
he lay on his bed and smoked, reading
his way through the lurid supplement
and watching the trail with one eye.
Since the fight with Aragon's Mexi-
cans all his apprehensions had left
him. He had written briefly to Phil
and Kruger. and now he was holding
the fort
1t had been a close shave, but he
had escaped the cowardly assassins
and had Aragon in his power. Not by
any force of law, but by the force of
fear and the gnawing weakness of Ara
gon's own evil Conscience.
Aragon was afraid OF what he had
done. but it was the suspense which
rendered him so pitiable. On day
he had sent four armed Mexicans
to kill this Texan-not one had re-
turned and the Texan regarded him
sneeringly. This 1t was that broke
the Spaniard's will. for he knew not
what to think. But as for Bud, he lay