The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-06-24

well, 'muchas gracias' is mine" ab-
served De Lancey. 1T doesn't cost
anything, and it buys a whole lot"
Sure" agreed Bud; "but we aint
buying nothing from him-he's the
one particular hombre we want to
steer clear of, and keep him guessing
as long as we can. That's my view
Of it, %pardner."
ooh, that's all right" laughed DE
Lancey, "he won't get anything GU
of me-that Is, nothing but a bunch
of hot air. Say, he's a shrewd-looklne
old guinea, isn't he? Did you notice
that game eye? He kept 1t kind Oh
dropped, almost shut, until he came
to the point-and then he opened II
up real fierce. Reminds me OF a DIE
fighting owl waking up in the day
time. But you just, watch me handle
him, and if I don't fool the old DO!
at every turn it'll be because l run
out OF. BULL" =,
well, you can hand him the bull
il you want to-" grumbled Bud, but
the first time you give anything away
I'm going. to pick such a row with
the old cuss that we'll have to make
new trail to get by. So leave I'm
alone, if you ever expect to see thai
grill"
A close association with Phil Dc
Lancey had left Bud not unaware o.
his special weaknesses, and Phil was
undoubtedly romantic. Given a barred
and silent house, shut off from the
street by whitened walls and a We
randa screened with flowers, and the
guessing eyes of Mr.. De Lancey would
turned to those barred windows as Ger
tainly as the needle seeks the pole.
On every trip, coming and going, ne
had conned the Aragon house from the
uncovered corredor in front to the
walled-in summer garden behind, hop
ing to surprise a view of the beautiful
daughter of the house. And unless ru
NOR and Don Juan were at fault, she
was indeed worthy of his solicitude-
a gay and sprightly creature, brown
eyed like her mother and with the
same glorious chestnut hair.
Already those dark, mischievous
eyes had been busy and, at the last
big dance at Fortuna, she had Sci
many heads awhirl. Twice within two
years her father, in a rage, had sen,
her away to school in order to break
off some ill-considered love affair; an6
now a battle royal was being waged
between Manuel del Rey, the dashine
captain Of the rurales stationed al
Fortuna, and Feliz Luna, son Of a rich
haciendado down in the hot country
for the honor of her hand.
What more romantic, then, than thai
a handsome American, stepping grace
fully into the breach, should keep the
naughty lovers from Staying each
other by bearing off the prize himself;
So reasoned Philip De Lancey, mus
ing upon the ease with which he coult
act the part; but for prudential pur
poses he said nothing of his Wanting
ambitions, knowing full we'll that they
would receive an active veto from Bud
For, while De Lancey did most o.
the talking, and a great deal Of the
thinking for the partnership. Hooker
was not lacking in positive opinions
and upon sufficient occasion he woult
express himself, Though often witt
more force than delicacy. Therefore
upon this unexpected sally about the
girl, Phil changed the subject abruptly
and said no more Of Aragon or the
hopes within his heart. a.. ..
1t was not so easy, however, to avoit
Aragon, for that gentleman had appar
emily taken the pains to inform him
self as to the place where they were
at work, and he was waiting for then
in the morning with a frown Is black
as a thunder cloud.
He's on" muttered Phil, as they
drew near enough to see his face
What shall we do" .
do nothing" growled Bud through
his teeth; you jest let me do the talk
ing!"
He Unanswered his horse adroitly
and, with a skilful turn, cut in be
tween his pardner and Aragon.
as dias," he greeted. gazing dowr
in burly defiance at the militant Ara
gon; and at the same moment he gave
De Lancey's horse a furtive touch witt
his spur.
"Buenos dias, s%enores!" returned
Aragon, striding forward to intercept
them; but as neither of the Americans
looked back, he was left standing II
the middle Of the street.
That's the way to handle 'im." OBJ
served Hooker, as they trotted briskly
down the lane. Leave i'm to mel"
It'll only make him mad" objected
De Lancey GROSSLY. What do you
want to do that for?"
He's mad already" answered Bud
Il want to quarrel with him, so he