Gilpin observer., 1914-11-26

camp. Very sober!y the superintendent
assured the leaders that he had no
more; they pointed at the full belts of
the American guard and demanded
them as their right; and when the
Americans refused to yield they dew
into rage and threatened.
All In all, it was a pitiful exhibition
of hot-headedness and imbecility, and
only the firmness Of the superintend-
ent prevented a real spilling OF blood.
The Mexicans retired in a hun and
broke into the cantina, and as the
night came on the valley re-echoed to
their drunken shoutings.
Such was war as the Sonorans con-
ceived 1t. When Hooker, standing his
guard in the corredor, encountered
Gracia Aragon on her evening walk.
he could scarcely conceal grin.
what are you laughing at, Senior
Hooker?" she demanded with asperity.
'Is 1t so pleasant, with houseful of
frightened women and screaming chill
dren, that you should make fun of our
plight?"
mo. indeed" apologized Bud; moth
ing like that. Sure must be bad in
there-I stay outside myself But 1
reckon it'll soon be over with. The
Mexicans here in town have shot off
all their ammunition and l reckon the
rebels have done the same. Like as
not they'll all be gone tomorrow, and
then you can go back home"
"Oh, thank you for thinking about
mel" she returned with scornful curl
of the lip. But if all men were as
open as you, Mr.. Hooker. we women
would never need to ask question.
This morning you told me l did not
know what was talking about-now
presume you are thinking what cow
ards the Mexicans are!
"Oh, know! You need not deny it!
You are nothing but great big-Te-
jano! Yes. was going to say brute
but you are friend of dear Phil's. and
SO will hold my tongue. If it wasn't
for that, I'd" She paused, leaving
him to guess.
"Oh, | do wish he were here" she
breathed, leaning wearily against the
white pillar of an arch and gazing
down through the long arcade.
ut was SO close in there" she con-
tinued, Il could not stand it a minute
longer. These Indian women, you
know-they weep and moan all the
time. And the children am 30 sorry
for them. / cannot go now, because
they need me; but tomorrow-if Phil
were here-I would leave and ride for
the line.
"Have you seen Del Rey today? No?
Then all the better-he must be polio
ing the town. 1t is only of him l am
afraid. These rebels are nothing
agree with you! No! am not angry
with you at all now! But tomorrow,
just at dusk, when all is still as 1t Is
at this time, then, If Phil were here
/ would mount my brave horse and
ride out by the western pass"
She ended rather inconclusively, let
ting her voice trail off wistfully as she
waited for him to speak, but something
peace, and he looked out over the town
without commenting on her plans. 1t
was evident to him that she was deter
mined to enlist his sympathy and in
volve him in her wild plot, and each
time the conversation veered in that
direction he took refuge in stubborn
silence.
What are you thinking Of. Mr..
Hooker?" she asked at last, as he
| gazed into the dusk. Sometimes
scold you and sometimes l try to
please you, but never know what you
| think! / did not mean that when
said could read your thoughts-you
are so different from poor, dear Phil"
"M-m-m," mumbled Bud, shifting his
feet, and his face turned little grim.
"Aha!" she cried with ill-concealed
satisfaction, you do not like me to
call him like that, do you? Poor, dear
Phil,'-like that! But do you know
why l do it? 1t is to punish you for
never coming near me-when l signed
to you-when l waited for you-lone
ago! All, you were SO cruel! l want
ed to know you-you were a cowboy
and l thought you were brave enough
to defend me-but you always rode
right by. Yes. that was it-but Phi
was different! He came when / sent
for him; he sang songs to me at night
he took my part against Manuel de-
Rey; and now"
"Yes!" commented Bud bruskly
with his mind on dear Phil's" finish
and she turned to peer into his face.
so that Is it," she said. You dc
not trust me. You think that am NOT
your friend-that / will serve you AZ
he was served. Is that what you are
thinking!"
Something like that" admitted
Hooker. leaning lazily against the
mud wall. "Only I reckon don't think
Just the way you do"
"Whyf How do I think?" she de
manded eagerly.
We'll. you think awful fast" an
swered Hooker slowly, And you dom,