The Huttig news., 1914-08-29

1 from now on. Here, take look at drew the piece of ore that he had taken from Aragon from his pocket and held it up in the moonlight Well, feel of It, then" he said "Shucks, you ought to know that piece of rock, Phil its the first one we found in our mine!"
 "No!" exclaimed De Lancey, start ing back; "why-where'd you get it?t
 Never mind where l got iti" an- swered Hooker The question Is: What did you do with it?'
 Well, I might as we'll come through with it. confessed Phil. the last of his assurance gone. "l gave it to Gracia!"
 And I took it away from Aragon." ]" continued Bud. while he was digging some more chunks out Of our mine. So that is your idea of being true as steel Is It? You've done noble by me and Kruger, haven't you? Yes, you've been 8 good pardner, don't think"
 Well. don't throw me down, Bud!" pleaded Phil. There's some mistake sohhCWhCic. licI tdtHSl EiOSb Udtt found 1t and taken 1t away! I'd stake my life on it that Gracia would never betray mel"
 Well. think it over for while" suggested Bud, edging his words with sarcasm. I'm going up to the hotel!"
 No; come back" cried De Lancey, i elamoring at the bars. Come on back, Bud! Here!" he said, thrust ing his hand out through the heavy irons. "1'll give you my word for 1t -I won't see her again until we get our title, Will that satisfy you? Then give me your hand, pardner-I'm sorry l did you wrongi"
 Tt ain't me" replied Hooker sober. ly, as he took the trembling hand its Kruger. But'if you'll keep your word, Phil. maybe we can win out yet. I'm going up to find the comisario."
 A brief interview with that smiling individual and the case of Phfl De Lancey was laid bare. He had been engaged in a desperate rivalry with Manuel del Key for the hand of Gra- cia Aragon, and his present incarcera. tion was not only for singing rag-time beneath the Aragon windows, but for trying to whip the captain of the ru rales when the latter tried to place him under arrest.
 L And De Lancey was the prisoner nol of the eomisario, but of the captain oi the rurales. Sore at heart. Bud rode up through the Mexican quarters to the cuartel of the rurales, but the cap- tain was memorable.
 No, senor," he said, waving an elo- quent finger before his nose, T cannot release your friend. No, senor!"
 But what is he charged with?" per sisted Bud. and when is his trial? :? You can't keep him shut up without a trial.'
 At this the captain of the rurales waxed mustachio and smiled mysteri- ously.
 "Y como nor" he inquired. And why not? Is he not Mexican citi- Zen?"
 Well, perhaps he is!" thundered puu, SuuuChiy ilSlnS tO HID nCl6ht but I am not! I am an American, senor capitan, and there are other | Americans! If you hold my friend without a trial I will come and tear your jail down-and the comisario will not stop me, either!"
 "Ah!" observed the dandy little cap- tain. shrugging his mustaehio once more and blinking, and while Hooker ragged back and forth he looked shim over appraisingly.
 l One moment." he said at last, rais- ing quieting hand. These are peril ous times senor, in which all the de lenders of Fortuna should stand to- gether. l do not wish to have a diff ference with the Americans when Der nardo Bravo and his men are march ing to take our town. No, I value the friendship of the valiant Americans very highly--so I will let your friend go. But first he must promise me one thing-not to trouble the Senor Ara gon by making further love to his daughter!"
 | Very well!" replied Bud "He has 1 already promised that to me; so come on and let him out
 1 "To your repeated Manuel del Key with faint smile. Then, perhaps"
 Perhaps nothing!" broke i'll Hooker shortly. Come on!"
 He led the way impatiently while the captain, his saber clanking, strode out and rode beside him. He was not big man. this swashing captain of the rural police, but he was master, nevertheless, of a great district, from ! Fortuna to the line, with a reputation 1 for quick work In the pursuance of his duty as we'll as in the primrose ways i of love.
 ] In the insurrections and raidings of the previous summer he had given the coup de grace with his revolver to more thariSon embryo bandit, and in i his love affairs he had shown that he could be equally summary.
 The elegant Feliz Luna, who for a time had fingered near the charming