The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-06-08

the full price Of your citizenship. BE-
fore our law you are now no more than
that poor pelado. Mendez. You cannot
appeal now to your consul at Gads-
den-you are only Mexican! Very
WE'LL"
He shrugged his shoulders and
smiled significantly.
NO" retorted De Lancey angrily;
you are right cannot appeal to my
government! But let me tell you some
thing, Senior Mexicano! An American
needs no government to protect him
he has his gun, and that is enough"
Yes, added Bud, who had caught
the drift of the last, and he has his
friends, too; don't forget that" He
strobe over toward Aragon and men
aced him with threatening finger.
IF anything happens to my friend"
he Kissed, you will have me to whip!
And now, senor," he added speaking
in the idiom of the country, go with
God-and do not come back!
"Pah!" spat back Aragon, his hate
for the pushing foreigner showing in
every glance; 81 will beat you yet!
And l pray God the revoltosos come
this way, if they take the full half Of
my cattle-so long as they get you
two!"
Very WE'LL" nodded Bud as Aragon
and his men turned away, but be
careful you do not send any"
Good" he continued. smiling grim
ly at the pallid Phil now we got him
where we want him-out in the open.
And I'll just remember them four PAL
sanos he had with him-they're his
handy men, the boys with nerve-and
don't never let one of 'em catch you
out after dark"
De Lancey sat down on rock and
wiped his face.
Heavens, Bud" he groaned, ~
never would have believed it Of him
| thought he was on the square. But
it just goes to prove the old saying
every Mexican has got streak Of yell
low in him somewhere. All you've
got to do is to trust him long enough
and you'll find it out. Well, we're hep
to Mr.. Aragon, all right"
II never seen one Of these polite,
palavering Mexicans yet observed
Bud sagely, that wasn't crooked. And
this Teller Aragon is mean, to boot.
But that's game" he added, that
two can play at. don't know how you
feel, Phil, but we been kinder creeping
and slipping around SO long that I'm
all cramped up inside Never suffered
more in my life than the last sixty
days-being polite to that damn Next
can. Now it's our turn. Are you
gamer?
Count me in!" cried De Lancey,
rising from his rock. WHATS the
nlay?"
We'll, we'll go into town pretty
soon," grinned Bud, land If l run
across old Aragon, or any one of them
four bad Mexicans, I'm going to make
a show And as for that big brindle
dog of his-well, he's sure going to get
roped and drug If he don't mend
his ways. Come on, let's ketch up our
horses and go in for little time!"
iii go you!" agreed Phil with en-
thusiasm, and half an hour later, each
on his fayorite horse, they were clat-
tering down the canyon. At the turn
of the trail, where it swung into the
Aragon lane, Bud took down his rope
and smiled in anticipation.
You so on ahead he said shaking
out his loop, and III try to put the
catgut on Brindle"
OF like a FASH" answered De
I Lancey, and, putting the spurs to his
tlery bay, he went dashing down the
street, scattering chickens and hogs
in all directions. Behind came Bud
rolling joyially in his saddle, and as
the dogs rushed out after his pardnel
he twirled his loop once and laid il
skilfully across the big brindle's back
But roping dogs is a difficult task a
best, and Bud was out of practise. The
sudden blow struck Brindle to the
ground and the loop came away un
filled. The Texan laughed, shifting il
his saddle.
Come again!" commented Bud
leaning sidewise as he coiled his rope
and as the womenfolk and idlers came
rushing to see what had happened HI
turned Copper Bottom in his tracks
and came back like a streak of light.
Look out, you ugly mans dog!" hi
shouted, whirling his rope as he rode
and then, amid chorus of indignan
protests, he chased the yelping Brindl,
down the lane and through hole il
the fence. Then, with no harm done
he rode back up the street, smiling
amiably and looking for more dogs t
rope.
In the doc of the store stood Ara
gon, pale with fury, but Bud appears
not to see him. His eyes we're turne
rather toward The house where, on tn
edge of the veranda, Gracia Arago
and her mother stood staring at hi
antics.
Good morning to you, ladies!" h