The Ordway new era., 1914-12-04
CHAPTER xv,-con.'nu.d.

dian went to-" he said for the nun
dredth time, % the deep shadows
gathered in the valley. by Joe. Phil.
II Amigo comes back I'm going to go
ahead on that mine. I want to keep
him around here, and We might -
well get out some ore. II It's only for
y grub-stake. Come on-what do you
say! Well open her up--there's moth
ing to hide now. Well, I'll do It my
self. then-this setting around ID get
ting on my nerves"
His far.seeing eyes. trained from his
hoyhood to search the hills for Cattle.
scanned the tops of the ridges ~ be
spoke: and while he sat and pondered
they noted every rock.
Then at last he rose up slowly and
gazed at certain spot He waved
HIS arm. beckoning the distant point
OF blackness to come in. and soon
from around point In the canyon the
Yaqui appeared. bearing . heavy Aau.
ser rife on his arm. 4
Across his broad breast hung the
same familiar cartridge-belt. two more
encircled his hips. and he walked
with his head held high. like the war
(. rior that he was.
Evidently his flight had led to the
place where bis arms had been hid. for
he wore the regulation knife-bayonet
at his hip and around his hat was the
red ribbon Of has people. but Bud was
too polite to ask him about his Jour
ney. Since his coming me Yaqui had
always maintained q certain mystery.
aud now, though his eyes were big
with portent and he smiled at the 1ests
about his gun. he simply waved his
hand to the south and east and muir
injured:
"Muchos revoltosos!"
"seguro:" answered Bud jokingly:
-hut have you killed any7"
Not yeti" returned the Indian, and
he did not smile at that.
Il wonder what that Indian 10 wait
lug around here fort" remarked Phil In
English. He must have his eye on
somebody" s,
Yeah. l bet." agreed Bud. regard
ing his savage friend with specula-
tive interest. Most OF them Yaqui
soldiers was farmhands In this coun.
try before they rounded them up. !
reckon he's looking for the man that
had him deported.
Tired. Amigo7" he inquired In
Spanish. and Ignacio gravely acknowl-
edged that he was. little.
Then drink plenty coffee went on
Hooker. Eat lots-tomorrow we 20
to work In the mine"
Tomorrow" repeated the Indian,
"a II considering his other engage
ments; 'good!" He nodded smiling
assent.
After month and more OF idleness
Bud and Amigo performed prodigies
OF labor in the cut. rolling down
boulders. lifting them up on the tram,
aud clearing away the face Of the clifr.
Their tram was ramshackle. their
track the abandoned rails from older
workings. and their tools little more
than their hands. but by noon the last
broken fragments we're Aeaved aside
and the shattered, ledge revealed.
A low cry OF wonder escaped the
YaqI, as he gazed at the rich vein OF
ore. and as b" srw the grim smile ON
Bsd's rugged c, untenaace he showed
ihis white teetf. In sympathy. if
Que buenc " he lnurmured. How
xood!" gathering the precious frag-
ments In his handkerchief.
Al tho camp they crushed the
? picked rre In q mortar and panned II
IA the ,reek, and for the moment De
lap>o5 dropped his air OF preoccu-
pA1cy as he stared at the streak Of
Sure gold. Like yellow film 1t lay
along the edge of the last fine tailings,
and ~hen skilful washing had left II
bare. It cleaned like Jewel in the
pan.
'By love. Bud!" he cried. that's the
real stun-and It goes dollar to the
1an easyi"
..surs thing!" assented Bud. "Let's
sound lot Of It and wash It as we 60
--<hen well have some getaway money
when things break loose here!"
aI1i 20 you'll" answered Phil. and
1ud,s heart warmed toward him ~ ha
watched him round up . piece of ore
md 60 10 sviriing the dirt in the
;s - 49, ~ ~ esal heDes ~ cher.