The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-09-23

her. Perhaps, II he coulQ get ner
quieted, she would stop talking and
begin to eat.
HE asked me who was after US" he
said, land l told him it was Del Rey."
Eyes, and what did he say then?"
"He didn't say nothing-jest lined
out for the pass"
"And didn't you say you wanted
him-killed?"
mol" burst out Bud, half angrily.
Haven't l told you once? did not!
That Indian had reasons Of his own,
believe inches got a scar along. his
ribs where Del Rey shot him with a
six.shooter! And, furthermore" he
added, as her face cleared at this ex-
PLANTATION Of the mystery, you'd better
try to take me at my word for the rest
of this trip! Looks to me like you've
been associating with these Mexicans
too much"
"Why, what do you mean?" she de-
manded CURLY.
81 mean this" answered Hooker, "be-
ing as we're on the subject again.
Ever since I've knowed you you've
been talking about brave men and
all that; and more'n one you've limited
that I wasn't brave because I wouldn't
fight.
I'D just like to tell you, to put
your mind at rest, that my father was
a sergeant in the Texas rangers and no
hundred Mexicans was ever able to
make him crawl. He served for ten
years on the Texas border and never
turned his back to no man-let alone
a Mex. I was brought up by him to
be ~peaceable and quiet, but don't you
never think. because / run away from
Manuel del Rey, that I was afraid to
face him."
He paused and regarded her intent
ly, and her eyes fell before his.
"You must excuse me-" she said,
looking wistfully away, II did not-I
did not understand. And so the poor
Yaqui was only avenging an INJURY"
she went on, reaching out n slender
hand toward the food. "Ah, I cal un-
derstand it now-he looked so savage
and fierce. But"-she paused again.
set back by a sudden thought-"didn't
you know he would kill him?"
Eyes, ma'am," answered Hooker
quietly, 81 did"
"Then-then why didn't YOU"
THAT was between them two" he
replied doggedly. del Rey shot him
once when he was wounded and left
him for dead. He must have killed
some Of his people, too; his wife meb-
be, for all I know. He never would
talk about it, but he come back to get
his revenge. I don't shoot no mar
from cover myself, but that amt it
1t was between them two"
And you?" she suggested. IF you
had fought Del Rey?"
Il would have met him in the open,"
said Hooker.
"And yet"
81 didn't want to-" he ended bluntly.
Didn't want to fight him and didn't
want to kill him. Had no call to. And
then-well, there was YOU"
"Ah!" she breathed, and a flush
mounted her pale cheeks. She smiled
as she reached out once for the
food and Hooker resolved to do his
best at gallantry, 1t seemed to make
her so happy.
80 you were thinking Of me-" she
challenged sweetly, all the while? I
thought perhaps I was a nuisance and
in the way. I thought perhaps you did
not like me because-well. because
I'm q Mex, as you say"
mo, ma'am," denied Hooker gazing
upon her admiringly. Nothing like
that! When l say Mex I mean these
low, pelado Mexicans-Don Juan tells
me you're pure Spanish"
with perhaps a little Yaqui," she
suggested shyly.
well, mebbe he did say that too"
confessed Bud. But it's jest as good
as Spanish-they say all the big men
in Sonora have got some Yaqui blood
Moral, that was vice-president; the
Tonnes brothers, governors"
And Aragon!" she added playfully,
but at a look In his eyes she stopped.
Bud could not look pleasant and think
Of Aragon.
"Ah, yes" she ratified on. II know.
You like the Yaquis better than the
Spanish saw you shaking hands
with that Indian. And what was it
you called him-Amigo"
That's right" smiled Hooker; him
and me have been friends for months
now out at the mine. I'd do anything
for that Teller"
"Oh, now you make me Jealous" she
pouted. IF 1 were only a Yaqui-and
big and black"
Never mind" defended Bud. HE
was a true friend, all right, and true
friends, believe me, are scarce"
There was a shade of bitterness in
his voice that did not escape her, and
she was careful not to allude to Phil.
His name, like the name Of her father,
always drove this shy man to silence,
and she wanted to make him talk.
Then you ought to be friends with
me-" she chided, after a silence. i
have always wanted to be your friend
why will you never allow 1t? No,
but really! Haven't l always shown
it? remember now the first time that
l saw you'll was looking through my
hole among the passion-fowers and
you saw me with your keen eyes. Phil