The Ordway new era., 1914-11-20

miners working u fortuna. and they
say every one Of 'em has got . rins
buried. Now they're beginning to quit
and drift out into the hills. and we're
likely to hear from them any time. :"
"An the more reason for staying in
camp. then,- remarked Bud. 'T'll tell
you. Phil. need you here. That
dogsed ledge = lost. good and plenty.
and ] need you to say where 70 dig.
We amt doing much better than old
Aragon did-just roofing around In
that rock -pile+let's do little timber
ing. and sink"
-You can't timber that rock" an
swered De Lancey decidedly. And
besides, it's cheaper TO make cut
twenty feet deep than It II to tunnel
or sink . shaft Wait till We get TO
that porphyry contact = them ven
know where we're at"
IAN right" grumbled Bud; but
seems like we're a long time getting
there. What's the news downtownf
We'll the fireworks have begun
again over In Chihuahua-Orozco and
Salaxar and that bunch-but It seems
there was something to this Mocte-
xuma scare, after all ! was talking to
an American mining man from down
that way and he told me that the fed
erals marched out to where the rebels
were and then sat down and watched
them cross the river without firing on
them-some kind Of an understanding
between Bernardo Bravo and these
blackleg federals.
"The only fighting there was was
when . bunch Of twenty Yaquis got
away from their officers in the rough
country and went after Bernardo Bra
vo by their lonesome. That threw
big scare into him. too. but he man
aged to fight them ofi-and II ! was
making q guess I'd bet that your Yaqui
friend was one Of that nghtlng
twenty"
Il reckon" assented Bud: "but don't
you say nothing. need that hombre
in my business. Come on, let's go up
and look at that cut-I come ACROSS
an old board today. down In the muck.
and bet you it's piece that Kruger
left Funny we don't come across
some Of his tools. though. or the hole
where the powder went on"
when we do that" observed Phil.
well be where we're going. Nothing
to d. then but lay Oh the mon and wait
TIN get my papers. That's why say
don't hurry 90 hard-ws haven't got
our title to this claim. pardner. and
we won't get It. either-not for some
time yet Suppose you'd hit this
ledge" .ssr
well, II l hit IT," remarked Bud.
III stay with it-you can trust me
for that Hello. what's the YaQui
foundr'
As they came mp the cut Amigo quit
work and, while the Mexicans followed
suit and gathered expectantly behind
him. he picked mp three rusty drills
and an iron drill4poon and presented
them to Bud.
Evidently he had learned the object
of their search from the Mexicans. but
II he looked for any demonstrations OF
delight at sight Of these much-sought-
for tools he was doomed to disappoint-
ment, for both Bud and Phil had
schooled themselves to keep their
faces straight.
"Um-m," said Bud. -old drills. oh?
Where you find themf"
The Yaqui led the way to the face
OF the cut and showed the spot, hole
beneath the pile Of riven rock; and
a Mexican. not TO be outdone. grabbed
up Q handful of porphyry and indi-
Gated where the dynamite had pulver-
lied It
"Bien," said Phil. paving solemnly
around in the bottom Of the hole; and
then. nllins his handkerchief with nne
dirt, he carried It down to the creek.
There, in Q miners pan. he washed
1t out carefully. stopping the waste
over the edge and swirling the water
around until at last only little dirt
was left in the bottom Of the pan.
Then, while all the Mexicans looked
on, he tailed this toward the edge.
scanning the last remnant for gold
and quit without color.
"Nada!" he cried. throwing down
the pan, and in, some way the Mexi-
cans sensed the fact that the mine had
turned out a failure. Three times he
went back to the cut and scooped up
the barren dust. and then he told the
men they could quit
"No more workl" he said, affecting
q detected bitterness; mo hay nada---
there il nothing!" And with this sad,
but by no means unusual. ending to
their labors. the Mexicans went away
to their camp. speculating among
themselves a. to whether they could
get their pay. But when the last Of
them had gone Phil beckoned Bud into
the tent and showed him piece Of
quarts.
Just take q look at that!" he said.
and . single glance told Hooker that
II was full OF fne particles Of gold.
"I picked that up when they weren't
looking" whispered De Lancey. his
eyes dancing with triumph. It's the