The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-10-22
CHAPTER XVII.

There was world OF Kexicans In
the plaza when Hooker rode down
through the town. Never 1t seemed to
him. had he seen so many or liked
them less.
To the handful OF Americans who
remained TO man the mill and mine.
they we're easily hundred to one;
and though their eyes were wide with
fear OF the imminent rebels, they had
an evil way of staring at him which
he did not relish.
Even at the hotel. where the Span
ish- Mexican aristocracy was massed
ten deep. he sensed the same feeling
of yelled hostility and wondered vague
Iy what II might portend. II Philip De
Laneey. for making love to a girl, was
drafted into the army, what would
happen to him II these people should
ever break loose? And did they have
tia courage to do their worsti
lie fingered around the door for q
while, hoping to meet Don Juan or
some American who would tell him
the news; then. Disguised with every
thing, he flung away and left them to
themselves. Fortuna was not white
mans couutry~-he could see that with
out n diagram--but at the same time
he Intended to hold his mine until he
could tNar from PIN.
Lot tho tides OF lnsurrection come
and 10, let the red.tiaMgers take the
town and the federals take It back
again--at the end he would still be
found at tho Eagle Tail, unless Phil
received his title TO the mine
As for Aragon. whose fine Italian
hand no perceived behind the sudden
taking OFF of Phil. let him make what
trades he would St.h the rurales and
Manuel del Rey. even to the giving OF
his daughters hand: but II. taking ad,
vantage OF the unsettled times. no
dared TO try to steal their mine. then
there would be- war to the knife.
II L. fine, comforting thing to be
single. minded and of enc purpose. All
tho rest OF life is slmplined and or
dered then. and man knows when 20
raise his hand and when to hold i,
back.
In his letter Phil had said nothing
about their mine, but he was Mexi.
can citizen still. and the mine was in
| his name. bud was his pardner and
| FREQ 10 hold II in his stead: and that
he determined TO do--not only hold It,
but work II for stake, Then. when
tho tide was passed and all made GER
tain. they could turn II over to Kruger
and quit tho aecursed country.
As for the gtrl. bud decided that
she could take care OF herself withou,
/ any assistance from him. and dis
missed her from his mind
| Back al the mine he found Amigo
guarding camp from the hilltop. and
after telling him the glst OF hts trou'
bles. the two Of them went TO work
Every day. while one OF them Cag out
the ore, the other crushed and washed
IL and watched as he horned out the
gold Their rifles they kept beside
them and pistols In their belts: and
every time a Mexican dropped tntc
eanp as one did now and then IN the
geEeral unrest. he felt the silent men
ace Of arms In readiness and continued
on his way
Fea week they lahcred on together
grin. watehfuL. expsctRnt--then. al
the break OF day. they heard distant
rattle Of arms like the tearing Of 4
cloth. and knew that the battle was
on.
The great whistle at Fortuna opened
with It's full bass roar. and AmtgC
snatehed az bis Eun and went lopinl
down the canyon. drawn irresistihl>
b. the sound Of conflict Bad fingered
climbing higher and higher to get l
view OF the country. Hut his younl
blood clamorvd for action too. anC
soon he was mounted and gone.
The fighting was not az the Amer
can town. but down tho valley by ols
. Fortuna. and as Hooker gailoped o.
, toward the sound Of the nrinK he no
,iecd that Il vas on the move. Al
ready the eowArdly rebels were RI
treating~the volunteers from Fortuna
= were hurryinE 10 get closer 10 them
the rurales were riding to flank them
and when Bud Jumped hfs horse al
, the last hin and looked down into In,
broad. cultivated valley be saw tn
dust Of their digit