The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-09-18
. .eree.nt IN ths rsra. rangers ana NO


years on the Texas border and never
turned his back to no Inan-let alone
a Mex. I was brought up by him to
be peaceable and quiet, but don't you
never think, because l run away from
Manuel del Rey, that 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 one slender
hand toward the food. "Ah, can un-
derstand 1t now-he looked so savage
and fierce. But"-she paused again.
set back by sudden thought didn't
you know he would kill him?"
Eyes, ma'am," answered Hooker
quietly, II 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 know. He never would
talk about 1t, but he come back to get
his revenge. don't shoot no man
from cover myself, but that amt it
1t was between them two"
"And your" she suggested. IF you
had fought Del Rey?"
II would have met him in the open,'
said Hooker.
"And yet"
II 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 more for the
food and Hooker resolved to do his
best at gallantry, it seemed to make
her so happy.
so you were thinking Of me- she
challenged sweetly, all the while? !
thought perhaps was a nuisance and
in the way. I thought perhaps you did
not like me because-well, because
I'm a Mex, as you say"
"No, ma'am," denied Hooker gazing
upon her admiringly. Nothing like
that! When l say Mex mean these
low, pelado Mexicans-Don Juan tells
me you're pure Spanish"
with perhaps 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 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 1t
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 were only Yaqui-and
big and black"
Never mind" defended Bud. "He
was 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. Il
have always wanted to be your friend
why will you never allow it? No,
but really! Haven't l always shown
It? remember now the first time that
I saw you'll was looking through my
hole among the passion-fowers and
you saw me with your keen eyes. Phil
did not-but he was there. And you
Just looked at me once-and looked
away. Why did you never respond
when l came there to look for you?
You would just ride by and look at
me once, and even Phil never knew"
mo" agreed Bud, smiling quietly.
"He was crazy to see you, but he rode
right by, looking at the windows and
such"
1.-THE first time I met him." unused
Gracia, Il asked about you. Did he
ever tell you?"
Bud hung his head and grinned
sheepishly 1t was not difficult to make
out case against him.
And so Gracia had not wanted Del
Rey killed as he thought she did.
She was not the vicious woman he
had thought her for time. She was
just the gentle, noble girl he had
sworn to protect and conduct across
the border to her f1ance. Again came
the desire to claim her, but there was
not only Phil to be thought Of but
the fitness Of himself to be the mate
of this woman.