Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-10-10

title to mine?"
Me a Mexican?" repeated Amigo.
tapping himself on the chest. mo,
senior! SECURE que mol"
"All right then" observed Bud bit
terly, here goes nothing-nowherel
| I'll turn Mexican myself"
He passed the messenger on the way
to town, took out his first papers as a
citizen, picked up the mineral agents
expert on the way back. and located
the Eagle Tail in his own name. Be
fore riding back to camp he wired to
| Kruger:
Have turned Mex and relocated claim.
| HOOKER
1t was his last card, and he did not
expect to win by II. Fate had been
against him from the first, and he
could see his finish. but his nature
drove him to fight on. All that Ara
gon had to do now was to have him
summoned for military service. and
Del Rey would do the rest.
Then he could take over the mine.
A mere formality-or 30 1t seemed
but between Aragon and his mine
stood the Texas blood. Hooker had
been crowded to the wall. and he was
mad enough to fight
The news OF De Lancey's desertion
followed quickly after his fiight-it
came over the federal wires In a re-
port to Manuel del Rey-but by the
time it got to Aragon that gentleman
was too late. They rode into camp
| the next day-Aragon and the captain
of the rurales-and at the first glimpse
of that hated uniform Amigo was of
| like a buck. Bud went out sullenly
to meet them, his black mood showing
in his lowering eyes, and he halted
them by the savagery of his cursing.
You cock-eyed old reprobate," he
snarled, advancing threateningly upon
the paling Aragon, this makes three
times you've come into my camp and
brought your gun with you, Now take
it off" he yelled, dropping suddenly
into Spanish. Take that gun off-do
you understand"
So violent and unexpected was his
! a
panic, and even Manuel del Rey soft
ened his manner as he inquired into
the cause.
Never mind" answered Bud,
smiling crustily as Aragon laid aside
his arms; II know that hombre WELT
Now what can do for you. capitanr
BE so kind as to take your hand
from your belt" replied Del Rey with
a smile that was intended to placate.
"Ah, thank you-excuse my nerves
now l can tell you the news. / regret
to inform you. senior, that your friend,
De Lancey, has deserted from my COM
mand, taking his arms and equipment
with him. In case he is captured he
will be shot as a deserter"
Your news is old, CAPTAIN" re-
Joined Hooker. Il knew it two days
ago. And you can tell Mr.. Aragon
that 1t is no use for him to try to get
this mine-I became a Mexican citizen
yesterday and located it myself
so we learned" responded the cap
tain suavely. ut was part of my
errand today to ask If you would not
enlist in my company of rurales."
"Muchas gracias, captain" an
swered Hooker with heavy irony. Il
do not care tot"
But your friend" protested Man
uel del Rey with an insinuating smile.
My friend was In JAIL" put In Bud;
''he was to be shot at sunrise But
mira, amigo, am not in Jail, and,
furthermore. do not intend to be-"
That is very creditable to you"
laughed Del Rey; but even then you
are entitled to enlist. The country is
full of turbulent fellows who have to
be caught or killed. Come now, you
understand my errand-why make 1t
hard for me?"
mo, senor," returned Bud grimly.
81 know nothing of your Grand But
this | do know. have done nothing
for which can be arrested, and II any
man tries to make me Join the army"
he hooked his thumb into his belt and
regarded the captain fixedly.
"Ah, very WELL" said Del Rey, jerk
ing his waxed mustachios, Il will not
press the matter. But / understand
from one of my men, senior. that you
are harboring q dangerous criminal
here-the same man, perhaps. whom
saw running up the canyon"
He smiled meaningly at this, but
Bud was swift to defend his Yaqul
mo, senor." he replied. IT have no
such criminal. have a Mexican work
ing for me who Is one Of the best
miners in Sonora. and that is all l
know about him."
"A Mexican!" repeated Del Rey,
arching his eyebrows Excuse me,
sir. but 1t In my business to know
every man In this district, and he II
no Mexican. but Ysqui. Moreover.
he n fugitive and an outlaw. and II
he had not been enlisted with the fed
erals 1 should have arrested him when
he passed through Fortuna So I warn
you, SIR. not 10 hide him. or you win
b liable to the law"
I'm NOT hiding him." protested
Hooker scornfuIly. I'm Just hiring
him - . miner. and any time yo4 want
him Jon can come and ct him. ~