The Ordway new era., 1914-12-18
eHAerEs x,x-con.',u.a.

thoughtfully. listened long to the
news Of the border and of the rursles'
raid on their camp. and retired to the
rocks for the night. Even Bud never
knew whore he slept-somewhsro up
on the hillside-in caves or clefts In
the rocks-And not even the most
pressing Invitation could make him
share the house for nisht To Amigo.
~ to an animal, house was . trap;
and he knew that the times were
treacherouA
So indeed they were. ~ Hooker was
to learn to his sorrow. and but for the
Yaqui and his murderous knife he
might easily have learned It too late.
1t was evening. after rainless day.
and Bud was cooking. by the open fire.
when suddenly Amigo vanished and
four men rode In from above. They
were armed with rifles. a. be,tted the
times. but gave no signs Of rufianly
brnvado. and after few words Bud In
vited them to get down and eat
"Muchas gracias. senor." said the
leader. dismounting and laying his rine
against = log, 1--WE are not hungry
''Theh have some coffee" invited
Hooker. who made II point to feed
every one who stopped. regardless Of
their merit; and once more the Mexi-
can declined. At this Bud looked At
him sharply, for his refusal did not
augur well. and 1t struck him the
mans face was familiar. He was tall
for Mexican and heavily built. but
9TH roN sufr - a.
nance.
Where have l seen you before 2"
asked Bud. after trying in vain to
place him. "In Fortuna?"
mo. senor." answered the Mexic.n
politely. Il have never been In that
.ity. In II far?"
Ten miles by the trail" responded
Hooker, by no means reassured. and
under pretext Of inviting them to eat,
he took q look at the other maa. II
they had not stopped to eat, what
then was their errand while the sun
was sinking so low! And why this
sullen refusal OF the coffee which every
Mexican drinks?
Bud stepped into the house, az II ON
some errand. and watched them un-
seen from the Interior. Seeing them
exchange glances then. he leaned his
rifle Just inside the door and went
about his cooking.
It was one of the chances he took,
living out In the brush, but he had
come to know this low.browed type Of
semi-bandit all too well and had small
respect for their courage. In case Of
trouble Amigo was close by In the
rocks somewhere. probably with his
gun In his hand-but with little pa
tience and circumspectifsn the unwel-
come visitors would A5ubtless move
on.
So he thought, but 'sstead they lin
xered, and wheE esvpor was cooked he
decided to go to \ show-down-and II
they again rlshsed to eat he would
send them OBJ their way.
Ven snsos." he said, spreading
out the ~ plates for them. Come and
sAt!" FS
TA$ three low-brows glared at their
sssder. who had done what little talk
inE there was SO far, and, seized with
a sudden animation, he Immediately
rose to his feet.
Many thanks. senor." he said with
erin ;ing and specious politeness.
We have come far and the trail Is
long. 30 we will eat The times are
hard for poor men now-this traitor,
Aadero. has made us all hungry. II IL
by him that We poor working men are
driven to insurrection-but we know
that the Americans are our friends,
Yes. senior. will take some Of your
beans. and thank you"
He filled a plate as he spoke and
lifted . biscuit from the oven. con.
tinuing with his false patter while the
nthers fell to in silence
Perhaps You have heard, senor," he
went on. ''the saying which is in the
land: Mucho trabajo. pace dinero;
10 hay frijoles. viva Madero! [Muci
work, little nonay: NO beans. lonl
- Mndnnnl1 I9