The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1914-06-12


above, half-seen women looked down
curiously as they entered, and in the
broad lobby below were gathered the
prosperous citizens Of the land.
There were cattlemen, still wearing
their boots and overalls, the better to
attend to their shipping; mining men,
just as they had come from the hills;
and others more elegantly dressed
but they all had nod for Henry Kru-
ger He was man of mark, as Bud
could see in a minute; but If he had
| other business with those who hailed
him he let it pass and took out rank
brier pipe, which he puffed while Bud
smoked a cigarette.
They were sitting together in a
friendly silence when Phil came out of
the dining room, but as he drew near
the old man nodded to Bud and went
over to speak to the clerk.
"Who was that old-timer you were
talking to?" inquired Phil, as he sank
down in the vacant chair. Looks like
the-morning-after with him, don't it?"
"Um," grunted Bud; reckon it Is.
Names Kruger
"What-the mining MANI"
That's right
WELL" exclaimed Phil, what in the
world was he talking to you about?"
| "Oh, some kind Of mining DEAL"
| grumbled Bud. Wanted me to go
down into Mexico!''
"What'd you tell him?" challenged
the little man, sitting up suddenly in
his chair. Say, that old boys got
rocks!"
He can keep 'em for all Of me" OBJ
served Bud comfortably. "You know
what think about Mexico"
Sure; but what was his PROPOSE
ton? What did he want you to do?"
Search me! He was mighty mys-
terious about it. Said he wanted
man he could trust
We'll, holy Moses, Bud!" cried Phil,
wake up! Didn't you get his PROPOSE
tion?"
! mo, he wasn't talking about it. Said
we'll, or let me In on the deal; but
\ when he hollered Mexico l quit. I've
got plenty"
| Yes, but" the little man choked
and could say no more. We'll. you're
one Jim dandy business man, Bud
Hooker!" he burst out at last. You'd
let"
ed Hooker defiantly. do you want to
go back into Mexico? Nor me. neither!
What you kicking about?"
.. "Yeu might have led him on and
got the scheme, anyway. Maybe
there's million in it. Come on, let's
go over and talk to him. I'd take
chance, if it was good enough"
Jaw. don't be fool, Phil" urged
the cowboy plaintively. We've got no
call to hear his scheme unless we want
to go in on it. Leave him alone and
he'll DO something for us on this side.
Oh, cripes, what's the matter with
you?"
He heaved himself reluctantly up
out Of his chair and moved over to
where Kruger was sitting.
| "Mr. Kruger" he said, as the old
man turned to meet him, I'll make
you acquainted with Mr.. De Lancey.
my pardner. My names Hooker"
"Glad to know you, Hooker" re-
sponded Kruger, shaking him by the
hand. "How'do, Mr. De Lancey."
He gave Phil a rather crusty nod as
he spoke, but De Lancey was dragging
up another chair and failed to notice.
"Mr. Hooker was telling me about
some proposition you had, to go down
into Mexico" he began. drawing up
closer while the old man watched him
| from under his eyebrows. That's one
tough country to do business in right
now, but at the same time"
"The country's perfectly quiet" put
in Kruger-"perfectly quiet"
well, maybe So" qualified De Ian
| cey: "but when it comes to getting in
supplies"
mot a bit of trouble in the world"
said the old man crabbedly. "Not
bit"
Well" came back De Lancey,
what's the matter, then? What Ia
the proposition, anyway"
Henry Kruger blinked and eyed him
intently.
"I've stated the proposition to Hook
er," he said, land he refused 1t. That's
enough, amt it?'
De Lancey laughed and turned away.
well, yes, guess it is" Then. in
passing, he said to Bud: go ahead
and talk to him"
He walked away, lighting cigarette
and smiling good-naturedly. and the
| ia or cd fo Rud
That's a smart man you've got for
a pardner," he remarked. "A smart
man. You want to look out" he added.
cor he'll get away with you"
Nope, said Bud. you don't know
him like l do. He's straight as die"
"A man can be straight and still get
away with you," observed the veteran
shrewdly. Yes, indeed" He paused
to let this bit of wisdom sink in, and
then he spoke again.
You'd better quit-while you're
lucky" he suggested. you quit and
come with me-" he urged "and if we
strike it I'll make you rich man. l
don't need your pardner on this deal.
I need lust one man that can keep his
head shut. Listen now; I'll tell you
| what 1t is.
"I know where there's lost mine
down in Mexico. If I'd tell you the
name you'd know it in minute, and
it's free gold, too. Now there's fell
low that had that land located for ten
| years, but he couldn't find the lead.
| Dive see? And when this second revo-
luton came on he let it go-he neg
lected to pay his mining taxes and let
| it go back to the government And
now all l want is quiet man to slip
in and denounce that land and open
up the lead. Here, look at this!'
He went down into his pocket and
brought out a buckskin sack. from
which he handed over a piece of we'll
| worn quartz
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