The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-10-22

times, put gave no signs OF rumaniy
bravado, and after few words Bud In.
vited them to get down and eat
"Muchas gracias, senor." said the
leader, dismounting and laying his rifle
against log, I'VE are not hungry"
"Then have some Coffee" invited
Hooker, who made II a point to feed
every one who stopped. regardless Of
their merit; and once more the Next
can declined. At this Bud looked at
him sharply. for his refusal did not
augur well. and II struck him the
mans face was familiar. He was tall
for a Mexican and heavily built, but
with a rather sinister cast Of counte-
nance.
Where have seen you before?"
asked Bud, after trying in vain to
place him. I'm Fortuna?"
mo, senor," answered the Mexican
politely. Il have never been in that
city. Is 1t far?"
Ten miles by the TRAIL" responded
Hooker, by no means treasured. and
under pretext Of inviting them to eat.
he took a look at the other men. 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, as II on
some errand. and watched them un-
seen from the interior. Seeing them
exchange glances then. he leaned his
rife just inside the door and went
about his cooking.
1t 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 weA 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 a little pa
thence and circumspection the unwel-
come visitors would doubtless move
on.
So he thought. but instead they lin
gered, and when supper was cooked he
decided to go to a show-down-and II
they again refused to eat he would
send them on their way.
Ven amigos" he said. spreading
out the tin plates for them. Come and
eat!"
The three low-brows glared at their
leader, who had done what little talk
ing there was so far. and, seized with
Q sudden animation. he Immediately
rose to his feet.
Many thanks. senor." he said with
q erin 5ing and specious politenesa
I'VE have come far and the trail u
long. SO we will eat The times are
hard for poor men now-this traitor.
Madero. has made us all hungry. II 10
by him that we poor working men are
driven to nsurrection-but we know
that the Americans are our friends.
Yes. senior. I will take some of your
beans, and thank you"
He filed a plate as he spoke and
lifted q biscuit from the oven. con-
tinuing with his false patter while the
others fell to in silence.
Perhaps you have heard. senor." he
went on. the saying which is in the
land: Mucho trabajo. pace dinero;
no hay frijoles, viva Madero! Much
work. little money; no beans, long
live Madero!l
That. in truth. is no jest to the
Mexican people. This man has be-
trayed US all; he has ruined the coun-
try and set brother against brother.
And now, while we starve because the
mines are shut down. he gathers his
family about him in the city and lives
fat on the money he has stolen"
He ran on in this style, after the
fashion of the revoltosos. and by the
very commonplace Of his fulminations
Bud was thrown completely on his
guard. That was the way they all
talked. these worthless banditbessars
that and telling how they loved the
Americanos-snd then. II they got Q
chance, they would stick q knife in
your back.
He listened to the big man with Q
polite federation. being careful not to
turn his back, and ate Q few bites as
he waited, but though II was coming
dusk the Mexicans were In no hurry
to depart. Perhaps they hoped to stop
for the night and get him In his sleep.
6tll they fingered on. the leader stt,
ting on a log and continuing his
Then, in the middle Of q sentence.
and while Bud was bending over the
fire. the Mexican stopped short and
leaned to one side. A tense silence
fell. and Hooker was walked from his
trance by the warning click Of gun
lock. Suddenly his mind came back
to his guests. and he ducked like .
fash. but even as he went down he
heard the hammer clacki
The gun had snapped!
Instantly Hooker's hand leAped TO
his pistol and he fred from the hip
pointblank at the would-be murderer.
With q yen to the others. one Of the
Mexicsns sprang on him from behind
and tried to bear him down. They
struggled for . moment while Bud
shot blindly with his pistol and went
down fighting.
Bud ives . giant compared to the
stunted Mexicans. and he threw them
about like dogs that hang ON 10 4 bssr