The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-11-07

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her. Perhaps. If he could get her
quoted. she would step talking and
begin to eat
He asked me who was after Us" he
said, tand told him it was Del Rey."
Yes. and what did he say then?''
He didn't say nothing-jest lined
out for the pass"
And didn't you say you wanted
him-kilIed?"
mol" burst out Bud, half angrily.
Haven't I told you once? 1 did mott
That Indian had reasons of his own,
believe inches got a scar along his
ribs where Del Rey shot him with a
six-shooter! And, furthermore" ne
added, as her face cleared at this ex-
PLANTATION % the mystery, you'd better
try to take me at my word for the rest
of this trip! Looks 70 NE like you've
been associating with these Me11cans
too much!"
why, what do you mean?" she de-
manded CURLY.
'I mean this" answered Hooker, be
ing as we're on the subject again
Ever since I've knowed you you've
been talking about brave men and
all that; and more'n once you've limited
that I wasn't brave because wouldn't
fight
I'D just like to tell you, TO put
your mind at rest, that my father was
a sergeant in the Texas rangers and no
hundred Mexicans was ever able to
make him crawl. He served for ten
years on the Texas border and never
turned his back to no man-Iet alone
- -
be peaceable and quiet, but don't you
never think, because 1 run away from
Manuel del Rey, that I 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 wistfuIly away, 81 did mott
did not understand. And so the poor
YaQui was only ayenging an injury?"
she went on, reaching out one slender
hand toward the food. "Ah, can IN
derstand it now-he looked so savage
and fierce. But'-she paused again.
set back by a sudden thought-"d didn't
you know he would kill him?"
yes, ma'am," answered Hooker
quietly, 81 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 I know. He never would
talk about it, but he come back to get
his revenge. 1 don't shoot no man
from cover myself, but that amt it
it was between them two"
"And your" she suggested. eff you
had fought Del Rey?"
81 would have met him in the open"
said Hooker.
And yet"
q didn't want to-" he ended bIuntly.
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.
$50 you were thinking OF me-" she
challenged sweetly, all the while? 1
thought perhaps I was a nuisance and
in the way. I thought perhaps you did
not like me because because
I'm Mex. as you say"
mo, ma'am," denied Hooker gazing
upon her admiringly. Nothing like
that, When 1 say Mex I mean these
low, pelado Mexicans-Don Juan tells
me you're pure Spanish"
with perhaps a 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 ice-president; the
Tonnes brothers, governors"
"And Aragon!" she added playfulIy.
but at look in his eyes she stopped.
Bud could not look pleasant and think
Of Aragon.
'"Ah, yes she ratified on. q know
You like the Yaquis better than the
Spanish saw you shaking hands
with that Indian. And what was it
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 a 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 1 always shown
it? remember now the first time that
1 saw you-I 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 1 came there to look for you?
You would just ride by and look at
me once, and even Phil never knew.