The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-06-30

u his food, but none Of them had
caught him mapping. and he had no Ia.
'ention that they should
A conspiracy had sprung up 20 get
rid OF him. TO harry him out Of tho
country, and behind u was Aragon.
nut now. with the big whistle blowing,
ArueoE would have other concerns.
He had hiR wife and daughter, tho
beautiful Gracia, to hurry 10 the town,
and perhaps the thought OF being
caught and held for ransom would do
ter him from stealing mines. 50 rea-
aoned bud. and, dragging a reluctant
p~aok.animal behind him. ho came rid.
Ing IN for supplles.
At the store DE bought -four and cot.
fee aud the other things which he
needed most. As he was passing by
the hotel Don Juan de- Dios halted him
for a moment, rushing out and thrust.
Ing a bundle OF letters into his hands
and hurrying back into the house. IA
II fearful OF being detected In such an
act OF friendship.
Long before he had lost his pardner
Bud had decided that Don Juan was a
trimmer. q man who 1ried to DO all
things to all people-as a good hotel.
keeper shouldn't now he altered his
opinion a little. for the letters we're
from Phil He read them over IN tho
crowded plaza. into which The FIRST
refugees we're Just beginning to pour.
and frowned "a he skinned through
the last
or Gracia and vain protestations OF
devotion there was enough and to
spare, but nothing about the mine.
Only In the FIRST one. written on the
very day he had deserted, did he 20
much as attempt an excuse for 30 pre-
! c~ipitately abandoning their claim and
his Mexican citizenship. Phil wrote;
My mall was being sent through head
quarters and looked over by Del Rey. 80
I knew l would never receive the papers.
even u they came. I hope you don't feel
hard about u. pardncr. Kruger says TO
come out right away. I would have
stayed with Il. but " wasn't any use.
And now. Bud. I var 20 ask you aome-
thing. When you come out. bring Graoia
with you Don't lAve her at the mercy
OF Del Rey. I would come myself II u
wasn't sure death. Be quick about Il.
Bud, l count on you.
Tho ether letters we're all like that,
but nothing about the mine. And yet
Il was the mine that bud was nghting
for-that they had fought for from tho
first. The railroad was torn up now,
aud a flight with Graeia was hopeless,
bat II was just AS well. for he never
would abandon the Eagle Tail.
In two months, or three. when the
rebels we're whipped on, his papers
might ONE Then he could pay his
taxes and transfer his title and con
slider the stealing of Gracia. But since
he had seen her and touched her hand
something held him back-a grudging
Teluctance-and he was glad that HIS
duty lay elsewhere. II she was hts
girl now he would come down and get
her anyway.
But she was not HIS girl and. gazing
back grimly ut the seething plaza and
the hotel that hid her from sight, he
rode somberly down the road. After
all. there was nothing 10 get excited
about-overy reyOltoao In the country
was lined up around ASua Negra and,
with four hundred soldiers TO oppose
them and artillery TO shell their ad.
vance. It would be many a long day be
fore they took hat town.
Twice already Aqua Negra had
fallen before such attacks, but now II
was protected by rihe.pits and ma
chine guns set high OF mud roofs. And
then there were the laquis. still faith
fll 10 Madero. They alone could hold
the town. II they made UP their mind,
to tight. So reasoned Hooker. mGllinl
over the news that he had heard. BuI
he watched the ridges warily. for IN,
weather was good for raldera.
A day passed, and then another, ant
the big whistle blew only for th,
shifts; the loneliness OF the hills op
pressed him as he gazed out at tn,
, quiyering heat. And then, like a toa,
after a shower. Amigo came padding
; into camp on the heels OF a thunder
storm, his sandals hung on his hip ans
his big feet s%quelching through tn,
mud.
Across HIS shoulders he wore a "a,
serape, woven by some patient woman
OF his tribe; and in the belt besldl
, Buds pistol he carried a heavy knife
. blaeksmithed from a ten-inch nle b,
) some Yaqui hillman. All In all, b
was a fine barbarian, but he locke
good to the lonely Bud.
cola. Amigol" he hailed, Eteppin
out from the adobe house where h
r had moved 10 avoid the rains; an
Z Amigo answered with has honest smi.
which carried no hint OF savagery 9
deceit
Try As he would. Bud could NJ
bring himself 90 think Of his Yaqui
dangerous; and even when he b
anced the Indians murderous bowl
knife Ia his hands he regarded n Wit
a grin. II was a heavy weapon, broa
! across the back. keen ON ono odg
: and drawn 70 a point that was bot
sharp and strong. The haft wa
wrapped with rawhide TO hold n
clutch OF the hand.
= what do you do with this" Queris
y Hooker. Chop wOodf Skin deerG"
r. HWAm - .-..UHH --.l-.N 1T.