Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-07-17

pose upon strangers by selling them
old mines which have no value.
Il have no desire to speak Ill of my
neighbors, but since he has moved
into the brush house up the river l
have lost several fine little pigs; and
his eye, as I know. was torn from his
head as he was chasing another mans
cow l have o suffered him on my
ranch for years, for he is such a thief,
and yet he has the effrontery to repre-
sent himself to strangers as a poor but
honest man. l hope that he has not
imposed upon you in any way?"
mo; not at all, thank you," respond
ed De Lancey, as Bud raised his
bride reins to go. : I'VE hired him
to pack out our tools and supplies and
he has done 1t very reasonably. But.
many thanks, sir. for your warning.
Adiosi"
He touched his hat and waved his
hand in parting, and Bud grinned as
he settled down to a trot
~You can't help p%alavering 'em, can
you, Phil?" he said. mo matter what
you think about 'em, you got to be
polite. haven't you? Well, that's the
way you get drawn in-next time you
go by now the old man will pump you
dry-you see. No, sir, the only way
to get along with these Mexicans is
not to have a thing to do with 'em.
No savvy-that's my mottoi"
well, 'muchas gracias' is mine," abb
served De Lancey. ut doesn't cost
anything. and it buys a whole lot"
Sure" agreed Bud; but we amt
buying nothing from him-he's the
one particular hombre we want to
steer clear of, and keep him guessing
as long as we can. That's my view
81 1t. pardner."
aon.~that's all right" laughed De
Lancey. ae won't get anything out
Of me-that Is, nothing but a bunch
of hot air. Say, he's a STRENGTHENING
old guinea, isn't he? Did you notice
that game eye? He KEPT II klnd Oh
dropped, almost shut, until ne came
to the point-and then he opsnea !.
up real fierce. Reminds me of a big
fighting owl waking up in the day
time. But you just watch me handle
him, and IL l don't fool the old boy
at every turn it'll be because ! run
out of bull"
We'll, you can hand him the bull
If you want to-" grumbled Bud, but
the first time you give anything away
I'm going to pick such a row with
the 0iu cuss that weIi hayc to naake d
new trail to get by. So leave i'm
alone. il you ever expect to see that
grill"
A close association with Phil De
Lancey had left Bud not unaware OF
his special weaknesses, and Phil was
undoubtedly romantic. Given a barred
and silent house, shut off from the
street by whitened walls and a We
randa screened with flowers, and the
questing eyes Of Mr.. De Lancey would
turned to those barred windows as GER
tainly as the needle seeks the pole.
On every trip, coming and going, he
had conned the Aragon house from the
uncovered corredor in front to the
walledin summer garden behind, hop
ing to surprise a view of the beautiful
daughter of the house. And unless ru-
NOR and Don Juan were at fault, she
was indeed worthy of his solicitude-
a gay and sprightly creature, brown
eyed like her mother and with the
same glorious chestnut hair.
Already those dark, mischievous
eyes had been busy and, at the last
big dance at Fortuna, she had set
many heads awhirL Twice within two
years her father, In a rage, had sent
her way to school in order to break
off some ill-considered love affair; and
now a battle royal Was being waged
between Manuel del Rey, the dashing
captain of the rurales stationed at
Fortuna, and Feliz Luna, son of a rich
h~aciendado down in the hot country,
for the honor of her hand.
What more romantic, then, than that
a handsome American, stepping grace
fully into the breach, should keep the
naughty lovers from Staying each
other by bearing off the prize himself?
So reasoned Philip De Lancey, mus
ing upon the ease with which he could
act the part; but for prudential pur-
poses he said nothing Of his Wanting
ambitions, knowing full well that they
would receive an active veto from Bud.
For, while De Lancey did most OF
the talking. and a great deal OF the
thinking for the partnership, Hooker
was not lacking in positive opinions;
and upon sufficient occasion he would
express himself, though often with
more force than delicacy. Therefore,
upon this unexpected sally about the
girl, Phil changed the subject abruptly
and said no more Of Aragon or the
hopes within his heart.
1t was not SO easy, however, to avoid
Aragon. for that gentleman had appar-
emily taken the pains to inform him
aalf az IN fha nIaca Whara thew wora