The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-06-12

daughter"
Very Welt" replied Bud. HE has
! already promised that to me; so come
on and let him out"
ITO your repeated Manuel del Rey
with faint smile. Then, perhaps
Perhaps nothing!" broke in Hooker
shortly Come on"
He led the way impatiently while
the captain, his saber clanking, strobe
out and rode beside him. He was not
a big man, this smashing captain of
the rural police, but he was master,
nevertheless, of a great district, from
Fortuna to the line, with reputation
for quick work in the pursuance of his
duty as we'll as in the primrose ways
Of love.
In the instructions and raidings of
the previous summer he had given the
coup de grace with his revolver to
more than one embryo bandit, and in
his love affairs he had shown that he
could be equally summary.
The elegant FeliZ Luna, who for a
time had fingered near the charming
Gracia had finally found himself up
against pair Of pistols with the OPP
ton of either fighting Captain del Rey
or returning to his parents. The young
man concluded to beat retreat. For
like offense Philip De Lancey had
been unceremoniously thrown into
Jail; and now the captain turned his
attention to Bud Hooker, whose mind
he had not yet fathomed.
Excuse me, senor," he said, after a
brief silence, "but your words left me
in doubt-whether to regard you as
friend or rival"
"What?" demanded Bud, whose
knowledge of Spanish did not extend
to the elegancies.
"You said,' explained the captain
politely, that your friend had prom
Used you he would not trouble the lady
further. Does that mean that you are
interested in her yourself, or merely
that you perceive the hopelessness of
his suit and wish to protect him from
a greater evil that may we'll befall
him? For look you, senior, the girl is
mine, and no man can come between
us!"
HUH" snorted Bud, who caught
II, - ~ rsr Than hn lon o1
shortly and shrugged his shoulders. Il
don't know what you're talking about
he said gruffiy, "but he will stay away,
all right"
"Muy bien," responded Del Rey care
lessly and, dismounting at the Jail, he
threw open the door and stood aside
for his rival to come out
"Muchas gracias, senior captain" ga
luted Bud, as the door changed to be-
hind his pardner. But Phil still bristled
with anger and defiance, and the cap
tain perceived that there would be no
thanks from him.
1T is nothing" he replied. bowling
politely, and something in the way he
said 1t made De Lancey choke with
rage. But there by the carcel door
was not the place for picking Quarrels.
They went to the hotel, where Don
Juan, all apologies for his apparent
neglect-which he excused on the
ground that De Lancey had been held
Observation-Disclosures them as best
he could and hurried on to the news.
my gracious, Don Felipe" he cried,
you don't know how sorry | was to
see you in Jail, but the captains or
ders were that no one should go near
you-and in Mexico we obey the ru-
rales, you know. Otherwise we are
placed against wall and shot.
But have you heard the news from
down below? All, what terrible times
they are having there-ranches raided,
women stolen, rich men held for ran
som Yes, 1t is worse than ever! AL
ready am receiving kilograms to pre-
pare rooms for the refugees, and the
people are coming In crowds.
Our friend, the Senior Luna, and
his son Feliz have been taken by Ber-
nardo Bravo! Only by an enormous
ransom was he able to save his wife
and daughters, and his friends must
now pay for him.
AT the ranch of the rich Spaniard,
Alvarez, there has been a great battle
in which the red-flaggers were defeat
ed with losses. Now Bernardo Bravo
swears he will avenge his men, and
Alvarez has armed his Yaqui work
men.
He is brave man, this Colonel
Alvarez, and his Yaquis are all war
riors from the hills; but Bernardo has
gathered all the insurrectos In the
country together-Campos, Rojas, the
brothers Escaboza-and they may
crush him with their numbers But
now there is other news-that they
are marching upon Fortuna and Ell
Tigre, to seize the mines and mills
and hold the rich American companies
up for ransom.
No, senores, you must not return
to your camp. Remain here, and you
shall still have your room, though
Spanish gentlemen sleep on the floors,
No, allow ME, Don Felipe! l wish to
show you how highly | value your
friendship! Only because we cannot