The Huttig news., 1914-10-17

Hooker?" she asked at last, as he gazed into the dusk. Sometimes I scold you and sometimes I try to please you, but never know what you think! l did not mean that when I said I could read your thoughts-you are so different from poor, dear Phil!"
 "M-m-m," mumbled Bud. shifting his feet, and his face turneda little grim.
 "Aha!" she cried with .ill-concealed satisfaction, you do not like me to call him like that. do you? Poor, dear Phil,'-like that! But do you know why I do it? It is to punish you for never coming near me-when l signed to you-when I waited for you-long ago! An, you were so cruel! 1 want ed to know you-you were a cowboy, and I thought you were brave enough to defend me-but you always rode right by. Yes, that was ft---but Phil was different! He came when I sent for him; he sang songs to me at night: he took my part against Manuel del Key; and now"
 "Yes!" commented Bud bruskly, with his mind on dear Phil's" finish. and she turned to peer into his face
 "So that is itl" she said You do not trust me. You think that am not your friend-that I will serve you as he was served. Is that what you are thinking?"
 Something like that" admitted Hooker, leaning lazily against the mud wall. Only reckon I don't think just the way you do.'
 Why? How do I think?" che de manded eagerly.
 Well, you think awful fast" an swered Hooker slowly And you don t always think the same. seems like I'm kind of quiet myself, and I don't like-well. wouldn't say that, but you don't always mean what you say.'
 "Oh!" brenthed Gracia, and then, after pause. she came nearer and leaned against the low wall beside him.
 If l would speak from my heart, " she asked, If I would talk plain, as you Americans do, would you like me better then? Would you talk to me instead of standing silent? Listen, Bud-for that is your name-I want you to be my friend the way you were a friend to Phil know what you did for him, and how you bore with his love-madness-an that was my fault, too. But partly it was also your fault, for you made me angry by not coming.
 Yes, will be honest now-it was you that l wanted to know at first, but you would not come, and now l am promised to Phil. He was brave when you ware careful, and my heart went out to him. You know how it is with us Mexicans-we do not love by req son. We love like children-suddenly from the heart! And now all I wish in life Is to run away to Phil. But every time speak of it you shut your jaws or tell me am fool"
 "Umpum," protested Bud. turning stubborn again. T tell you you don't know what you're talking about. These rebels don't amount to nothing around the town, but on trail they're awful They shoot from behind rocks and all that, and woman ain't noways safe You must know what they're like these old women don't think about nothing else-so what's the use of talk ing! And besides," he added grimly I've had some trouble with your old man and don't want to have any more.s
 What trouble have you had?" she demanded promptly but Hooker would not answer in words. He only shrugged his shoulders and turned away, crumpling his hat in his hand
 But mol" she cried as she sensed the meaning of his concealment, you must tell mel I want to know. Was 1t over your mine? Then you must not blame me. for he never has told me a Word!"
 "No?" inquired Bud, rousing sudden ly at the memory of his wrongs. Then maybe you will tell me how he got this'-he fetched worn piece of ore from his pocket-"when my pardnel gave it to you! It was right there lost my pardner,;and he was goot kid, too-and all because of that rock Here, take look at it-I took tha away from your father!"
 Then he stole is from mel" flashed back Gracia as she gazed at the speci men. N"Oh, have you thought all tht time that betrayed Phil? But didn' tell you-didn't I tell you at ths hotel. when you promised to be my friend? An, see that you are hart man. MT. Hooker-quick to suspect slow to forget-and yet I told you be fore. But listen, and I will tell vol again. l remember well when deal