The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-09-26

news came OF l6aVy nSnLlnS IN Cli-
huahua. Don Cipriano Aragon moved
his family back to his hacienda and
Gracia became only a dream.
Then, one day, as Hooker and the
Yaqui were industriously pounding out
gold. a messenger came out from town
with telegram in his hand.
Am in Gadsden. No chance to hold
mine. Kruger says quit--P.
No, I'll be 'sarned if l dol" NUT
tered Bud. Then he sat down to think.
Amigo" he said to the Yaqui, are
you Mexican citizen? Can you get
title to miner
ME a Mexican?" repeated Amigo,
tapping himself on the chest. mo,
senior! SECURE que MOI"
"An right then" observed Bud bit
terly, here goes nothing-nowhere
I'll turn Mexican myself"
He passed the messenger on the way
to town, took out his first papers as a
citizen, picked up the mineral agents
expert on the way back, and located
the Eagle Tail in his own name Be
fore riding back to camp he wired to
Kruger:
Have turned Mex and relocated claim.
HOOKER
1t was his last card, and he did not
expect to win by it. Fate had been
against him from the first, and he
could see his finish, but his nature
drove him to fight on. All that Ara
gon had to do now was to have him
summoned for military service, and
Del Rey would do the rest
Then he could take over the mine.
A mere formality-or so it seemed
but between Aragon and his mine
stood the Texas blood. Hooker had
been crowded to the wall, and he was
mad enough to fight
The news of De-Lancey's desertion
followed quickly after his 1ight-it
came over the federal wires in a re-
port to Manuel del Rey-but by the
time it got to Aragon that gentleman
was too late. They rode into camp
the next day-Aragon and the captain
of the rurales-and at the first glimpse
of that hated uniform Amigo was OF
like a buck Bud went out sulIenIy
to meet them, his black mood showing
in his lowering eyes, and he halted
them by the savagerY Of his cursing.
You cock-eyed old reprobate," he
snarled, advancing threateningly upon
| the paling Aragon, this makes three
times you've come into my camp and
brought your gun with you'll Now take
it OIL" he yelled, dropping suddenly
into Spanish Take that gun oh-do
you understand"
So violent and unexpected was his
assault that it threw Aragon into a
panic, and even Manuel del Rey soft
| ened his manner as he inquired into
the cause
Never mind" answered Bud,
his arms; 'I know that hombre WE'LL
Now what can T do for you, capitan?'
BE so kind as to take your hand
from your belt" replied Del Rey with
a smile that was intended to placate
"Ah. thank you-excuse my nerves
now 1 can tell you the news. I regret
to inform you. senior, that your friend
De Lancey, has deserted from my com
mand, taking his arms and equipment
with him. In case he is captured he
will be shot as a deserter."
Your news Is old, captain" re
joined Hooker. 81 knew it two days
ago. And you can tell Mr.. Aragor
that 1t is no use for him to try to get
this mine-I became a Mexican either
yesterday and located it myself"
$50 we learned" responded the cap
tain suaveIy. cit was part of N!
enlist in my company OF rurales-"
'Muchas gracias, captain" an
swered Hooker with heavy irony. &c
do not care to!"
But your friend" protested Man
uel del Rey with an insinuating smile
my friend was in JAIL" put IN Bud
"he was to be shot at sunrise. Blu
mira, amigo, 1 am not in jail. and
furthermore. 1 do not intend to be-"
THAT is very creditable to you,
laughed Del Rey; "but even then yo1
are entitled to enlist The country
. full of turbulent fellows who have Il
be caught or killed Come now, yo1
understand my errand-why make /
hard for me-"
mo, senor," returned Bud grimly
} 81 know nothing Of your errand. Blu
this / do know. l have done nothing
/ for which can be arrested, and If an.
man tries to make me join tbs army
! he hooked his thumb into his belt an,
regarded the captain hxedly.
"Ah, very we'll" said Del Rey, 1erk
ing his waxed mustachios, 81 will No
, press the matter. But I undergtau
. from one OF my men, senior, that 20
. are harboring a dangerous crimina
{ here-the same man, perhaps, whom
/ saw running up the canyon?"
He smiled meaningly at this. bu
J Bud was swift to defend his Yaqui.
mo. senor." he replied. 81 have u
E such criminal I have a Mexican worl
: ing for me- who is one Of the bee
t miners In Sonora. and that is all
: know about hin"
$ "a Mexican?" repeated Del Re,
: arching his eyebrows. Excuse mc
sir, but # is my business to kno'
: every man in this district. and he
:. no Mexican, but q Yaqui. Moreovei
: he Is a fugitive and an outlaw. and
D he had not been enlisted with the fes
erals should have arrested him whe
d he passed through Fortuna So / war
q you, sir, not to hide him. or you vi
be liable to the law"
t I'm not hiding him." protests