The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-07-16

uSt SopS oI tue rainy season rose up
I'LL they obscured the sky. Then. with
rush of conflicting winds, leaden
siience, and crash Of fickering light.
the storm burst ip tropic fury and was
gone as quickly as It had come.
SO, while the rich landowners OF the
hot country sat idle and watched It
grow. another storm gathered behind
the distant Sierras; and. as empty
rumors lulled them to false security,
suddenly from the north came the
news OF dasfing raids. Of railroads
cut troops routed, and the whole Dor.
der occupied by swarming rebels.
In day the southern country was
isolated and cut off from escape and.
while the hordes Of chihuahua insur.
rectos laid siege to Aqua Negra, the
belated Spanish haclendados cano
scuttling once more to Fortuna. There,
ut least, was an American town where
the courage Of the Anglo.Saxon would
protect their Women IN extremity. And,
II worst came to worst, 1t was better
to pay ransom to red.las generals
than to fall victims to bandits and loot
ers.
As the bass roar OF tho great whistle
revcrberated over the hills Bud Hook
er left his lonely camp almost gludly,
and with his hard-won gold-dust snfc
beneath his belt. went galloping into
town.
Not for three wceks-not since ho
received the wire from Phil and 10.
GATED the Eagle Tail mine-had he
dared to leave HE claim. Rsralos, out
laws and Mexican patriots had cropped
In from day TO day and eaten up most
OF his food. but none Of them had
caught him mapping. and he had no in
tention that they should.
A conspiracy had sprung up to get
rid OF him. to harry him out of the
country. and behind 1t was Aragon.
But now. with the big whistle blowing,
Aragon would have other concerns.
He had his wife and daughter, the
beautiful Gracin. to hurry to the town,
and perhaps the thought OF being
caught and held for ransom would do
ter him from stealing mines. So rca-
soned Bud. and, dragging a reluctant
pack'nnimal behind him. he came rid.
Ing In for supplico.
AT tho store he bought flour nd cof-
foo and the other things which he
needed most. AS he was passing by
the hotel Don Juan dc Dios halted lin
fog a moment, rushing out and thrust
Ing bundle OF letters into his hands
and hurrying back into the house, ns
II fearful Of being detected in such an
act OF friendship.
Long before he had lost his pnrdner
Bud had decided that Don Juan was a
trimmer, man who tried to be all
things to NIL peopIeS -ns a good hotel.
keeper SHOULDN'T now he altered his
opinion n little. for the lettcrs were
from Phil. Ho read them over in the
crowded plaza, into which tho first
refugees were just beginning to pour,
and frowned as he SKINNED through
the last
OF Gracia and vain protestations Of
devotion there was enough aud to
spare, but nothing about the mine
Only In the first one, written on the
very day. he had deserted. did he SO
much as attempt an excuse for so pre-
cipitately Abandoning their claim and
his Mexican citizenship. Phil wrote:
My mail was being sent through head
quarters onu looked over by Del Rey, SO
1 knew would mover receive the pnpcra.
even II they came. I hope you don't feel
hard about IT.. pardncr. Kruger says to
come out right away. I would Lave
stayed with II. but II wasn't any USE
sAs,d now. Bud. want to ask you sonc-
thing. When you come out. bring Grac:a
with you. Don't lenrc her ut the mercy
OF Del Tey. would come myself IL Il
wasn't sure death. De quick about Il,
Bud; count on you.
Tho other letters were NIL like that.
but nothing about the mine. And yet
It was the mine that Bud was fighting
for-that they had fought for from the
first. The railroad was torn up now,
and flight with Gracia was hopC less,
but 1t was just as we'll. for he never
would abandon the Eagle Tail.
In two months. or three. when the
rebels were whipped on. his papers
might conle. Then he could pay his
taxes and transfer his title and con.
slider the stealing OF Gracia. But since
lie had seen. her and touched her hand
something held him back-a grudging
relnctance-and he was glad that his
duty lay elsewhere. II slic was his
girl now he would como down and get
her anyway.
But she wac not his girl and. gazing
back grimly at the geething plaza and
the hotel that hid her from sight, he
rode somber'y down tho road. After
all. there was nothing to get excited
about-every revoltoso in tho country
was lined up around Aqua Negra End,
with four hundred toldiers. to oppose
them and nrtillery to aholl their. ad.
vance. 1t would be many a long day be.
fore they took that town.