The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-10-08

over wnlcn ne had no Control-was
strong with Hooker; yet when the
blow fell he was not prepared for II
II was the third day OF their mining
and, with Amigo, he had been driving
into the face Of the cliff.
Already their round OF holes was
drilled. the fuses cut, the charges set
and as he retreated before the blast
he noticed absently that Cruz Mendez
was In camp. The shots followed. one
after another. and he counted them to
make sure there was no miss-fire-
then he looked around and discovered
that Phil was gone.
Where is Don Felipe?" he inquired
of Mendez, and that low-browed broth.
er Of the burro bowed fawningly be-
fore he replied.
"He has gone to Fortuna" he said.
wiping his face with a bath towel
which he wore about his neck.
And what for?" demanded Bud i'm
peratively,
Il don't know, senior" writhed Men.
dez. Il brought him letter"
From whom?"
Il don't know. It was given to me
by Juana, the servant Of the Senorita
Aragon."
"Ah!" breathed Bud, and pretended
not to be surprised.
WELL. let i'm go!" he said to him
self. and went back into the mine. It
was what he had expected, in a way.
and his code bade him keep his hands
on. But the next morning, when the
evil was either avoided or done, he
thrust his rife into its sling and start
ed for the town. At the Jail he halted
and gazed in through the windows
then he rode up to the hotel and asked
for Phil
What? Have you not heard?"
clamored Don Juan. "Ah, It is most
unfortunate-I would not have had 1t
happen for the world"
"what?" inquired Bud succinctly.
why. the quarrel-the encounter
with Captain del Rey! l did my best.
l assure you, to prevent 1t, for the
town has been put under martial law
and the captain is In full charge They
quarreled over the favor Of a lady, and
now your friend Is In jail"
IT didn't see him when come by"
observed Hooker.
"Ah. no-not in the carcel-in the
Quartet. the guardhouse of the
rurales!"
Much obliged" nodded Bud. and
rode on through the town. The street
Of the Mexican quarter was filled
with strange people hurrying to and
fro; long packtrains loaded with
trunks and curious bundles came
swinging up from below; and pair Of
rurales, looking fierce under their
huge sombreros stood guard by the
Quartet door.
Where is the captain" demanded
Hooked. After requesting him to hang
his pistol-belt on his saddle-horn,
sergeant showed him In to the chief.
Manuel del Rey was very busy with
papers and orders. but as the Ameri-
can appeared in the doorway he rose
and greeted him with q bow.
"Ah. good morning, senor," he said,
with one swift glance to read his mood.
you are in search Of your friend
no?"
Isl, senor," answered Hooker, but
with none of the animosity which the
captain had expected. Where is he?"
Il regret very much" began the Of
fcer, speaking with military formality.
but II is my duty to inform you that
the Senior De Lancey has left Fortuna.
Last night he did me the honor to en-
list in my company OF rurales-he is
now on his way to the north to assist
In guarding the railroad"
WHAT" shouted Bud, hardly able
to believe his ears. But when the cap
tain repeated 1t he no longer doubted
his Spanish.
But why?" he cried; why did he
Join the rurales?"
"Ah, senor." shrugged Del Rey, was
he not Mexican citizen? Very well.
then; he could be. summoned for mill
tary service. But the circumstances
were these. Your friend came yester-
day to this town, where am at pres
ent military commander, and made an
unprovoked assault upon my person.
For this. according to law. he should
have been shot at sunrise. But, not
wishing TO occasion unpleasantness
with the Americans now residing here,
! offered him the alternative of mill
tary service. He is now enlisted as a
rural for a term OF five years"
Five years." exclaimed Hooker;
and then, instead OF starting the ex-
pected rough-house-upon which the
rural guards were prepared to jump on
his back-he simply threw down his
hat and cursed. Not anyone In par
ticular. but everything In general;
and at the end OF II he turned once
more upon the watchfud captain.
"Dispenseme. senor." he said. "this
is the truth, is it?"
Isl. senor." returned Captain del
Rey. But before leaving with his de-
tachment your friend wrote this letter.
which he requested me to deliver to
you"
He offered with a flourish a sealed