Williams news., 1914-11-05
CHAPTER XVI.

At their camp by the Eagle Tail mine, even though they held it still and were heirs to half it's gold, the two partners were glum and sorrow ful. The treacheries which Bud had forgiven in a moment of exaltation came back to him now as he brooded; and he eyed his friend askance, as if wondering what he would do next. He recalled all the circumstances of their quest-the meeting with Kruger, Phil's insistence on the adventure, the oath of loyalty which they had sworn; and. then the gradual breaking down of their brotherly devotion until now they were strangers at heart. Phil sat by himself, keeping his thoughts to himself. and he stood aloof while he waited for the worst to hap pen.
 From the first day of their under taking Hooker had felt that it was un- lucky, and now he knew that the end was coming. His friend was lost to him. lost alike to sense of loyalty and honor; he gloomed by himself and 1 thought only of Gracia Aragon. The oath which Phil himself had 1 forced upon Bud was broken and for gotten; but Bud, by sterner standard, felt bound to keep his part. One thing alone could make him break it-his word to Henry Kruger. The Eagle Tail mine he held in trust, and half ] of 1t was Kruger's.
 l Phil" he said at last, when his mind was weary of the ceaseless grind of thoughts, "I believe that miner al agent is holding back our papers. I 1 believe old Aragon has passed him a hundred or so and they're in cahoots to rob us. But I'll tell you what I'll do-you give me a power of attorney to receive those papers for you, and 1 I'll go in and talk Dutch to the whole l outfit.
 1 What do you want to do that for?" demanded De Lancey querulously. ''Why can't you wait a while? Those | papers have to go to Moctezuma and Hermosillo and all over the City of | Mexico and back, and 1t takes time. What do you want to make trouble | for?"
 Well, I'll tell you, Phil" answered Bud honestly. i've got hunch if we don't grab them papers soon we won't 1 get lem at all. Here these rebels are working closer all the time, and Ara snn ta erowdinR ua- want tn get title ney. Since his coming the Yaquf had ] always maintained a certain mystery, and now. though his eyes were big with portent and he smiled at the jests about his gun, he simply waved his hand to the south and east and mur- mured:
 "Muchos revoftosos!" "Seguro;" answered Bud jokiHgly: but have you killed any?"
 Mot yeti" returned the Indian, and he did not smile at that.
 q wonder what that Indian is wait ing around here for?" remarked Phil in English. He must have his eye on somebody"
 Yeah, bet," agreed Bud, regard ing his savage friend with a specula- tive interest. Most of them Yaqui soldiers was farmhands in this coun- try before they rounded them up. reckon he's looking for the man that had him deported.
 Tired, Amigo?" he inquired in Spanish, and Ignacio gravely acknowl- edged that he was, little. Then drink plenty coffee," went on Hooker. Eat lots-tomorrow we go to work in the mine." | Tomorrow" repeated the Indian, as if considering his other engage ments; "good!" He nodded smiling assent.
 After a month and more of idleness Bud and Amigo performed prodigies of labor in the cut, rolling down bouiders, lifting them up on the tram, and clearing away the face of the cliff. Their tram was ramshackle, their track the abandoned rails from older workings. and their tools little more than their hands, but by noon the last broken fragments were heaved aside and the shattered ledge revealed.
 A low cry of wonder escaped the Yaqui as he gazed at the rich vein of ore, and as he saw the grim smile on Buds rugged countenance he showed his white teeth in sympathy.
 "Que bueno!" he murmured. "How good!" gathering the precious frag- ments in his handkerchief.
 At the camp they crushed the picked ore in a mortar and banned it in the creek, and for the moment De Lancey dropped his air of preoccu- pancy as he stared at the streak of pure gold. Like a yellow film it lay along the edge of the last fine tailings, and when skilful washing had left it bare, it gleamed like jewel in the pan.
 By love, Bud!" he cried. that's the real stuff-and it goes a dollar to the pan easy!"
 Sure thing!" assented Bud. Lets pound a lot of it ard wash it as we go then we'll have some getaway money when things break loose here!"