The Idaho Republican., 1914-05-29

about it, but that's just what couldn't
do. had to find some stranger that
wouldn't sense what mine was talk
ing about and then git him to go in on
it blind.
Nov here's the way I'm fixed,
boys" he exclaimed, brushing his un-
kempt beard and smiling craftily.
when l dynamited the Eagle Tail 1t
was mine by rights, but Cipriano Ara
gon-he's the big Mexican down at old
Fortuna-and Morales, the mineral
agent, had buncoed me out of the title.
so, according to law, | blowed up
their mine, and If l ever showed up
down there I reckon they'd throw me
into Jail. And If at any time they find
out that you're working for me, why,
we're ditched-that's all! They'll put
you out of business. So, after we've
made our agreement and I've told you
what to do, don't want to hear a
word out of you'll don't want you to
come near me, nor even write me
letter-just 60 ahead the best you can
until you win out or go broke.
1T amt a hard proposition" he
continued, IF you keep your mouth
shut, but If they tumble, it'll be fight
to finish. I'm not saying this for
you, Hooker, because I know you're
safe; I'm saying 1t for your pardner
here. You talk too much, Mr. De Lam
cey," he chided, eying him with sud-
den severity. I'm afraid of vel"
"All right broke in Hooker good
naturedly, 81 reckon we understand
Now 60 ahead and tell US where this
mine is and who there Is down there
to look out for" Z
"The man to look out for" an.
swered Kruger with venom, "is Cipri-.
ano Aragon. He's the man that bilked
me out of the mine once, and he'll do
it again If he can. When I went down
there-it was ten years and more ago
Il wasn't on to those Spanish ways Of
his, and he was SO dog-goned polite
and friendly thought l could trust
him anywhere.
"He owns a big ranch and mescal
still, runs cattle, works few placers,
sends out pack-trains, and has every
Mexican and Indian in the country in
debt to him through his store, so if he
happens to want any rough work done
there's always somebody to do it.
"Well just to show you how he did
me, l got to nosing round those old
Spanish workings east of Fortuna and
finally l run across the ledge that I'm
telling you about, not far from an
abandoned shaft. But the Mexican
mining laws are different from ours,
and an American has lots of trouble
anyway, so | made trade with old
Aragon that he should locate the claim
for me under power of attorney.
Didn't know him then like | do now.
The papers had to be sent to Mocte-
yuma and Hermosillo, and to the City
of Mexico and back, and while was
waiting around l dug in on this lead
and opened up the prettiest vein of
quartz you ever saw in your life.
Here's a sample of it, and it's sure
rich"
He handed De Lancey the familiar
piece of quartz and proceeded with his
story.
THAT ore looked SO good to me that
I couldn't wait-I shipped it before
got my title. And right there l made
my mistake. When Aragon saw the
gold in that rock he just quietly re-
corded the concession in his own name
and told me to 60 to blazes. That's
the greaser of it! So blew the whole
mine up and hit for the border. That's
the Dutch of it, I reckon he added
grimly. Anyway, my old man was
Dutch"
He paused smiling over the men,
ory of his misplaced credulity, and
Hooker and De Lancey joined in a
hearty laugh. From the town bum
that he had first seemed this shabby
little man had changed in their eyes
until now he was a border Croesus,
the mere recital Of whose adventures
conjured up in their minds visions Of
gold and hidden treasure.
The rugged face Of Bud Hooker,
which had been set in grim lines from
the first, relaxed as the tale proceeded
and his honest eyes glowed with ad-
miration as he heard the well-planned
scheme. AS for De Lancey, he could
hardly restrain his enthusiasm, and,
drawn on by the contagion, Henry
Kruger made maps and answered ques-
tions until every detail was settled.
After the location had been marked,
end the lost tunnel charted from tha
corner monuments he bade them re-
it we'll and destroyed every
vestige of paper. Then, as a final ad-
monition, he said:
Now go in there quietly, boys
don't hurry. Prospect around little
and the Mexicans will all come to you
and try to sell you lost mines. Cruz
Mendez is the man you're looking for
he's honest, and he'll take you to the
Eagle Tail. After that you can use
your own judgment. So good-by"-he
took them by the hands-"and don't
talk!"
lie held up warning finger as they
parted, and Bud nodded briefly in