The Huttig news., 1914-09-19
1rank A. Munsev.

So, while the rich landowners of the hot country sat idle and watched it i grow, another storm gathered behind i the distant Sierras; and, as empty rumers lulled them to false security, suddenly from the north came the news of Gashing raids. of railroads cut, troops routed, and the whole bor- 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 10 Agua Negra the l belated Spanish hacieDdados came seuttling once more to Fortuna. There. at ieast. was an American town where the courage of the Anglo-Saxon would protect their women in extremity. And, If worst came to worst, it was better to pay ransom to red-hag generals than to fall victims to bandits and loot | CTS.
 As the bass roar Of the great whistle reverberated over the hills Bud Hook CT left his lonely camp almost gladly, and with his hard-won gold-dust safe beneath his belt, went galloping into town.
 Not for three weeks-not since he received the wire from Phil and To- cated the Eagle Tail mine-had he dared to leave his claim. Hurdles, out laws and Mexican patriots had dropped 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- tentien that they should
 A conspiracy had sprung up to get rid Of him. to harry him out of the country. and behind it was kragon. But now, with the big whistle blowing. Aragon would have other concerns
 He had his wife and daughter, the beautiful Gracia, to hurry to the town, ! and perhaps the thought of being caught and held for ransom would de. ter him from stealing mines. So req soned Bud, and, dragging a reluctant pack=animal behind him, he came rid ing in for supplies.
 At the store he bought four and cof- fee and the other things which he needed most. As he was passing by the hotel Don Juan de Dios halted him for moment, rushing out and thrust ing bundle of letters into his hands and hurrying back into the house, as if fearful of being detected in such an act of friendship.
 I Long before he had lost his pardnel Bud had decided that Don Juan was a trimmer. a man who tried to be all things to all people-as a good hotel | keeper sheuld-but now he altered his opinion little, for the letters were from Phil, He read them over in the crowded plaza, into which the 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 and 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- eipitately abandoning their claim and his Mexican citizenship Phil wrote:
 
 quarters and looked over by Del Rey. SC l knew l would never receive the papers even if they came. 1 hope you don't feel hard about it. pardner Kruger says to come out right away. I would have stayed with it, but it wasn't any use. And now, Bud. l want to ask you some thing. When you come out, bring Gracia with you. Don't leave her at the mercy of Del Rev. I would come myself if it wasn't sure death. Be quick about It, Bud; l count on you.
 The other letters were all like that. but nothing about the mine. And yet 1t 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 hopeless. but 1t was just as well. for he never would abandon the Eagle Tail.
 In two months, or three, when the rebels were whipped off. his papers might come. Then he could pay his taxes and transfer his title and con slider the stealing of Gracia But since he had seen her and touched her hand something held him back-a grudging reiuctance-anG he was glad that his duty lay elsewhere. If she was his girl now he would come down and get her anyway.
 But she was not his girl and, gazing back grimly at the seething plaza and the hotea that hid her from sight, he rode somberly down the road After all, there wSs nothing to get excited about-every revoltoso in the country was lined up around Agua Negra and, with four hundred soldiers to oppose them and artillery to shell their ad- vance, it would be many q long day be- fore they took that town.
 Twice already Agua Negra had