The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-08-06
The Land of Broken PrOn1i.
Bv DANE COOLIDGE

ders deprecatingly.
Il do not know. senor." he answered;
but II you wish to dig I will denouncs
the claim for you"
For how much7" inquired De Ian
cey guardedly.
For one hundred dollars" an
swered Mendez. and to his delight the
He walked back aud forth across the
slide, picking up rocks and looking at
them. dropping down into the futile
trenches OF Aragon. and frowning
with studious thought His pardner.
however, sat listlessly on a boulder
and tested the action OF his six.
shooter.
Listen. my friend" said De Lancey.
coming back and poising his finger i'm
pressively. IF l should find the ledge
the one hundred dollars would be moth
ing to me. sabe? And II should spend
all my money for nothing 1t would
be but one hundred dollars more. But
listen! have known some false Mex
leans who, when an American paid
them to denounoe mine. took ad-
vantage OF his kindness and refused to
give 1t over. Or, II It turned out to
be rich. they pulled long face and
claimed that they ought to be paid
more. Now If"
"Ah, no, senor," clamored Member.
holding up his hand in protest; Il am
a poor man. but | am honest. Only
give me the hundred dollars"
Not a dollar do you get!" cried De
Lancey sternly; not a dollar-until
you turn over the concession to the
mine And II you play us false"-he
paused impressively-"cu idado, hon.
bre-look outl"
Once more Cruz Mendez protested
his honesty and his fidelity to any
trust, but De Lancey silenced him i'm.
patiently.
Enough, hombre!" he said. Words
are nothing TO US. Do you see my
friend over theref He pointed to
Bud. who, huge and dominating
against the sky line. sat toying with
his pistol "Buen'! He is q cowboy.
sabe? A Texanl You know the Te-
janos, Ell? They do not like Mexi
cans. But my friend there. he likes
Mexicans-when they are honest II
not-nol Hey. Bud" he called in
English, what would you do to this
fellow IL he beat US out OF the miner"
Bud turned upon them with a slow,
good.natured smile.
"Oh, nothing much" he answered.
putting up his gun; and the deep
rumble OF his voice struck fear into
the old mans heart
Phil laughed and looked grimly at
Mendez while he delivered his ulti-
matum.
Very well, my friend" he said. we
will stay and look at this mine. IL
we think 1t is good we will take you
to the mining agent and get a permit
10 dig. For sixty days we will dig. and
II we find nothing we will pay YOU
fifty dollars. anyway. II We find the
ledge we will give you a hundred dol
lars. All right"
81. senior, 81. senor!" cried Mendez,
zone hundred dollars!"
When you give US the papers!"
warned Phil. But remember-be
careful! The Americans do not like
men who talk And come to the hotel
at Fortuna tomorrow-then We will let
you know"
And you will buy the miner"
begged Mendez. backing on with his
hat In his hand.
Perhaps" answered De Lancey.
We will tell you tomorrow"
"Buen!" bowed Mendez: "and many
thanks!"
1T is nothing" replied De Lancey
politely. and then with q crooked
smile he gazed after the old man az
he went hurrying OF down the canyon
Well" he observed. Il guess we've
got Mr.. Mendez started just about
right-whati Now II we can keep
him without the price OF a drink until
we get our papers We stand a chance
to win"
That's right" said Bud; but
wish he had two good eyes. i knowed
a one-eyed Mex up in Arizona and he
was sure thieving son OF q goat