The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-06-18
The Land of Broken Promises
,e could scarcely conceal a grin.
:Bv DANE COOLIDGE
A Stirring Story Of The Mexican Revolution

he could scarcely conceal grin.
What are you laughing at, Senor
Hooker" she demanded with asperity
'Is II 80 pleasant, with houseful OF
frightened women and screaming chill
dren that you should make fun OF our
plightr'
mo, indeed" apologized Bud; moth
ing like that. Sure must be bad in
there-I stay outside myself. But
! reckon it'll soon be over with. The
Mexicans here in town have shot off
all their ammunition and reckon the
rebels have done the same. Like as
not they'll all be gone tomorrow, and
then you can 60 back home"
"Oh, thank you for thinking about
mel" she returned with scornful curl
of the lip. "But IL all men were as
open as you, Mr.. Hooker, we women
would never need to ask a question.
This morning you told me | did not
know what was talking about-noW
presume you are thinking what cow
ards the Mexicans are!
"Oh, | know! You need not deny it!
You are nothing but a great big-Te-
jano! Yes, was going to say brute,
but you are friend Of dear Phil's, and
so | will hold my tongue. If it wasn't
for that, I'd" She paused, leaving
him to guess.
"Oh, do wish he were here" she
breathed, leaning wearily against the
white pillar Of an arch and gazing
down through the long arcade.
1T was so close in there" she con-
tinued, Il could not stand it minute
longer. These Indian women, you
know-they weep and moan all the
time. And the children am so sorry
for them. l cannot go now, because
they need me; but tomorrow-if Phil
were here-I would leave and ride for
the line.
Have you seen Del Rey today? No?
Then all the better-he must be polio
ing the town. 1t Is only Of him am
afraid. These rebels are nothing-l
agree with you'll Mol am not angry
with you at all nowi But tomorrow,
Just at dusk, when all is still as 1t is
at this time, then, II Phil were here
would mount my brave horse and
ride out by the western pass"
She ended rather inconclusively. let
ting her voice trail off wistfully as she
waited for him to speak, but something
within moved Hooker to hold his
. peace, and he looked out over the town
without commenting on her plans. It
was evident to him that abe was deter
mined to enlist his sympathy and In
. volve him in her wild plot, and each
i time the conversation veered in that
direction he took refuge In stubborn
silence.
What are you thinking Of, Mr..
Hookerr' she asked at last, as he
gazed into the dusk. Sometimes !
scold you and sometimes l try to
please you, but never know what you
think did not mean that when
. said ( could read your houghts-you
= are 30 different from poor. dear Phill'
u "M-m-m," mumbled Bud, shifting his
feet, and his face turned q little grim
s "Ahal" she cried with ill-ooncealet
satisfaction, you do not like me te
o call him like that, do youi Poor. dea,
Phil,-like thatl But do you know
9 why I do III Il IN TO punish you fol
Q never coming near me-when signet
to you--when l waited for you-lone
/ agol All. you were so cruel! Il want
!! ed to know you-you were cowboy
n and I thought you were brave enough
to defend me-but you always rod,
: right by. Yes, that was it-but Phi
o was differentl He came when l sen
3 for him; he sang songs to me at night
a he took my part against Manuel de
Is Rey; and now"
o. "Yes!" commented Bud bruskly
with his mind on dear Phil's" finish
. and she turned to peer into his face
80 that Is It'll" she said. you dt
not trust me. lou tul0k that am no
% your friend-that will serve you a
70 he was served Is that what you ar
= = thinking7"
= Something like that" admitte,
. Hooker, leaning lazily against tn
. mud wall. only reckon don't thinl
u just the way you do"
! "why7 How do think?" she dc
manded eagerly.
y We'll, you think awful fast" ar
swered Hooker slowly. And you don
y always think the same seems like
y I'm kind of quiet myself, and don
. Nke-well, wouldn't say that, but yo
, don't always mean what you say"
. "Ohl" breathed Gracia, and ther
II aftor a pause, abe came nearer an
% leaned against the low wall besid
- him.
IF | would speak from my heart
- she asked, IF | would talk plain, a
you Americans do, would you like m
:, better then? Would you talk to m
a instead of standing silent? Liste'