Gilpin observer., 1914-09-17

MASKED face among the nowess and
smiled again. That was the way Ora
cia Aragon affected them all.
He did not point out the place to
Phil, nor betray her by any sign. All
he did was to glance at her once and
then ride on his way. but somehow his
heart stood still when he met her
eyes, and his days became filed with
pensive, brooding melancholy.
What the matter, Bud?" rallied
Phil, after he had jollied him for a
week; you're getting mighty quiet
lately. Got another hunch-like that
one you had up at Aqua Negra?"
Nope" grinned Bud; but I'll tell
you one thing-if old Aragon don't
spring something pretty soon I'm 60
ing to get uneasy. He's too dog-goned
good-natured about this"
Maybe he thinks we're stuck" sug-
gested De Lancey.
We'll, he's awful happy about some
| thing" said Bud. II can see by the
way he droops that game eye of his
and smiles that way-that he knows
we're working for him. If we don't
get title to this mine. every tap of
work we do on it is all to the good
for him, that's cinch. So sit down
now and think it out-vwhere's the
joker?"
WELL" mused Phil, "the gold is
here somewhere. He knows we're not
fooled there. And he knows we're
right after 1t, the way we're driving
this cut in. Our permit is good-he
hasn't tried to buffalo Mendez-and
it's a cinch he can't denounce the
claim himself"
Maybe he figures on letting us do
all the work and pay all the denounce-
ment fees and then spring something
big on old One-Eye." propounded Bud.
Scare i'm up or buy i'm of, and have
him transfer the title to him. That's
the way he worked Kruger"
We'll, say" urged Phil, Tets go
ahead with our announcement before
he starts something. Besides, the
warm weather is coming on now, and
If we don't get move on we're likely
to get run out by the revoltosos."
Nope" said Bud; II don't put this
into Mendez's hands until know he's
our man-and If ever do go ahead I'll
keep him under my six-shooter until
the last paper is signed, believe me. l
know we're in bad somewhere. but
hurrying up won't help none.
Now tell you what we'll do-you
go to the mining agent and get copies
of all our papers and send them up to
that Gadsden lawyer. I'm going to go
down and board with Mendez and see
If I can read his heart"
So they separated, and while Phil
stayed in town to look over the rec
ords Bud ate his beans and tortillas
with the Mendez family.
They were a happy little family.
comfortably installed in the stone
house that Mendez had built, and rap
idly getting fat on three full meals a
day. From his tent farther up the
canyon Bud could look down and
watch the children at play and see the
comely Indian wife as she cooked by
the open fire.
Certainly no one could be more In
nocent and contented than she was.
and Ell Tuerto was all bows and pro
| 81
never can tell.
Bud had moved out of the new house
to f..rnishs quarters for Ell Tuerto and
had favored him in every way; but
this same consideration might easily
be misinterpreted, for the Mexicans
are slow to understand kindness.
So, while on the one hand he had
treated them generously, he had al
ways kept his distance, lest they be
tempted to presume. But now, with
Phil in town for few days. he took
awed to say word, and made friends
with the dogs and the children.
The way to the dogs heart was easy.
almost direct, and he finally won the
attention of little Pancho and Josefa
with a well-worn Sunday supplement-.
This gaudy institution, with Its spicy
stories and startling illustrations, had
penetrated even to the wilds Of Sonora.
and every Sunday as regularly as the
paper came Bud sat down and had his
laugh over the funny page.
But to Pancho, who was six years
old and curious, this same highly col
Ored sheet was mystery OF mysteries.
and when he saw the big American
laughing he crept up and looked at It
wistfully.
Mira said Bud. laying his finger
upon the smirking visage OF one of the
comic characters. look. and will tell
you the story"
And SO. with laborious care. he
translated the colored fun. while the
little Mendezes squirmed with excite
ment and leaped with Joy. Even the
simple souls of El Tuerto and Maria
wer moved by the comicas, and Men
dez became 30 interested that he
learned the words by heart, the better
to explain them to others.
But as for Mexican treachery, Bud
could find none OF 1t. In fact, finding