The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-07-29
CHAPTER xvi.

At their camp by the Eagle Tail
mine, even though they held 1t still
and we're heirs to half It's gold, the
two partners were glum and sorrow
full. The %treacheries which Bud had
forgiven in a moment Of exaltation
came back to him nov as he brooded;
and he eyed his friend askance, as If
wondering what he would do next. ,
He recalled all the circumstances Of
their quest-the meeting with Kruger,
Pills insistence On the adventure, the
oath of loyalty which they had'sworn;
and then. the gradual breaking down
Of their ,brotheriy devotion until now
they were strangers at heart.
Phil sat by himself. keeping his
thoughts to himself, and he stood aloof
while he waited for the worst to hap
pen.
From the first day Of their under
taking Hooker had felt that 1t was IN
lucky, and now he knew that the end
was coming. His friend was lost to
him, lost alike to q sense Of loyalty
ano innor; he gkaamed by, himself and
thought czly of Gsacia Aragon.
The oath which Phil himself had
forced upon Bud was broken and for
gotten; but Bud, by a sterner standard,
felt bound to keep his part One thing
alone could make him break this
word to Henry Kruger. The Eagle
Tail mine he held in trust, and half
of it was Kruger's.
Phil" he said at last, when his
mind vas weary Of the ceaseless grind
of thoughts, II believe that mineral
agent Is holding back our papers. /
believe old Aragon has passed him a
hundred or go and they're in cahoots
to rob US. But I'll tell you what I'll
do-you give me a power Of attorney
to receive those. papers for you. and
I'll go in and talk Dutch to the whole
outfit" =
What do you want to do that for"
demanded De Lancey querulously.
why can't you wait q while? Those
papers have to 60 to Moctezuma and
Hermosillo and all over the City Of
Mexico and back, and 1t takes time.
What do you want to make trouble
for?"
well, I'll tell you, Phil" answered
Bud honestly. I've got a bunch If we
don't grab them papers soon we won't
get EN- at all. Here these rebels are
working closer all the time, and Ara
gon is crowding US. I want to get title
and turn it over to Kruger, before we
lose out somewhere"
Whats the matter with me going
in and talking to the agent?" suggest
ed Phil. Then, as he saw his phrd-
ner's face, he paused and laughed bit
terly.
"You don't trust me any more, do
you. Bud?" he said.
We'll, It amt that so much" evaded
Hooker; but I sure don't trust that
Manuel del Rey. The first time you
go into town he's going to pinch you,
and l know it."
I'm going TO go in all the same"
declared De Lancey. land If the little
squirt tries to stop me-"
Jaw, Phil" entreated Bud, "be rea'
sonable, can't ye? You got no call to
go UP against that little Teller. He's q
bad actor, 1 can see that, and I believe
he'd kill you If he got the chance. But
wait a little while-maybe he'll get
took off in the fights this summer!"
mo, he's too cursed mean for that!"
muttered De Lancey, but he seemed
to take some comfort in the thought
AS for Bud, he loafed around for a
while, cleaning up camp making
smoke for the absent Yaqqui, and look.
ing over the deserted mine, but some.
thing in the changed atmosphere made
him restless and uneasy.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)