Gilpin observer., 1914-12-17
IVY. mol" he protested. Sure noti
What made YOU think thatf"

Wuy-yOu TOue over anu bpOk6 70
him-and he looked ut me-and then
he-killed him!"
She gave way to a paroxysm of grief
at this, and Bud looked around him.
wondering. That she was weak and
hungry he knew. but what was this
she was saying?
II reckon don't understand what
you're driving at" he said at last.
Wish you'd eat something-you'll feel
better"
mo, won't eat!" she declared. sit
ting up and frowning "Mr. Hooker
she went on very miserably, what did
you mean this morning when you
laughed! l said hated poor Manuel
and you said-well, what you did
and you laughed! Did you think-oh,
you couldn't have-that really want.
ed him killed."
wy. sure not!" cried Hooker
heartily. 'I knowed you was fooling!
Didn't laugh at you? Say, what kind
of feller do you think am. anyway?
Dye think I'd get an Indian to do my
killing?"
"Oh, then didn't your" she cried,
suddenly Frightening up. you know,
you talk SO rough sometimes-and
never do know what you mean! You
said you guessed you'd have to kill
him for me, you know. and-oh. 1t was
too awful! must be getting foolish,
I'm SO tired out, but-what did you
tell that Indian?'
Bud glanced at her sharply for a
Il x0
her. Perhaps, If he could get her
Quieted. she would stop talking and
begin to eat.
He asked me who was after us" he
said. "and / told him 1t was Del Rey."
Yes. and what did he say then?"
"He didn't say nothing-jest lined
out for the pass"
And didn't you say you wanted
him-killed?"
mol" burst out Bud, half angrily.
Haven't l told you once? l did not!
That Indian had reasons of his own.
believe inches got a scar along his
ribs where Del Rey shot him with a
six-shooter! And, furthermore, he
added, as her face cleared at this ex-
PLANTATION of the mystery, you'd better
try to take me at my word for the rest
of this trip! Looks to me like you've
been associating with these Mexicans
too much!"
why, what do you mean?" she de-
manded curtly.
Il mean this" answered Hooker, be
ing as we're on the subject again
Ever since I've knowed you you've
} been talking about brave men and
all that: and more'n once you've hinted
that | wasn't brave because | wouIdn',
fight
I'D just like to tell you, to put
; your mind at rest, that my father was
a sergeant in the Texas rangers and nc
make him crawl. He served for ter
years on the Texas border and never
turned his back to no man-let alone
Mex. l was brought up by him t.
be peaceable and quiet, but don't yot
never think, because l run away from
Manuel del Rey. that was afraid tt
face him"
He paused and regarded her intent
|, ly. and her eyes fell before his.
You must excuse me-" she said
looking wistfully away. 81 did not
did not understand And SO the poo
Yaqui was only avenging an injury? !?
she went on. reaching out one slender
hand toward the food. "Ah. I can un
derstand 1t now-he looked SO savag,
and fierce. But"-she paused again
set back by a sudden thought-"didn'
you know he would kill him?"
Yes. maam." answered Hooke
, quietly. 81 did"
, 'Then-then why didn't you"
That was between them two" h,
replied doggedly. Del Rey shot hin
once when he was wounded and Ief
: him for dead. He must have kille,
some of his people, too: his wife meb
be. for all know. He never woul,
talk about II, but he come back to ge
his revenge. | don't shoot no maj
from cover myself. but that amt it
! It was between them two"
, And your" she suggested III yol
had fought Del Rey?"
Il would have met him in the open,
said Hooker.
And yet"
uiuh "oht ", it Suutu
Didn't want to fight him and didn'
, want to kill him. Had no call to. An,
then-well. there was you
"Ah!" she breathed, and husl
mounted her pale cheeks. She smile,
, as she reached out once more for tn,
, food and Hooker resolved to do hi
best at gallantry. it seemed to max
, her so happy
, so you were thinking of me- sh
challenged sweetly, all the while?
: thought perhaps was a nuisance an,
in the way. l thought perhaps you di,
not like me because--weIi. becaus
I I'm Mex, MS you say"
, No, a'am." denied Hooker gain,
upon her admiringly. Nothing lik