The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-09-12

lsed you he would not trouble the LADY
further. Does that mean that you are
Interested in her yourself, or merely
that you perceive the hopelessness Of
his suit and wish to protect him from
a greater evil that may we'll befal
him? For look you, senior, the girl is
mine, and no man can come between
usI"
HUH" snorted Bud. who caught
the last all right Then he laughed
shortly and shrugged his shoulders I
don't know what you're talking about,
he said grufly, but he will stay away,
all right"
Muy bien," responded Del Rey care
lessly and, dismounting at the Jail, he
threw open the door and stood aside
for his rival to come out.
Muchas gracias, senior captain" sa-
luted Bud, as the door changed to be-
hind his pardner. But Phil still bristled
with anger and defiance, and the cap
tain perceived that there would be no
thar ks from him
1T is nothing" he replied, bowling
politely. and something in the way he
said it made De Lancey choke with
rage. But there by the carcel door
was not the place for picking Quarrels.
They went TO the hotel, where Don
Juan, all apologies for his apparent
ground that De Lancey had been held
incomunicado-plac them as best
he could and hurried on to the news.
MY gracious, Don Felipe" he cried.
you don't know how sorry 1 was to
see you in jail, but the captains or
ders were that no one should go near
you-and in Mexico we obey the ru-
rales, you know Otherwise we are
placed against wall and shot.
But have you heard the news from
down below? All, what terrible times
they are having there-ranches raided,
women stolen, rich men held for ran
somI Yes, it is worse than ever! Al
ready 1 am receiving kilograms to pre-
pare rooms for the refugees, and the
people are coming in crowds.
Our friend, the Senior Luna. and
his son Feliz have been taken by Ber-
nardo Bravo! Only by an enormous
ransom was he able to save his wife
and daughters, and his friends must
now pay for him
AT the ranch of the rich Spaniard,
Alvarez. there has been a great battle
in which the red-faggers were defeat
ed with losses. Now Bernardo Bravo
swears he will avenge his men, and
Alvarez has armed his Yaqui- work
men.
He is a brave man, this Colonel
Alvarez, and his Yaquis are all war
riors from the hills; but Bernardo has
gathered all the insurrectos in the
country ogether-Campos, Rojas, the
brothers Escaboza-and they may
crush him with their numbers. But
now there is other news-that they
are marching upon Fortuna and E.
| Tigre, to seize the mines and mills
and hold the rich American companies
up for ransom.
NO, senores, you must not return
| to your camp. Remain here, and you
shall still have your room, though
Spanish gentlemen sleep on the floors
| No, allow me, Don Felipe! I wish to
show you how highly 1 value your
| friendship! Only because we cannot
disobey the rurales did I suffer you to
lie in jail; but now you shall be my
guest, you shall
Nope" answered Bud; we're safer
| out at the mine"
| He glanced at De Lancey, in whose
mind rosy visions were beginning to
| gather, and he, too, declined-with a
sigh.
Make it a bed for the night" he
said. I've got to get out of this town
before 1 tangle with Del Rey again and
! find myself back in Jail. And now lead
me to it-Tm perishing for a bath and
a sleep!"
They retired early and got up early
for Bud was haunted by fears. But
as they passed through Old Fortuna
| the worst happened to him-they met
! Gracia, mounted on a prancing horse
and followed by a rural guard, and she
smote him to the heart with a smile.