The Ordway new era., 1914-10-23

one particular .horbre We want ts
steer clear of. and keep him guessing
as long as We can That's my view
OF II. pardner.
-Oh. that's an right" laughed De
Lancey. -hs won't get ANYTHING oui
OF me-thAt u. nothing but bunch
OF hot air. Say. he's shrevd-lookns
old guinea, isn't he: Did you notice
that game eye? He kept II kind Of
drcoped. almost shut. until he came
to the point-end then he opened II
up real nerce- Reminds me OF BID
fighting owl waking up In the day
time Bat you Just watch me handle
him, and II don't fool tho old boy
| At every turn it'll be because ! run
ont OF bull
We'll. you can hand him tho bull
II you want to- grumbled Bud. but
the nfst time you give anything away
I'm going to pick such = row with
the old cuss that we1l have to make .
| new trail TO get By. So leave I'm
alone. II you ever expect to see that
grill.
A close association with PHI De
LAncey had Left Bud not unaware OF
his special weaknesses. and Phil was
undoubtedly romantic. Given barred
and silent house. shut on from the
street BY Whitened walls and . ve-
randa screened with flowers. and the
questinS eyes Of Mr.. De LAncey would
turned To those barred windows A. Ger
tainly - the needle seeks the pols-
On every trip. coming and going. he
had conned the Arzgon house from the
vinecovered corredor In front to the
walled-in summer garden behind, hop
ing to surprise Z view Of the beautiful
daughter Of the house. And unless RI;
NOR and DON Juan were at fault, she
was indeed worthy Of his solicitude-
gay and sprightly creature. brown
eyed like her mother and with the
same glorious chestnut hair.
Already those dark. mischievous
eyes had been busy and. At the last
big dance at Fortuna, she had set
many heads aIhiri Twice within two
years her father, In Q rage. had sent
her away to school In order to break
on some i1l-coAsidered love atfair: and
now . battle royal was being waged
between Manuel del Rey, the dashing
captain Of tho rurales stationed At
Fortuna. and Felix Luna. son OF rich
haciendado down in the hot country.
for the honor Of her hand.
What more romantic, then, than that
handsome American. stepping grace
fully into the hreach. should keep the
naughty loveB from staying each
other By BEARING Oh the prize himself
30 reasoned Philip De Lancey. mus
ing upon the ease with which he could
act the part; hut for prudential pur.
poses he said nothing Of his Wanting
ambitions. knowing fun wen that they
would receive N aetive veto from Bud.
For. while De Lancey did most Of
the talkinG. and . great deal Of the
thinling fue thn1pArtneRnhip, Hookar
was mot lAAkins IA positive opinions:
and upon sualeient occasion he would
express himself. though often with
more force than delicacy. Therefore,
upon this unexpected sally about the
girl. Phil changed the subject abruptly
and said no more Of AraSon or the
hopes within his heart.
It was not SO easy, however. to avoid
Aragon. for that gentleman had appar-
entity taken the pains to inform him
self an to the place where they were
at work. and he was waiting for them
In the morning with a frown as black
Ms thunder cloud.
Hes on!" muttered Phil. as they
drew near enough to see his face.
What shall we do?"
DO nothing growled Bud through
his teeth; you Jest let me do the talk
ing!"
He maneuvered his horse adroitly
and, with skilful turn. cut In b.
tween his pardner and Aragon.
"'S dias," he greeted, gazing down
in burly defiance at the militant Ara
gon; and at the same moment he gave
De Lancey's horse q furtive touch with
his spur.
"Buenos dias. senores!" returned
Aragon. striding forward to intercept
them; but as neither Of the Americans
the middle Of the street
-That's the way to handle im." OBJ
served HooEer, as they trotted briskly
down the lane. Leave i'm to mel"
eth only make him mad" objected
Do Lancey grossly. What do you
want to do tl.at fort"
Hes mad already. answered Bud.
Il want to quarrel with him. 20 he
can't ask US any questions. Get him
SO mad he won't talk-then it'll be q
fair fight and none Of this snake-in-the-
grass business"
Yes. but don't put 1t on him." pro-
tested De Lancey. Let him be
friendly for while. II he wants to-"
Cant be friends" said Bud lacon-
ically; I'VE Jumped bis claim"
Maybe he doesn't want It," sus-
gested PIN hopefully. "He's dropped
lot Of money on II"
You bet he wants it, returned
Hooker. with conviction. I'm going
to camp out there-the old boy ID
hv - A..