The Huttig news., 1914-07-18

Maybe he doesn't want it." sug gested Phil hopefully Hes dropped 6 lot of money on it.
 You bet he wants t." returned Hooker, with convictien I'm going to camp out there e-the old boy is liable to jump us"
 "Aw, you're crazy, Bud!" cried Phil; but Hooker only smiled.
 You know what happened to Kru- ger" he answered. "lll tell you what, We got to keep our eye open around here."
 They rode on to the mine. which was only about five miles from For tuna. without discussing the matter further for, while Phil had generally been the leader, in this particular case Kruger had put Bud in charge, and he seemed determined to have his way so far as Aragon was concerned In the ordering of supplies and the laying out of development work he deferred to Phil In everything, but for tactics he preferred his own judgment.
 It was by instinct rather than req son tEat he chose to fight, and people wi:o follow their instincts are hard to change. So they put in the day in making careful measurements, ac- cording to the memoranda that Kru- ger had given them; having satisfied themselves as to the approximate locality of the lost vein they turned back again toward town with their heads full of cunning schemes.
 Since it was the pleasure of the Senor Aragon to make war on all who entered his preserves, they check mated any attempt on his part to locate the lead by driving stakes to the north of their ledge; and, still fur ther to throw him off, they decided to mark time for while by doing dead work on a cut. Such an approach would be needed to reach the mouth of their tunnel
 At the same time it would give steady employment to Mendez and keep him under their eye, and as soon as Aragon showed his hand they could make out their final papers in peace and send them to the City of Mexico.
 And not until those final papers were recorded and the transfer duly made would they so much as stick pick into the hillside or show a lump of quartz.
 But for a Spanish gentleman, SUD- posed to be all supple curves and sinu- ous advance, Don Cipriano turned out somewhat of a surprise, for when they rode back through his narrow street again he met them squarely in the road and called them to halt
 By what right, gentlemen" he de- handed in voice tremulous with rage by what right do you take possession of my mine, upon which I have paid the taxes all these years. and conspire with that rogue, Cruz Mendez. to cheat me out of it? It is mine, tell you, no matter what the agente mineral may say. and
 Your mine. nothing.' broke in Hooker scornfully, speaking in the ungrammatical border-Mexican of the cowboys. We meet one Mexican he shows us the mine-that is all The expert of the mining agent says it is vacant-we take it. Stawano!'
 He waved the matter aside with masterful indifference, and Aragou burst into torrent of excited Span ish.
 Very likely. very likely" comment ed Bud dryly. without listening to a word: "si. senor, yo piensol"
 A wave of fury swept over the Span iard's face at this gibe and he turned suddenly to De Laneey.
 "Senor," he said, you seem to be gentleman. Perhaps you will listen to me. This mine upon which you are working is mine. have held it for years, seeking for the lost vein of the old padres. Then the rebels came my horses. they drove off my cattle, they frightened my workmen from the mine. I was compelled to flee-myseIf and my family-to keep from being held for ransom. Now you do me the great injustice to seize my mine!"
 "Ah, no, senor," protested De Lan- cey. waving his finger politely for si- lence, you are mistaken. We havo inquired about this mine and it has been vacant for some time There is no veiu--no gold. Anyone who wished could take it. While we were pros pecting we met this poor one-eyed man and he has taken out a permit to explore it. So We are going to dig that is all'
 "But, senor!" burst out Ara gon-and he voiced his rabid protests again, while sudden faces appeared in t,.e windows and wide-eyod peons stood gawking in crowd. But De Lancey was equally firm, though he glimpsed for the first time the adorable face of La Gracia as she stared at him from be- hind the bars
 No, senor," he said, you are mis- taken. The land was declared forfeit for non payment of taxes by the min ister of Fomento. land thrown open fer location. We have located it-that is all"
 For minute Don Cipriano stood looking at him. his black eyes heavy