The Huttig news., 1914-07-18
CHAPTER VIII.

There are some people in this world with whom it seems impossible to quar- rel, notably the parents Of attractive daughters.
 Perhaps, if Gracia Aragon had not been watching him from the window Philip De Lancey would not have been quite so cordial with her father-at least, that was what Hooker thought, and he was so badly peeved at the way things had gone that he said it. too.
 Then, of course, they quarrelcd. and, one thing leading to another, Phil told Bud he had very low way of speak ing. Bud replied that, whatever his deficiencies of speech might be, he was not fool enough to be drawn in by skirt, and Phil rebuked him again. Then, with a seornful .grunt, Bud Hooker rode on in silence and they said no more about it.
 It was gay life that they led at night for the Fortuna hotel was filled with men of their kind, since all the staid married men had either moved across the line with their families or were under orders to come straight home.
 In the daytime the hotel was nearly deserted, for every man in town was working for the company; but in the evening, when they gathered around the massive stove, it was a merry com pany indeed.
 There were college men, full of good stories and stories not so good world wanderers and adventurers with such tales of the East and West as never have been written ill books But not a college boy could match stories with Phil De Laneey, and few wanderers there were who could tell him any thing new about Mexico. Also, when it came to popular songs, he knew both the words and the tune. So he was much in demand, and Don Juan passed many drinks across the bar be- cause of him.
 In all such festivities the two pard- ners stayed together; Bud, with broad. indulgent grin listening to the end, and Phil, his eyes alight with liquor and good cheer, talking and laughing far into the night.
 Outside the winter winds were g . cold and the Mexieans went wrapped to the eyebrows; but within the merry company was slow to quit, and Phil, making up for the lonely months when he had entirely lacked an audi ence. sat long in the seat of honor and was always the last to go.
 But on the evening after their spat Bud sat off to one side, and even Phil's sprightly and ventriloquistic conversa- ton with the-little-girl=behin called forth only feeting smile.
 Bud was thinking, and when en- gagged in that arduous occupation even the saucy little girl behind the door could not beguile him.
 But, after he had studied it all out and come to a definite conclusion. he did not deliver an ultimatum. The old, good-natured smile simply came back to his rugged face; he rolled cigar cite; and then for the rest of the eve ming he lay back and enjoyed the show. Only in the morning, when hey went out to the corral to get their horses, he carried his war-bag with him and. after throwing the saddle on :, Copper Bottom, he did the same for their spare mount.
 What are you going to pack ont, Bud?" inquired Phil. aud Bud slapped his eanyas-eoyered bed for an answer Then, with a heave. he snaked it out of the harnessroom where it had been scored and slung it deftly across the pack-saddle.
 Why, what's the matter?" said Da Lancey, when they were on their way; don't you like the hotel?'
 Hotels fine," concealed Bud, "but reckon I'd better camp out at the nine. Want to keep my eye on that Mexican of ours. '
 "Aw, he's all light" protested Phil.
 Sure said Bud; T ain't afraid he'll steal something-but he might take a notion to quit the country"
 Why, what for?s challenged Da Lanc ey. Ties got his wife and family here"
 That's nothing-to Mexican." countered Bud. ,"But I aint figuring on the excuse he'd giye-that won't buy me nothing-what want to do is to keep him from going. Because if wa lesa that Mex now. VIC lose our mine"