The Ordway new era., 1914-12-04

free 70 sAoI0 Il In hfA stenos enu tnAt
he determined 70 do-not only hold u.
but work II for . stake. Then, when
the tide was passed and all made Ger.
tain. they could turn II over to Kruger
and quit the accursed country.
~ for 'ths girL Bud decided that
she could take carr Of herself without
any assistance from him. and dis
missed her from his mind. I.
Back a the mine he found Amigo
guarding camp from the hilltop ana
after telling him the gist Of his trou,
bles. the two %. them went to work
Every day. whils ono Of them dug out
the ore. the othef crushed and washed
Il and watched as he horned out the
gold. Their r1Aes they kept beside
them and pistols In their belts; and
every time . Mexican dropped into
camp. ~ one did now and then In the
general unrest. he felt the silent men.
ace OF arms In readiness and continued
on his way.
For . weak they labored ON together.
grim. .watchful. expectant-then. at
the break Of day, they heard distant
rattle of arms, like the tearing OF .
cloth. and knew that the battle vas
on.
The great whistle at Fortuna opened
with Its full. bass roar. and Amigo
snatched up his gun and went lopins
down tho canyon. drawn trresistibly
BY the sound of conflict. Bud fingered.
climbing higher and higher to get 2
view OF the country. But his young
blood clamored for action too. and
soon he was mounted and gone.
The fighting was not at the Ameri-
can town. but down the valley by Old
Fortuna, and n Hooker galloped on
toward the sound of the firing he mo-
ticed that Il was on the move. Al
ready the cowardly rebels were ~
treating-the volunteers from Fortuna
were hurrying to- get closer to them,
the rurales were riding to flank them;
and when Bud jumped his horse Up
the last hill and looked down Into Ne
broad, cultivated valley he saw tho
dust OF their hight
Down the fenced trail that led to the
lower country the mounted fnsurrectos
were squirting n . rout; across the
newly plowed feid. Of Aragon the men
on foot were making short cut for the
hills; and all about them. like leApins
grasshoppers. sprang up puffs of dust.
Now they plunged into the willow
brush along the river. where It swung
In against the ridge; and as their pur.
suers broke into ths open they Halted
and returned the IRE. The bullets
struck up the dust like hailstones in
front Of the oncoming irregulars. .
man or two In. the lead went down,
And they faltsred. Then. as frantically
as the rebels. they turned and ran for
cover.
While defcnders and invaders shot
back and forth across the broad field.
Bud put spurs 10 his horse and rode
closer. and when he came out on. an.
other hilltop he was just In time 70 zee
the rurale6 come .peiting In from lthe
west and take the revoitosos ON TIE
flank There was ayVf6at aSaI ~ I0as-
distance flrins then. while the rebels
aIowly retrcated, and finally. with .
last defiant volley. the defenders
turned back from their pursuit and
marched triumphantly to Old Fortuna.
There, amid numerous vivas. Don
Cipriano rolled out 4 cask Of mescal
and, after nery speech. invited the
victors to help themselves. So they
fell to drinking and carousing. and the
one defender who had been wounded
was bandaged and made much Of.
while . great crowd from the upper
town looked on In awe and admiration.
At last Manuel del Rey and his
rurales returned from harassing the
enemy and with several wounded pris-
oners in their midst. the vAlor-drunk
Mexicans formed riotous procession
and went marching back to town.
Every horse and mufe was carrying
double, guns were being dropped.
broad hats knocked on. and ever. ~
they marched, they shouted:
.viva Madero! Viva Mejico! Muerts
q los reyoltosos!r
It was an edifying spectacle to an
American. and with the rest Bud
tagged along to the plaza. where they
had speeches and cheers galore and
more mescal at the company's cantina.
But in the midst of It. while he sat
laughing on his horse by the hotel
Bud felt Q gravel strike his broad
hat from above and, looking furtively
up, Ne beheld Gracia Aragon smiling
down At him from the balcony.
h She beckoned him . with = swift
movement and gazed ont over the a.
semblage again. and after few mo-
nents Of deliberatien Hooker tied his
horse and wandered into the hotel.
A tingle Of excitement went over
him a. he tramped up to the ladies'
parlor, for he had never met Gracia
face to face. But he disguised his
qualms by assuming . masklike GRIM
ness Of countenance and, when the
glorious Gracia glided out of her room
to meet him. he only blinked and stood
pat.
A long experience - poker player
Vas ALL that saved him from betrnyal