The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-06-12
The Land of Broken Promises
BY DANE COOLIDGE
A Stirring Story OF The Mexican Revolution


grunted.
"Huh!" he said "and me out watch
Ing that mine night and day."
ooh, know I've done you dirt
Bud" walled De Lancey; but ! didn't
mean to, and I'll never do it again
Never do what?" inquired Bud
Roughly.
II won't touch another drop OF
booze as long as I'm In Mexico!' cried
Phil. mot DROP"
"And how about the girl?" continued
Bud inexorably. Her old man was out
and tried to jump our mine today
how about herr"
WELL" faltered De Lancey, I'll
she"
"You know your promised" reminded
Bud.
Eyes: know. Butch, Bud, if you
knew how loyal I've been to you-if
you knew what offers I've resisted
the mine stands in my name, you
know"
"Well?"
"Well, Aragon came around to me
Fast week and said if ID give him
faalf interest in it he'd-well, never
tnind-it was a great temptation. But
aid | fall for it? Not on your life. |
Know you Bud, and know you're hon
sst-you'd stay by me to the last
ditch, and I'll do the same by you
But I'm in love- Bud, and that would
make man forget his promise If he
wasn't true as STEEL
Eyes," commented Hooker dryly. I
don't reckon | can count on you much
from now on. Here, take a look at
this and see what you make of it." He
drew the piece Of ore that he had
taken from Aragon from his pocket
and held it up in the moonlight. Well
feel of it, then" he said. "Shucks, you
ought to know that piece of rock. Phil
its the first one we found in our
mine!"
Not" exclaimed De Lancey, start
ing back; "why-Where' you get it?"
Never mind where | got it," an
swered Hooker THE question Is.
What did you do with it,"
well, might as we'll come through
with It," confessed Phil, the last of his
assurance gone. Il gave it to Gracia!"
"And took 1t away from Aragon,"
continued Bud, while he was digging
some more chunks out Of our mine. So
that is your idea of being true as steel,
ds It? You've done noble by me and
Kruger, haven't you? Yes, you've been
q good pardner, don't Think"
We'll, don't throw me down, Bud"
pleaded Phil. There's some mistake
somewhere. Her father must have
found It and taken it away! I'd stake
my life on 1t that Gracia would never
betray mel"
We'll, think 1t over for a WHILE"
suggested Bud, edging his words with
sarcasm. Pm going up to the hotel!"
mo; come back!" cried De Lancey,
clamoring at the bars. Come on
back, Bud! Here!" he said. thrust.
ing his hand out through the heavy
irons. I'll give you my word for It
Il won't see her again until we get
our title! VIII that satisfy you? Then
give me your hand, pardner-I'm sorry
] did you wrong!"
ut amt me-" replied Hooker sober.
~, as he took the trembling hand; its
kruger. Buff you'll keep your word,
Phil, maybe we can win out yet. I'm
going up to find the comisario"
brief interview with that smiling
Individual and the case of Phil De
Lancey was laid bare. He had been
engaged In desperate rivalry with
Manuel del Rey for the hand Of Ora
ella Aragon, and his present incarcera.
ton was not only for singing rag-time
beneath the Aragon windows, but for
trying to whip the captain of the ru.
rales when the latter tried to place
him under arrest.
And De Lancey was the prisoner not
OF the comisario, but of the captain of
the rurales. Sore at heart, Bud rode
up through the Mexican quarters to
the Quartet of the rurales but the cap
tain was inexorable.
No, senor," he said, waving an elo.
quent finger before his nose, 81 cannot
release your friend. No, senor!"
But what is he charged WITH" per.
sisted Bud, land when is his trial?
You can't keep him shut up without
trial"
AT this the captain of the rurales
lifted his eyebrows and one closely
waxed mustachio and smiled mysteri.
ously.
"Y como no?" he inquired And
why not? Is he not a Mexican citi-
zen?"
We'll, perhaps he isl" Numbered
Bud, suddenly rising to his full height,
but / am not! l am an American,
senior captain. and there are other
Americans! If you hold my friend
without a trial will come and tear
your Jail down-and the comisario will
not stop me, either!"
"Ah!" observed the dandy little cap.
tain, struggling his mustachio once
more and blinking, and while Hooker
ragged back and forth he looked him
-