Mexico Missouri message., 1914-07-23
CHAPTER vI-Contlnued.


"Que busca7" the one-eyed one
finally inquired; what are you look
Eng for?"
And when Phil oracularly answered
-Goldl" the old man made a motion
Go the boy to go on and sat down on
q neighboring rock.
do you want 10 buy a prospect
ne asked. and Bud glanced up at him
grimly.
we find our own prospects" an
s~ered Phil.
But I know of a very rich pros
pect," protested Mendez; very rich!"
He shrilled his voice to express how
rich It was.
"Yes?" observed Phil; then why
don't you dig the gold out? But, as
for US. we find our own mines. That
Is our business"
"Seguroi" nodded Mendez, glancing
at their outfit approvingly. But | am
poor man-yery poor--I cannot de-
uounce the mine. So I wait for some
rtch Americana to come and buy 1t.
have q friend-a very rich MANN
'Gadsden, but he will not come; 80
will sell 1t to you"
did you get that, Bud?" TESTED Phil
In English. "The old man here thinks
we're rich Americans and he wants
20 sell US a mine"
Bud laughed silently at this, and
Mr.. Mendez. his hopes somewhat blast
ed by their levity. began to boast Of
ais find, giving the history OF the
Eagle Tail with much circumstantial-
ity and explaining that It was a lost
padre mine.
Sure" observed Phil, going back to
his horse and picking up the bride.
that's what they all say. They're
all lost padre mines, and you can see
them from the door OF the church.
Come on, Bud. let's go!"
And so you could this!" cried Men
dez. running along after them as they
rode slowly up the canyon, from the
old church that was washed away by
the foodi This is the very mine
where the padres dug out all their
gold! Are you going up this way?
Come, then. and l will show you-the
very place. except that the Americana
ruined II with a blastl"
He tagged along after them, whee-
ding and protesting while they ban
tered him about his mine. until they
finally came to the place-the rufus
OF the Eagle Tail
Ct lay spraddled out along the hill
side. series of gopher-holes, dumps
and abandoned workings, looking
more like badly managed stone
quarry than a relic of padre days.
Kruger's magazine OF giant powder,
exploded in one big blast, had de-
stroyed all traces OF his mine. besides
starting AN avalanche OF loose shale
that had poured down and filled the
pocket.
Added to this. Aragon and his men
had rooted around in the debris in
Gearch of the vein. and the story of
She!r inefficient work was told by
great piles OF loose rock stacked up
beside caved-in trenches and a series
sof timid tunnels driven into the neigh
horing ridges.
, Under the circumstances It would
certainly call for a mining engineer
no locate the lost lead. and De Lancey
Hooked it over thoughtfully as he be-
gan TO figure on the work TO be done.
Undoubtedly there was a mine there
ard tue remains of an old Spaniah
aFsaater down the creek showed that
the ground had once been very rich
Sat If Kruger had not told him In
advance he would have passed up the
fob In minute.
We'll" he said, turning coldIy upon
the fawning Mendez who was ali
curves In his desire to please, where
- your prospecto?"
Aqui, senor!" replied the Mexican
pointing TO the disrupted rock slide
Here IT was that the Americana
Erooka had his mine--rich with gold
much gold"
He shrilied his voice emphatically
and De Lancey shrilled his in reply
>Here?" he exclaimed, gains
olankly at the hillside, and chen h,
1roke into a laugh. IAN right, my
Friend he said. giving Bud a face
tions wink; how much do you wan
or this Drospect?"
-Four hundred dollare," answered
Edendez in tone at once hopeful ant
npologetic. 1T is very rich. Seno
Crooka shipped some ore that was full
ot gold. ] packed II out for him OF
ny burros; but, am sorry. hav,
no piece Of it,"
Yes" responded De Lancey, 81 an
snrry, too. So. of course, we canno
buy the prospecto since you have NJ
ore 20 show; but | am glad for this
Senior hendez." he continued with
kindly smile; 1T shows that you ar