The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-08-13

ingl"
He Unanswered his horse adruitly
and, with a skilful turn. cut In be-
tween his pardner and Aragon.
IS dias." he greeted, gazing down
in burly defiance at the militant Ara
gon and at the same moment he gave
he Lanceys horse furtlve touch with
his spur.
"Buenos dias, senoresl" returned
Aragon. stridins forward to intercept
than; but a. nsAthsr Of the Americans
looked back. he was left standing In
the middle of the street
That's the way to handle I'M OBJ
served Hooker, as they trotted briskly
down the lane. Leave I'm to mel"
"It1l only make him mad" objected
De Lancey GROSSLY. What do you
want to do that forr
Hes mad already answered Bud.
7 want to quarrel with him. 80 he
can't ask us any questions. Get him
so mad he won't talk-then it'll be q
fair fight and none Of this snake-in-the-
grass business"
Yes, but don't put It on him." pro
tested De Lancey. let him be
friendly for a while, II he wants to-"
Cant be friends" said Bud lacon-
ically; Eve jumped his claim"
Maybe he doesn't want it, sug-
gested Phil hopefully. Hes dropped
lot Of money on IT."
You bet he wants IT, returned
Hooker. with conviction. I'm going
to camp out there-the old boy Is
liable to jump u.s."
"Aw. you're crazy. BUD" cried Phil:
but Hooker only smiled
You know what happened to Kru-
GER" he answered '1ll tell you what,
we got to keep our eye open around
here"
They rode on 70 the mine, which
was only about Eve 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.
II was by instinct rather than rea-
son that he chose to fight, and people
who follow their Instincts are hard to
change. So they put in the day in
making careful measurements. ac-
70 hA a.
ger had given them; having satisfied
themselves as to the approximate
locality OF the lest vein. they turned
back again toward town with their
heads full OF cunning schemes.
Since It was the pleasure OF the
who entered his preserves. they check
mated any attempt on his part to
locate the lead 3y driving stakes to
the north Of their ledge: and. still fur
Their to throw him of. 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 II would give
steady employment to Mendez and |
keep him under their eye, and as soon |
as Aragon showed his hand they could /
agd 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 /
a pick into the hillside or shoI q 4
lump OF quartz.
But for a Spanish gentleman. sup
posed to be all supple curves and sinu-
GUS 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 a halt
by what right, gentlemen" he de-
manded In a voice tremulous with
rage by what right do you take
possession OF my mine, upon which |
have paid the taxes all these years.
and conspire with that rogue, Cruz
Mendez. to cheat me out OF It? IL
is mine. tell you. no matter what the
agente mineral may say. and"
Your mine. nothing!" broke in
Hooker scornfully. speaking In the
border-Mexican OF the
I'VE meet one Mexican
he shows US the mine-that Is all. The
expert OF the mining agent says It Is
take It Stawano!"
He waved the matter aside with
Indifference, and Aragon
burst into a torrent Of excited Span
ish.
Very likely. very likely" comment
ed Bud dryly, without listening to a
word: Isl. senior. 20 pienso!"
A wave Of fury swept over the Span
lards face at this gibe and he turned
suddenly to De Lancey.
"Senor," he said. you seem to be a
gentleman. Perhaps you will listen to
me. This mine upon which you are
is mine. l have held II for
years. seeking for the lost vein of the
old padres. Then the rebels came
sweeping through the land. They stole
my horses, they drove on my cattle,
hey frightened my workmen from the
mine was compelled to fiee-myself
ana INV fau,iIv-fa Eaan from hainO