The Ordway new era., 1914-10-30

mayordomo, have thsm IN his powss~
and when the fun sixty days Of Cras
Mendes's mining permit had expired
they could locate the mine again.
But how-and through whomi That
was the question that Bud was study
ing upon whom Phil rode up the trail.
and in his abstraction he barely re-
turned his gay greeting.
We'll. cheer up. Old topI" cried De-
Lancey, throwing his bridle-feins to
the ground and striding up to the tent
What ho. let down the portcullis. me
lord seneschal! And cease your vain
rspinins. Alsernon-our papers are all
o. X. and the lawyer says to 20 ahead.
But that isn't half the news! Say. We
had dance up at the hotsl last night
and met" o.
"Yes-surs you did, broke in Bud:
but listen to thisi" And he told him
Of Ell Tuerto's matrimonial entangls-
meAts.
why. the crooked devil!" exclaimed
De Lancey. leaping up at tho finish.
"oyezl Mendezi"
Don't say . word" warned Bud.
springing to the tent door to intercept
him. "or you'll put us out Of businessl
II 10 nothing" he continued in Spanish
~ Mendes came out Of his house. but
put Don Felipe's horse in the corral
when he IL cool"
"si. senor-with great pleasursl'
smirked Mendez, running to get the
horse. and after he had departed Bud
turned back and shook his head.
I'VE can't afford TO quarrel with Mr..
Mendez," he said; because II Aragon
ever gets hold Of him we're ditched-
Jest let everything run on like we'd
overlooked something until the sixty
days are up-then, II We get away
with It, wen locate the mine our
selves"
"Yes; but howl"
well, they's two ways" returned
Bud; either hunt up another Mexican
citisen or turn Mexican ourselves"
Turn Mexican!" shrilled Phil. and
then he broke down and laughed.
'"well. you're . great one, Bud" he
chortled; you sure arei"
Il come down here to get this mins."
said Bud laconically.
"Yes, but you're . Texan-or was
onel" n
THAT makes NO difference" an
swered Bud stoutly. "The hot weather
IL coming on-revolution 10 likely to
begin any time-and there amt sin
gle Mexican We can trust Jest one
more break now and we lose out-now
how about 1T"
who's going to turn Mexicanr
questioned Do Lancey, "you Or msf
"Well-I will, thenl"
mo. you won't. eitheri" cried Phil.
Forgetting his canny shrewdness. TN
do il myselfi I'm half Mexican a.
ready. I've been eating chill 70 longi"
'.Now here" began Bud. ''listsn 70
me. i've been thinking this over al
day and you Jest heard about II The
man that turns Mexican II likely to
got mixed mp with the, authorities end
have to skip the country, but the othsr
feller Il in the other way-he's got 70
stay with. the works till hell freesas
over. f j,
"Now you're an engineer and you
know how to open up mine-I don't
So. II you say 80. I'll take out the pas
pers and you hold the mine-o1 II zoe
want to you can turn Mex"
WELL" said De Lancey. his voice
suddenly becoming soft and pensive,
'T might as we'll tell YOU, Bud. that
I'm thinking of settling in this coun-
try. anyway. OF course. don't look
at Aragon the way you dol think
you are prejudiced and mis1udge him
I've"
"Gracia!" repeated Bud: and thin.
stirred by some great and unreasonins
anger, he rose up and threw down his
hat pettishly. I'D think. PHIL" he
muttered, you'd be satisfied with all
the other girls in the world without"
"Now here!" shouted Phil. rising -
unreasoningly to his feet. don't you
say another word against that girl. or
III"
"shut your mouth. you little
shrimp!" beloved Bud. wheeling upon
him menacingly. "You seem to think
you're the only man in the world
that"
"oh. slush. Budl" cried Phil IN dis
gust, "you don't mean to tell me you're
in love with Gracia tool"
"Who-maf" demanded Hooker. his
face suddenly becoming dxed and
masklike; and thsn he laughed hoarse.
1y in derision and sank Down ON the
bed.
Certainly. Of the two Of them. he
was the more surprised at his sudden
outbreak of passion; and yet when the
words we're spoken he was quick TO
know that they were true.
CTo BE coNTrNUED.)