The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-07-09

That's IT," returned Kruger sisnin-
cantly; this Job I've got calls for .
man like that"
We'll. Phil's all right" spoke up
Bud, with sudden warmth. We been
pardners for two years now and he
never give nothing away yet! He
talks. but he don't forget himself And
the way he can palaver them Mericans
10 q wonder"
VERY likely. very likely" agreed
Kruger. and then he sat q while In
silence.
I'VE got q few thousand dollars with
US. too" volunteered Bud at last. I'm
. good worker. II that's what you want
and Phil. he's a mining engineer"
"Um-m." grunted Kruger. Juggling at
his beard, but he did not come out
with his proposal
II tell you" he said at last I'm
not doing much talking about this
proposition OF mine. It's q big thing.
and somebody might beat me to II
You know what I am. guess. I've
pulled on some of the biggest deals In
this country for a poor man. and I
don't make many mistakes-not about
mineral. anyway. And when tell you
that this rs rich-you're talking with
man that knows"
| He fixed his shrewd. blue eyes on
the young mans open countenance
and waited for him to speak.
That's right" he continued, as Bud
finally nodded noncommittally; shes
sure rich. I've had an eye on this
proposition for years-just waiting for
the right time to come. And now it's
come! All I need 10 the man. Il
amt . dangerous undertaking least.
wise don't think Il is-but I got to
have somebody can trust I'm willing
to pay you good wages. or I'll let you
In on the deal-but you'll have to 20
down into Mexico"
''Nothin' doins!" responded Bud
with instant decision. III it's In Arr.
IONA I'll talk to you. but no more Mex.
leo for me. I've got something pretty
good down there myself. a. far a. that
goes"
What's the matterf" inquired Kru.
ger, set back by the abrupt refusal;
"scaredf"
Yes. I'm scared" admitted Bud.
and he challenged the old man with
his eyes.
Must have had . little trouble.
theni"
well. you might call II that" agreed
Bud. I'VE been on the dodge for Q
month. A bunch OF revoltosos tried to
get our treasure. and when we skipped
out on EN- they tried to get us.'
WELL" continued Kruger. this
proposition OF mine IL different. You
was over In the Sierra Madres. where
the natives are bad. These Sonora
Mexicans amt like them chihuahua
fellers-they're Americanized. I'll tell
you. II II wasn't that the people would
know me Id go down after this mine
myself The country's perfectly quiet.
There's lots of Americans down there
yet. and they don't even know there IL
q revolution. II amt far from the rail-
road. you see. and that makes q lot of
difference"
He lowered his voice to q conn
Dental whisper as he revealed the ap
proximate locality Of his bonanza. but
Bud remained unimpressed.
YES" he said. I'VE was near q rail-
road-the Northumberland seemed
like them red-naggers did nothing else
but burn bridges and ditch supply
trains. When they finally whipped EN-
on the whole bunch took to the hills.
That's where We got It again"
Well" argued Kruger. this rail-
road Of ours Is all right. and they run
q train over It every day. The con-
centrator at Fortunate lowered his
voice again-"hasn't been shut down Q
day. and you'll be within fifteen miles
Of that town. No." he whispered; Il
could get Q hundred Americans to 20
In on this tomorrow. a. fairs the revo-
lutionis concerned. II amt dangerous,
but want somebody ! can trust"
Nope" pronounced Bud. rising pom
derously to his feet; IF II was this
side the line I'd stay with you till the
hair slipped. on anything. but"
well. let's talk It over again some
time" urged Kruger. following him
along out. 1T amt often ! get took
with . young Teller the way was with
you. and believe we can make It yet.
Where Are you staying In town."
up at the Cochise." said Bud.
"Come on with mel told my pardner
I'd meet him there"
They turned up the broad main
street and passed In through the pol
ished stone portals Of the Cochise. .
hotel SO spacious In its interior and 80
richly appointed in its furnishings that
q New Yorker. waking up there. might
easily imagine himself on Fifth ave-
nue..
II was hardly Q place TO be looked
for In the West. and a. Bud led the
way across the echoing lobby to pair
Of stuffed chairs he had vague feel
ing OF being In church. Stained glass
windows above the winding stairways
let In q soft light. and on the tower
ing pillars OF marble we're emblazoned
prickly-pears as an emblem Of the
West. From the darkened balconies
above, half-seen women looked down