The Elbert County tribune., 1914-10-30


"Why--you rode over and spoke to
him-and he looked at me-and then
he-killed himI"
She gave way to = paroxysm OF grief
at this. and Bud looked around him.
wondering That she was weak and
hungry he knew. but what was this
she was saying?
Il reckon / don't understand what
you're driving at" he said at last.
Wish you'd eat something-youIl feel
better"
mo, won't eati" she declared, sit
ting up and frowning. "Mr. Hooker"
! she went on very miserably. what did
you mean this morning when you
laughedl said hated poor Manuel
and you said-well, what you did
and you laughed! Did you think-oh.
you couldn't haye-that really want
ed him killed7"
wy, sure not!" cried Hooker
heartily. II knowed you was foolingi
Didn't laugh at you? Say, what kind
of q feller do you think am, anyway?
Dye think I'd get an Indian to do my
killing?"
"Oh, then didn't your" she cried.
suddenly Frightening up. You know,
you talk SO rough sometimes-and
never do know what you meant You
said you guessed you'd have to kill
himfor me. you know, and-oh. 1t was
too awful! must be getting foolish.
I'm SO tired out. but-what did you
tell that Indian?"
Bud glanced at her sharply for a
moment and then decided to humor
her. Perhaps, If he could get her
quieted, she would stop talking and
begin to eat
He asked me who was after u.s." he
said, "and l told him 1t was Del Rey."
Yes. and what did he say tnen?"
He didn't say nothing-jest lined
out for the pass"
And didn't you say you wanted
him-killed?"
mol" burst out Bud. half angrily.
Haven't told you once? I did not!
That Indian had reasons of his own.
believe inches got scar along his
ribs where Del Rey shot him with
six-shooter! And, furthermore" he
added, as her face cleared at this ex-
PLANTATION of the mystery. you'd better
try to take me at my word for the rest
Of this trip! Looks to me like you've
been associating with these Mexicans
too much!"
why, what do you mean?" she de-
manded curtly.
Il mean this" answered Hooker, be
ing as we're on the subject again.
Ever since I've knowed you you've
been talking about brave men and
all that. and more'n once you've limited
that l wasn't brave because / wouldn't
fight.
I'D just like to tell you, to put
your mind at rest, that my father was
sergeant in the Texas rangers and no
hundred Mexicans was ever able to
make him crawl. He served for ten
years on the Texas border and never
turned his back to no man-let alone
Mex. l was brought up by him to
be peaceable and quiet. but don't you
never think. because run away from
Manuel del Rey. that was afraid to
face him"
He paused and regarded her intent
ly. and her eyes fell before his.
You must excuse me-" she said.
looking wistfully away, 81 did not-I
did not understand. And 80 the poor
Yaqui was only avenging an INJURY"
she went on. reaching out one slender
hand toward the food. "Ah. can un-
derstand 1t now-he looked SO savage
and fierce. But"-she paused again.
set back by sudden thought didn't
you know he would kill him?"
Yes, ma'am." answered Hooker
quietly. II did"
"Then-then why didn't you"
That was between them two." he
replied doggedly. del Rey shot him
once when he was wounded and left
him for dead. He must have killed
some of his people, too; his wife meb-
be. for all know. He never would
talk about 1t. but he come back to get
his revenge. l don't shoot no man
from cover myself, but that amt it
1t was between them two"
And your" she suggested. IF you
had fought Del Rey?"
II would have met him in the open"
said Hooker.
And yet"
Il didn't want to-" he ended bluntly.
Didn't want to fight him and didn't
want to kill him. Had no call to. And
then-well, there was you"
"Ah!" she breathed, and flush
mounted her pale cheeks. She smiled
as she reached out once more for the
food and Hooker resolved to do his
best at gallantry, 1t seemed to make
her so happy.
$50 you were thinking of me-" she
challenged sweetly. all the while? l
thought perhaps l was a nuisance and
In the way. I thought perhaps you did
not like me because-well, because
i I'm a Mex as YOU say"