The Ordway new era., 1914-12-25
CHAPTER XXI.

On the EcrI.ax AFTER theJ had
izsEhed at the cclaic paper and deeid-
ed tia, all the World uas fair. Hooker
AID Amigo we're s1uattinG By ~ hrs
snd eating q mzu's-sIze bfeakfast
The creek. sroilen by yesterdays
iorrentiai rzIn. lad settled to . rivu-
let The rind bad not risen and the
SUE vas jig, over the hill when. With
down his cup and ras on IN nash for
the roeka
A moment late. tro men ruIde down
the canyon. and then two more. and
tao nore II FAz column Of men.
all Arred with risss. and theJ cast
enviou, eyes at Copper Bottom ss tkey
halted before the camp As for Bud.
be fslried srarsiy. for he knew them
fer Vt sf they were.
Tkese we're the lost forces Of Ber.
nsrde Bravo and Sslaxar. Rojas ana
the ether bandit chiefs. and they
Married, as be well knew, upon For
,unp. They marched quietly. and the
graf Nhiktle had NOT blown
II would make rich prize. Fortuna.
II they could take II by surprise. Tie
ransom for the spanish hacienazdos
alone would amount to thousands Of
collars. and the r.fneowneTs could
Afford to pay anything in order to save
their works rf
A box Of dynamite under the giant
concentration and the money uosid be
produced At once. and yet the scoun-
drelx halted at one nlAr camp 20
steal single horse
flicker Of scorn passeS over Hook
er's face a. the leader came dashtnx
up. but the Texan greeted him .tth .
SLOW smile
''Buenos dLs@. general" be said.
ryou have many men"
Enough" observed the general"
furriedlY. but some In the rear are
On foot AZ suppose you are in sym
pathy with our great cause, I viii ask
you for that horse. OF course. i will
give you receipt"
He fetched out a blank-book as he
spoke and motioned to q ragged beg
gar at his heels. Bud checked the
mans rush with a look.
One moment" he said, and AZ the
soldier turned back his general glanced
Up sharply.
Only this Senior General" an
s.ered Bud. You are ~eIcoms 70
anything I hAve-food. blankets, mon
ey-but cannot give you that horse"
But, senori" protested the general.
regarding him xith arrogant pig eyes
that siinted xickedly, this poor SOL
diers feet are sore. Surely you would
not make him ~alk. Only name your
price and ] Will give you a receipt for
him but my man must have the
horse."
There was pause and men began
10 disnouut and move In closer. Al
word tom their commander any
one OF them would draw and kill him,
rs Hooker very well knew. but his
lave for Copper Bottom made him OBJ
durate.
u the man Is lame" he said, Il
VIII giVo Elm another horse-but be
cannot have this sorrcl."
He stepped quickly over To the cor
raj and turned vith his back to In.
gate. while the commander spat out
orders in Spanish and armed men
came running.
senior. ne saie, advancing brusQue-
~ upon the dsaan, Hooker. Il must
trouble you ssr that pistol
No. senor!" answered the cowboy.
keeping his hand upon his gun, mot
70 you nor no man-and I'll never give
II up 10 Mexican!"
"Csrai!" exclaimed the officer impa-
nently, you are an Americano-no7-
Not only that" rumb mbled Bud. dra w.
ing himself up II his pride. Il am
Tejano also. and II any man touches
that horse III kill him!"
His voice tremblcd with anger. but
his hand was steady and the Mexieans
lid mot deceive themselves.
"Ha. mn Tejano!" nufmured the
men who stood about. and one or two
sho had started to eliab the fence
AAsasht better Of IL and Aoppsd hack
= tn gYounl