Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-07-29

"Well, 'muchas gracias' is NINE" alb
served De Lancey: 1T doesn't cost
anything, and 1t buys a whole lot"
""Sure." agreed Bud "but we amt
buying nothing from him--he's the
one particular hombre we wantH5to
steer clear OF, and keep him guessing
as long as we can. That's my view
OF ii, pardner." S3s " .s
"Oh. that's all right" laughed De
Lancey, ""he won't get anything Sout
OF me-that is, nothing but q bunch
OF hot air. Say, he's a shrewd-looking
old guinea, isn't he? Did you notice
that game eye? He kept It kind OF
dropped, almost shut, until he came
to the point-and then he opened 1t
up real fierce. Reminds me OF aGbig
fighting owl waking up In the day
time. But you just watch me handle
him, and II I don't fool the old boy
at every turn It'll be because Iarun
out Of bull" 81
well, you can hand him the bull
If you want to-" grumbled Bud. but
the first time you give anything away
I'm going to pick such q row with
the old cus,s that we'll have to make a
new trail to get by. So leave I'm
alone. II you ever expect to e that
girl!""
"a close association with Phil De
Lancey had left Bud not unaware OF
his special weaknesses, and Phil was
undoubtedly romantic. Given a barred
and silent house, shut of from the
street by whitened walls and ave
randa screened with flowers, and the
guessing eyes OF Mr.. De Lancey would
turned to those barred windows ias Ger
tainly as the needle seeks the pole.
On every trip. coming and going. he
had conned the Aragon house from the
l:vine-covered corredor In front to b
walled-in summer garden behind, hop
Ing to surprise a view OF the beautiful
daughter Of the house. And unless Gru-
NOR and Don Juan we're at fault, she
was indeed worthy Of his solicitude--
a gay and sprightly creature, brown
eyed like her mother and with the
same glorious chestnut hair
Already those dark miscellaneous
eyes had been busy and, at the last
big dance at Fortuna, she had set
many heads awhirl. Twice withinstwo
years her father, in q rage. had sent
her away to 3schoolstn order to break
OF some ill-considered love affair; and
now a battle, royal was being waged
between Manuel del Rey, the dashing
captain Of the rurales stationed at
Fortuna. and Feliz Luna, son Of q rich
%haciendado down in the hot country,
for the honor OF her hand.
What more romantic, then, than that
a handsome American, stepping grace
fully into the breach, should keep the
naughty lovers from Staying each
'othesr by bearing on the prize himself?
So reasoned Philip De Lancey. mus
Ing upon the cas- with which he could
act the part; but for prudential pur-
poses he said nothing OF his Wanting
ambitions; knowing full well that they
would receive an active veto from Bud.
For. while Delaney did most of
!, the talking. and a great deal of the
thinking for the partnership, Hooker
was not lacking in positive opinions;
and upon sufficient occasion he would
express himself, though often with
more force than delicacy. Therefore.
upon this unexpected sally about the
girl, Phil changed ~the2subject abruptly
and said no more OF Aragon or the
hopes within his heart.
twas not SO easy, however, to avoid
Aragon,I for thatagentleman had appar-
emily taken the pains to inform him
self as to the place where they wer
at work, and he val waiting for them
in the morning with q frown as black.
as a thunder cloud. fa4ff
He's ont" muttered Phil. as they
drew near enough to see his face
""What shall we dor
."Do nothing" growled Bud through
his teeth; you Jest let me do>the talk
3ing!"
He unanswered his horse adroitlyi
and, With a skilful turn, cut In be-
tween his 8pardner and sAragon.
" IS $sdias," he greeted. gazing down
In burly defiance At the militant Ara
gon; and at the same moment he gave
De Lanceyt horse q furtiye touch with.
his spur. M SsG7% %s s#5
..Buienos dias. senores!"' returned
Aragon,ss striding forward to intercept
them; but 40 neither Of the Americans
looked back, he was left standing IN!
the middle ofSSthe street.
That's the way to handle ,im."". OBJ
served Hooker. 40 they trotted briskly5
down the lane. Leave I'm to met