Williams news., 1914-10-29

l knew how loyal I've been to you-f you knew what offers I've resisted the mine stands in my name, you know"
 "Wen?" Well, AraCon came around to me last week and said if I'd give him a half interest in it he'd-well, never mind-it was great temptation. But did I fall for it? Not on your life! know you, Bud, and know you're hon. est-youd stay by me to the last ditch, and I'll do the same by you. But I'm in love, Bud, and that would make a man forget his promise if he wasn't true as steel
 "Yes," commentad Hooker dryly. 'I don't reckon 1 can count on you much from now on. Here, take look at this and see what you make of it." He drew the piece of ore that he had taken from Aragon from his pocket and held it up in the moonlight. Well, feel of it, then,' he said. "Shucks, you ought to know that piece of rock, Phil its the first one we found in our mine!"
 "No!" exclaimed De Lancey, start ing back; "why-where'd you get it?"
 Never mind where 1 got it!" an- ! swered Hooker. The question is: ! What did you do with it?" i Well, I might as we'll come through l with it." confessed Phil, the last of his | assurance gone. ''I gave it to Gracia!" 1 And I took it away from Aragon," ! continued Bud, while he was digging some more chunks out of our mine. So ! that is your idea of being true as steel. 1 Is it? You've done noble by me and | Kruger, haven't you? Yes, you've been a good pardner 1 don't think" Well, don't throw me down, Bud!" pleaded Phil There's some mistake somewhere. Her father must have found it and taken it away! I'd stake my life on it that Gracia would never betray mel"
 Well, think it over for a while" suggested Bud, edging his words with sarcasm. "I'm going up to the hotel!"
 NO; come back!'' cried De Lancey, clamoring at the bars. Come on back, Bud! Here!" he said, thrust ing his h.nd out through the heavy irons. I'll give you my word for it T won't see her again until we get our title! Will that satisfy you? Then give me your hand, pardner-Im sorry l did you wrong!"
 , Tt ain't me-" replied Hooker sober ly, as he took the trembling hand; its Kruger Bluff you'll keep your word Phil, maybe we can win out yet. Pm going up to find the comisaro."
 A brief interview with that smiling Dl.s1 Lancey was laid bare He had been , engaged in a desperate rivalry with I Manuel del Key for the hand of Ora cia Aragon, and his present incarcera- tion was not only for singing rag-time ' beneath the Aragon windows, but for trying to whip the captain of the ru- rales when the latter tried to place ! him under arrest.
 And De Lancey was the prisoner not of the comisario, but of the captain of the rurales. Sore at heart Bud rode ! up through the Mexican quarters to the cuartel of the rurales, but the cap tain was memorable.
 No, .senor," he said waving an elo- Quent finger before his nose, "I cannot release your friend. No, senor!"
 
 sisted Bud, "and when is his trial? You can't keep him shut up without a trial"
 At this the captain of the rurales
 lifted his eyebrows and one closely waXed mustachio and smiled mysteri. ously.
 "Y como no?" he inquired. "And ] why not? Is he no. a Mexican citi
 zen?"
 Well, perhaps he isl" thundered
 Bud, suddenly rising to his full height
 but I am not! I am an American senor capitan, and there are other
 Americans! If you hold my friend
 without trial I will come and teaI
 your jail down-and the comisario will
 not stop me, either!"
 "Ah!" observed the dandy little cap
 tain, shrugging his mustachio once
 more and blinking, and while Hooker ragged back and forth he looked him re over appraisingly.
 - One moment." he said at last, rais h. ing a quieting hand. These are peril
 GUS times, senor, in which all the de , lenders of Fortuna should stand to to gether. 1 do not wish to have a diff 'd ference with the Americans when Der
 nardo Bravo and his men are march IS ing to take our town. No, value tht as friendship of the valiant American: e. very highly-so I will let your frient a. go. But first he must promise me one nt thing-not to trouble the Senor Ara gon by making further love to hi: lg daughter!"
 Very well!" replied Bud. He ha' is already promised that to me; so come en on and let him out"
 Ig' ITO you?" repeated Manuel del Re! h- with a faint smile. Then, perhaps all Perhaps nothing!" broke in Hooke he ,,o,.1r "co,o on,n