The Ordway new era., 1915-01-08

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a belt Of gold around his waist there
was nothing left in Mexico for him
Once on his horse and headed for the
line and he could laugh at them all.
In Gadsden he could show title to
Kruger, he could give answer for his
trust and look the world in the eye.
It had been . long and strenuous
hight: a fght made against seemingly
insurmountable odds; fight that had
cost him much. but he had won. He
had proved the trust Kruger had
placed in him. and it had been eight
worth winning.
Yes, he was man now-but his
work was not quite done. Up at the
big house, with the screeching women
around her. was Gracia Aragon, and
he owed her something for his rough
words. To pay her for that he would
stay. Whatever she asked now he
would grant It; and II worst came to
worst he would take her with him and
make good his promise to Phil. He
had given his word and that was
enough. Now he had only to walt.
1t would not be long. for the parley
would soon be over. and II the coward
ly rurales surrendered the town to
the bandits he would make break for
the line and civilization with the girl.
1t would be hard ride. and alone he
would have DO fear of the results. but
he would chance It even with the girl
rather than leave her.
The boy lieutenant. the brothers
Mendoza, the superintendent. and Man
uel del Rey, all were out on the hill
side talking terms with Bernardo
Bravo and his chiefs. With the rebels
It was largely bluff, since field.
glasses had shown them to be short Of
cartridges; but they had over q thou.
sand men massed along the ridges
and. with courage. could easily take
the town. s
Bud knew that courage was the one
thing lacking. It was the one thing
that was always lacking In these Mex.
lean fights. The Mexican bandit takes
but little chance when he goes to war
As for the Mendozas and their So.
moran miners. they were properly
chagrined at their waste of ammuni.
tion and swore by Santa Guadalupe to
fight 1t out with hand grenades. Even
as their leaders wrangled the Mexican
powder men were busily manufactur
ing bombs, and all the while the su
perintendent was glancing to the
south. for swift couriers had been sent
to Alvarez. the doughty Spanish ha
ciendado Of the hot country. to beg
him to come to their relief.
Twice before Alvarez had met the
rebels. The first time he spoke them
we'll and they, ran of all his horses
The second time he armed his YaQuia
and YaQui Mayo rancheros against
them and drove them from his domain
iniicting a sanguinary punishment
Since then he had been itching to
engage them in q pitched battle, and
when the word reached him he would
come. Two hundred, and forty Yaquis
all armed with repeating rifles. would
follow at his back, and even with his
boasted thousands Bernardo Brave
could hardly Withstand their valor. So
while the rebels parleyed, demanding
a ransom Of millions and threatening
to destroy the town, the defenders
argued and reasoned with them
hoping to kill the time until Alvarez
should arrive. f
In the open space in front OF the
house the refugees gathered in an anx
ious group. waiting for messengers
from the front. and ~ Hooker walked
amon9 them he was aware Of the ma
lignant glances of Aragon. There were
other glances as wella for he had wor
great favor with the ladies by ditchine
the powder train. but none from Ora
cia or her mother. ..
Bud would not have admitted thai
he resented this lack Of appreciation
on the part of Gracia- In fact he hard
ly knew that he did resent 1t, but he
watched anxiously for any sign of ap
proval from this girl who was to bt
his 'pardner's bride should he conduct
her safely to the border.
From the beginning the Sonora Ara
gon had treated him - Q stranger. &C
cording to the code of her class. and
Hooker had never attempted to In