Williams news., 1915-01-07


 shade of the mesquit, just as he had sack of food she did not raise her head.
 Better eat something" he sug- gested. spreading out some bread and dried beef. Here's some oranges got from Don Juan-IM just put them over here for you"
 Gracia shuddered. signing wearily. Then. as if his words had hurt her. she covered her face and wept-
 What did you tell that man !" she asked at last.
 "W'y-what mani" inquired Hook CT, astonished. "Ain't you going to eat?"
 'No!" she cried, gazing out at him through her tears. mot until know what you said. Did you tell that In- dian toto kill him?"
 She broke down suddenly in a fit of sobbing, and Hooker wiped his brow.
 Wy, mol" he protested. Sure noti What made you think that?'
 'Why-you rode over and spoke to him-and he looked at me-and then hs-killed him!"
 She gave way to a 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?
 'I reckon don't understand what you're driving at" he said at last Wish you'd eat something-youn feel better"
 NO. won't eat!" she declared. sit ting up and frowning. "Mr. Hooker" she went on very miserably, what did you mean this morning when you laughed! I said hated poor Manuel and you said-well, what you did and you laughed! Did you think-oh. you couldn't have-that really want ed him killed?"
 "W'y, sure not!" cried Hooker heartily. "I knowed you was fooling! Didn't laugh at you? Say, what kind of feller do you think am. anyway? Dye think I'd get an Indian to do my killing?"
 "Oh, then didn't you?" she cried. suddenly brightening up. You know, you talk SO rough sometimes-and never do know what you mean! You said you guessed you'd have to kill him for me, you know, and-oh. it was too awful! must be getting foolish. Pm 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 us," he
 "Yes, and what did he say then?"
 "He didn't say nothing-jest lined out for the pass"
 And didn't you say you wanted.v -killed?"
 ''No!" burst out Bud, half angrily Haven't told you once? I did not! That Indian had reasons of his own. believe me-he's got scar along hia \ ribs where Del Key shot him with a, added, as her face cleared at this ex- planation 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.
 "I 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 hinted that I wasn't brave because wouldn't fight.
 "Td 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. I was brought up by him to be peaceable and quiet, but don't you never think. because run away from Manuel del Key, that I 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, 'T did not-T did not understand. And SO the poor Yaqui was only averaging an injury?'' she went on, reaching out one slender hand toward the food. "Ah, I can un- derstand it now-he looked so savage and fierce. But''-she paused again, set back by a sudden thought-"didn't you know he would kill him?"
 Yes, ma'am," answered Hooker quietly, T did"
 "Then-then why didn't you"
 "That was between them two," he replied doggedly. Del Key shot him once when ho was wounded and left him for dead. He must have killed some of his people. too; his wife meb- be, for all I know He never would talk about 1t, but he come back to get his revenge. I don't shoot no man