The Ordway new era., 1915-01-01
tc.,r..A. INA. !, ,n.a a n....,,

Seventeen thousand rounds of the
precious thirty-thirties had been de.
livered to the excited miners and now.
except for what few the Americans had
saved. there was not cartridge in
camp. Very soberly the superintendent
assured the leaders that he had no
more: they pointed At the full belts of
the American guard and demanded
them ~ their, right; and when the
Americans refused to yield they new
into a rage and threatened.
All in all, It was . pitiful exhibition
OF hot-headedness and imbecility. and
only the frmness Of the superintend-
ent prevented real spilling OF blood.
The Mexicans retired in . hun and
broke into the cantina, and as the
night camo on the valley re-echoed to
their drunken shoutings.
Such was war as the sonorans con-
ceived It. When Hooker. standing his
guard In the corredor, encountered
Gracia Aragon on her evening walk.
he could scarcely conceal . grin.
what are you laughing at. Senior
Hooker" she d1manded with asperity.
'Is 1t so pleasant. with . houseful Of
frightened women and screaming chill
dren. that you should make fun Of our
plighti"
mo. indeed" apologized Bud: moth
ing like that. Sure must be bad In
there-I stay outside myself. But I
reckon it'll soon be over with. The
Mexicans here in town have shot OF
all their ammunition and reckon the
rebels have done the same. Like as
not they'll all be gone tomorrow. and
then you can 20 back home"
"Oh. thank you for thinking about
mel" she returned with scornful curl
Of the lip. But II all men were As
open as you. Mr.. Hooker. we women
would never need to ask a question.
This morning you told me did not
know what was talking about-now !
presume you are thinking what cow
ards the Mexicans arei
"Oh. know! You need not deny It!
You are nothing but great big-Te-
jano! Yes, was going to say brute
but you are friend Of dear Phil's. and
10 will hold my tongue. II It wasn't
for that, I'd" She paused, leaving
him to guess.
soh, i do wish he wsrs. here" she
breathed. leaning wesrily against the
white pillar Of an arch and gazing
down through the long arcade.
.'It was DO close in there" she CON
tinued. -I could not stand 1t minute
longer. These Indian women, you
know--they weep and moan all the
time. And the children-I am so sorry
for them. ! cannot 20 now. because
they need me; but tomorrow-if Phil
were here-I would leave and ride for
the line. fs.t
Have you seen Del Rey today! No?
Then all the better-he must be polio
ing the town. It IL only Of him am
afraid. These rebels are nothing-I
agree with you'll No! 1 am not angry
with you ct ali now! But tomorrow.
Just at dusk. when all 10 still a. 1t 10
at this time. then, II Phil were here
I would mount my brave horse and
ride out by the western pass"
She ended rather inconclusively, let
ting her voice trail on wistfuliy a. she
waited for him to speak. but something
within moved Hooker to hold his
peace, and he looked out over the town
without commenting on her plans. It
was evident to him that she was deter
mined to enlist hls sympathy and In
volvs him In her wild plot. and each
time the conversation veered In that
direction he took refuge in Q stubborn
silence.
what are you thinking of, MI.
Hookerr she asked at last. a. he
saxsd into the dusk. Sometimes I
ecold you and sometimes l try to
please you. but never know what you
think! did not mean that when I
said could read your thoughts-you
are 10 different from poor. dear Phili"
"M-m-m," mumbled Bud. shifting his
feet, and his face turned little grim.
"Aha!" she cried with illconcealed
satisfaction. you do not like me to
call him like that, do youf Poor. dear
Phil,-like that! But do you know
why do itf 1t 10 to punish you for
never coming near me-when signed
to you-when I waited for you-lons
asoi All, you were SO cruel! l want
cd to know you-you were . cowboy.
and thought you were brave enough
to defend me-but you always rode
right BY. Yes, that was it-but Phil
was di6ersnt! He came when l sent
for him; he sang songs to me At night;
he took my part against Manuel del
Rsy: and now"
"Yss!" commented Bud bruskly,
with his mind on dear Phil's" finish,
and she turned to peer into his face.
so that u III" she said. You DO
not trust me. You think that am not
your friend-that will serve you ~
he was served. II that what you are
thinking?" -v a
Something like that" admitted
Hooker. leaning Lastly against the
mud wall. "Only reckon / don't think
just the way you do"
!. Why? How do think?" she de-
manded eagerly. p
'sWell Won think aWful fast" an.