The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-07-10
"Ah. yes" she ratified on. u know.


Spanish-I saw you shaking hands
with that Indian And What was 1t
/ YOU called him-Amgo?'
That's right" smiled Hooker; him
| and me have been friends fer months
now out at the mine. I'd do anything
Tor that Teller
oh, now you make me jealous" She
pouted If were only laqul-and
! big and black
Never mind" defended Bud. He
was a true friend, all right, and true
friends, believe me, are scarce.
| There was a shade of bitterness in
his voice that did rot escape her, and
she was careful not to allude to PINK
His name like the name Of her father,
! always drove this shy man to silence,
and she wanted to make him talk.
Then you ought to be friends with
me-" she chded, after a silence. l
have always wanted to be your friend
why will you never allow IT? NO.
| but really, Haven't | always shown
! it? remember now the first time that
| saw you'll was looking through my
hole among the passion-flowers ana
you saw me with your keen eyes. PM
| did not-but he was there, And you
just looked at me once-and looked
away. Why did you never respond
when I came there to look for you
You would Just ride by and look at
me once, and even Phil never knew.
NO" agreed Bud. smiling quietly
HE was crazy to see you, but he rode
right by. looking at the windows ana
such"
THE first time met him." unused
Gracia, Il asked about you. Did ne
ever tell you?"
Bud hung his head and grinned
sheepishly 1t was not difficult to make
out a case against him.
And SO Gracia had not wanted del
Rey killed as he thought she DID.
She was not the vicious woman ne
had thought her for time. She was
lust the gentle, noble girl he had
sworn to protect and conduct across
the border to her flance. Again came
the desire to claim her, but there was
not only Phil to be thought OF but
the fitness of himself to be the mate
of this woman.
"Is 1t something have done?' she
asked at last rs that why you never
} liked me? Now, Mr. Hooker, please
speak to me, And why do you always
sit so far away-are you afraid OF me!
But look''-she moved closer to him
here we are alone, and l am not afraid
of you!"
J "Of course not" answered Bud. look
} ing across at her boldly. why should
, you be-you amt afraid Of moth
ing!"
SIS that compliment" she demand
, ed eagerly. "Oh then I'm SO happy
} it's the first you ever paid me! But
| have | been brave" she beamed. sc
! far? Have been brave. like man?'
} Sure have!" remarked Hooker i'm
personally, but we amt there yet
: Only thing l don't like about you is
you don't eat enough. Say. don't pick
up them crumbs-let me pare off some
I more of this jerked beef for you. Can,
r nobody be brave when they're hun
y, :
r in safe"
!. "Why?" she inquired, as she accept
o ed the handful Of meat. Us is or
Pills account" she ventured, as he
= sat gazing stoically at the horses
You were such friends. weren't you?'
p she went on innocently. "Oh, that i!
why I admire the Americans so mucl
they are SO true to each other!'
a Yes" observed Hooker, rolling hi
;, eyes on her, we're fine that way!"
;, well. l mean it," she insisted, al
4 she read the irony in his glance.
!. Sure. So do T." answered Hooker
4 and Gracia continued her meal in 81
+ lence.
n My" she said at last; this meat i.
= good. Tell me, how did you happen t.
have it on your saddle? We left 81
u suddenly, you know"
She gazed up at him demurely, curl
4" GUS to see how he would evade this evi
dence that he had prepared in advance
for their ride But once more, as h.
y had always done, Hooker eluded tn
= cunningly laid snare.
Il Il was figuring on pulling out my
SELF" he replied ingenuously.
h What? And not take me?" sh
4 cried "Oh, l thought-but dear me
O what is the use?"
Ia She sighed and dropped her hea
q YEARLY.
81 am so tired" she murmured de
% spondently; shall we be going OF
soon?"
4 Not unless somebody jumps US,
returned Bud. Here, let me max
"a you a bed in the shade. There now
as he spread out the saddle blanket