The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-06-12

out tuc I'll PiotcS lOE luGlu. ZONE 6IC
eat!"
The three low-brows glared at their
leader who had done what little talk
ing there was SO far, and, seized with
a sudden animation. he Immediately
rose to his feet.
Many thanks, senor." he said with
a erin ling and specious politeness
I'VE have come far and the trail is
long, so we will eat. The times are
hard for poor men nOw-this traitor
Madero, has made us all hungry. 1t is
by him that we poor working men are
driven to insurrection-but we know
that the Americans are our friends
Yes, senior. l will take some OF your
beans, and thank you"
He filled a plate as he spoke and
lifted a biscuit from the oven, con-
tinuing with his false patter while the
others fell to in silence.
Perhaps you have heard, senor." he
went on, the saying which is in the
land: Mucho trabajo, pace dinero:
no hay frijoles, viva Madero! Much
work, little money; no beans. long
live Madero!l
That, in truth, is no Jest to the
Mexican people. This man has be-
trayed us all; he has ruined the coun-
try and set brother against brother.
And now, while we starve because the
mines are shut down, he gathers his
family about him in the city and lives
fat on the money he has stolen"
He ran on in this style, after the
fashion of the revoltosos, and by the
very commonplace of his Nominations
Bud was thrown completely off his
guard. That was the way they all
talked, these worthless bandit-beggars
that and telling how they loved the
Americanos-and then, II they got a
chance, they would stick a knife In
your back.
He listened to the big man with a
polite federation, being careful not to
turn his back, and ate a few bites as
he waited, but though 1t was coming
dusk the Mexicans were in no hurry
to depart. Perhaps they hoped to stop
for the night and get him in his sleep
Still they fingered on, the leader sit
ting on a log and continuing his
harangue.
Then. in the middle of a sentence,
and while Bud was bending over the
fire, the Mexican stopped short and
leaned to ONE side. A tense silence
fell. and Hooker was walked from his
trance by the warning click Of q gun
lock. Suddenly his mind came back
to his guests, and he ducked like a
flash. but even as he went down he
heard the hammer clack!
The gun had snapped!
Instantly Hooker's hand leaped to
his pistol and he fred from the hip
pointblank at the would-be murderer.
With yell to the others, one CT the
Mexicans sprang on him from behind
and tried to bear him down. They
struggled for q moment while Bud
shot blindly with his pistol and went
down fighting.
Bud was q giant compared to the
about like dogs that hang on to a bear.
With a man in each hand he rose to
his feet, crushing them down beneath
him; then. in despair Of shaking of
his rider. he staggered q few steps
and hurled himself over backward into
the fire.
A yell Of agony followed their fall
and, as the live Goals bit through the
Mexican's thin shirt, he fought like q
cat to get free. Rocks, pots and ket-
ties were kicked In every direction.
and when Hooker leaped to his feet
the Mexican scrambled up and rushed
madly for the creek.
But, though Bud was free, the bat
tie had turned against him. for in the
brief interval Of his fight the other
two Mexicans had run for their guns.
The instant he rose they covered him.
Their chief, who by some miracle had
escaped Buds shot, gave a shout for
them to halt Cheated Of his victim at
the first he was claiming the right to
kill.
As Hooker stood blinded by the
smoke and ashes the fellow took de-
liberate aim and once more his rife
snapped. Then, as the other Mexi-
cans stood agape, surprised at the
failure of the shot, the cannonlike
whang of Mauser rent the air and
the leader crumpled down In a heap.
An instant later q shrill yell rose
from up the canyon and, as the two
Mexicans started and stared, Amigo
came dashing in upon them, splitting
pistol in one hand and his terrible
housekeeping" knife brandished
high in the other.
In the dusk his eyes and teeth
cleaned white, his black hair seemed