Gunnison news-champion., 1920-01-02

pany store. Meet me sheldon hotel.
FL Paso. quick. More trouble brew
ing around Fl Tigre.
WILLIAM SCOTT"
-Four and half hours late the lIrl-
tied slipped into the Union station at
Fl PasD. Buck Williams had forgot
ten the wreck. JItendra, and everything
else In the chaos of new thoughts re-
sardlng the peril 10 his mIne.
He climbed Into a taIicab and was
whlrled to the hotel Scott Ieaped
across the lobby with extended hand.
Buck 80 he cried. delIghtedly.
Great guns. man. but Tru glad to see
you! The whole province 0f Slnaloa
Is shot 10 h aEaIu-uuothcr reyolu.
tlon started. Pucheco and those lazy
McIlcans have robbed you OF nearly
everythl you own on top Of the
gro I'd. From the looks OF things.
they're planning to cop the IL Tigre
Itself"
"Sof' drawled Buck. siiffening
little the l!gh, Of battle flaming In his
blue eyes. suddenly grown cold. Il
picked up a rum0r Of this at Clifton
yesterday. one Of the mine bosses
overheard some McHIcans discussing
III TIgr" He told the superintendent.
who repeated II to me. had just
time to pack my bag. and by sheer luck
caught No. o cast-bound at Lords
burg"
I'VE can't do much without an
army" gloomcd Scott. kicking In
N,vt.T g. 81.
had mighty hard two days getting
through-Came by way OF Chihuahua
after striking overland from the coast
and got the last train out. Ameri-
cans ARE thick enough along this side
OF the border: but mosquito with n
gun that would tit him couldn't pack
It across into Juarez-no. sir! The
commander at Fort Bliss says We
ought to stay at home"
He hasn't Il e-millIon-dollar mine
to lose" sententiously observed VIII
liams. turning 20 the register. He STUN
bled against u dImluutiye figure whose
head just topped the OnyI-framed desk.
"What-you heref" he cried. Il
told you that ] uidu't want you to
reclprocate my small assistance this
afternoon, Mr. JItendra."
The vanished fragments of the car
yielded eagerly to the dartins tongues
Of lame which ran along the ground
under the debris or hIssed against the
pItifully inadequate water which was
tutllely poured on the wreckage from
above, as volunteers hurried back and
forth from the engine with pals.
Hewlng desperately, Williams ut
last cleared n small opening above
which the wreckage piled Itself In
such shape as to form n triangular ORR
fee. Buck dropped to his knees and
peered beneath. The fast increasing
fire volleyed forth a great cloud Of
smoke through the new hole. which
only appeared to create n better draft
for Its more rapid progress.
The American wormed himself into
1t, twisted, and writhed forward.
Come back, Buck !" cried Martin,
grasping his leg. Hes only n guinea,
anyway-not worth the risk
But the American obstinately jerked
himself free and disappeared into the
mass OF steel and splinters. A little
way ahead, to the right of him, he
could discern a small, inert, chocolate
colored body. unconscious of the reek.
Ing smoke which already thInly en-
shrouded his calm face.
Buck grasped him.
The body yielded easily. as II des-
tiny itself had arched over II a pro-
lection. Very slowly he worked his
way back through the dense, sitting
atmosphere. A shower OF sparks
swept down his neck, burning him bit.
terly; but Buck was needless of 1t.
Obstinately propping himself now
on one hand and knees, and again
pushing himself backward as he fiat.
tened out. he never relaxed his grip
on the unconscious diminutive figure.
Eager hands dragged them both from
the opening.
AS the American emerged and the
others caught sight OF the limp body
he had rescued. the passengers broke
into ? cheer.
"Cripesi" gasped Williams, beating
at his scorched neck until the smolder-
ing around the collar Of his coat was
extinguished. Somebody get me some
vaseline or engine oil y
He laved his burns eagerly. then
knelt to examine the motionless body
he had dragged to safety.
'Give me some water, will you?"
ne commanded, reaching for his hip
pocket with the words. With his own
/ hands he washed the blood from the
little mans head and bound 1t round
with his handkerchief. after tearing II
in twain and knotting the ends to-
gether.
Only a scratch" he muttered.
He forced the neck Of his flask be-
tween the lips Of the unconscious doll
like figure. The fire was nearly out.
! and the section men from Separ were