| Show q y rr r.r. Z 1 XZ x f. f o 1 ii i iThe Tim The Land Landof of n I 1 Dy DANE j I A Stirring Story A 1 I I FIa Fool V I oF the Mexican Wain X 3 I f- f uTIa TA Etc e. e R evo Ii u ution llon f by Don t l' l J ii w 1 v. v v W K m-m m mm t t Ct 1914 4 b br by A. A q f.-q V P I SY SYNOPSIS 1 V I 1 Bud Hooker lo and and Ph l Do De Lancey arc oro forced owing 0 t 16 tO a revolution re In n Mexico to give up their mining claim and return V to the United Slates In tn the tho border town of or GAdsden Dad Bud meets meeta Henry Hemry Kruger a wealthy r minor who makes makeM him I a proportion ruCiA M to to Mexico to acquire q l title to a very Kruger had hod blown up wh whim lie lio found he had been cheated heated out 0 ot the title by one ono Aragon The Tha Mexican subsequently spent a 1 largo larco um sum In an unsuccessful attempt to relocate relo- relo CAto cate the vein eln and aid then them allowed the land to r revert for tor tax Hooker and De Do Lancey Lan- Lan cey cy ar arrive at t I n near where t the n mine known as the Eagle a T Tall Is 13 lo to- to cC t d. d They engage the services of or Cruz Crux who hs has been friendly to Kruger to the title for tor them and get get get-a a permIt penult to do preliminary work Aragon pro prote tests and u accuses them of ot jumping his hk claim alaIn Dud Dud discovers that matrimonial entanglements prevent Mendez per from I a valid title Phil who ha been has been paying attention to to- Aragons rons daughter dl Gracia decides to turn Mexican and get tet the title In tn hi his own name namo Bud Dud objects to Phil's Phils attentions to Gracia Aragon falls In his attempt to drive them oft off the claim are re reported In th the lie vicinity vicinity vicin vicin- ity Stories s of and andl bloodshed are arc brought m. m Bud and anti Phil begin work In earnest on their claim They make a 11 arich arich rich strike of or gold and stop atop work on the Che claim until tho can be perfected V M. M r V- V r f CHARTER CI T R XIV XIV Continued d. d I It It was through som Borne chicanery hl ane Y h he bc i sonio i s me low down t trl trick k on on the part of or Aragon that Aragon that his pardner had I been Imprisoned and he swore to have ht him out ut or know the reason why EIther Either Ei El ther titer that or or h he would g go after arter Aragona Aragon a ke hide It was outside Buds Bud's simple code even to QU question Uon his pardner's Innocence Inno mao cence but guilty he would have him out If tr he had bad to tear down the Jail V So he ho slapped his saddle gun gun Into the sling sUng reached for his quirt and went dashing down the canyon At Ata a turn In the road he came suddenly upon Aragon and the tho rural split a away aWay away way between them them- and leaned forward forward for for- ward as Copper Bottom burned up the trail i. i C V V V VIt V I V It was long since the shiny sorrel bad been given his head and ho he needed needed need need- V ed neither whip nor spurs spurs but but a mile or two down the arroyo Bud suddenly reined him In and looked behind Then he be turned abruptly up the hillside and Jumped him out on a point looked again and rode slowly ly back up the trail V Aap and the th rural were not In Insight sight the sight the question was were they fol following wini For a a short distance he herode rode ode warily not not to be surprised d In InV in V tile bis suspicion on then as he found tracks turning V back back he gave head to his bis bo horsa s and galloped swiftly to camp The Tho horses of at tho men men he sought Stood at the edge of or the thOV mine dump and ind throwing his rein bridle down beside be- be side aide tb them m Bud off and ran up the cut cut Then he stopped short and for his hs s six The Tho two men were up J at at the end down on their knees ees and digging like dogs after atter a rabbit r V So eager ager w were re they In fn n their search BO 90 confident in their fancied security that they never looked up from their work and the tramp of or Hookers Hooker's boots was drowned by hy their grubbing until he keB e above b ve them There he hea a e hl pistol 1 in hand and waited grimly ly for tor developments V Hai lIat cried Aragon grabbing at a pk e e. e quartz that came up lo 10 V He drew a second piece from his pocket picket and placed them then together It Is is the same he said sald SUll half burled In the excavation he tie turned suddenly V as a shadow crossed crossed him to get the light and his Jaw dropped at tho the sight of or Bud BudS I li trouble you ou for that rock observed observed ob ob- ob- ob served Bud Dud holding out his hand band and andas andas as ns the rural Jumped Aragon handed O er over J the e p V There was vas a moments moment's silence as Bud stood over them then them then h he stepped back and m motioned ed them themo them o out t with his gun Down the Jagg Jagged d cut they hurried awed into Inton a guilty silence b by his anger anger an an- ant ger gerand and Sand when he let them mount mount without a word the rural looked back surprised Eyen then Bud said nothing nothing noth noth- ing but but the swing of orthe the Texans Texan's gun spoke for r him and they rode ode quickly t. sight You Y au dad burned dad ad greasers t growled Bud Dud returning his ILlS pistol with a Jab to its Ita holster Then he looked at the ore There were two pieces one fresh fresh- dug dugand and the other ther worn and as he be gazed at them t th worn W rn piece seem seemed d strangely str familiar Aragon had bad been comparing them them but but where had he got the worn piece Once more Bud looked It over and then tI ther eIro rock fell lt ell his hand band V It was was' the farst piece tf they b d lh the Apiece H d toP I V CHAPTER XV j k I 1 Wb When n the solid earth quake though It move but bit a thousandth of or an inch ch beneath our feet the tho human brain reels and we become dizzy sick and afraid S So too at the tho thought that some trusted friend has played us false the mind turns back upon Itself and we doubt the tho stability of every thing for thing for a moment Then as we find all the trees straight up up the world Intact and the hills In their proper places we cast the treacherous doubts and and listen to the voice of reason For one ono awful moment Hooker saw betrayed by his friend either through h w weakness akness kness or through guile and then his mind straightened itself liseu and ind Ue he remembered that thU Phil was In V Jail V Wh- Wh What t moro mor natural then th-ci than that tho the should ee his itis ls pockets and give 3 the ie ore are to A t lIe Ho stooped and picked up uJ chunk of or orrock rock that rock th that t pr precious fous I worn pocket spec 1 Imen that tha had brought brough them thep the first promise of or success Success and and wiped It Il on his bis sleeve alcove V V V Mechanically he ho placed I it It beside the othen pike l which A MIg Aragon r rj hd had gouged I Iho edge dg and while be bo gazed at them h he wondered wh whit what t to do tc do-tc doto to leave teave their th mine and nd go to to V hi hU bib friend I V U r to let hla hIs friend watt walt and stanc It guard by their treasure treasure and and his heart heartt heart bear t told ld him to go to his friend So he ho swung up on his horse hora am and followed allowed slowly and as ns soon as it was wa dark he rode secretly through Old Fortuna and on till he ho came to tho the jail It was a square stone stono structure built across the street from the cantina cantina can can- tina In order to be bo convenient fo for forthe tho the drunks and as Bud Dud rode up close and stared at it It some one hailed balled him through the bars Hello there pardner called Hooker Hook Hook- er swinging down and striding over overto overto overto to the black window how long have they had you In here hereY Two days answered Phil from Crom the Inner darkness but it seems like a ato lifetime to me Say Bud ther theres there's s 's a 1 Mexican in here that's got the JImJams JIm Jams jams regular regular tequila Jag jag cant cant can't V you get me out Y V Well Veil I 1 sure sure eure will answered Bud Dud I what have they hey got you In fn for forY Wheres Where's our friend Don Juan Wh Why didn't he let me know You can search me railed Do De Lancey Lancy Seems like Ilie everybody e bOdY quits i I you fawn aown nere me tue minute you jou get Into trouble I 1 got arrested night before before before be be- fore last by those d d-d d d Manuel Del pel Key Hey was behind it it you lOU can cnn bet b your r life liCe on that and that and Ive I've been here her ever since Well Well what are you ou pinched for Who do I 1 go and see Y Pinched for tor nothing cried I DeLancey Do De Lancey bitterly Pinched because Im I'm a Mexican citizen and cant can't protect protect pro pro- myself Im I'm for three days Well Veli Ill I'll get you out all right said Hooker leaning closer against the tho bars i Here have a smoke smoke did did the they frisk you of or your makings y yNo No snapped De Do Lancey crossly but bu t Im I'm au out t of everything by by this time Bud I tell you Ive I've bad had a 1 time of or It They threw me in here with this crazy murdering Mexican and andI I haven't had a wink of or sleep for tor two days Hes He's quiet now but I 1 dont don't want any more Well Veil say eay began Bud again what are are you charged with Y Maybe I 1 can grease somebody's paw and get you out tonight There was an awkward pause at this and finally De Lancey V dropped his bis white face against the bars and his voice became low and beseeching Ill tell you Bud Dud he ho said I haven't been quite on the square with you you you-I've Ive I've been holding out a little But you Ou know how It Is when Is-when when a fellows fellow's fellows fellow's fel fel- fel- fel lows low's In love Ive I've been going to see Gracia V Oh commented Hooker and stood very quiet while he ho waited Yes Ive I've been going to see her hurried on Phil I know knowl I 1 promised but honest Bud I 1 cou couldn't help It I It t just seemed as if Ir my whole being was wrapped up In her and I 1 had to todo todo todo do It Shed She'd be looking for me when I came and went went and and then I fixed It with her maid to take her a letter And then I met her secretly back backby backby backby by the garden gate You know they've got ot some holes punched In the wall wall wall- l during the fight last summer sum sum- wed we'd wed we'd- mer and mer-and and Sure Ill I'll take your word for that broke In Hooker harshly But get to the point What are you pinched f for torY or Well went on De Do Lancey his voice quavering at the reproof I was going to tell you OU If Ir you'll listen to me Somebody saw us there and told Araon Ara- Ara he gon-he on he shut her ber up for a 3 punishment and she slipped me mo out a note note we well I 1 couldn't stand It it-I it I hired the string band land and we went down there in a hack to give her a 3 serenade But this cad Manuel del Re Hey Rey who hae has been acting like liko a jealous ass all aU along swooped down on us with a detachment detach ment of or his and took us all nil allo t to o jail He let the musicians out the next morning but hut Ive I've been here ever since Yes and what are you charged with demanded Bud Dud brusQ brusquely ely Drunk confessed Phil and Dud Bud grunted Huh he said and me out watchIng watch- watch Ing I ng tl that at mine night and day dayt Oh Ob I 1 know Ive I've done you dirt Bud Dud walled wailed De Lancey but I didn't mean to and Ill I'll never do It again Never do what Inquired Bud roughly I wont won't touch another drop of or booze as long as Im I'm In Mexico cried Phil Not a drop I And how about tho the girl continued ed Bud Inexorably Her old man was out and tried to jump our mine today today- how bow low about her Well faltered De Do Lancey Ill Ill IU she she she- You know your our pr promise reminded Bud Yes I know But But oh oh Bud Dud If U you knew how loyal loal Ive I've been to you you you-U If you knew what offers Ive I've resisted resisted- the mine stands in my name you know Well V Well Aragon came camo around V to me nie I last week and and said If U Id I'd give him a half Interest In It hed he'd well hed well never nevor mind mind mind-It It was a great temptation But did I fall for It 11 Not on your life I 1 know you ou Bud Dud and I know youre you're honest hon est YOU'd est you'd stay by me Inc to the last ditch cud and Ill I'll Jl do the tho same by you But nut Im I'm In love iove Bud and that would make a man forget forges his promise If he wasn't true as steel Yet Yes commented Hooner Hooger dryly I dont don't reckon I can count on you much from now on Here take tiko a look at this and see what you make of It He dr drew V tho piece of or ore are that he lie had taken from Aragon from his pocket and held It up in the moonlight Well feel opt then be he said sald Shucks you to know that thal piece of rock Phil Its It's Its It's the first ono one we wo found round In our or mine minel V 1 Not e J De Do Lancey LanceT startIng start start- log lag back why why whored where'd you get gel It Never mind where I 1 got cot itt Ill an an- hooker Tho question IB is What did you do with It IU Well I might as well come through with It It confessed Phil the last of his bis assurance gone I 1 gave It to And I took It away from tram Aragon continued Bud Dud while he be was digging some more chunks out of or our mine nine So that Is your our idea of or being true as steel is It Youve You've dono done noble by me mo and Kruger haven't you Yes youve you've been beena a good pardner I dont don't think Well ell dont don't throw me zoo down Bud BudI Dudl pleaded Phil Theres some mistake somewhere Her Ifer father must have havo found It and taken It away Id I'd stake my life on It that Gracia would never betray me ma Well think It over for a while suggested Bud Dud edging his words with sarcasm Im going up to the hotel botch hotell I INo No come como back cried De Lancey clamoring at the tho bars Como Come on back Bud Here he said thrusting thrusting thrust thrust- ing his hand out through the heavy irons Ill IU give you my word for III It II ItI itI I I wont won't see her again until we get our title Will that satisfy you Then give me your hand pardner Im I'm Im I'm sorry I did you wrong It aint me replied Hooker soberly sober sober- ly Iy as he took the trembling hand its I Kruger But Dut If U you'll keep your word 1 Phil Phil maybe maybo we can win out yet Im I'm going up to find the comisario A brief brIer interview with that smiling individual and the case caso of Phil DeLance Do De Lance Lancey was laid bare He had bad been engaged In a desperate rivalry with Manuel del Hey Rey for tho the hand of or Gra Cm- cia cla Aragon and his pr present sent incarceration tion was not only for singing time rag beneath the Aragon windows but for tor trying to whip the captain of or the ru ru- ru- ru rales when the tho latter tried to place him under arrest And De Do Lancey was the prisoner not notor of or the tho comisario but of the captain orthe of or the tho Sore at heart Bud rode up through the tho Mexican quarters to the cuartel of or the but the captain captain cap cap- tam tain was Inexorable No senor he said waving an eloquent eloquent eloQuent elo elo- quent finger before his nose I cannot release your friend No senor But Dut what Is he charged with persisted persisted persisted per per- Bud Dud and when is his trial You cant can't keep him shut up without a trial At this the captain of or the lifted his eyebrows and one closely V V L What Are You Pinched For waxed waed mustachio and smiled mysteriously Y como no he inquired And why not Is he ho not a Mexican citizen citi- citi zen en Well perhaps he Is 1st thundered Bud Dud suddenly rising to his full fuU height but I am not I am an American senor enor capitan and there are other Americans If U you OU hold my friend without a trial I will c come me and tear your our jail |
