Part 49 (1/2)

I ain't takin' it for myself--it's for the cause--the cause o' poor, bleedin' Mexico,” and Billy grinned a large grin

”You took it for Pesita?” asked Bridge

”Of course,” replied Billy ”I won't get a jitney of it I wouldn't take none of it, Bridge, honest I'm on the square now”

”I know you are, Billy,” replied the other; ”but if you're caught you ht find it difficult to convince the authorities of your highmindedness and your disinterestedness”

”Authorities!” scoffed Billy ”There ain't no authorities in Mexico One bandit is just as good as another, and from Pesita to Carranza they're all bandits at heart They ain't a one of 'eives thoops in hell for poor, bleedin' Mexico--unless they can do the bleedin'

theht me they'd shoot me whether I'd robbed their bank or not What's that?” Billy was suddenly alert, straining his eyes back in the direction of Cuivaca

”They're coet out of here in a hurry The whole post is searching for you I thought that they went toward the south, though Some of them must have circled”

”What'll you do if I take your horse?” asked Billy

”I can walk back,” said Bridge, ”it isn't far to town I'll tell them that I had come only a short distance when my horse threw me and ran away They'll believe it for they think I'm a rotten horseman--the two vaqueros who escorted me to town I e,” he said

”You ether it'll et it, for I'll stick with you, Billy, and we can't fight off a whole troop of cavalry out here in the open If you take et out of it, and later I'll see you in Rio Good-bye, Billy, I' the road on foot

Billy watched hie's statement of fact was so apparent that Billy was forced to accept the plan A e's pony, swung into the saddle, and took a last backward look at the di in the direction of Cuivaca

”Say,” he ht one, bo,” and wheeling to the north he clapped his spurs to his new ht

CHAPTER XI BARBARA RELEASES A CONSPIRATOR

IT was a week later, yet Grayson still was growling about the loss of ”that there Brazos pony” Grayson, the boss, and the boss's daughter were sitting upon the veranda of the ranchhouse when the foreman reverted to the subject

”I knew I didn't have no business hirin' a man thet can't ride,” he said ”Why thet there Brazos pony never did stumble, an' if he'd of stuin I jest cain't figger it out no ways how thet there tenderfoot bookkeeper lost him He must a-shooed hione too Doggone it!”

”I'irl with a wry smile

”Brazos was my pony He's the one you picked out for e feels as badly about it as anyone, and I know that he couldn't help it We shouldn't be too hard on hiht just as well atte of the bank and the loss of the pay-roll ive him thet horse 'cause I knew he couldn't ride, an' thet was the safest horse in the cavvy I wisht I'd given him Santa Anna instid--I wouldn't a-minded losin' him There won't no one ride hi that surprises me most,” remarked the boss, ”is that Brazos doesn't coe, and he's never been ridden anywhere else, has he?”

”He was foaled right here on this ranch,” Grayson corrected him, ”and he ain't never been more'n a hundred mile from it If he ain't dead or stolen he'd a-ben back afore the bookkeeper was It's ale?” asked the girl