BORDER SEARCH 19

when the mayordomo and his men reached the rancho they went to thier adobe cabins and got thier familys together. they were leaving the youngest vaquero stayed aside. he wasnt going he wanted the mayordomos position. but the rest loaded everything they had in two wheel carts and set off to the east. sasabe was that way. when elieasreturned and found everyone gone but eppifornio he didnt even bat a eye. he told eppi to go to the line camps on the ranch and return with all the vaqueros. one gringo wasnt going to put him on notice! some one was tugging on dels foot. he moved the foot but the tug continued. it was dark as the inside of a boot. he sat up and stared into harrys worried face, " maxine is gone. her horse is gone. i think she went to the mine."harry whined. del layed back" let elieas have her, a few days and he will send her back." " you know thats not true. what will we do?" harry was worried. del sat up and started pulling on his boots" hell i wont get any sleep i guess until we bring hr back.get my horse." it was getting light when del left ruby headed south. curseing under his breath he carried his rifle in his left hand. " that girl is gonna get me killed yet." it was sun up as he crossed the border and took the trail to the mine. fresh horse tracks were plain on the trail going south.del was hopeing he would catch up with the arrogent blonde and get her back across the line before eleieas found out about them at the mine. when he came in sight of the mine he could see maxines horse tied to a oak tree back away from the mine entrance. he tied his horse next to it and takeing his rifle slowley walked to the mine looking all around. as he came to the mouth of the tunnel he could hear some one huffing and puffing and dragging something. he stepped inside and went down the tunnel . he came face to face with maxine dragging a burlap sack. she was surprised to see him but spoke first. " look, look its full of silver oar, look at the vein in the wall. we can be rich!" " more like being dead. we got to get out of here! what are you thinking?" del wsnt impressed with the silver. " alright but we got to take this along." she tryed to hand the bag to del. "like hell, we are going to get out of here with our lives. thats elias silver." del knocked her hand free of the bag," come on" he grabbed her wrist and started to the opening of the mine. just as they stepped out side they were met with twenty mexican riders setting there watching them. "ah hell" escaped dels lips.