BORDER SEARCH 29

maxine was moveing around camp putting things in order. her brother and the other two men were loading the wagon , it was time to leave the fact that there was a fortune in silver in her brothers mine, just across the border no longer preyed on her mind. comming close to being kidnapped by eppi had brought every thing in focus for her. she now understood the things that were shapeing up with the revolution just across the line in mexico. del was sore but his shoulder was healing and he was doing what he could do to help get packed. all day the miners who lived in ruby had been trickling by headed to tucson. a couple had stated when the hostilities settled down they would return to their claims. but for now it was riskey to remain. some where in the brush on the american sise was camped the rurales that had left mexico. everyone knew they were made up of convicts and criminals. americans along the border didnt know where to turn. leaveing was the best option. the trail back north would be crowded, del had advised they wait until the next morning to leave. the wagon was almost empty of trade goods, they kept enough food out for supper and breakfast the next morning. maxine stood silently and watched the store keeper with his loaded wgon leave ruby. he looked neither right or left. they would be the last to leave. the horses and mules were brought in close to camp in preperation of leaveing. maxines brother seemed in fine spirits, he had brought enough silver to get a good start in some other part of the country.he had told maxine he would share with her when he saw the change in her attitude. but, she still looked at del with a affectionate out look. whether del saw it she didnt know. he stayed busy with getting camp broke and loaded.but, he now wore a belted pistol his rifle never to far out of reach. she knew that with those things out in the open he didnt believe them in the clear of danger. for the time being she decided she better be content with leaving ruby alive and well.