The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1906-08-30
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CHAPTER xxI.-Continued.


Inc to blush. the blood leaping to neck
and forehead instantly. Dick never
saw her look so distractinRly lovely.
They have a good padre in the set.
tlement here, capable of doing his
duty; become my darling wife. Hea.
ven knows / don't deserve you, Paul
inc. but you love me even as do you;
| have even gained your consent to
naming an early day. Let us be mar
ried at the mine.
His daring proposal almost takes
her breath away.
Butt Is so very sudden-we beve
not known each other much more
than a month" she Rasps.
II feel as though | had known you
for years-that life was nothing be-
fore you crossed my Iath. Our com
paratlvely brief acquaintance is no
valid objection, my DEAR girl"
With a wooer's determination he
pushes the question, and the woman
who dellberates is lost.
Il have no trousseau; I must make
preparations, for you know the ordi-
nary person only gets married once
in a life time, and then it is an event
of considerable Importance" she Of
ters as a last excuse. which Dick, see
ing victory near at hand, brushes
aside as a mere bagatelle.
Hang the preparations begging
your pardon, my dear Pauline but
you understand that we are not like
other people; we desire no show, and
yet our love will last to the grave. II
will assist your cause, your power
here, to have a husband, and the
man you have promised to wed VIII
be only too delighted to assume the
position of husband and guardian to
the dearest girl on earth"
Not so loud. Oh, Dick, IL they
should hear?"
what of II? he demands, stoutly.
No doubt honest Bob would only too
| willingly drop into line and follow a
| good example. Promise me Pauline"
what are the terms?" she asks, de-
murely.
| Unconditional surrender. Let us
be married to-morrow-it will be o
gala time at the mine. and I'm sure
all will rejoice with nee. Do not say
| no, | entreat YOU.
She loves him, and after all what
essential difference does 1t make
whether she becomes his wife in
twenty hours or as many days? Be-
sides, as Dick has said the knowledge
that she has a legal protector may
tend to calm the rage of the Senor
Lopez. and cause him to bring to a
close his strategic movements for
gaining a possible control of the El
Dorado mine.
Il consent" she whispers shyly, but
loves ears are keen, and Dick hears;
his face shows the great pleasure he
feels, but the moment is hardly au-
spcious for what he would like to do.
so he simply squeezes her hand
Then tomorrow shall be q gala
day, II we get through the night" he
says
You look for trouSle?" she asks,
quickly.
We'll, it would be useless trying 10
disguise the fast from you, Pauline.
useless and without reason. since you
are so brave, and have SO deep an in.
terest in the matter. We do expect
trouble. for they are all here, bag and
baggage. from the greatest to the
least. even little Professor John"
She smiles at mention of the name
and then her face becomes grave
again. for she feels that the danger
lowering over them is great.
Dick is asked many questions and
succeeds in giving quite a succinct
account of how matters stand. They
are glad to have the assistance of the
brave men who came with them on
the trip, for. according to the way
things look they will heed every hand
they can raise.
A woman looks at things in diff
ferent light from man, and ther
Pauline is enabled to offer suggestions
that strike Dick as something worth
, ! remembering. and he consequently
makes Q note of them in his memory
He has grown rather uneasy Will,
talking. for the recapitulation of the
dangers attending their presence a
the mine has made him more thar
ever alive to the emergency.
You will pardon uS, Pauline. II We
leave your agreeable company now
There is no need of saying we tea,
ourselves away, since you already
know the fact"
Go, and Heaven watch over you
Dick, my darling" she murmurs, turn
ing away TO hide the tears that sprinl
unbidden to her eyes
Bob understands what is wanted
when his name is called, and tina
he summons is one \ danger He doe'
not possess the same delicacy or bash
tulness that prevents Dick from salut
ing his lady love with a farewell kiss
but catching the inimitable Dora il
his arms, he gives her n sudden re
sounding smack that rather aston
shes the girl and brings out a small
scream.
"Oh, you wicked Bob" she cries
trying 10 hide her blushing face, while
the wretch actually laughs to witnes.
her discontinue,
Thus two bold warriors march on
to meet the willy and unscrupulous foe
inspired to deeds Of valor by the smile.
of those they love. It is fated 70 b,
great night at the mlLe. one nevc,
70 be forgotten. Ssnor Lopez has
marsha.ed his forces Tor one last des
perate enleayor TO gain possession
Perhaps he relies upon his influence
with the Diaz administration TO pro
tcct him. II the engagement gets q,