El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-22
CHAPTER XIX.

"a abled. Beyond a severe shaking
IS up neither Patricia nor Blount
was seriously hurt. Recovering
from the shock and being assured OF
Patricia'S Wilderness and his own
Blount sprang out to see what the
collision had done to the car. The in
spection was brief. With the front
axle bent. the radiator crushed and
one cylinder of the engine broken. the
little car was safely out Of commission
Were done for" he said shortly
helping his companion down from the
driving seat.
Patricia was still trembling and pale,
and he thought that the accident was
accountable
do you mean-that we can't-go on
to the city?' she quavered.
Not unless we walk, and it is ex-
actly fifteen miles. 1 happened to no
tice the speedometer record on the
roadster when we turned around here
last Sunday"
What shall we do?" she asked when
the improbability Of any timely rescue
made itself apparent.
Blount looked at his watch. 1t was
already few minutes past o'clock.
We'll sit down and wait for some
body to come along and rescue US"
be said. striving to say it lightly
Pm sure we ought, to be glad and
thankful that it Is no worse. We
stood a good chance Of being killed.
both of u.s.
She shuddered and said: 'T might
have stopped sooner. There-there
was time. don't you Think
Evan had thought so, and be was
regarding her curiously. There had
been many motoring experiences in
their acquaintance of year and not
few hazards, and he had more than
once rejoiced in her cool presence OF
mind in the face of sudden danger.
Il wondered little that you didn't"
he ventured to say. Il never saw
you hesitate before"
The look that she gave him was pa
thetically pleading.
Il stOpped-juSt one little instant to
think-of your father-and-and those
terrible papers in your pocket and
what was going to happen if you
should reach Judge Hemingway in
time, Evan" she confessed brokenly
Can you ever forgive me?'
It was moment for the brushing
aside Of obstacles once and for all.
and he took her in his arms-would
have done it if the lonely Quaretaro
road had been the busiest street in the
capital.
You are my brave. loyal darling"
he said And because she let him say
it and hid the face. from which the
cold palIor had suddenly fed. on his
shoulder the political struggle and
everything pertaining to it became as
things Of naught and the lonely road
the way to paradise
The silence Of the immensities held
them for a moment-a golden silence
for the lover. but a moment Of keen
self reproachings for the maiden sob
bing on his shoulder.
''Oh, don't know how I could have
done it-but l did, she wept. IL
was ac-actually glad when I saw the
tree 1 didn't have the courage toto
upset the car in the ditch"
Again he comforted her. and the po-
litical venalities withdrew into a still
region.
at was to be-" he said. THAT is
what the tree was put here for-to
stop u.s.
She looked up at that.
why. that is so. isn't it? There are
no trees growing around here-none
at all. Who did it. Evan?'
Riount shook his head sadly. There
IS only one person in the world who
could nave any strong reason for stop
ping US" he asserted. II can't imagine
how thy father managed it in the short
time at his disposal. That tree has
been dragged down out of the little
canyon since we passed going north.
You can see the trail of it in the road"
Please, Evan" she pleaded. don't
aSh NE 10 DeneVe that your 1atner
Why, we might have been
killed outright. both of us!''
u know" he returned gloomily. "but
hello, here comes our rescuer'
1t was rather a figure of speech than
an assurance. Around a turn in the
canyon road came three horsemen
for the main highway and
gently. They were hardly
within hailing distance before Blount
recognized his three waylayers Of the
night Of mysteries in the Lost River
with Barto in the lead.
"Howdy:" said the timber locker,
riding up to hang with one knee over
the saddle while he grinned at the
TWO castaways. Lost out again, Mr..