The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-26
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WHATSOEVER

1T is dearer than life to me-" he
had replied. Give 1t to Eaton at the
camp"
At the top of the hill she found
the horse her brother had promised
to leave for her. The boy who held
| 1t stared after her as she pushed
ahead over the dangerous. uneven
trail. Only once she looked back as
the path dipped into the deep arroyo.
to see how long 1t would be till sun
set.
1t was dark when the pinto rode
into the engineers camp. Somebody
caught the girl as she half fell from
| the saddle, and Eaton himself
brought water to battle her face. His
face was a study as he opened the
long envelope she gave him, and
| looked at its contents. They were
surely an index to the character of
Leonard. His last copy" written
hastily in pencil and revealing con-
ditions at Juarez. ready for mailing
to the States. That, and a check
made out to Eaton for a little over
three thousand dollars.
This Is all the ready cash I can
dig up now" Leonard had written
him personally. There is more tied
up In property back home. / want
you to see that Nita gets 1t. And, by
all the faith ! have In our long
friendship, get her out OF this place.
| They will keep me Jailed for months,
perhaps, and then again, / may be
shot at shutdown. Take care of Nita.
until she can reach her brothers. We
were to have been married"
| What does he say?" asked Nita,
eagerly. Eatons lips set in a firm
| line. He had his own ideas on this
last viii and testament.
/ He says ! am to see that you get
over the border safely. senorita."
Her face turned pale. In her
great dark eyes there dawned tbs
actual meaning of Leonard's sending
her to the camp. He wanted TO save
| her. Eatons face softened as hi
watched her.
III you are strong enough to stand
the return ride. senorita, We viii
travel back tonight to Mendez." he
said. slowly.
Give me fresh horse. senior.
laughed Nita. pushing back her hair
and l will ride all night"
Eaton remembered that night ride
all his life. At the head OF forty oil
his own men. he rode with the CIR
back through the mountains towards
| Mendez. She would not talk. bu
| rode on. her face uplifted to ths
moonlight and now and then h,
knew that her lips moved In prayer
The first glow of dawn was on the
hill crests behind them, when they
came to the little village. Mia point
ed out the building on one side oil
the market place. that was being uset
as a temporary jail.
He Is there" she said"
Il Less than an hour afterwards
/ I va ka1 nj fy, hi %
as they stood In the rose garden a
Los Fioros. the lovely old Spanish
rancho on the sleeps above Juarez
Eaton was TO join them later. HI
fingered at Mendez. tranGuilizing tht
perturbed sensibiiities of the loca
authorities, over the liberation of tn
American perforce.
why did you say In the letter Il
your friend we were TO have beer
married. ?" asked Nita, smiling up a
her young Americana. Never ha'
you even spoke of love to me-
II knew IL l lived you would b.
my wife, sweetheart" Leonard toll
her, gently Il knew IL that las
night out here by the fountain. bu
1 dared not TO tell you, or you woult
not have gone. I thought that Eatoi
would take you safely over tn
Juarez pass to your brothers ant
see that you were cared for.
I'VE will raise your Stars anc
Stripes over the rancho she SAT-
proudly.
I'VE sure WILL" laughed Leonard
as he kissed her. When We conn
back"
After the war;" she queried.
NO he said after the honey
.-aor