The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-05-30
"A better right than yoN

have!"
Il hope So" he said fervently; but
you know the American troops are
camped below here on the plain?"
"Ah!" she cried bitterly. "do not
know? Have I not been avoiding
their prowling bands for three days
You are Mexican?" asked Cou<
verse.
"And If I am"
IF you are Mexican you are In q
dangerous situation here on the bor1
ders where there is continual fight
ing. You are not alone?" He spoke
In brisk, matter-of-fact way, with
an undertone of kindness.
"No, l am not alone" she answered
calmly. "My grandfather is within
he is sick, perhaps dying. When they
shelled the city our home was del
stroyed and we fed. We hoped to
cross the river into the states. We
have relatives in Ell Paso, but we have
had to avoid the rebels as well as the
American troops. We lost our way
and have hidden in this ruined hut
since yesterday morning. My grand
father has had little to eat-I came
out now to seek something. There.
that is ALL" She threw out her hand
with defiant gesture. 'sDo what you
will"
"The first thing to do is to get some
thing to eat" said Converse decisive
ly. "After that, If you will trust to
my guidance will escort you into the
American camp and see that you
reach Ell Paso at once"
"You are very kind, SIR" said the
girl brokenly. II am afraid I am
severe-rude-but we have been
alarmed and harassed and earlier this
evening our retreat was almost dis
covered"
'T was the one who startled you
then-that is why I came back again.
said Converse in awkward explana
ton.
"How did you know-how did yos
guess that we were not sharpshooe
ers?" she asked, surprised. why did
you not investigator"
ct don't know" he replied SLOWLY
81 don't know why I didn't"
cit is we'll for us that you waited
until you were alone" she said in Low
thrilling tones that stirred hin
strangely. another might not have
been so kind as you have shown your
self to be-"
cit is nothing" declared Convers,
bruskly. MAY I see your GRANDPA
ther?"
"Certainly-he is within, very sick
She led the way to the tiny hut WHOSE
roof was half torn away. Through
this great aperture the moonlight
flowed brightly, lighting up a gras,
bed on the ground whereon an oil
man lay covered carefully with sew
eral Blankets.
Converse bent over the old MAI
and addressed him in hating Spanish
To his surprise the refugee answered.
him in fluent English and in few
| words substantiated the words of hi
granddaughter and added brief e1
PLANTATION.
His name was Juan Barros, a re
tired merchant of JuareZ. He was
| widower with this one granddaughter
who had been educated in the Unite<
| States. They had lived happily to
gether until the revolution had
brought hostilities to their doors. ThS
| loss of their home followed and now
he was on his way to Ell Paso WHERE
he had brother; once there h
would make home for himself and
Almeda If the kindly Americana
would help them-the old mans voicl
had failed here.
Blake Converse did help them
across the border and delivered then
into the hands of an escort which
would see that they reached Ell Pase
before the close of another day. When
beautiful Almeda's grateful glance en-
countered Converse's ardent eyei
there flashed the spark that indicated
that two more unwary ones had ven
tured within the borderland Of love.
It was not surprising that The
young soldier should obtain leave Of
absence and hurry to Ell Paso to make
& ceremonious inquiry concerning the
health of Almeda's grandfather, and
such was Blake's solicitude for the
old Mexican and so warm were the
! greetings that he received from both
| the refugees that he was encouraged
! to repeat these calls until old Juan
Barros smiled into his beard and was
ready with his blessing upon them
long before Blake found courage to
ask it. ~z-~s-r-v-v--s,--E7 ''7s----1