The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-04-22
BLAKE'S
SURRENDER
1t Was An Unconditional
One
By CLARIssA MAcKIE

emerged little more ragged and dusty
than before. and sat down by a tiny
stream triekling Its languid way to
ward the sand blown desert His feel
were hot and sore from two days
rapid travelling through untracked
wastes. but SO far he had come Out
unframed True, his broad sombrerC
carried two holes where an insurrectC
sentry's bullet had gone Tipping
through. but Frank Blake had drawn
bis own weapon In response. and be
was sure that the Mexican had taken
brief vacation from sentry duty.
OF course that only FASTENED his
flight toward the frontier, for 1t was
flight. Ordinarily he was not one tC
turn his back on a skirmish. but be
was the paymaster of the Laguns
Mines company, and as the revolution
airy spirit Of his miners forbade them
to waste any more golden days delving
In the darkness of galleries and cross.
cuts or upper and lower levels when
there was insurrection afoot 1t became
necessary for the paymaster to fee un.
CALAMITY with his papers and his bills
Of exchange-the currency he hastily
buried As be was the only American
left on the force there was nothing
for Frank Blake to do but to guard his
company's treasure to the best Of bis
ability
He tossed of the tin box which had
dfr 70 h4e -,
buckled the stuffed belt which burden.
ed him cruelty in the heat and stress
OF his long tramp He kicked of his
shoes and stockings and thrust his feet
into the cool trickle of the stream and
closed his eyes.
Naturally dark complexioned, the
burning sun of Mexico had tanned bis
face to the complexion OF the natives
His straight black hair chung to his
brown forehead and added to the rag
ged, unkempt appearance. for ragged
he was and uncared for. His clothing
was torn to shreds by thorns and cac-
tus spines. and the dust that covered
his handsome features lent grotesque
appearance to an otherwise attractive
personality.
All at once he opened his bright
black eyes with the sudden resolve
that thorough scrub in the stream
would refresh him nightly. Hungry
he was and thirsty. but he must go
unsatisfied until he ran across a ranch
and in this locality they might be thick
as pulque plants. AS he bent to plunge
his cupped hands into the water there
came the sharp barking of dog and
the sound of light quick footsteps be.
hind him. he turned to see a girl,
slender, erect. with inquiring eyes of
warm brown, a skin blended of the
olive and the cactus flower, hair as
black as his own and red mouth
rounded into surprised exclamation
at sight of him.
ABR she said quickly in Spanish.
"Buenas tardes, senorita," returned
Blake grayely, for there was hostility
in her eyes now as she scanned him
closely. Then he continued In Span
ish as he arose to his feet, Els there a
house near at hand?"
"Why do you ask p she inquired sus.
piciously
Blake laughed shortly and included
his outcast appearance in one graphic
sweep of shapely brown hand. 81
am in need Of refreshment and repose
among friends. have travelled far,
and | am very weary" A trace Of the
WEAKNESS was evident In his voice
For two days and a night he had not
slept
The girl seemed to hesitate She
looked over Blake's head, her forehead
wrinkled in a pretty frown Truly
she was the flower of some neighbor.
ing hacienda. he decided as he noted
the Spanish coloring Of her complex
ion. though she wore the trinity cut
garments of an American girl-a short
snowy linen skirt and shirt waist.
with loose sleeves rolled back to
rounded elbows. Her uncovered head
showed her hair arranged In two
loose braids hanging far below her
slender waist.
Come" she said suddenly. "Come
to my father
He admired the girls quick tread, SO
different from the languorous glide of
her country women. and attributed 1t to
the free, open life which she had en-.
joyed as the daughter of a ranchero
He was aware that she was under
going some perturbation on his ac-
count, for she frequently looked back
at him and always with that distrust
full glance Of her brown eyes.
Presently he noticed that her hand
always rested lightly on her right hip.
and then he saw there was a tiny
holster, from which protruded the
Ivory handle of revolver His own
hand sought his weapon then, for If
the daughter was suspicious the father
might be openly hostile
They topped rise of ground and came
upon a smooth. well made road wind
ing toward a distant red rooted build
ing set in the midst of a chestnut
grove. North. east and west stretched
a magnificent cattle range. Herds ap-
peared like blots in the distance The
herders were black moving specks on
the Vastness Of the grassy plain AS
they went forward horseman rode
from the gates and turning to the
west, galloped madly along a palm
shaded road. At the sight Of him the
girl uttered a sharp exclamation and
ran ahead. but when she reached the
gates he was out of sight
She seemed disconnected at this hap
penlng, and Blake was quick to guess
hat the man might have been her
father and that in his absence she was
doubtful what to do with the stranger.
He resolved TO help her out
Some tortillas and frijoles for sup
per and bundle of straw for a bed,
senorita these would make me most
grateful" be said eagerly, and the girl
nodded brusquely and led the way up
the avenue of chestnuts and into the
courtyard of the hacienda.
With gesture she detained him
while she went to the door Of an adobe
wing of the building and brought forth
q fat Mexican woman, who scowled at
the stranger In most unfriendly
fashion. The girl spoke rapidly to the
woman in a strange dialect, Of which
now and then word was familiar
The supper was hot in more ways
than one. but 1t was good, and Blake
ate ravenously and drank Of an excel
lent cup of coffee. He waved away a
handful Of cigarettes the Mexican wo-
man contemptuously offered him and.
to her astonished disgust. drew from
bis breast pocket a pipe and calmly
proceeded to ill and light 1t.