The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-06-20

To him was a more severe test OF MS
manhood than any to which ne nad
before been subjected. That he De
untrue to the trust she reposed IN
him never entered his mind for mo-
ment. With strong mans love for
her he thought only of how he was 10
conduct her safely out of the dangers
which surrounded her.
Soldiers, miners, and refugees, men,
women, and children, every soul IN
Fortuna was on the hill to see the last
of the battle. 1t had been crude
affair, but bravely ended, and some
thing in the dramatic suddenness OF
this victory had held all eyes to the
close. Bud and Gracia passed out OF
town unnoticed, and as soon as they
had rounded the point they spurred on
till they gained the pass
IT knew you would come" said
Gracia, smiling radiantly as they
paused at the fork.
"Sure!" answered Hooker with his
good-humored smile. Count me IN on
anything-which way does this trail
60; do you known
1T goes west twelve miles toward
Arispe," replied Gracia confidently,
and then it comes into the main road
that leads north to Nogales and Gads-
den."
THAT sounds about right for US"
replied Bud. "Gadsden's the place we
want to head for, and we want to get
there mighty quick, too, If them reb-
els will let us, an guess that's what
they'll have to do whether they want
to or not"
They rode on together for some dis
lance, the girl seemingly oblivious of
the dangers which surrounded her,
and Hooker watching carefully for ev-
cry sign Of difficulty.
What Is there up here?" inquired
Bud, pointing at fainter trail that
led off toward the north This coun,
try is new to me. Don't know, Ell?
Well, if we followed that trail we'd
run into them rebels, anyway, so we
might as we'll go to the west. Is your
saddle all right? Well hit 1t up then
I'D like to strike a road before
dark"
They hurried on, following we'll
marked trail that alternately climbed
ridges and descended into arroyos,
until finally it dropped down into a
precipitous canon where a swollen
stream rushed and babbled and, while
they still watched expectantly for the
road, the evening quickly passed.
They had no opportunity for CONVEX
sation. for the trail was too narrow
to permit of their riding side by side.
Bud was thinking not only of the dan
gers that surrounded them, but of this
errand on which he was engaged, and
what the end of it meant to him.
First the slanting rays Of the sun
struck fire from the high yellow crags,
then the fire faded and the sky glowed
an opalblue; then, through dark blues
and puppies the heavens turned to
black above them and all the stars
came out. Thousands Of frogs made
the canyon resound with their throaty
songs and strange animals crashed
through the brush at their approach,
but still Hooker stayed In the saddle
and Gracia followed on behind.
If she had thought In her dreams Of
an easier journey she made no com.
ment now and, outside Of stopping to
cinch up her saddle, Bud seemed hard
ly to know she was there. The trail
was not going to suit hint edged
of too far to the southland yet. in the
tropical darkness, he could not search
out new ways to go.
AT each fork he paused to light a
match. and whichever way the mule
tracks went he went also, for pack.
mules would take the main trail. For
two hours and more they followed on
down the stream and then Hooker
stopped his horse.
You might as we'll get down and
rest while" he said quietly. This
trail is no good-it's taking us south
Well let our horses feed until the
moon comes up and I'll try to work
north by landmarks"
"Oh-are we lost?" gasped Gracia.
dropping stiffly to the ground. But Of
course we are she added I've been
thinking so for some time"
"Oh, that's all right" observed
Hooker philosophically; 81 don't mind
being lost as long as l know where
I'm at. Well ride back until we get
out of this dark canyon and then III
lay line due north"
They sat for time in the dark.
ness while their horses champed at
the rich grass and then, unable to keep
down her nerves, Gracia declared for a
start. A vision of angry pursuers rose
up in her mind-of Manuel del Rev
and his keen-eyed rurales, hot upon
their trail-and 1t would not let her
rest.
Nor was the vision entirely the re-
suit of nervous imagination, for they
had lost half the advantage of their