The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-07-17

bWh9hit tltNlilN move MS fun, huu
Hooker refined hia horse away before
he ave him an answer
None Of your business" he growlod
~impauently. Il am going 10 the pass DO
And as tho sentry stared stupidity after
him no rode on through the bushes.
neither hurrying nor hating until he
gained the trail
Good luck" he observed 10 Gracia
when the camp was far behind. 'Ilo
took mo for an officer and never saw
you al all"
No, I nat'ened myself on my pony, "
answered Gracia with a laugh. He
thought YOU we're leading a pack
horse"
Good" chucklcd Hooker; you dlo
nnei Now. don't say another word
because they1l notice a woman's voice
and II We don't run into some o
OF them wen soon be climbing the
pass"
They had passed through some per.
ilous moments, but Gracia had hardly
realized tho danger because OF the as.
surance OF Hooker, who was careful
not 10 brighten her unnecessarily. But
it was an assurance which he had not
felt himself, and he was not yet Ger.
tain OF their safety.
The waning moon came out as they
left the wide valley behind them. ard
then It disappeared again as they rode
into the gloomy shadows OF the can.
yon. For an hour or two they ploddod
slowly upward. passing through mar
row dehlcs and into moonlit spaces,
and still they did not mount the sum.
NIT
In the east the dawn began to brcah
and they spurred on In almost a panic
Tho Mexican p%aisanos count them.
selves late II they do not take the trail
nj sunup-what u they should meet
some struggling party before they
reached the pass?
Bud jumped Copper Bottom up q
series Of cat steTs; Graciu's roam came
scrambring behind. and then, Just as
the boxed walls ended and they gained
q level spot. they suddenly found them.
selves In the midst Of a camp OF Mex.
icans-men. saddles, packs, and rifles,
al scattered az their feet.
"Buonos dias'" saluted Bud. as tho
blinking men rose up from their
blankets. Excuse me, amigos, / am
in a hurry"
"a donde va2 a donde va" chai.
lenEed n bearded man as he sprang up
from his brush shelter.
tt1rA tho raua aaunr % auervgraA D.rI
or. still politely, but motionlng for
Gracla 10 ride on ahead. "Adios!"
who Is that man." beloved the
bearded leader. turning furiously upon
his followers, where IL my sentL
mol? stop him'"
But Il was too lato to stop him. Bud
lard his quirt across the rump Of the
roam and spurred forward in a dash for
cover. They whisked around the point
Of a hill as the first scattered shots
rang out; and. as a frightened sentinel
jumped up In their path Bud rode him
down. The man dropped his gun to
Escape the fury Of the charge and In
a mad clatter they flung themselves
at q rock-slide and scrambled TO the
bench above. The path was rocky,
but they pressed forward at a gallon
until, as the Sun came up, they beheld
The summit Of the pass.
"We wini" cried Bud, as he spurred
mp the last incline.
AS he looked over the top he ex.
ploded in an oath and jerked Copper
Bottom back on his launches. The
leader OF q long line OF horsemen was
just coming up the other side-thare
was no escape-and then back at the
frightened girl.
Keep behind me-" be commanded.
"and don't shoot. I'm going TO hold
'em uD,"
Tie Jumped his horse out 10 n side
and landed squarely on the rim of tho
ridge. Gracia drew her horse in be-
hind him and reached for the pistol In
her holster; then both together they
drew their guns and Bud threw down
on tho FIRST man.
Go on" he ordered. m~otioning him
forward with his head; "pr-r-ronto!"
He 1erked out his rifle with his left
hand and laid II across his lap.
Hurry up now" he ragged. as the
startled Mexican halted. go on and
keep a going. and the first man that
makes a break III shoot him full OF
holesl"
lie sat like a statue, OF his shining
horse, his six-shooter balanced 10 shoot,
and something IN his very presence
the bulk Of his body. the forward
thrust Of his head. and the burning
hat" OF his eyes-qnelled the spirits
OF the rebels. They were a rag-tag
army. mounted on horses and donkcys
and mules and with arms OF every
known make.
II was just such an army as was
overrunuing all northern Mexico, such
an army as had been leyying tribute
on the land for a century. They spread
terror throughout all that great coun-
try south OF tho American border.
The hery chances OF the American
made them cringo as they had always
cringed before their masters, and his
curses turned their blood 20 water. lie
lowered above them like a giant. pour.
ing forth a torrent OF oaths and beck.