Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-09-03

| otherwise you would not have picked
such good horse for me. This roar
is my fathers best riding horse. YOU
must put yours inside the wall with
him, and when the time is right we
will get them and ride for the line"
''What?" cried Hooker incredulous
ly, with the country full of rebels
They're liable to take the town in hall
an hour!"
mo, indeed they will not!" respond
ed Gracia with spirit. You do not
und8rstaEl fhspirit of us Sonorans
- '"4 oarw the firing 7-sis-e'ri
angle of that as ers. have driI equally
rmall wick already and thesd with
< ne thchay win follow them up and
kill them! Then, when the rebels are
in fight and Del Rey and his rurales
are away, that will be a good time for
us to slip off and make our dash for
the line!"
Nothing doingW announced Hooker,
as he dismounted at the corral. You
don't know what you're talking about!
But / will leave my horse here" he
added; Il sure don't want him to get
hurt"
but you promised" protested Ora
ella weakly.
Promised nothing!" retorted Bud
ungraciously. Il promised to take care
OF you, didn't J? Well, what's the use
of talking, then? You better stay right
here, where you're safe. Come on,
let's go to the house"
mol" cried Gracia, her dark eyes
turning misty with imminent tears.
"Oh, Mr.. Hooker!" she burst out,
didn't keep them all waiting while l
put on this riding-sklrt? | thought you
had come to take me away! What do
care to be safe? | want to be free!
| want to run away-and go across the
line to dear Phil" she faltered. Then
she looked up at him sharply and her
voice took on an accusing tone.
"Aha!" she said, as If making some
expected discovery, 80 that is it!
thought perhaps you were afraid"
''What?" demanded Bud, put sud
denly upon the defensive.
81 might have known it," soliloquized
Gracia with conviction. You are
Jealous Of dear Phil"
Who? Me?" cried Hooker, smiling
down at her grimly. We'll, let it go
at that" he said, as she regarded him
with an arch smile. I'D certainly be
a fool to take all those chances for
nothing. Let him steal his own girl
that's what ] say!"
Now that, Mr. Hooker" burst out
Gracia in a passion, lis very unkind-
and rude! Am l woman of the town,
to be stolen by one man or another?
Am r"
That's what you would be-" put In
Bud. with brutal dlrectness, 'if these |
rebels got hold of you. No, ma am, |
wouldn't take you out of this town for
hundred thousand dollars. You don't |
snow what you're talking about, that's
III! Wait till the fighting is over
rec! Did you hear that? Come, on,
cts get into the housed"
He ducked suddenly as bullet went
pang against the corrugated iron roof
.bove them and, selling her by the
land. he half dragged her through
ide door and into the summer garden
Here a sudden cutlery of women's
oices assalled their ears like a rush
f wind and they beheld peon mothers
unning to and fro with their scream
ng children clasped to their breasts or
Raging at their skirts. A few help
sss men we're trying to keep them
uiet, but as the bullets began to thud
gainst the adobe walls the garden be-
anne bedlam.
Gracia stood and surveyed the scene
Dr. a moment, ignoring the hulking
iud with disdalnful eyes. Then she
matched her hand Indignantly away
nd ran to pick up child. That was