The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-06-23

shipped on between two heartbeat
she remembered him with pity an,
muttered a prayer for his soul. Fo
Hooker, for De Lancey she had n,
thought, but only for the dashin,
young captain who had followed he,
to his death.
| or this Bud had no knowledge. HI
realized only that she was CROWNS
weaker. and that he must call a halt
and at last, when the walls of theil
pass had widened and they rode out
into the open plain. he turned aside
from the trail and drew rein by g
clump Of mesquit.
Here, let me take you," he said
as she swayed uncertainty in the sad
die. She slid down into his arms and
he laid her gently in the shade.
Poor girl" he muttered, its been
too much for you. I'll get some water,
and pretty soon you can eat"
He unslung the canteen from his
saddle-f1ap, gave her a drink, and left
her to herself, glancing swiftly along
the horizon as he tied out their mounts
to Craze. But for her faintness he
would have pushed on farther, for he
had seen men off to the east; but hun
ger and excitement had told upon her
even more than the day-and-night ride.
For woman, and sitting a side-sad-
die, she had done better than he had
hoped; and yet-well, 1t was a long
way to the border and he doubted if
she could make it. She lay still in the
shade Of the mesquit. just as he had
placed her, and when he brought the
sack of food she did not raise her
head.
Better eat something" he sug.
gested, spreading out some bread and
dried beef. Here's some oranges |
got from Don Juan-I'll just put them
over here for you"
Gracia shuddered, signing YEARLY.
Then, as If his words had hurt her,
she covered her face and wept.
What did you tell that mann" she
asked at last.
"W'y-what man." inquired Hook.
er astonished Amt you going to
eat?"
mo-" she cried, gazing out at him
through her tears. mot until l know
what you said. Did you tell that In
dian Toto kill him."
She broke down suddenly in a fit of
sobblng, and Hooker wiped his brow.
wy, mol" he protested Sure not!
What made you think that?'
"Why-you rode over and spoke to
him-and he looked at me-and then
he-killed HIM"
She gave way to paroxysm Of grief
at this, and Bud looked around him.
wondering. That she was weak and
hungry he knew, but what was this
she was saying?
II reckon l don't understand what
you're driving at" he said at last.
wish you'd eat something-youll feel
better"
mo, won't eat" she declared, sit.
ting up and frowning. "Mr. Hooker"
she went on very miserably. what did
you mean this morning when you
laughed! I said I hated poor Manuel
and you said-well. what you did
and you laughed! Did you think-oh.
you couldn't have-that really want.
ed him killed."
wy, sure mott" cried Hooker
heartily. Il knowed you was fooling!
Didn't I laugh at you? Say what kind
of Teller do you think l am, anyway?
Dye think I'd get an Indian to do my
killing"
ooh, then didn't your" she cried.
frightening up. You know,
you talk so rough sometimes I
never do know what you mean! You
said you guessed you'd have to kill
him for me, you know, and-oh, 1t was
loo awful. l must be getting foolish,
I'm SO tired out, but-what did YOU
ell that Indian?"
Bud glanced at her sharply for a
and then decided to humor
Ter. Perhaps, If he could get her
luieted, she would stop talking and
,egin to eat.
He asked me who was after U.S." he
aid, and told him it was Del Rey."
Yes, and what did he say them"
"He didn't say nothing-jest lined
ut for the pass" ,
"And didn't you say you wanted 1
mol" burst out Bud, half angrily. =
Haven't | told you once? l did not!
hat Indian had reasons of his own.
elieve inches got scar along his
lbs where Del Rey shot him with a ]
iX-shooter! And, furthermore" he {
dded, as her face cleared at this ex.
lanation of the mystery, you'd better J
~ to take me at my word for the rest
( this trip! Looks to me like you've '