The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-12-03

I y
with long parallel ridges extending to
the northeast, and when he saw where
the way was taking him Bud called
halt till dawn.
BY the very formation he was being
gradually edged back toward For.
tuna. and 1t would call for fresh
horses and rested Gracia 10 outstrip
their pursuers by day. II the rurales
travelled by landmarks, heading for the
northern passes In an effort to out
ride and intercept him, they might
easily cut him of at the start; but If
they trailed him--and he devoutly
! hoped they would-then they would
have tangled skein to follow and he
could lose them in the broken country
10 the north.
So thinking, he cut grass among the
rocks, spread down their saddle
blankets and watched over the
browsing horses while Gracia
stretched out on the bed. After day
OF excitement and night of hard rid
ing there Is no call for a couch OF
| down. and as the morning star ap-
peared in the east she slept while Bud
sat patiently by.
| IL was no new task for him, this
watching and waiting for the dawn.
| For weeks at a time, after a hard
days work at the branding. he had
stood guard half the night. Sleep was
a luxury to him, like water to a noun
tain-sheep--and so were all the other
useless things that town-bred people
required.
People like Gracia, people like Phil
they were different In all their ways.
To ride, to fight, to find the way
there he was better man than Phil;
but to speak to a woman. to know her
ways. and to enter into her life-there
he was no man at all.
She trusted to his courage to pro-
tect her, and that he could do, but it
was to a man such as Phil she
would give her love. Phil could not
love her more than he did. but Phil's
ways could be more attractive to her.
His adventurous life with his father
had not been such as to cultivate the
little niceties that appealed to women.
1t was only his privilege to serve, but
he gloried in that privilege now as
he watched beside her as she slept,
and his vigil but strengthened his res
olution to see her safely through to-
Phil.
He sighed now as he saw the first
flush of dawn and turned to where she
slept, calm and beautiful, In the solemn
light. How to waken her, even that
was question, but the time had come
to start.
Already from Fortuna, Del Rey and
his man-kiliing rurales would be on the
trail He would come like the wind
that dashing little captain. and moth
ing but bullet would stop him, for his
honor was at stake. Nay, he had told
Bud In so many words:
between u.s."
1t would be hard now II the rurales
should prove too many for him-if q
bullet should check him In their flight
and she be left alone. But how &c
wake her! He tramped near as he
led up the unwilling mounts; then, al
time pressed, he spoke TO her. and al
last he knelt at her side.
"sayl" he called. and when that die
not serve he laid his hand on hel
shoulder.
Wake up!" he said, shaking hel
gently. Wake up it's almost dayi'
, Even az he spoke he went back Il
the phrase of the eow-camp-wherC
men rise before 1t Is light. But Gracis
L woke up wondering and stared about
her strangely. unable to understand,
"Why--what Is lit" she cried Then
as he spoke again and backed away
!. she remembered him with smile.
! oh" she said. rs 1t time to get up
Where are we. anyway"
About ten miles from Fortuna" an
J, swered Hooker soberly. Too close
We ought to be over that divide"
lie pointed ahead TO where the val
!, ley narrowed and passed between tive
= hills. and Gracia sat up. binding hacl
her hair that had fallen from its place
Yes. yesl' she said resolutely, "W'
: must 80 on-but why do you look a
me so Strangely"
Don't knew" mumbled Bud. "Didn'
: know was, Say. let me get them sad
dle-biankets, will YOU?
He went about his work with EN-
u barrassed swiftness. shaping on sad
dies and brides. eoillng up ropes, ant
, Offering her his hand to mount WheI
y he looked at her again 1t was no
II strangely
Q Hope you can ride" he said, wv,
q got 10 get over that pass before any
$ body else makes it-after that we ca
x take a rest"
a. "As fast as you please she an
d swered steadily, Don't think abou
r, me, But what viii happen if--the
3 get there tlrst7"
Is She was looking ut him now as h
IS searched out the trail ahead, but h
pretended not to hear, One man Il
o that pass was as good as hundred
K and there were only two things h
n could do--shoot his way through, o
h turn back HE believed she would no
a. want TO turn back,
lie CHAPTER XIV.