The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-08-26

tlme lot parting was near, ana part.
ings are always sad.
But ten miles across the plain lay
Gadsden and Phil-Phil to whom Gra.
cia was promised. There had been no
thoughts OF him from the time they
sat together under tho horsc-blankets
waiting for the rain to pass until now
that the dangers were virtually over,
and bat short time more would place
them beyond the reach Of either ru.
rales or rebels. Bud thought Of the
duty he owed his pardner. even though
that pardner had played him false. /
Great rs was his longing for Gracia.
he could not forget that duty. Their
coinpanionship had been but thing
to forget If he could, or at best he
could only remember the sweetness
OF il. and must forget the dreams he
had dreamed as he watched beside
Gracia in the hills. He was taking her
for duty. 81
Bud looked far out across the valley
to where train puffed in from the
south, and the sight Of it made him un-
easy. He watched still as it lay at the
station and, after prolonged stare in
the direction of Aqua Negra. he reined
sharply to the north.
"What Is it?" asked Gracia, cominf
out Of her reverie.
"Oh. nothing" answered Bud. slump.
ing down in his saddle II see the rail.
road is open again-they might bo
somebody up there looking for U.s."
"You mean"
well, say a bunch Of rurales."
He turned still farther to the north
as he spoke and spurred his jaded
horse on. Gracia kept her roam be-
side him, but he took no notice. ex.
cept as he scanned the line with his
bloodshot eyes. He was handbook
ing mar now, with rough stubble Of
beard on his face and q sullen set to
his jaw. As two horsemen rode out
from distant Aqua Negra he turned
and glanced at Gracia.
Seems like we been on the run
ever since we left Fortuna" he said
with o rueful smile. ''Are you good
for just one more?"
What ia 1t now?" she inquired
pulling herself together with an effort.
Are those two men coming out to
meet us? Do you think they'd stop
usEr J.
Hooker. "But when we dip out Of sight
in this swale here we'll turn north and
hit for the line" Il.
"&Il right" she agreed. MY horse
is tired, but Ill do whatever you say.
Bud"
She tried to catch mis- eyes at this.
but ha seemed lost in contemplation of
the horsemen. -, J..
''Them's rurales." he said at last.
-and heading straight for us--hut
we've come too far to get caught now.
Come on!"'he added bruskly. and went
galloping up ths swale. ot
For two miles they rode up the
wash, their heads ESlow the level of the
plain; but as Bud emerged at the mouth
OF { he gulch and looked warily over
the cut bank he suddenly reached for
his rifle and measured the distance &c
the line. ~
'They was too foxy for me-" he NUT.
tered. as Gracia looked over ut tie
approaching rurales. "gut,I can; stand
EN- off," he added, $50 you go ahead"
MOI" she cried. coming out In open
rebellion. well, I, won't leave you
that's all!" she declared as he turned
to command her. "Oh, come along,
Bud!" She laid an .impuisive hand
on his arm and he thrust his gun back
into the sling. with thui
"Ail right" he said. Cant stop to
talk about 1t. GoSahead-and fay tho
hide off Of that roan!"
They were less than mile from the
line, but the rurales had foreseen their
ruse in dropping into the tgulch and
had turned ut the sNme time to inter-
cept them. They were pushing their
freah horses to the utmost now across
the 5open prairie, and -as the: roam
Jagged s1a faitoTed In his Hiride Bud
could see that the race wee lost, X
Head for that monument. he
called to Gracia. pointing toward ono
OF the international markers as he
faced their pursuers. 'Yop,Il make It
they won't shoot a woman!"
He reached for his gun .as he spoke;
No, mol" she, cried. s Don't you
stop! II you do i Wilt Como on!"
shesentreatad;. checking her horse to
wait for him. You ride bshind me-
they won't dare shoot at us tsssn!v -
Bud laughed shortly Snd wheeled IN
behtna her, returning ,his gum to Its
ieling. Il .ss Ss,.7l. u.
"All right s he said. wen ride Il out
together jtheni" "a. ;,.s ~.
Hs laid The ouirt TO the razh. I'm the
whir oftracins htshes y white Inonu.
.mAht fiaahad4up suddenly before th6m.
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