Gilpin observer., 1914-12-24
(CopyTight. l91A By Frank A. Munseyl
CHAPTER xxviI-contInued.

BY the signs the land ahead was full
Of bandits and ladrones. men to whom
human life was nothins and a woman
no more sacred than a brute. At the
pass all trails converged, from the
north and from the south. Not by any
chance could man pass over 1t in the
daytime without meeting some one on
the way, and II the base revoltosos
once set eyes on Gracia 1t would take
more than a nod to restrain them.
So. In sheltered ravine they sought
cover until 1t was dark. and while
Gracia slept. the heavy-headed Bud
watched the plain from the heights
above.
AS he watched he dreamed of a
home in which this woman now sleep
ing beside him was the queen He
dreamed of years to come with un-
bounded happiness throughout all OF
them. Thoughts OF Phil and duty to
his pardner were far away. Nothing
on the plain below served to distract
him from this dream of happiness.
As far as he could see there was
nothing that savored of danger for
the woman in his keeping. There
were no sounds or signs Of either
federal or revolutionary troops, from
both of which they were fleeing, and
from both OF which he must guard
her. Again they were in a world that
was all their own. an Eden with but
one man and one woman
For an hour and more he watched
and dreamed. and with the dreams
came the desire for sleep, the cry of
nature for rest. Gracia stirred. then
spoke softly to him, calling him by
name. and her voice was as music
far away.
When she awoke and found him nod
ding Gracia insisted upon taking his
place. Now that she had been re-
freshed her dark eyes were bright and
sparkling. but Bud could hardly see.
The long watching by night and by day
had left his eyes bloodshot and swol-
len, with lids that dropped In spite Of
him. II he did not sleep now he
might doze in the saddle later, or ride
blindly into some rebel camp; SO he
made her promise to call him and lay
down to rest until dark.
The stars were all out when he
swoke, startled by her hand on his
hair. but she reassured him with a
word and led him up the hill to their
lookout. 1t was then that he under
stood her silence. In the brief hours
during which he had slept the de-
serted country seemed suddenly to
have come to life.
BY daylight there had been nothing
to suggest the presence OF men.
But now as the velvet night set
tied down upon the land it brought
put the glimmering specks OF hun.
dred camp.fires to the east and to the
north. But the fires to which Gracia
pointed were set fairly in their trail.
and they barred the way to Gadsden.
Look" she said. Il did not want
to wake yon. but the fires have sprung
up everywhere. These last ones are
right in the pass"
when did you see them?" asked
Hooker, his head still heavy with
sleep Have they been there long?"
NO: only few minutes" she an
swered. "At sundown ] saw those over
TO the east-they are along the base
of that big black mountain-but these
flashed up Just now; and see, there
are more, and more"
Some outfit coming In from the
north" said Bud. They've crossed
over the pass and camped at the first
water this side"
who do you think they are?" asked
Gracia in an awed voice. "lnsurrec.
tos?"
Like as not" muttered Bud, gazing
from encampment to encampment.
'But whoever they are." he added.
"they're no friends of ours. We've got
70 70 around them"
And II we can't!" suggested Ora.
cia.
81 reckon we'll have to 20 through,
then" answered Hooker grimly. We
don't want to get caught here in the
morning"
Ride right through their camp"
gasped Gracia.
Let the sentries get to Sleep he
went on. half to himself. Then. just
before the moon comes up, we'll try TO
edge around them. and II It comes to
q showdown. we'll ride for Il! Are
you game"
He turned to read the answer. and
she drew herself up proudly.
Try moi" she challenged. drawing
nearer to him in the darkness. And 80
they stood. side by side. while their
hands clasped in promise. Then. rs
the night grew darker and no new
nres appeared. Hooker saddled UP the
wellfed horses and they picked their
way down to the trail.
The first fires we're far ahead, but
nhsy proceeded at . walk. their horses