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

have always wanted TO be your friend
why Will you never allow It? 10.
but really! Haven't I always shown
IL? remember now tho first time that
saw y0u-I was looking through my
hole among the passion flowers and
you saw ME with your keen eyes. Phil
did not-but he was there. And you
Just looked at me once-and looked
away. Why did you never respond
when came there to look for you?
You would just ride by and look at
me once, and even Phil never knew"
no" agreed Bud. smiling quietly.
"Iie was crazy to see you. but he rode
right by. looking at the windows and
such"
''Thc first time met him." mused
ever tell you?"
Bud hung his head and Erinned
sheepishly. 1t was not difficult to make
out case against him.
And so Gracia had not wanted Del
Rey killed as he thought she did
She was not the vicious woman he
hid thought her fort time. She Was
just tho gentle. noble girl he had
sworn to protect and conduct across
the border 10 her iiance. Again came
the desire to claim her. but there was
not only Phil to be thought OF but
the fitness OF himself to be- the mate
os this woman.
"Is 1t something have done?" she
asked ut last. .Is that why you never
liked me?'t Now. Mr.. Hooker, please
spenk to me! And why do you always
sit 80 far away-a'!. you afraid of me?
But look.'-she n,ul ed closer to him
"here we are alone. and am not afraid
OF you!" ,
'Of course not" answered Bud. look
ing across ct her Boldly why should
you be-you amt afraid of moth.
tng!"
"Is that compliment? ?" she demand-
ed eagerly. "Oh. then I'm so happy
it's the first you ever paid me! But
have I been brave" she beamed. so
far? Have been brave, like fnan9"
Sure have!" remarked Hooker I'M.
personally, but we amt there yet.
Only thing don't l.ke about you is
you don't eat enough Say. don't pick
up them crumbs-let me pare or somo
more OF this jerked beoi for you. Can't
nobody be brave when they're hun
cry. you know, and want to bring you
in snea."
"Why:" shc inquired, q, she accept
ed the handful of meat. ''Is is on
Phil's account" .sho ventured. as he
sat gazing stoically at the horses.
You were such friends. weren't you?"
she went on innocently. "Oh. that IS
why admire the Americans 90 nue.,
they are SO true to each other!"
yes" observed Hooker, rolling HE
eyes on her. we're flne that way!"
We'll. I mean ie!" she insisted. as
che read the Irony In his glance.
fSure! SO do Il" answered Hooker,
and Gracia continued her meal In al
lence.t
"My!" she said at last: "this meat is
good! Tell me, how did you happen to
have It on your saddle? We left SO
suddenly. you know!"
Sta gazed up at him demurely, curl
GUS to SEQ how he would evade this evi-
denca that he had prepared In advance
for their ride. But once more. as hs
had always done, Hooker eIuded the
cunningly laid snare.
az was figuring on pulling out my.
SELF" ne replied ingenuously. fs
What? And mot take meY. she
cried. :.oh. I 'thought-but dear me.
what is fhe use?" 'hss t.3 ,.s~El
She sighed and dropped her head
YEARLY. = -Fi-.8 IL i4,ssri.l},...,s ~.
"I am 30 tiredta she murmurad de-,
spondently; "shall we be going on
soon?" rritSs e;g'le ,,s1i9y rli9,!s s;@
''Not unless somebody Jumps <us,r
returned Bud. tsfFsrs.: let ine smnKa
you g bed instneu uAhade gaaere newt
--as he apreadEout the saddle-blankets
temptingly-''yor Icy down and get.
some sleep and III kinder keep y
watch" x,'tiSyS - s5s-,; 40 SS,2l.s;; a e.
"Ah. you; IRE so Aind: y abe breathed., J,
as she sank down on Che etbedN 3 ~'Donf,
you know" she added, looking up at
him with sleepy eyes that half con.
cealed smile. II believe you like me,
after ALL" A
"sure." confessed Bud. returning
her smile as honestly: don't you wor..
" none about mel like you flne."
He slipped away at this. grinning to
himself. and sat down to watch tho
plain. All about him lay the waving
grass land. tracked up by the hoofs OF
cattle. that had vanished In the traos
OF war. In the distance he could SEQ
the line OF fence and the ruins OF q
house. The trail which he had fol-.
lowed lca on ans ON so the north. sPdt
nl the landscape was vacant, except
for his grazing horses. Above che