Mexico Missouri message., 1914-10-29
CCopyright. 1914. By Frank a. MunseyJ
Is
CHAPTER XXVll-continued.

ut bandits and ladrones. men TO whom
Enman life was nothing and a woman
no more sacred than brute. At the
Hass all trails converged. from the
rlorth and from the south. Not by any
chance could a man pass over it in the
Daytime without meeting some one on
tho way, and II the base revoltosos
ssnce set eyes on Gracia II would take
Anore than a nod to restrain them.
So, In sheltered ravne they sought
cover until It was dark, and while
&racla slept, the heayy.headed Bud
tSatched the plain from the heights
above.
AS no watched he dreamed OF a
nome In which this woman now sleep.
eng beside him was the queen. He
dreamed Of years to come with un-
bounded happiness throughout all of
Chem. Thoughts of Phil and duty to
6is Partner were far away. Nothing
Ssu 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
Mederal or revolutionary troops, from
Doth of which they we're 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
F7ne man and one woman.
For an hour and more he watched
and dreamed. and with the dreams
Ia 90 -.
oature for rest. Gracia stirred, then
apoke softly to him. calling him by
sname. and her voice was as music
Oar away.
When she awoke and found him nod.
1ing Gracia insisted upon taking his
place. Now that she had been re-
1reshed her dark eyes were bright and
sparkling. but Bud could hardly see.
Yhe long watching by night and by day
Rad left his eyes bloodshot and swol-
Zen, with lids that dropped In spite of
him II he did not sleep now he
Hnight doze in the saddle later, or ride
niindly 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
awoke, startled by her hand on his
Aair. but she treasured him with
word and led him up the hill to their
Aookout. II was then that he under
stood her silence. In the brief hours
Curing which he had slept the de-
'serted country seemed suddenly to
have come TO life.
BY daylight there had been nothing
90 suggest the presence of men.
But now as the velvet night set
lied down upon the land IT brought
out the glimmering specks OF a hun
dred camp-fres to the east and to the
north. But the fires TO which GracIa
pointed were set fairly In their trail.
land they barred the way to Gadsden.
Look" she said. 81 did not want
40 wake you, but the fires have sprung
Vp everywhere. These last ones are
right in the pass"
When did you see them?" asked
Hooker, his head still heavy with
eleep. Have they been there long?"
No; only a few minutes" she an.
swered. AT shutdown saw those over
20 the east-they are along the base
of that big black mountain-but these
Mashed 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 "Insurrec.
gos?"
Like as not" muttered Bud, gazing
from encamppent to encampment
'-But whoever they are" he added
They're no friends Of ours. We've got
90 go around them"
And If we cant?" suggested Ora.
ella.
Il reckon Wen have to 20 through
then" answered Hooker grimly. we
don't want to get caught here in the
morning"
ride right through their camp"
sgasped Gracia
Let the sentries get to Sleep" he
rSent on, half to himself. Then. lust
before the moon comes up. well try 10
edge around them, and If it comes to
a. showdown, Wen ride for 1t! Are
you gamer"
He turned to read the answer, and
she drew herself up proudly
Try mel" she challenged, drawing
nearer TO him in the darkness. And SO
they stood, side by side, while their
Lands clasped In promise. Then. as
the night grew darker and no new
nres appeared, Hooker saddled up the
~elEfed horses and they picked their
way down TO the trail
The first fires were far ahead, but
chsY PROCEEDED at a walk, their horses