Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-11-19
The Land Of Broken Promises
(copyarhL 1914. ~ Frank A. Nunssy)
CHAPTER xxvIl-cou,lnusd.

human life was nothing 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 a man pass yer it in the
daytime without meeting some one on
the way, and If the base revoltosos
once set eyes on Gracia it would take
more than a nod to restrain them.
So, in a sheltered ravine they sought
cover until it 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 I'M
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 OF 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
n 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. If 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
awoke, startled by her hand on his
hair, but she treasured him with a
word and led him up the hill to their
lookout. It 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
out the glimmering specks of a hun
dred camp-ffres 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. 81 did not want
to wake you, 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 a few minutes" she an
swered. "At shutdown l 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. '~Insurrec.
tos?"
Like as not" muttered Bud, gazing
from encampment to encampment
But whoever they are" he added
''they'r re no friends of ours. We've got
to go around them"
And if we can't?" suggested Ora.
cia,
Il reckon well have to go through
them 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" ht
went on, half to himself. Then, JUS
before the noon comes up, we'll try t
edge around them, and If it comes tt
q showdown, we'll ride for 1t! Ar,
you gamer"
He turned to read the answer, ant
she drew herself up proudly.
TRY mel" she challenged. DRAWN,
nearer to him in the darkness. And 8,
they stood. side by side, while thei
hands clasped in promise. Then, a
the night grew darker and no new
fires appeared, Hooker saddled up tn,
wellfed horses and they picked thei
way down to the trail.
The first fires were far ahead, blu
they proceeded at a walk, their horses
feet falling silently upon the solder
ground. Not a word was spoken an
they halted often to listen, for others
tOCf mA6ht w dbAOdus ln0 ulbtdu
fires were dying now, except a fe,
where me rose to feed them.
The braying Of burros came in fror
the fats to the right and as the fug
tives drew near the first encampmen
they could hear the voices Of the nigh
guards as they rode about the hors
herd. Then, as they waited impatien'
ly. tho watch-fires died down, th
guards no longer sang their high ia
setter and even the burros were still.
This was their opportunity. II the
to get through that line of sleeI
ing men It must be done by stealth
Should they be discovered 1t woul
near mi man against an army I
protect the woman, and the odds, grea