The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1914-08-19

Good luck!" he observed to Gracia,
when the camp was far behind. He
took me for an officer and never saw
you at ALL"
mo, l hattened myself on my pony"
answered Gracia with laugh. He
thought you we're leading a pack
horse"
Good chuckled Hooker; you did
! fine! Now, don't say another word
because they'll notice woman's voice
and if we don't run into some more
of them we'll soon be climbing the
pass"
They had passed through some per-
ilous moments, but Gracia had hardly
realized the danger because OF the as
surance of Hooker, who was careful
not to brighten her unnecessarily. But
! it was an assurance which he had not
felt himself, and he was not yet GER
tain of their safety.
The waning moon came out as they
| left the wide valley behind them, and
| then it disappeared again as they rode
into the gloomy shadows of the can
yon. For an hour or two they plodded
slowly upward, passing through mar
row defiles and into moonlit spaces,
| and still they did not mount the sum
NIT.
In the east the dawn began to break
and they spurred on in almost panic.
The Mexican paisanos count them
selves late if they do not take the trail
at sunup-what if they should meet
some struggling party before they
reached the pass?
Bud jumped Copper Bottom up a
series of cat steps; Gracia's roam came
scrambling behind; and then, just as
the boxed walls ended and they gained
a level spot, they suddenly found them
selves in the midst of a camp of Mex-
icans-men, saddles, packs, and rifles,
all scattered at their feet.
"Buenos dias" saluted Bud, as the
blinking men rose up from their
blankets. Excuse me, amigos, am
in a hurry"
"a donde va? A donde va?' chal-
lenged a bearded man as he sprang up
from his brush shelter.
ITO the pass, senor," answered Hook.
er, still, politely, but motioning for
Gracia TO ride on ahead. "Adios!"
'Who Is that MANI" beloved the
bearded leader, turning furiously upon
his followers. Where is my senti-
mel? Stop him"
But it was too late to stop him. Bud
laid his quirt across the rump of the
roam and spurred forward In a dash for
cover They whisked around the point
of a hill as the first scattered shots
rang out; and, as frightened sentinel
jumped up in their path Bud rode him
down. The man dropped his gun tC
escape the fury of the charge and In
mad clatter they flung themselves
at a rock-slide and scrambled to the
bench above The path was rocky
but they pressed forward at gallon
until, as the sun came up, they behelt
the summit of the pass.
) 1--WE win!" cried Bud, as he spurret
I'D the last incline.
AS he looked over the top he ex
rloded in an oath and jerked Copper
Bottom back on his launches. The
leader of long line of horsemen was
just coming up the other side-thert
was no escape-and then back at the
frightened girl.
Keep behind me-" he commanded
land don't shoot I'm going to hold
'em up!"
He jumped his horse out to one side
and landed squarely on the rim of the
ridge. Gracia drew her horse in be
hind him and reached for the pistol II
her holster; then both together they
drew their guns and Bud threw down
on the first man.
go on" he ordered, motioning hin
forward with his head; "pr-r-ronto!
He jerked out his rifle with his lef
hand and laid it across his lap.
Hurry up now he ragged, as thu
startled Mexican halted. Go on ant
keep going, and the first man tina
, makes break I'll shoot him full o
holes!"
He sat like a statue on his shining
horse, his siX-shooter balanced to shoot
and something in his very presence
the bulk of his body, the forwar'
T. thrust of his head, and the burning
hate of his eyes-quelled the spirit
of the rebels. They were rag-ta
: army, mounted on horses and donkey
and mules and with arms of ever
+ known make
1t was just such an army as wa
overrunning all northern Mexico, sue
: an army as had been levyng tribut
!. on the land for century. They sprea
terror throughout all that great cour
try south of the American border.
!. The fiery chances of the America
made them cringe as they had Away
cringed before their masters, and hi
l. curses turned their blood to water. II
S lowered above them like giant, pou
Q ing forth torrent of oaths and becl
oning them on their way, and the Leaf
e er was the first to yield.