The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-18
lContinued.l

0He ueafQ9 voices, low pitched, yet carrying far in the silence of the night Instantly she drew rein and flung her self to the ground, listening intently Creeping cautiously to a slight rise, she looked down upon an adobe shack, before which little squad of bare footed Mexicans loafed idly, their brown hands lazily supporting old fashioned Springfield rifles, such as she recalled the Soldiers of Uncle Sam to have carried in the old days.
 From where she watched she sud denly noticed stir among the men. From the interior of the shack step ped a gaudily dressed little Mexican evidently an officer from the awkward sa1utes accorded him by the tatterde- nations gathered before the house. For some reason she could not ana lyze, Lucille listened eagerly, her breath coming in quick, eager gasps as she overheard their daring plot to cross the river and stampede the cor ral of an American ranchman. A lit tie cry of delight came from her lips as she heard their allusions to the United States cavalry they must sift through before hoping for success.
 Her eyes were glittering with ex- citement when she stole cautiously to the adobe shack, peering inside slowly and carefully before entering. She knew all their plans, and her blood was boiling; but she also knew from what they had said that they, too, would be on the lookout for any upset to the well laid plot
 From a chest in the corner, which she hurriedly overhauled, she drew a similar suit to the one the little lead CT had worn, It would just about fit her, and she must take no chances of trying to cross the Rio Grande attired as she was.
 Swiftly she changed, for every mo ment now was precious to others as well as to herself. Daughter of Gen eral Sumpter Love, she was afire with rage at the way the Mexicans had spoken of the border patrol of her country, the presumption of the plan she had heard outlined. The gaudy costume fitted her beautifully, and the broad straw soInbrero, with it's weight of silver cording and tassels, made il easy for her feminine features to be unrecpgnizable even as it concealed her long hair.
 She was we'll pleased with herself when again she mounted her horse The beast had been ready to drop in his tracks any moment. and she had killed two birds with one stone while changing her costume. Cautiously to ward the glittering ribbon of river she rode, her eyes always alert for any sign of the Mexican foraging party.
 The horse hesitated at the bank ot the stream, but Lucille boldly urged him forward.
 fHurrah! We're acrossi'' she said to herself. as, dripping and disheyeled she stood upon the right side of tht Rio.n Up and down the bank she looked for signs of the border patrol but none was in sight. But in the dis tance she could make out tiny speck
 The chances were it was one of thu Mexicans. But something must b. done if the ranchman was to be saved from the. plot she had overheard Fiercely she urged her mount towart the speck in the distance until her heart sank as she recognized the man for one of the piotters.
 Hours it seemed to her she pursued the sinking figure until 1t joined with two others. Gradually, after few miles journeying, as great blaze shot high in the air, a blaze punctuated by shots and wild cries.
 The three men cruelty dashed their spurs into the sides of their horses. Came a thunder of sound as a great bunch of cattle from the remuda el the American were driven toward hel by the fiendish Mexicans, Lucille saw the danger she was in of being tram pied underfoot by that wild herd, driv. en to frenzy by the flames and popping reYoIvers from behind them. She urg ed her own horse to the right, escap ing just as the cattle whizzed by hel in wild riot of sound. Here and there the Mexicans had assembled themselves, always alert. marvellous horsemen all, keeping the frightened beasts together while they drove then in direct line for the river.
 Lucille felt shot slash through thu sleeve of her jacket. She refined il her horse instantly, for she knew th' Mexicans had passed. As she turned she almost collided with long mus tached, grizzled man, driving bulle after bullet after the marauders. Shs did not speak, did not even rein in but urged her own horse beside his drawing her own revolver.
 The ranchman uttered a bewilderet ejaculation as he saw she was or hl' own blood.
 "I was trying to get there in time to warn you," she gasped. There: chance of driving them into the pa trel if you know where it is.
 Without another word, as thougE complete understanding had been es tablished, he waved to the right; came 2 sudden abrupt wheeling of the. stan