The Elbert County tribune., 1914-11-06
9copyright. islA By Frank A Munsey.l
CHAPTER xxvII-continued.

Huiuhn llie WdS uotuluB anu u WoAntah
no more sacred than brute. At the
pass all trails converged. from the
north and from the south. Not by any
chance could man pass over 1t in the
daytime without meeting some one on
the way, and II the base revoltosos
once set eyes on Gracia 1t would take
more than a nod to restrain them.
So. in 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
homo In which this woman now Sleep
ing beside him was the queen. He
dreamed OF years to come with un.
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. The-e
we're no sounds or signs of either
federal or revolutionary troops, from
both of which they were fleeing. and
from both, OF which he must guard
her. Again they were in world that
was all their own, an Eden with but
one 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. II 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 reassured him with a
word and led him up the hill to their
lookout 1t 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.
Dsxt ha frIx
tied down upon the land 1t brought
out the glimmering specks Of a hun
dred camp-fires 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. II did not want
to wake you. but the fires have sprung
up ev,.nwhere. These last ones are
right inshe 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 sundown I saw those ovel
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, gains
from encampment to encampment
.'But whoever they are" he added
they're no friends OF ours We've go,
to go around them
And II we can't?" suggested Ora
cia.
II reckon we'll have to go through
then" answered Hooker grimly. I'VE
don't want to get caught here in the
morning
ride right through their camp?'
gasped Gracia.
Let the sentries get to Sleep" he
went on. half to himself. Then, jus,
before the moon comes up. wen try &c
edge around them. and II 1t comes tc
a showdown. we'll ride for it! Are
you game?"
He turned to read the answer. and
she drew herself up proudly
TRY me-" she challenged, drawing
nearer to HIM in the darkness. And SC
they stood. side by side. while their
hands clasped In promise. Then. as
the night grew darker and no new
nres appeared. Hooker saddled up the
welI-fed horses and they picked their
way down TO the trail.
The first fires we're far ahead. but
they proceeaed at walk. their horses