Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-12-25

otherwise you would not have picked
such a good horse for me-. This roam
Ia my fathers best riding horse. You
must put yours inside the wall with
him, and when the time is right we
will get them and ride for the line"
'What?" cried Hooker incredu!ous-
ly, with the country full of rebels?
They're liable to take the town In half
an hour!"
NO, indeed they will not!" respond
ed Gracia with spirit "You do not
understand the spirit Of us Sonorans!
Can't you see how the firing has slack
ened? The miners have driven your
rebels back already, and they will do
more-they will follow them up and
kill them! Then, when the rebels are
in flight and Del Rey and his rurales
are away, that will be a good time for
US to slip of and make our dash for
the line!"
Nothing doing!" announced Hooker,
as he dismounted at the corral. you
don't know what you're talking about!
But I will leave my horse here" he
added; 81 sure don't want him to get
hurt"
but you promised" protested Ora
cha weakly.
Promised nothing" retorted Bud
ungraciously. II promised to take care
of you, didn't I? Well, what's the use
Of talking, then? You better stay right
here, where you're safe. Come on,
let's go to the house!"
moi" cried Gracia, her dark eyes
turning misty with imminent tears
"Oh. Mr.. Hooker!" she burst out,
didn't l keep them all waiting while l
put on this riding-skirt? thought you
had come to take me away! What dc
| care to be safe? want to be free!
| want to nun ~away-and go across the
line to dear Phil!" she faltered. Then
she looked UP at him sharply and her
voice took on an accusing tone.
"Aha!" she said, as II making some
expected discovery, 80 that Is 1t!
thought perhaps you were afraid"
"What?" demanded Bud. put sud
denly upon the defensive.
II might have known It," s~oliloquiset
Gracia with conviction. "You arr
jealous Of dear Phil"
who? Me?" cried Hooker. smiling
down al her grimly. We'll. let it q
at that" he said, as she regarded hin
with an arch smile. I'D certainly b.
a fool to take all those chances To-
nothing. Let him steal his W girl
that's what l say!"
Now that, Mr.. Hooker" burst on
Gracia in a passion. 'is very unkind-
and rude! Am l a woman Of the town
to be stolen by one man or another
Am i"
That's what you would be-" put II
Bud. with brutal directness. III thes
rebels got hold of you. No, ma'am.
wouldn't take you out Of this town 70
a hundred thousand dollars. You don
know what you're talking about that
! all! wait iii tAo hBntAAe wv
, gee! Did you hear that! Come, or
|, let's get into the housed"
, He ducked suddenly as a bullet wen
spang against the corrugated iron roo
! above them and. SEEKING her by tn
/ hand, he half dragged her through
! side door and into the summer garden
, Here q sudden cutlery of women
voices assailed their ears like q rus
Of wind and they beheld peon mother
I running to and fro with their scream
! ing children clasped to their breasts Q
i dragging at their skirts. A few hell
' less men were trying to keep thei
! quiet, but as the bullets began to thu
against the adobe walls the garden b
came q bedlam.
Gracia stood and surveyed the seen
for a moment. ignoring the hulkin
\ Bud with disdainful eyes. Then 81
snatchsd her hand Indignantly avs
and ran to pick up q child That WI