The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-08-23

her roam all saddied. and she chal.
lenged him with her eyes. The sun
cleaned from q pistol that she held
in her hand, and again from her golden
hair, but he saw only her eyes. 30
brave and daring. and the challenge
TO mount and ride.
Only for moment did he stand be-
fore her gaze. and then he caught up
his saddle and spoke soothingly to his
horse. They rode out of the corral
together. closing the gates behind
them and passing down q gulch to the
rear. All the town lay silent below
them aB they turned toward the west
ern pass.
The time had come. Well he knew
tho dangers that lay between them
and The American line. Dangers not
Cor him but for her. In the hills and
passes c:.u Ga tho cactus.covered
plain were thousands Of men with
whom she would not be safe for an
Instant, and against whom ho must
guard her that she might be delivered
safely to Phil. And he loved her then
as he had not believed 1t possible to
love woman. He loved this woman
that he was attempting to save for
another man. a "pardner' who. had
at the, best been reckless of every
trust, who had been unfaitffulsto ev-
cry promise. And across the border
this ,man was waiting for the woman
Bud Hooker loved. That he take her
to him was a more severe test of his
manhood than any to which he had
before been subjected. That he be
untrue TO the trust she reposed in
him never entered his mind for a mo-
ment. With q strong mans love Cor
hor, he thought only OF how he was to
conduct her safely out OF the dangers
which surrounded her.
Soldiers. miners. and refugees, men.
women, and children. every soul In
Fortuna was on the hill to see the last
OF the battle. It had been a crude
affair. but bravely ended, and some.
thing In the dramatic suddenness of
this victory had held all eyes to the
close Bud and Gracia passed out OF
town unnoticed, and as soon as they
Aad rounded the point they spurred on
till they gained, the. pass,
"I knag ye.. @er.d eone., safe
Gracia, smiling radiantly as they
paused at the fork.
.Sure!" answered Hooker with his
good.humored smile. Count me In on
auything-whioh way does this trail
go: do you know7"
''It goes west twelve miles toward
Arispe." replied Gracia confidently,
"and then It comes into the main road
that leads north to Nogales and Gatis.
den,"
sHThat sounds about right for hs,,p.
replied Bud. "Gadsden's the place we
want to head for, and we want to get
there mighty quick. too, II them robc'
els VIII lot us, an guess that's what
they'll have to do whether they want
TO- or not"
They rode on together for some tiis.
taace. the girl seemingly obllvious OF
tho dangers which surrounded her,
and Hooker watching carefully for cy.
cry sign Of difficulty.
irWhnt is there up here?" injured
Bud. pointing Mt fainter trail that
led on toward the north. This coun.
try 10 new to me. Don't know, eh?
Well, IL we followed that tran we'd
run into them rebels, anyway. SO we
might as we'll go to the west. Is your
saddle all right? Well hit II up then
Id like to strike a road before
dark.
They hurried on following q we'll.
marked trail that alternately climbed
ridges and descended into arroyos,
until finally it cropped down into q
preeipifouB canon whero q, swollen
stream rushed and babbled and. while
they stilt.watched 1xpccsantly for the
roam the evening quickly passed. !, Z
They had no opportunity for tconver.
lsation, for the trail was too marrow
to permit OF their riding side by side.
Bud wns thinking not only CT 4se dan.
Eers that surrounded them, but Of this
errand on which he, was. engaged, and
what the end OF Il meant to him. ~, !,
Erst sthe glanting rays Of the sun
struck fire. from tho high yellow orags.
dhan the fire faded and, the sky gaowed
ansopat blue; then, through dark blues
and spurples fhe heavens turned to
black above them end. alfS the stars
casnU out. Thousands Of frogs inado
the canyon rebound with their thfoaty
songs and strange animals scrasfed
through the brush at their approach.
but still Hooker stayed In the saddle
And Gracia followed ON behind.
II slie had thought In her dreams OF
an easier Journey shes made no com,
1nent now ana. outside of stopping to
t<S{r ms he