The Elbert County tribune., 1914-10-23
CHAPTER xx.v-con.Inuea.

fugitives they ran with vengcful eager
less, racing each other for the higher
ground and the first shot at the reb-
els. First Alvarez on hia white horse
would be ahead. and then. as they en-
countered rocks. the Yaquis would
surge TO the front. II was race and
at the same time II WAS rout, for,
nt the first glimpse OF that oncoming
body OF warriors. the cowardly follow
ers OF Bernardo Bravo took TO their
heels and lied.
hut over the rocks no Chihuahuan.
no matter how scared. can hope to out
distance YaQui, and the pop. pop of
rifles told the fate of the hrst luckless
stragglers For the Yaquis. after
hundred and sixty years OF guerrilla
warfare. never waste shot; and as
savage yells and the crash OF a sud-
den volley drifted down from the rocky
heights the men who bad been be-
Bieged In Fortuna know that death was
nbroad In the hills.
Fainter and fainter came the shots
rs the pursuit led on 10 the north and,
as Hooker strained his eyes to follow
u huge form that intuition told him
was Amigo. he was watened suddenly
From his preoccupation by the touch
OF some unseen hand He was in the
open with people all about him
Spanish refugees. Americans. trium-
pnant miners and their wives--but
that touch made him forget the battle
above him and instantly think OF
Gracia.
He turned and hurried back to the
corral where Copper Bottom was kept,
and there he found her waiting, with
her roam all saddled. and she chal-
Benged him with her eyes. The sun
CLEANED from pistol that she held
IN her hand. and again from her golden
thair. but he saw only her eyes, SO
brave and daring. and the challenge
TO mount and ride.
Only for a 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 tho gates behind
ltheni and passing down gulch to the
rear. All the town lay silent below
them as they turned toward the west
,ern pass.
The time had come Well he knew
1.-THE dangers that lay between them
and the American line Dangers not
flor him but for her In the hills and
lpasses and on the cactus-covered
jplain were thousands OF men with
whom she would not be safe for an
instant. and against whom he must
Isuard her that she might be delivered
tsafely to Phil. And he loved her then
jas he had not believed 1t possible to
iove n woman. He loved this woman
THAT he was attempting to save for
lnnother man. "pardner" who had
nt the best been reckless of every
TRUST. who had been unfaithful to ev-
lery promise. And across the border
jthIs man was waiting for the woman
Bud Hooker loved. That he take her
Ito him was more severe test OF his
nanhood than any to which he had
before been subjected That he be
untrue to the trust she reposed In
lhim never entered his mind for mo-
lment. With a strong mans love for
Iher 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
lof the battle. 1t had been crude
Iaffair. 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
had rounded the point they spurred on
nill they gained the pass.
Il knew you would comet" said
Gracia. smiling radiantly as they
paused at the fork.
"Surei" answered Hooker with his
food-humored smile. Count me in on
anything-which way does this trail
iEo: do you known"
ut goes west twelve miles toward
Arispe." replied Gracia confidently,
rand then It comes into the main road
that leads north to NogaIes and Gads-
den"
= THAT sounds about right for u.s."
replied Bud. "Gadsden's the place we
want to head for. and we want to get
there mighty quick, too. II them reb-
|cls will let us, an guess that's what
they'll have to do whether they want
ito or not"
They rode on together for some dis
ltance. the girl seemingly oblivious of
Tho dangers which surrounded her.
land Hooker watching carefully for ev-
cry sign of difficulty.
What is there up here?' inquired
psud, pointing at fainter trail that
bed of toward the north This coun-
itry Is new to me. Don't know. eh?
We'll. IL we followed that trail we'd
hun into them rebels. anyway. so we
bnight as well 80 to the west. Is your
saddle all right? Wen hit it up then
I'D like to strike road before