Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-11-19

necks, not to cast a Silhouette against
the sky, and let Copper Bottom pick
the trail.
With ears that pricked and swiveled.
and delicate nostrils shutting the Mex
lean faint, he plodded along through
the g~reasewood, divining by some in
stinct his masters need of care. The
camp was almost behind them, and
Bud had Strengthened up in the sad
die, when suddenly the watchful Cop
per Bottom jumped and a man rose up
from the ground.
Who goes there?" he mumbled,
swaying sleepily above his gun, and
Hooker refined his horse away before
he gave him an answer.
None of your business" he growled
impatiently. II am going to the pass"
And as the sentry stared stupidity after
him he rode on through the bushes,
neither hurrying nor hating until he
gained the trail.
Good luckl" he observed to Gracia,
when the camp was far behind. He
took me for an officer and never saw
you at all"
mo, l lattened myself on my pony"
answered Gracia with a laugh. He
thought you we're leading a pack
horse"
Good" chuckled Hooker; you did
fine! Now, don't say another word
because they'll notice a woman's voice
and if we don't run into some more
of them we'll o o be climbing the
pass"
They had passed through some per-
ilous moments, but Gracia had hardly
realized the danger because Of the as
surance Of Hooker, who was careful
not to brighten her unnecessarily. But
it was an assurance which he had not
felt himself, and he was not yet Ger
tain of their safety.
The waning moon came out as they
left the wide valley behind them, and
then it disappeared again as they rode
into the gloomy shadows of the can
yon. For an hour or two they plodded
slowly upward, passing through nar-
row defles and into moonlit spaces,
and still they did not mount the sum-
NIT.
In the east the dawn began to break
and they spurred on in almost a panic.
The Mexican ~paisanos count them
selves late If they do not take the trail
at sunup-what II they should meet
some struggling party before they
reached the pass?
Bud jumped Copper Bottom up a
series of cat steps; Gracia's roam came
scrambling behind: and then, Just as
the boxed walls ended and they gained
a level spot, they suddenly found them
selves in the midst of a camp of Mex
icans-men, saddles, packs, and rifles,
all scattered at their feet.
"Buenos dias!" saluted Bud, as the
blinking men rose up from their
blankets. Excuse me, amigos, l am
in a hurry!"
"a donde va? A donde va?" chal-
lenged a bearded man as he sprang up
from his brush shelter.
ITO the pass, senor," answered Hook
er, still politely, but motioning for
Gracia to ride on ahead. "Adios!"
"Who is that man." beloved the
bearded leader, turning ~furiously upon
his followers. where is my senti.
mel? Stop him!"
But it was too late to stop him. Bud
laid his quirt across the rump of the
roa and spurred forward in a dash for
cover. They whisked around the point
of a hill as the first scattered shots
rang out; and, as a frightened sentinel
Jumped up in their path Bud rode him
down. The man dropped his gun to
escape the fury of the charge and in
a mad clatter they flung themselves
at a rock-slide and scrambled to the
bench above. The path was rocky
but they pressed forward at a gallon
until, as the u came up, they beheld
the summit Of the pass.
I'VE win!" cried Bud, as he spurred
up the last incline.
AS he looked over the top he ex
ploded in an oath and 1erked Copper
Bottom back on his launches, The
leader of a long line of horsemen was
just coming up the other side-there
was no e%scape-and then back at the
frightened girl.
Keep behind me" he commanded
and don't shoot. I'm going to hole
'em up!"
He jumped his horse out to one side
and landed squarely on the rim Of the
ridge. Gracia drew her horse in be
hind him and reached for the pistol IL
her holster; then both together the!
drew their guns and Bud threw dow1
on the first man.
go ont" he ordered, motioning hin
forward with his head; "pr-r-ronto!
He jerked out his rife with his lef
hand and laid 1t across his lap.
Hurry up now" he ragged, as tn,
startled Mexican halted. go on ant
keep a going, and the first man tina
makes q pTeaK ~ SHOOT nlm luiA Y
holes!"
He sat like a statue on his shininI
horse, his six-shooter balanced to shoot
and something in his very presence
the bulk Of his body, the forwar'
thrust Of his head, and the burnin
hate Of his eyes-quelled the spirit
of the rebels. They were a rag-ta
army, mounted on horses and donkey
and mules and with arms Of ever
known make.
It was Just such an army ais wa
overrunning all northern Mexico. sue
an army az had been levying tribut
on the land for a century. They sprea
terror throughout all that great cour
!, try south Of the American border.
! The fiery glances Of the America