Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-11-13

otherwise you would not have picked
such a good horse for me. This roam
is 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 incredulous-
ly, with the country full of rebels?
They're liable to take the town In half
an hour!"
mo, indeed they will not!" respond
ed Gracia with spirit. "You do not
understand the spirit Of us S%onoransl
Can't you see how the firing has slack
ened? The miners have driven your
rebels back already. and they will do
more-7they will follow them up and
kill them! Then. when the rebels are
in fight 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; Il sure don't want him to get
hurt"
But you promised" protested Ora
cha weakly.
Promised nothing!" retorted Bud
u~ngraciously. II promised to take care
of you, didn't l? Well, what's the use
of talking, then? You better stay right
here, where you're safe. Come on,
let's go to the housed"
mol" cried Gracia, har dark eyes
turning misty with imminent tears.
"Oh, Mr.. Hooker!" she burst out,
didn't l keep them all waiting while I
put on this riding-skirt? thought you
had come to take me away! What do
/ care to be safe? want to be free!
1 want to run 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 If making some
expected discovery, 80 that is 1t!
thought perhaps you were afraid"
"What?" demanded Bud, put sud
denly upon the defensive.
"I might have known It," soliloquized
Gracia with conviction. "You are
Jealous Of dear Phil"
who? Me?" cried Hooker. smiling
down at her grimly. well, let 1t &c
at that" he said, as she regarded him
with an arch smile. I'D certainly be
a fool to take all those chances fol
nothing. Let him steal his OWE girl
that's what l sayl"
snow that, Mr.. Hooker" burst out
Gracia in a passion. els very unkind-
and rude! Am l q woman Of the town
to be stolen by n man Of another
| Am /"
That's what you would be-" put In
Bud, with brutal directness, IF these
rebels got hold Of you. No. ma'am,
wouldn't take you out Of this town fol
a hundred thousand dollars. You dom
know what you're talking about, that's
all! Wait till the fighting is over
gee! Did you hear that! Come, on
let's get into the housed"
He ducked suddenly as a bullet wen
spang against the corrugated iron roo
above them and, seizing her by th<
hand, he half dragged her through I
side door and into the summer garden
Here q sudden cutlery Of women'i
voices assailed their earl like a rusf
of wind and they beheld peon mother
running to and fro with their scream
ing children clasped to their breasts o.
dragging at their skirts. A few help
less men were trying to keep then
quiet, but as the bullets began to thus
against the adobe walls the garden be
came a bedlam.
Gracia stood and surveyed the seem
for a moment, ignoring the hulkfnl
bud with disdainful eyes,. Then sh'
lsnatched her hand Indignantly ava
and ran 70 pick up a child That wa