Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-09-24

mere.
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 ineredulous-
ly. with the country full Of rebels !?
They're liable to take the town in half
an hour!"
mo. indeed they VIII mott" respond
ed Gracia with spirit You do not
understand the spirit OF Va Sonorans!
Can't you nee how the firing has slack
ened? The miners have driven your
rebels back already. and they viii 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 win be good time for
~ 10 slip OF and make err dash for
~ hnss"
Nothing doingt" announced Hooker,
~ ha dismounted at the corral. You
don't know what you're talking about!
But I will leave my horse here" he
added; II sure don't want him to get
hurt"
But you promised!" protested Ora
cha weakly.
Promised nothingi" retorted Bud
ungraciously. 81 promised 10 take care
OF you, didn't II 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"
Not" cried Gracla. her dark eyes
| turning misty with imminent tears
ooh, Mr.. Hooker!" she burst out
didn't keep them all waiting while
put on this riding-skirt? l thought you
had come to take me away! What dc
care to be safe? want to be free!
want to run away-and go across the
line to dear Phil" she faltered. Then
she looked up at him sharply and heI
voice took on an accusing tone.
"Aha!" she said. az II making some
expected discovery, so that is It!
thought perhaps you were afraid"
"What?" demanded Bud. put sud
denly upon the defensive.
Il might have known It," soliloquizet
Gracia with conviction. "You are
Jealous of dear Phil"
"Who7 Met" cried Hooker, smiling
down at her grimly. We'll, let II 70
at that" he said, as she regarded hin
with an arch smile. I'D certainly b
fool to take all those chances To-
nothing. Let him steal his own girl
that's what ! sayi"
Now that, Mr.. Hooker" burst on
Gracia In passion. rs very unkind-
and rudel Am woman of the town
to be stolen by one man or another
Am l."
That's what you would be-" put Il
Bud, with brutal directness. III thes
rebels got hold of you. No. ma'am.
wouldn't take you out of this town 70
hundred thousand dollars. You DON
! know what you're talking about, that
all! Wait till the fighting Is over
geel Did you hear that7 Come. on
, let's get into the housed"
He ducked suddenly as bullet wen
spang against the corrugated iron roo
, above them and, seizing her by tn
hand, he half dragged her through
, side door and into the summer garden
Here sudden outcry of women
voices assailed their ears like a rus
OF wind and they beheld peon mother
| running to and fro with their scream
} ing children clasped to their breasts o
j dragging at their skirts. A few hell
, less men were trying to keep Their
J quiet, but as the bullets began TO thu
! against the adobe walls the garden b
!, came a bedlam.
: Gracia stood and surveyed the seen
. for moment. ignoring the hulkin
, Bud with disdainful eyes. Then sh
snatched her hand Indignantly AVA
: and ran 70 pick w q child That Wa