The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-10-09

otherwise you would not have picked
such good horse for me. This roar
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.
~ with the country full of rebels
They're liable to take the town in halt
an hour!"
mo, indeed they will mott" respond.
ed Gracia with spirit. You do not
understand the spirit of US Sonorans!
Can't you see how the firing has slack.
ened? The miners have driven your
rebels back already, and they will do
more-they 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 off 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 / 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
ungraciously. II promised to take care
of you, didn't I? 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, her dark eyes
turning misty with imminent tears.
"Oh, Mr. Hooker!" she burst out,
didn't keep them all waiting while l |
put on thD riding-skirt? thought you
had come to take me away! What do
care to be safe? / want to be free!
want to run away-and 90 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 II making some
expected discovery, 80 that is it! l
thought perhaps you were afraid"
WHAT" demanded Bud, put sud-
denly upon the defensive.
II 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 it 90
at that" he said, as she regarded him
with an arch SMILE I'D certainly be
q fool to take all those chances for
nothing. Let him steal his own girl
that's what say!"
Now that, Mr.. Hooker" burst out
Gracia in passion, lis very unkind-
and rude! Am a woman of the town,
10 be stolen by one man or another?
Am l."
That's what you would be-" put in *
Bud. with brutal directness, III these
.ebels got hold of you. No, ma'am. ! !
wouldn't take you out Of this town for
| hundred thousand dollars. You don't
NOW what you're talking about, that's
IL! Wait till the fighting Is over
rec! Did you hear that? Come. on.
cts get into the house,"
He ducked suddenly as a bullet went
pang against the corrugated iron roof
hove them and, Selling her by the >
and. he half dragged her through
,de door and into the summer garden. II
Here a sudden cutlery of women's a
oices assailed their ears like a rush T.
Z wind and they beheld peon mothers p
INNING to and fro with their scream o
70 children clasped to their breasts or n
"a pping at their skirts. A few help o
,ss men were trying to keep them
MET but as the bullets began to thud
painst the adobe walls the garden be-
,me q bedlam. u
cracia stood and surveyed the scene O
= moment, ignoring the hulking o
nd with disdainful eyes. Then she II
,atched her hand Indignantly away Ct
nd ran to pick up child. That was p