The Huttig news., 1914-11-14
A Stirring Story of the Mexican Revolution

l Why" she inquired, as she accept ed the handful of meat "Is is on Phifs account?" she ventured, as he sat gazing stoieally at the horses. You were such frienGs weren't you 9" she went on innocently. Oh, that is why l admire the Americans so much they are so true to each other"
 Yes" observed Hooker rolling his eyes on her, we're fine that way!"
 Well, 1 mean it," she insisted. as she read the irony in his glance.
 Sure! So do I,n answered Hooker. and Gracia continued her meal in si- lence.
 My" she said at last; this meat Is good! Tell me, how did you happen to have it on your saddle? We left so suddenly, you know!"
 She gazed up at him demurely. curl GUS to see how he would evade this evi- denee that he had prepared in advance for their ride. But once more. as he had always done, Hooker euded the cunningly laid snare
 T was figuring on pulling out my self, he replied ingenuously
 What? And not take me-" she cried. "0h, I thought=but dear me, what is the user"
 She sighed and dropped her head wearily.
 q am so tiredi" she murmured de- spondently; shall we be going on soon?"
 Not unless somebody jumps us,' returned Bud. Here. let me make you bed in the shade There now" as he spread out the saddle-blankets temptingly@'you lay down and get some sleep and I'll kinder keep a watch"
 "fh, you are so kind" she breathed, as she sank down on the bed Don't you know" she added, looking up a, him with sleepy eyes that half con cealed smile, T believe you like me, after all.'
 "Sure% confessed Bud, returning her smile as honestly; don't you wor. ry none about mel like you fine"
 He slipped away at this, grinning to himself, and sat down to watch the plain All about him lay the waving grass land. tracked up by the hoofs of cattle that had vanished in the track i of war. In the distance he could see 1 the line of a fence and the ruins of a house. The trail which he had fol l lowed led on and on to the north. Blu, all the landscape was vacant, excep for his grazing horses. Above tht mountains the midday thunder-caps were beginning to form; the air was very soft and warm, and He woke knees.
 "Ump-um- m-m," he muttered, rising up and shaking himself resolutely, this won't do-that sun is making me sleepy"
 He paced back and forth, smoking fiercely at brown-paper cigarettes, and still the sleep came back. The thun. der-clouds over the mountains rose higher and turned to black: they let down skirts and fringes and sudden stabs of lightning. while the wind sC cked in from the south And then, with a slash of rain, the shower was upon them.
 At the first big drops Gracia stirred uneasily in her sleep. She started up as the storm burst over them; then, as Bud picked up the saddle blankets and spread them over her, she drew him down beside her and they sat out the storm together. But it was more to them than a sharing of cover, patient enduring of the clements, and the sweep of wind and rain. When they rose up there was a bond between them and they thrust and parried nc more.
 They were friends, there in the rush of falling water and the crash of light hing overhead. When the storm was over and the sun came out they smiled at each other contentedly without fear of what such smiles may mean.