The Arvada enterprise., 1915-01-28
Copyright. 1914, by Frank A. Munsey.)
TX
CHAPTER xSvi,-Cont,nued.

tsy the signs the land ahead was full
ut bandits and ladrones. men to whom
human life was nothing and a woman
no more sacred than brute. At the
pass all trails converged. from the
north and from the south. Not by any
chance could a man pass over It in the
daytime without meeting some one on
tho way. and II the base revoltosos
once set eyes on Gracia 1t would take
more than q nod to restrain them.
80. In sheltered ravine they sought
'Over until 1t was dark. and while
Hracia slept. the heavy-headed Bud
watched the plain from the heights
above.
As he watched he dreamed of a
home In which this woman now sleep
ing beside him was the queen. He
dreamed OF years to come with un-
bounded happiness throughout all of
them. Thoughts OF Phil and duty to
his pardner were far away. Nothing
on the plain below served to distract
him from this dream OF happiness.
hs far as he could see there was
nothing that savored OF danger for
the woman In his keeping There
were no sounds or signs OF either
federal or revolutionary troops. from
both OF which they were fleeing. and
from both Of which he must guard
her Again they were in n world that
was all their own. an Eden with but
one man and one woman.
For an hour and more he watched
and dreamed. and with tho dreams
came the desire for sleep. the cry OF
mature for rest. Gracia stirred, then
spoke softly to him. calling him by
name. and her voice was as music
far away.
When she awoke aud found him nod.
ding Gracia insisted upon taking his
place. Now that she had been re.
treshed her dark eyes were bright and
sparkling. but bud could hardly see.
Tho long watching by night and by day
had left his eyes bioodshot and swol.
len. with lids that dropped In spite OF
him. II ne did not sleep now he
might doze In the saddle later. or ride
hlindly into some rebel camp: no he
made her promise to call him and lay
down to rest until dark.
Tho stars were all out when he
awoke. startled BY her hand on his
hair. but she reaxsured him with a
ford and led him up the hill to their
lookout II was then that he under.
stood her silence. In the brief hours
during which he had slept the de-
serted country seemed suddenly to
have come to life.
by daylight there had been nothing
GO suggest the presence OF men.
S'ut now AZ tho velvet night set.
tied down upon the land Il brought
out tho glimmering specks OF a hun.
drcd camp'fircs to the east and to the
north. nut the fires to which Gracia
uointcd were set fairly In their trail.
and they barred the way to Gadsden.
Look" she said. Il did not want
U wake yo,.. but the fires have sprung
up everywhere. These last ones are
right in the pass"
"Whcn did you see them" asked
Hooker. his head still heavy with
sleep, Have they been there long,"
NO. only u lew minutes" she an.
Swercd. AT sundown I saw those over
10 the oast-they are along the base
of that big black mountain-but these
dashed up Just now: and see. there
are more. and morc!"
Some OUTFIT coming In from tho
north" said hud. They've crossed
ever the pass md campcd q the first
water this side"
who do you think they nre?" asked
aruc,a In an awcd voice. "insurrec.
los''
Like as not" muttcrcd Bud, gazing
from cncampmcnt to encampment
but whoever they are" he added
-they'rc no friends OF ours, We've 20,
20 go around them"
And II We can't'" suggested Ora.
ella
Il reckon wc'll have to 70 through,
then" answered Hooker grimly. We
don't want TO get caught here In the
morning"
Ride right through their camp9"
gasped Gracia.
Lot the son,ries get to sleep" he
went on. half to himself Then. lust
before the moon comes up. well try to
edge around them. and II II comes to
u showdown. wen ride for Il. Are
you gnmc7"
lIc turned to read the answer. and
shc drew herself up proudly.
TRY me-" rhc challenged, drawing
nearer to him In the darkness. And nc
they stood. side by side. while their
hands clnspcd In promise. Then. as
che night grew darker and no new
orcn appeared. Hooker saddlcd up tho
weitfeA horses and they picked their
way down to tho trail
The nrat Ores were far ahead. bu,
GAsy psssesaasd at . walk. their horsss