The Ordway new era., 1915-01-15

lay OF the ground threw him TO tha
east and there were no passes betvesl
the hills. The country was rocky
with long parallel ridges extending q
the northeast and when he saw vhers
the way was taking him Bud called Z
halt till dawn.
BY the very formation he was beina
gradually edged hack toward For
tuna, and It would call for fresh
horses and rested Gracia TO outstrir
their pursuers by day. II the ruralea
Travelled by landmarks. heading for the
northern passes in an effort to out
ride and intercept him. they might
easily cut him OF at the start; but Il
they trailed him-and he devoutly
hoped they would-thsn they would
have . tangled skein TO follow and he
could lose them In the broken country
70 the north.
80 thinking. he cut grass among the
rocks. spread down their saddle
blankets and watched over the
browsing horses while 0racia
stretched out ON the bed. After . day
Of excitement and . night Of hard rid
ing there IL NO call for couch Of
down, and a. the morning star ap.
psared In the east she slept while Bud
sat patiently by.
Il was NO new task for him. this
Watching and waiting for the dawn.
For veeks at . time. after . hard
days work at the branding. he had
stood guard half tho night Sleep was
q luxury to him. like water to noun
tain-sheep-and 90 were all the other
useless things that town-bred people
required.
People like Gracia. people like Phil
they were different In all their ways.
10 ride. to nght. to IND the way
there he was . better man than Phil;
but to speak 70 . woman. to know her
ways. and to enter into her life-thers
he was NO man at all.
She trusted to his courage to pro
tsct her. and that he could do. but II
was To Q man such ~ Phil she
would give her love. Phil could not
love her more than he did. but Phil's
ways could be more attractive to her.
His adventurous life with his father
had not been such - to cultivate the
little nicetiss that appealed 70 women.
Il was only his privilege to serve. but
be gloried In that privilege now ~
he watched beside her ~ she slept
and his vigil but strengthened his res.
olution to see her safely through to-
Phil.
He sighed now a. he saw the arst
fush Of dawn and turned To where she
slept. calm and beautiful. In the solemn
light. How to wakea her. even that
was question. but the time had come
to start
Already, from Fortuna. Del Rey and
his man.killing rurales would be on the
trail. He would come like the wind.
that dashing little captain. and moth
ing but bullet would stop him. for his
honor was At stake. Nay. he had told
Bud In 20 many words:
sShe In mine. and no man shall come
between us!s 80 IL.
II vosld b hard nov II the rurales
sAoald prove too many for hlm-n .
bullet should check him In their night
and she BE- left alone But how TO
wake hsri He tramped near - he
led up the unwilling mounts; then. ~
time pressed. he spoke TO her. and at
last he knelt At her side.
"Say!" he called. and when that did
not serve he laid his hand ON her
shoulder.
wake upi- he said. shaking her
gently. s'waks up. its almost day!"
Even a. he spoke he went back to
the phrase Of the cow-camp-whsrs
men rise before II b light. But Gracia
woke up wondsrins and stared about
her strangely. unable to understand.
.Why-what b itr' she cried. Then.
a. he spoke again and backed away.
she remembered him with . smile.
.Oh.- abe said. 'is 4 time to get up!
Where are We. anyvay?
About ten miles from Fortuna = an
svered Hooker soberay. Too eloss-
ne ought to be over that divide"
He pointed ahead to where the val
Icy narrowed and passed between two
hills. and GraciA sat up, binding back
her hair that had fallen from its place.
yea. yes!" she said resolutely. I'VE
must 90 on-but why do you look at
me 90 strangely!-
Don't know" mumbled Bud. Didn't
know was. Say. let me get them sad
dle-blankets, will youf" Isl
He went about his work with en-
barrassed swiftness, slapping on sad
dies and bridles. coiling mp ropes. and
Offering her his hand to mount When
he looked at her again It was not
strangely.
Hope you can ride" he said. we
got to get over that pass before any
body else makes it-after that We can
take . rest"
"As fast as you please" she an
swered steadily. Don't think about
me. But what will happen if-they
get there irst.'
She was looking at him now as he
searched out the trail ahead, but he
pretended not TO hear. One man In